Archinect - News

The future of Canadian architecture relies on a national policy

2018-01-08T16:37:00-05:00

An architecture policy sets an aspirational goal for what we value about the built environment, and helps create a framework for that contribution to culture. The Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ) is actively consulting with the government on the establishment of a provincial architecture policy. This is a positive move and shows leadership in the preservation of Canadian culture. It is an example that our federal government should follow.

Canadian architecture needs the support of a national policy in order to survive the global competition. Canada's architecture must be seen under the umbrella of cultural policies that support local arts, culture, and businesses. As it stands, the country has no architectural policy to speak of. This leaves its firms vulnerable to larger international competition and its building susceptible to accreditation by non-Canadian architects.

An architectural policy can be found in most European countries and helps to support its local firms. Currently, Canada's local partners have limited involvement, especially in larger projects, due to stigmas of international firms having more design talent. When interviewed Frank Gehry said, "Canada had not offered the well supported educational institutions, the critical mass of creative people to produce radical new ideas, or the consumer markets for architecture to support more inventive practices."

Built By Women NYC is searching for 100 of the best NYC projects built by women

2014-09-10T19:49:00-04:00

Being a woman practicing in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction and the like is already a triumph in itself — let alone leading the design and construction of a built project. To honor this, the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation just launched Built By Women NYC, a project that highlights 100 outstanding buildings or built environments — historic or contemporary — located in New York City that were built/designed/constructed by women.

Until October 31, BxW NYC is accepting nominations of women who were directly responsible for leading the design (architecture, engineering, or landscape) or led the construction (either from the development or construction management team) for the structure or built environment. Projects must be completed or have broken ground and located in New York City.

Anyone of any gender is welcome to make a nomination! Women can also nominate themselves.

The jurors for BxW NYC include:

Deborah Berke, FAIA, Principal, Deborah Berke Partners
Joa...

Street Smart winning proposal revamps Bangalore, India with local perspective

2014-01-28T19:56:00-05:00

There's nothing more reliable than a local's perspective when it comes to redesigning urban cities. Focusing on India's cityscapes, the Street Smart International Design Competition invited all design professionals to propose ready-to-build designs that reimagine Indian city streets based on the feedback and everyday experience of each city's urban dwellers.

Check out a part of the first-place proposal by Febin Frederick & Naveen Nair of A Cube Paradigms.

See the entire proposal at Bustler.

Cooper-Hewitt Selects DS+R as Exhibition Designer and Local Projects as Media Designer

2012-06-28T14:13:00-04:00

Diller Scofidio + Renfro were announced today as designers of the gallery and visitor experience for the reopening of the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. New York exhibition specialists Local Projects will act as participatory media designer and develop engaging ways to access digital content at the museum and remotely. The museum campus is scheduled to reopen in 2014.

UPDATE: Cooper Hewitt puts can-do spirit into the house Carnegie built