Phil Bernstein speculated on the set of opportunities "that architects will see in the next decade as such systems (AI language transformers and image generators) become more capable and available" and proposes "five strategies to guide its future". As he sees it, this future will be one not of "BIM monkeys" but "AI Monkey Trainers." If nothing else Gary Garvin appreciated the optimism
"It looks like the architect's job, or at least the lead architect's, will become more demanding, hopefully more rewarding, with more effective and useful and beneficial results."
Plus, Amanda Wasielewski cautioned that "text-to-image generators have no…spatial awareness or understanding, and we cannot take for granted that they ‘perceive’ space in two-dimensional images the same way we do." Their "blind spots and limitations" in this area include the inability to count, problem rendering hands and the Escher-esque stairways they generate.
Donna Sink couldn't help but wonder whether "as the generated images proliferate the output will veer further and further away from being influenced by actual…buildings…Or is there a safety that prevents that kind of self-consumption?"
Archinect In-Depth, an initiative of extended and in depth coverage across the platform, kicked off with three months exploring Artificial Intelligence. Upon seeing the panel of jurors for Generative Futures: An AI + Architecture Storytelling Challenge, Orhan Ayyüce had a suggestion "why not add AI as a jury as well?". He then got into a back and forth with the AI "author" regarding the potential of AI to augment human capabilities, data justice and other areas of "self-criticism".
Iwan Baan and Alvaro Keding take us inside the Gilder Center (at the American Museum of Natural History) designed by Studio Gang.
monosierra commented "The intersections between planar surfaces and whacky walls are always interesting to me in such projects. Toyo Ito had a rather blunt approach in Taichung…Mecanoo opted for a more total vibe in Kaoshiung and the recent organic-looking projects in China by Open and MAD have also attempted to add as much non-planar walking surfaces as possible. The grand-daddy has always been OMA's Jussieu idea from the '80s".
Heatherwick Studio shared photos of their nearly complete Toranomon-Azabudai mixed-use project in the heart of Tokyo. Contra much of the commentary, Will Galloway provided some perspective "Tokyo is such a maximalist place that this project will certainly not be out of place. It barely stands out, frankly. If Heatherwick is able to deliver on the human scale that the renders promise then it could be a great place, especially since his project is made up of a group of buildings, not just one. I find myself grateful for that, as the usual route in Tokyo is to demolish massive blocks of generic housing and fine-grained mid/low-rise buildings and replace them with very large towers with massive floor plates…So yeah, I guess if you only worry about form then this is a matter of I like it or I don't."
New York City is suing Steven Holl Architects for tens of millions of dollars over their Hunters Point Library. Portions of which are not accessible to people with handicaps, in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. archanonymous was shocked "reading this, it seems like it is more than the tiered ramp - which I am just going to ignore for purposes of this comment - but includes bathroom layouts and door clearances. How. The. Fuck. Do you not get door clearances right? It's so easy.” Yet as natematt and others pointed out "don’t know what AHJs you’re working with, but in my experience, they miss a LOT of items related to accessibility, and are often not that hard to persuade just by arguments…People also very much play games with the codes, and some of this works on really serious grey areas. Equal experience is one of those things where I’ve seen some really granular examples being discussed that I actually find pretty implausible and absurdist…but with what they did here it seems pretty obvious that they just thought they would get away with it."
Once again, Patrik Schumacher generates controversy. This time with a "fourteen-paragraph invective" regarding the Venice Architecture Biennale. While some were quick to agree, midlander felt differently "i think the best thing…is its utter inconsistency - each session is very much aligned to the whims of that year's curator…it's better to view these programs as a statement by the curator rather than a recognition of excellence in practice, and know sometimes it will have little relevance to what many of will pursue in the day-to-day work. getting people to talk about the basis of value in architecture and relevance in different societies is worthwhile."
Museum Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands by KAAN Architecten and BOX in Paredes de Coura, Portugal by Tiago Sousa are just two of the latest top images (in no particular order) from the Archinect Pinterest board Bricks & Stones.
R.I.P., English architect Michael Squire at the age of 77 and Italian architect, theorist, and historian Paolo Portoghesi at the age of 91.
In late April, Brian Nickel was working on "Point Clouds in Recap on BIM360". Then in May, Craig Purcell posted his "Velarium Concept (after RM Sovich sail architecture)".
LOLA landscape architects released their preliminary designs for the public space of Merwede which at 24 hectares is "one of the largest car-free inner-city neighborhood projects in the Netherlands".
Lian Chikako Chang got personal and provided some insight into why they care so much about public transit.
Looking for work? Consider applying to bcWORKSHOP in Dallas, Texas for their MiCASiTA Senior Design Manager position. Or Portland, Maine based AAmp Studio has an opening for an Intermediate Project Architect "with 5-plus years of post-graduate experience". Otherwise, maybe you want to be the next Senior Interior Designer / Senior Interior Architect at Strada Architecture LLC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Per the #BACbuzz blog, Daniel Libeskind received an honorary doctorate and delivered the commencement speech on Friday, May 26. For any of the would be haters out there, drums please, Fab? came with receipts "he's been a licensed architect in the state of New York since 2003."
The Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture appointed long-time ‘Nector Quilian Riano as their new dean. As you’d expect, folks had nothing but good things to say. While in other hiring news, Dr. Abimbola O. Asojo is the new dean at Morgan State University's School of Architecture and Planning.
Want a job in higher-education but maybe not interested a teaching gig? If so, Columbia university GSAPP is looking for a Director of Making Studio. Or University of Georgia is hiring a Project Architect in their Office of University Architects for Facilities Planning.
ICYMI go do it, started a thread for examples of design inspiration "They could be architecture related or not, just any image that can kickstart the imagination." The first image was a beauty, featuring a roof, gutter and window lintel detail.
For Josh Mings it is either "half nature half Brutalist bbs" while for pandahut 80% of their "inspiration no longer comes from architecture…Rather, I'm motivated by culture, food, music, the great outdoors…Getting outside as much as possible, off the computer, sketching and almost distancing myself from the profession has always paid off in multitudes." By way of answering atelier nobody dropped a link to their Tumblr "atelier nobody inspirations". Plus yumo***’s "grandfather serves as a perpetual inspiration…Approximately 70 years ago, he built his own house without any professional background in construction…Moreover, his skillset extended beyond the house itself. He built all the other buildings on the farm...My grandfather's ingenuity serves as a reminder that true craftsmanship transcends formal training."
#save warrior nun knows the "arch community is tiny, and word definitely travels…so how should I inform my boss I want to leave before the contract ends?" Bench kept it simple "Usually 2 weeks notice for any junior position is sufficient; that should be the base expectation." In the same vein reallynotmyname wrote "I don't see how you are burning a bridge here, as long as you give the employer a reasonable amount of time to bring in your replacement." Also some felt there was definitely one exception "if the role you're leaving is an unpaid internship, then burn every bridge on your way out."
Finally, bowling_ball was "curious if you've ever tried to incorporate a clause that ties fees to inflation." Chad Miller has not but has "done fees that take into account inflation. We basically add in the inflated cost of the work and the associated additional fee to our overall fee." Another approach Non Sequitur's firm now has "fineprint on multi-year corporate projects…something like ‘blended inflation rate of 7% added to total fee’. This way client pays the same every year (their accountants are happy) of the project and we're made whole as the market fluctuates."
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