2024-05-18T10:34:04-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/149980868/from-the-border-wall-to-the-pritzker-prize-the-architectural-controversies-that-defined-2016 Nicholas Korody 2016-12-01T12:04:00-05:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/x5/x5us0rqe9z3ee95h.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>As the year comes to a close, we're taking the opportunity to reflect on its defining moments. 2016 has been, for many of us, a pretty tough year&mdash;and the architecture community hasn't been immune to its trials and tribulations. Here's a round-up of some of the biggest controversies, debacles, and fiascos of the year.</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/650x/ja/jacrpk9x28o2qrgo.jpg"></p><p><strong>The Boorish Border Wall Competition</strong></p><p>Long before Donald Trump went from long-shot presidential candidate to President-elect, a <a href="http://bustler.net/news/4754/us-mexico-border-wall-competition-provokes-controversy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">controversial competition</a> was launched to design the border wall that remains one his major campaign promises. Initiated by the mysterious Third Mind Foundation, the competition provoked immediate and intense backlash because of its asserted &ldquo;neutrality&rdquo; in regards to a proposal considered by many to represent the heights of xenophobia.</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/650x/20/20l278w5ncq9l7gz.jpg"></p><p><strong>The Great Tokyo Olympic Stadium Debacle</strong></p><p>This <a href="http://archinect.com/news/tag/470819/tokyo-olympic-stadium" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">debacle</a> actually began in 2015, but it continued well into 2016. Zaha Hadid Architects won a competition to design the National Stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and proc...</p>