Archinect - News

Ai Weiwei’s Music Video, Recreating His Detention

2013-05-22T11:48:00-04:00

Now Mr. Ai is answering the guards’ request in a different key. He is presenting them, and the world, with his first heavy-metal music video, one with detailed re-creations of scenes from his 81 days of detention. He also portrays fantasies he imagines flitting through the guards’ minds. Mr. Ai posted the video on a Web site, aiweiwei.com, on Wednesday morning, Beijing time.

INABA Completes Red Bull Music Academy New York

2013-05-13T20:18:00-04:00

Jeffrey Inaba’s firm INABA was commissioned by Red Bull Music Academy to transform four floors of a vacant building in New York's Chelsea neighborhood into a model learning environment. INABA has used dramatic walls and lighting to create unique collaborative work areas in place of the traditional classroom.

Curving walls throughout the 38,000 square foot forum give shape to the distinct spaces. On the ground level the walls extend far into the former warehouse allowing passersby and users unrestricted views across the floor. They reveal a cross section of the types of activity taking place which include performances, private workshops, music production and broadcasting, aimed at making a statement that the space is different in its use from the shops, galleries, and cafés of the area. Below, on the cellar level, the arcing walls of the capsule-shaped lounge are interrupted only to establish long views from the recording studio located at the south end to the open-air patio ...

Park named after Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch now open in Brooklyn

2013-05-03T16:52:00-04:00

This Brooklyn Heights playground is named for Adam Yauch, an artist, a filmmaker, an activist, and one of Brooklyn’s most influential musicians. Most famous as ‘MCA’ of the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Beastie Boys, Yauch grew up playing in this playground, then named State Street Park and later Palmetto Playground, as a child.

“Born and bred in Brooklyn the U.S.A./
They call me Adam Yauch but I’m M.C.A.”
- “No Sleep Til Brooklyn,” The Beastie Boys

NYC Parks & Rec. announced today that Adam Yauch Park, named after the Beastie Boys' late MCA, is now open.

Michael Maltzan Guest DJ's on Santa Monica's KCRW

2013-04-10T18:29:00-04:00

Architect Michael Maltzan has designed prestigious museums, luxurious private residences and social housing in Downtown LA. Music has been a factor in his life since he first started to discover architecture and he ruminates on the connection between the two art forms while sharing songs from Big Star, Talking Heads and more.

Track list:

The Bad Plus - Long Distance Runaround
Talking Heads - The Big Country
Big Star - The Ballad Of El Goodo
PJ Harvey - We Float
Glen Campbell - There's No Me Without You

Philharmonic Board Has to Man Up, Pick an Architect

2012-12-13T12:14:00-05:00

Hopes rose when the Norman Foster firm was hired to overhaul the 2,700-seat hall on the north side of New York’s Lincoln Center. That was in 2005, and nothing came of it. Is there a future for the jinxed hall? Perhaps. The success of Lincoln Center’s $1.2 billion remodeling -- from the jauntily tilting lawn and the space-age fountain, to the electronic come- ons that zip across the outside stairs -- can only be inspirational.

Bloomerg's James S. Russell opines on his picks for a new architect, with a list that includes Diller Scofidio & Renfro, Frank Gehry, Snohetta, and Jean Nouvel.

Pharrell Talks Jean Prouvé, Gio Ponti, Zaha Hadid, And “Other Super Genius Guys” at Design Miami/

2012-12-10T18:19:00-05:00

The budding industrial designer also gave his top picks from the fair, which unsurprisingly all feature bright swaths of primary colors: a Charlotte Perriand bookshelf from Galerie Downtown accented with yellow squares; a Pierre Guariche chair from Demisch Danant, a Riteveld chair from Galerie Vivid; and a desk from Galleria Rossella Colombari by Gio Ponti, whom he was so delighted to have discovered: “He tried to make the office fun!”

Pink Floyd Drummer Awarded Honorary Architecture Degree

2012-11-28T12:21:00-05:00

Fifty years later, Westminster has brought the boys back home, awarding drummer Nick Mason an Honorary Doctor of Letters for his contributions to music, officially completing his architecture degree. Mason said of the honor, “Not only did studying architecture teach us some useful stuff, but it also gave us an opportunity to develop and put us in touch with some fantastic mentors and industry contacts that have helped us along the way.” All in all, we’re just bricks in the wall.

Dr Dre: The Chief Architect of Gangsta Rap

2012-10-09T17:58:00-04:00

A quiet, meditative biography of Dr Dre incorporating thoughts on utopian architecture, Le Corbusier and the evolution of rap. Kind of amazing.

Hip-hop architecture goes global

2012-08-23T13:51:00-04:00

Architecture related to hip-hop is about built ideas inspired of music and dance, drawing in part from artistic ideas like sampling and rapping. Even more to the point, it’s mainly an urban form, one meant to be highly inventive while also addressing issues like poverty and blight — but also the material desires we associate with aspiring DJs and emcees.

Straight outta Hamptons: hip-hop's architectural roots

2012-08-01T13:47:00-04:00

Given the hip-hop elite's affiliation with prestige brands – from Cristal to Courvoisier, from Louis Vuitton to Lamborghini – you'd think they'd be similarly discerning when it comes to architecture. But that's not always the case, especially when it comes to the biggest stars of all.

Creepy-cool village where every house is a musical instrument

2012-05-21T13:23:00-04:00

The Music Box is a New Orleans art installation that makes regular artist’s colonies look like Camazotz. In this tiny shantytown, every building is also a musical instrument, and the entire town can be played in a beautiful, spooky symphony that looks and sounds like something out of Coraline.

Golden Gate Bridge sounds inspire musical works

2012-05-21T13:21:00-04:00

Musicians look at the bridge differently. Mickey Hart, the former Grateful Dead drummer, sees the Golden Gate Bridge as a "giant wind harp." He plans to be at Crissy Field on Sunday evening, the bridge's 75th birthday, to perform an original composition. The bridge will be the star. "The most famous bridge in America," Hart said, "is actually a musical instrument."

KCRW's DNA interviews Moby on LA architecture

2012-03-23T18:44:00-04:00

Chances are, you know Moby best for his electronic dance music. But it turns out the eclectic-minded musician has another life, as an architecture buff who recently moved to LA and now writes a blog about buildings here he loves. The blog is called, simply, Moby Los Angeles Architecture Blog, and features his photos of local architecture. Frances Anderton talks to Moby about his love of architecture.

And, on that note, I promise this will be the last we refer to Moby's over-hyped move into the world of architecture blogging.

John Pawson's Muse Music

2012-02-03T15:16:00-05:00

In a way, my influences are eclectic. Music doesn’t make me want to go and design a house, in a way it’s a more physical pleasure. It’s maybe a break for me or a tunnel to something else. I’ve never had a lot of music in the office. To me music is to be listened to and art is to be looked at. I never understood that thing of using art as decoration. It has to mean something to me otherwise I wouldn’t have it. And I can’t work with music. I find it too stimulating in a way.

Frank Gehry is working for free as architect of new Jazz Bakery

2012-02-01T00:35:00-05:00

Ruth Price, president and artistic director of the Jazz Bakery since it debuted in 1992, said Tuesday that she didn’t know Gehry, or even ask for his help, before he called about six months ago to volunteer his services. “He said, 'I’m doing this for two people: Sydney Pollack, and my wife, Berta.’ ” Film director Pollack, a close friend of the architect, died in 2008..."

Frank Gehry Creates 54th GRAMMY Awards Artwork

2011-12-08T20:34:05-05:00

The Recording Academy has announced its selection of world-famous architect and multitalented artist Frank Gehry to create the official artwork for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The work integrates traditional GRAMMY iconography with Gehry's unique architectural style in a piece that mirrors The Recording Academy's commitment to celebrating excellence and diversity in art and culture year-round.

It will be used as the official artwork for the world's premier music event and will grace the cover of the GRAMMY Awards program book, telecast tickets and promotional poster.

"We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with world-renowned architect Frank Gehry on our official artwork for the GRAMMY Awards and the opportunity to further The Academy's dedication to celebrating the arts in every discipline," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "Frank's exemplary creative accomplishments through a variety of artistic platforms have been inspirational. We are honored to work with such a well-respected talent who has served as an influential figure within the arts on a global scale."

"I have been fortunate to have worked with and become friends with some of the top musicians in classical music," said Gehry. "They are my inspiration and my heroes. I am pleased to work with the GRAMMYs to help celebrate all of these talented people."

Hallmarks of Gehry's ...

Viewers examine music, architecture intersection

2011-10-21T12:45:08-04:00

UT students and Austin residents gathered to explore the relationship between music and architecture through artistic performances Wednesday afternoon. Participants in the Music in Architecture competition created performances to explore how music can be inspired by architecture.

Also visit the Music in Architecture website.

Amy Winehouse 14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011

2011-07-23T13:34:32-04:00

I don't know if this is appropriate for architecture website, but extremely talented Amy Winehouse went to black.

Allied Works Architecture unveils design of new National Music Centre in Calgary

2011-06-22T19:14:00-04:00

Two years after holding an international architectural competition that saw world-renowned designers face off in a public presentation, the National Music Centre revealed the extraordinary final design by Allied Works Architecture, the winner of the competition.

Composer Ariel Blumenthal Creates Live 3D Score for H2Eau Dance Performance

2011-05-27T16:08:49-04:00

3D distribution of musical elements introduces a whole new way to experience music. The moving musical elements will redefine the relationship between music and dance allowing the two elements to share the same physical space and communicate with its architecture in the language of movement. The choreography is going to be based on delivering music through the dancers. We're changing the function of moving bodies from executing choreography only, to executing choreography and music.

From June 23rd – June 26th, PTERO Dance Theatre (Los Angeles) will be presenting a unique dance show, H2Eau, enhanced with live music, photography and film. Award-winning composer Ariel Blumenthal will create a 3D sonic score – treating music as an immersive, three-dimensional element in dialogue with architecture and choreography. Blumenthal is the writer/producer behind the innovative 3D music installations specially created for the Plaza Hotel in New York.

Drawing on his concept of interactive and 3D sonic environments for high-end physical spaces, Blumenthal will compose and perform two pieces for H2Eau. The first combines a 3D pre-recorded score with live performance on a wine glasses piano (of sounds generated by water). Blumenthal will perform and process acoustic elements in real time, while synched to the recorded score distributed 3-dimensionally in the space. The second piece will introduce music as a moving element. Using wireless technology, musical solo parts w...

Anatomy of a Mashup: Definitive Daft Punk visualised

2011-05-12T14:05:28-04:00

Works for music lovers and html5 addicts!