Archinect - News

Dump your old vector files in the Digital Junkyard to be recycled into real-world objects

2015-07-24T21:28:00-04:00

The Digital Junkyard is an experiment in virtual salvage. It is a repository of donated digital information that is used to generate real physical and spatial objects...This project is an embodiment of the growing collective intelligence that technology affords us; and an experiment in ideas about digital ecology. It also honours the time and energy that designers put into testing and making mistakes.

No, this isn't some snarky Craigslist ad. Recently launched by architecturally trained designer and artist Car Martin, the Digital Junkyard is a website with a mission to transform as much of your unwanted vector files into a new physical object or creative idea of sorts, in the real world. In addition to "dumping" their files, users can "salvage" and download donated files, and can eventually check out the resulting "artifacts" -- although that section of the site is yet to be filled.

The Digital Junkyard accepts a maximum of 250 MB and is mainly looking for vector files. More specifically:

Adobe (.ai .eps .pdf)
Autodesk (.dwg .rvt)
Mcneel/Rhino (.3dm .gh.ghx)
Sketchup (.skp)
GIS (.mxd & shapefile folders)
Other (.svg .dxf)

Screenshot via djunkyard.com

While the Digital Junkyard can be a practical outlet for architects and designers to clear up their digital workspaces, Martin's website has an introspective side to it that is greatly relevant at this point in our tightening relationship wit...

Hardcore Architecture: the homes that produced ’80s punk bands

2015-05-13T19:24:00-04:00

Of all the variants of punk rock, hardcore always gave the impression of having the most blue collar flavor to its anti-authoritarian vibes. Pulled from the 1982-1989 issues of the infamous punk fanzine Maximum Rocknroll, Hardcore Architecture examines how true that impression is. Cross-referencing the addresses of mostly long-extinct hardcore and punk bands with modern Google Street View [...] snapshot of the homes, neighborhoods, and early apartments of these struggling bands.

The Five Benefits of Getting the Right Domain Name

2014-09-08T11:00:00-04:00

Did you know that great domain names are the easiest way for customers to find you online? You can help your visitors find you by using a domain name that is short and memorable. This year the architectural community got its very own domain name extension with .ARCHI, a dedicated domain name extension launched in June, which has quickly become the go-to extension used by the architectural community.

Choosing the right .ARCHI domain name is very important and can lead to significant increases in traffic to your website. It’s not hard to begin using a .ARCHI domain name for an existing website or a new project and here are five benefits you’ll see if you make the switch.

1. Easy-to-Remember Domain Names
A good domain name will be easy to remember, making your website easy to find. It’s not easy to find short memorable domain names anymore, since over 128 million .com and .net names are currently already taken. .ARCHI is a totally blank-canvas domain space so if you register one today you...

Win $1,000 subscription to create your website

2013-12-06T15:27:00-05:00

This sponsored post is brought to you by IM Creator:

Creating your own portfolio website

Some of you might not believe it but there are still a few architect that do not have their own website. Every small business needs a website to serve as their online business card and allow them to:

Display their portfolio
Help potential customers find them on Google
Communicate with customers
Share information and grow as an industry leader.

It doesn’t matter if you are a freelance or a small company - these days having your own website a must, especially with all the tools out there that allow you to build your own website without any knowledge of coding or design. In some of these tools you can actually get your website live in just a few minutes and

Today we are very happy to invite you to our special Archinect-IM Creator Giveaway!

IM Creator is an easy to use website building tool that created special templates for architects plus many templates for anyone who...

Indians in gated communities meet their neighbors online

2012-06-12T21:09:00-04:00

Sumit Jain has fond memories of his childhood in a small town where everybody knew everybody. But as a young man, he moved to a big city for work and began living in an apartment building. Jain said he soon missed feeling connected to a community. That sense of loss led him to create Commonfloor.com, a “neighborhood portal” for Indians whose lifestyles have changed with their nation’s economic transformation but who still crave neighborhood life.

Cooper-Hewitt Launches New Online Guide to Design Week NYC

2012-05-17T14:28:00-04:00

Design Week NYC is almost here, and the plethora of events going on around New York City can be quite overwhelming. But worry not, the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum has launched a new tool that will come in very handy: a mobile-ready website, designweeknyc.org, highlighting design-related events around the city during ICFF, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, May 19-22.

Tilt-tables and Google Maps make a game out of environments

2012-04-28T17:17:00-04:00

How much have books or film influenced your sense and recognition of place were you've never been before? And how about games, as developers push for more accurate and realistic map models? How will the ability to interface with all aspects of real-world data affect our future perception of space and place?

Built using Google's Start Here technology.

Maya Lin invites and challenges visitors to her website to help improve Earth's well-being

2012-04-18T19:46:00-04:00

Ms. Lin conceived "What Is Missing?" as the fifth, and last, of her memorial projects, which began with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 1982.

If you're looking for something to do on Earth Day, consider a visit to www.whatismissing.net, the site developed by noted artist and activist Maya Lin that launches its second stage Sunday.

From the School Blogs: Schmancy new website for the GSD

2011-08-29T14:36:00-04:00

Just a quick note to say that it looks like the GSD's new website, which has been in the works for the past few years, is live! I haven't even looked through it yet, but you can check it out here. The site is designed by Pentagram.

ZahaHadid.com gets a facelift

2011-08-09T15:01:55-04:00

Zaha Hadid's website just received an extreme makeover. A much needed one at that! Her previous website was a commonly-used reference in the "architects have horrible websites" argument. This new one appears to be a huge improvement based on the few minutes I've surfed around.

POSTPOST

2011-07-15T11:12:35-04:00

Post Post is a new online project focused on exploring the dialog of relational contexts within architectural projects and practices. By extending the lens beyond the individual scope of projects, Post Post seeks to illuminate the interwoven and complex relationships of congruous trajectories within contemporary architectural practice. Post Post looks forward to furthering this pursuit with an active community of user-submitted content.

OpenBuildings launches new site and secures Series A funding from leading investors

2011-04-13T14:15:59-04:00

We're excited to share this news from our friends at OpenBuildings. Stay tuned for more upcoming exciting news about Archinect's collaborations with OpenBuildings, DesignerPages and Otto.

OpenBuildings, a global archive of buildings for architecture lovers and industry professionals, today announced it has secured a $2 million Series A funding round led by BlueRun Ventures and Index Ventures. John Malloy of BlueRun Ventures will join the board and the funding will be used to expand the team in London, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria as well as improve the existing technology of this cross media service. OpenBuildings aims to promote the sharing of architectural knowledge and gives a platform for discourse between professionals and the general public. What I find exciting is that OpenBuildings allows people to discover buildings and then share and discuss them in a completely new way. I think this is going to really stimulate people’s interaction with architecture.” Adel Zakout, Co-Founder, C...

Softlab_nyc relaunches site

2007-04-11T10:57:00-04:00

Are you into parametrics, fabrication and amazing animations? Then check out the recently re launched website of our friends and colleagues at Softlab. Lots of work for a studio thats been running for only 2 years. Enjoy!