Archinect - Features

Architensions on Creating Architecture That “Exists Beyond the Logic of Capitalism”

2020-03-03T09:00:00-05:00

When Alessandro Orsini and Nick Roseboro teamed up to lead Architensions, it was, as Alessandro describes, a “sort of a re-birth” for the architectural design studio. Since then, the Brooklyn- and Rome-based practice has been committed to exploring ideas that challenge “the paradigm of architecture as a financial tool” by putting human-driven design at the center of all their work.

In this Studio Snapshot, Alessandro and Nick thoughtfully reflect on their journey and what they've learned, from the ongoing process of evaluating their identity as a practice, to the importance of agency and social responsibility in the architectural field, to the thrill of getting to design an art installation for Coachella 2020.

Behind the Scenes of Coachella's Colossal Cacti with Andrew Kovacs

2019-04-19T16:18:00-04:00

As long as it has been known as a world-class music festival, Coachella has also been dedicated to the installation of artwork at the scale of architecture. This year, artists and architects including Francis Kéré, Peggy Noland and Dedo Vabo boasted impressive works during the festival. But it was Colossal Cacti, the project by Office Kovacs, that most skillfully referenced both the desert landscape of Indio Valley and the postmodern tradition of the architect's Los Angeles home base.

We interviewed Andrew Kovacs, the UCLA professor that leads Office Kovacs, about the fabrication process (beautifully photographed by Phil Donahue) and public reception of Colossal Cacti, while also discovering that the film's intention is always to bring architecture to the people.

18 Amazing Examples of Festival and Event Architecture to Celebrate the End of Summer

2017-08-29T12:28:00-04:00

The culture and lifestyle associated with music festivals has greatly changed since they first emerged. Evolving from a symbol of counterculture into popular mainstream entertainment, many music festivals have embraced the use of visual arts and architecture. Typically, this comes in the form of temporary structures and installations that provide visual stimuli, some shade, and often much-needed landmarks for locating lost friends. Even if confined by a tight budget and a short deadline, these temporary structures nevertheless represent exciting examples of efficient and engaging design.

Listen to 'Next Up: Arroyo Seco Weekend' Mini-Sessions

2017-07-20T14:38:00-04:00

Recently, Archinect teamed up with Bureau Spectacular for the Arroyo Seco Weekend festival. Jimenez Lai and Joanna Grant designed a pavilion for the event, while Archinect's Paul Petrunia and Nicholas Korody held a series of interviews within it. Conversations focused on temporary architecture, installations, festival design and planning, and the festival's host city of Pasadena, CA, the results of which can be listened to below.

We'd like to thank the Goldenvoice team, and in particular Raffi Lehrher, for recognizing the importance of architecture and urban issues, their interest in engaging the community, and inviting us to take part in this inaugural event.

"The Sidewalk's End", by Flux Foundation, for Coachella 2013

2013-06-05T08:00:00-04:00

The Sidewalk's End is a project about experience. How can art be inextricably linked to the landscape to enhance the experience of the physical place? In an environment over-saturated with stimuli, what are the fundamental kinds of human experience that are lacking? And how can the act of producing public art at this scale be a meaningful experience for everyone who contributes? The Flux Foundation, an Oakland based organization dedicated to producing large scale public art via a collaborative process, proposed an answer to these questions by creating a place where the sidewalk ends.

Student Works: Rock and Roll Fantasy - SCI-Arc at Coachella: Elastic Plastic Sponge

2009-05-19T10:40:00-04:00

The title "Rock and Roll Fantasy" might be a little misleading for this SCI-Arc studio project lead by Ball Nogues ' Benjamin Ball, Gaston Nogues and Andrew Lyon. While the program was 100% rock and roll, the practical lessons learned during this collaborative design-build experience were far from fantastical.

The goal of the studio was to develop an iconic architectural installation for the popular music festival Coachella . The students had to work within the tight constraint of a single semester to design and build a structure using a budget of only $15k.

Ball Nogues' studio is across the street from the Archinect HQ in downtown Los Angeles, so I was fortunate enough to follow the progress of this endeavor since the conception, prior to the start of the semester. I caught casual stories and occasional development drawings during my lunchtime visits with Benjamin. It kept me very curious and, honestly, a little doubtful that they could pull off such an ambitious undertaking. The res...