Since the iPhone is by far the most popular mobile device that Archinect readers own, according to our web analytics, we developed this app for you iPhone (and iPod/iPad!) users as a simple, mobile version of Archinect. The app is not designed to offer the full functionality that that the website does but it does provide an easy-to-read interface to follow and share the latest jobs and latest in Archinect news, features, projects, events, blogs, & discussions. However, for those of you who have Android, Windows, and other mobile devices, we're currently working on a mobile version of Archinect to provide a better experience using Archinect on the go. Lian Chikako Chang loves the new app because it is "so readable. I can archinect on my way to the cafeteria".

News
The proposal for the Amsterdam Iconic Pedestrian Bridge competition by Yaohua Wang Architecture proved quite controversial generating 31 comments to date. Most thought the project was impressive from a purely formal and visual graphics perspective. However, that was the problem for some like toasteroven who posted "I kept thinking it was going to turn cynical or critical of it's utter lack of humanity... but I guess not?  someone obviously is influenced by 70s/80s futuristic comics, but seems to have completely glossed over their social commentary. I think this is what disturbs me about this design - there are no people there - only some kind of apocalyptic future where the machines have taken over." Similarly EKE wrote "I agree completely. The video was very well done indeed, and the conception of the city is technically very interesting. But there is something weirdly sinister about the whole thing."

Others such as Happy thoughts disagreed arguing that "the bridge - its just a bridge with some program who cares if 'looks' dystopic or spacelike? it's self-righteous to moralize things. I think it looks ok, maybe a little self indulgent....but at least its trying to collect some renewable energy, so maybe its not as dystopic as one might think from looking at it.  None of the winners collected renewable engergy. In fact the winners are even more self indulgent.” Steven Ward for his part asked "is 'dystopian' just an issue of rendering technique these days? 'cause i could just as easily see this is a bright blue sky rendering with the various elements painted bright colors and believe it was at disney tomorrowland." He continued "so, despite the renderings (nothing that couldn't be fixed in photoshop) and from what i remember of how beautiful the amsterdam canals are on a bright day, i think this could be pretty fun and great!"

Andreas Tjeldflaat and Gregory Knobloch, as part of the PennDesign studio FUTURE PRISON DESIGN proposed 499.SUMMIT : a futuristic high-rise urban penitentiary in Jersey City which seeks to challenge the conventions of traditional prison design.  Alex of A.D.Morley & J.A.Wong really enjoyed the video however "doesn’t  think the solution is in high rise design, particularly in such a depressed area... Prison tower as the new cathedral landmark?". Not if Alex can help it...

Google recently announced that it would use a thermal storage system for the first time in a new data center in Taiwan. belle wondered "In the future, as (if) the electricity grid is decarbonised there will be an advantage to flattening out peak electricity demand, so maybe this is a useful technology, but in itself, does it significantly reduce energy consumption?" to which AP responded "we're using 'thermal storage' on a project in the city right now.  it makes a lot of sense in our case (18 hour building in a big city)...Google's situation is probably similar."

Earlier this week fire engulfed Moscow’s Federation Tower, Europe's tallest-to-be tower. victimeyes quipped "buildings burning. someone call wolf prix".

Schools/School Blogs
The Preston H. Thomas Memorial Symposium 2012 at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning will be held from Fri, Apr 13 '12 - Sat, Apr 14 '12  and is titled Design Tactics and the Informalized City.

Will Galloway at Keio University's architecture program invited anyone in the neighborhood, to attend the Tohoku Rock Rebuild fundraiser/party on Friday the 13th at the Mercedes Benz Connection in Roppongi 

A.D.Morley & J.A.Wong who are both currently studying abroad in Helsinki visited the headquarters of Kone, one of the world leaders in escalators and elevators, for their Building Technologies class. There they "learned a great deal about the nuances, technology, and design of vertical circulation" and how elevator systems "in Supertalls are less elevators than they are high-tech vertical transit systems".

Patrick Beseda, a student in the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado, Denver shared presentation drawings for a house project he is working on.

Work Updates/Firm Updates/Blogs

Tiffany Bowie, recently posted Malboeuf Bowie completes Greenwood House.

MADianito can’t figure out why all of the "Design Inspiration" websites, blogs etc ....  "show only other designs and finished products, basically consequences of someone else's inspirations". He also lamented the fact architecture magazines used to be spaces for critique & reflexion, but today it "seems every architecture magazine is just a tendencies & style magazine.... so boring and predictable". pkolbo replied "Inspiration is what moves you.  It can come from a finished product or not.  To me, inspiration is finding beauty in something.  That beauty drives me to innovate and create something new and make it my own.  It activates.  Showing someone else's inspiration may or may not drive you.  Showing you their final work may or may not inspire you....I agree, I would like to see how people link their ideas and from what they were motivated.  But it is not a requirement to be inspired."

.PSLAB’s was asked to create original lighting for the rooms and lobbies of the renovated Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, managed by Paris-based architect India Mahdavi. For the main lobby, .PSLAB created a romantic, whimsical central ceiling fixture, whose white, floral brightness belies the durability of its individual leaf-like hammered metal elements, and the technical ingenuity of the fluctuating axis heights of their mounts, which allow them to cluster organically around their light sources. The spirit of this element was then captured in the adaptation of the product to wall fixtures throughout the hotel.             

Discussion Threads
clearlyambguous has offered to assist some friends by drawing up the plans to change the roof pitch on a 1-story residence and needs some clarification "They will be contacting a Contractor to do the work. What do I need to provide, what can I legally provide, to assist them?" wurdan freo answered "not sure about the code in LA, but generally if the roof can be conventionally framed, you are not on the hook for anything." Meanwhile, Janosh suggested "Send the sketch and back away - this is going to be a very complicated/expensive endeavor and it's best not to be around to suffer the blowback if you don't also have the experience to clean up the mess."

piercenkc needs help finding a a particular book on urban form an old professor had that was a collection of black and white images - of all types of different cities. The white represented public space, etc...black was building density.

kayumi is looking for information on the job market in the Chicago area  these days, as "The last round of comments on chicago architecture were from 2008 and were horribly pessimistic". Punch84 thinks "The Chicago job market is starting to show signs of life...I'd say it's at about 14 beats/minute but still not able to eat solid foods". Anyone else have anything to add?

Finally, Thread Central discussed the news that lawmakers in Denmark have agreed upon a new set of programs for efficiency and renewable energy that will put the country on a path to getting 100% of electricity, heat and fuels from renewable resources by 2050. Rusty Shackleford argued "Denmark can not be carbon neutral. Math is just not there. We pump out 85.6 million barrels of oil PER DAY (globally). Nothing can offset these figures. In lieu of 'carbon neutral' and 'zero energy', I prefer the term 'less fucked up than before' as a realistic goal". Will Galloway countered "i agree its not easy but if the govt is making it a law (even natural gas boilers will be outlawed for home heating in new construction next year) then why not?  i tell you i just lived through a year of energy blackouts and basically japan has shut off ALL of their nuclear power plants now so i foresee the country heading the same way.  energy consumption can be changed and energy technology changed too if there is a desire to do it". Steven Ward

added "i think it's just the difference between path and result. using 100% renewables is a *path* to carbon neutral, but the process of the changeover will USE a lot of carbon for production and set-up...so carbon neutral has to be parsed...don't get me wrong. i think it's all good, and it's a way to nurture an economy based in renewables, but 'carbon neutral' is a slippery claim."

Additionally
In EXPLORING EYE: DAMASCENE DERELICTION for Architectural Review Georgina Ward and Niall McLaughlin reported on an architectural study trip to Syria shortly before the Arab Spring which revealed the Old Town of Damascus to be long-abandoned and lamentably neglected. A year on, this precious heritage continues to deteriorate unregarded amid escalating violence and crisis.