Archinect - News

BFI Giveaway - Win tickets to 'Berger on Buildings' and a BFI Membership Package

2017-06-15T05:55:00-04:00

In conjunction with the BFI's Architecture on TV season this June we are offering Archinect readers the chance to win tickets to Berger on Buildings with an intro from Mike Dibb, Tom Overton and Matthew Harle.

John Berger passed away in January this year, leaving behind an unparalleled contribution to literature, criticism, film and television. We have the privilege of screening his rarely-seen work on architecture and the built environment in this special programme. Enjoy his ethical consideration of the city in The Visual Scene (BBC 1969. Prod Nancy Thomas. 31min), his commentary on Le Corbusier’s designs in A City at Chandigarh (1966. Dir Alain Tanner. 44min), and Berger’s profile of the outsider artist Ferdinand Cheval in 10 Thousand Days, 93 Thousand Hours, 33 years of Effort (BBC 1965. Dir Michael Gill. 28min).

We are also offering one lucky Archinect reader a full BFI Membership Package. Enjoy priority booking for BFI Southbank and BFI London Film Festival. Other all year-rou...

2016 Fuller Challenge announces 19 semi-finalist initiatives

2016-07-12T14:04:00-04:00

The ninth cycle of the prestigious 2016 Fuller Challenge is well underway, and competition is as fierce as ever. Following the expert jury's rigorous evaluations, 19 semi-finalists were announced today...Multi-disciplinary teams work hard for a chance at winning the $100,000 grand prize that will help implement their initiative.

A few of this year's semi-finalists include:

Cooperación Comunitaria, which works with marginalized communities in Mexico's most seismically active region to build housing that is affordable, seismically sound, sustainable, and culturally appropriate.

The African Design Center “aims to transform the African built environment through a comprehensive program to recruit and train the next generation of African designers and architects.”

Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) produces sustainably designed feminine hygiene products made out of discarded banana fiber. They call out the lacking availability of such products in developing countries, as well as broader taboos surrounding menstruation.

(cover image) Taking Roots' CommuniTree project works “to tackle deforestation, climate change, and poverty, through a comprehensive reforestation and carbon sequestration strategy” in Nicaragua and Guatemala, in collaboration with local rural farmers and their families.

Check out the full list of se...

BFI Giveaway - Win two tickets to "Transport as Architecture: Ballard to Banham"

2016-06-22T04:13:00-04:00

Reflecting on TV's role in British architecture the BFI is running 'Architecture on TV'. "TV has not only provided a platform for these commentators but played a pivotal role in broadening architecture’s audiences and engaging the public in debate. "

We are giving away two tickets to the final event "Transport as Architecture: Ballard to Banham"

The season rounds off with a unique J.G. Ballard double bill which sees the author deconstruct the beauty and menace of motorised society in Transport as Architecture: Ballard to Banham; this event will be introduced by journalist Paul Morely who appears alongside Ballard in The Thing is... Motorways (C4, 1990). In addition to Ballard’s thoughts on the utopian sentiments behind motorways and service stations, Reyner Banham pays tribute to LA and its freeways in Reyner Benham Loves LA (BBC, 1972).

To enter simply fill out this survey by the deadline Monday 27th June 12pm. Best of Luck!

‘Mushroom Plastics’ initiative Ecovative wins 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge

2013-10-22T19:00:00-04:00

In the past few weeks, the Buckminster Fuller Institute has been introducing numerous finalist entries for the sixth annual Buckminster Fuller Challenge [...]. Today now, the BFI announced the overall challenge winner: Ecovative, a Green Island, NY-based materials science company that has developed a new class of home-compostable bio-plastics based on living organisms, mushroom mycelia — a high-performing, environmentally responsible alternative to traditional plastic materials.

The 'mushroom material' inventors, Eben Bayer, Gavin McIntyre, and the Ecovative Team, will be awarded the $100,000 cash prize at a ceremony at Cooper Union in New York City on November 18, 2013.

Previously: Announcing the 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Finalists