Archinect - News

New book shares the untold work of African American architects from Chicago's South Side

2019-09-30T11:49:00-04:00

Chicago is recognized for its iconic architectural history, however, there are some areas of this beloved architectural haven that have not found a voice until now. Writer and photographer Lee Bey has documented buildings located in Chicago's South Side for several years. With the hopes to expose their architectural and cultural influence within the city Bey showcased these photographs in an exhibition, Southern Exposure, during the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial. Since then Bey has published the book "Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago’s South Side"

Recently Bey sat with Iker Gil of, director of MAS Studio to discuss the book and the project's origin. According to Bey he explains "The exhibition and the book grew up together [...] The idea was to not make the book an exhibition book, but to use the exhibition as inspiration and to go beyond the show and showcase more buildings and places, and have the text delve deeply into the South Side’s—and Chicago’s...

Jose Sanchez launched The Blindspot Initiative to a full house at Archinect Outpost

2019-02-21T13:53:00-05:00

We would like to thank everyone that attended the launch of Jose Sanchez's book, The Blindspot Initiative. During the packed-house event Jose spoke about the intention of the book and was followed by Behnaz Farahi, Biayna Bogosian of Somewhere Something and Casey Rehm of Kinch.

Published by Evolo, The Blindspot Initiative contains a forward by generative software designer Casey Reas and texts by Jose Sanchez, David Gerber, Jenny Wu, Kate Davies and Mostafa Elsayed.

Purchase The Blindspot Initiative at Archinect Outpost

Jose Sanchez presenting The Blindspot Initiative

The event was also unique in that it was the first virtual reality demonstration set up at Archinect Outpost. On the virtual reality device set up in the top space, Sanchez presented Block'hood, a city building simulator video game that focuses on ideas of ecology, interdependence and decay. The game invited players to envision a neighborhood, by building structures out of a catalog of 200+ blocks.

Virtual Reality se...

Neil Denari launched his new monograph MASSX at Archinect Outpost last night

2018-11-28T17:34:00-05:00

Thanks so much to everyone that braved the LA rush hour traffic to attend our book launch & signing with Neil Denari last night at Archinect Outpost. As predicted, all of the copies of MASSX we secured were quickly sold. We have heard from many of you out there who wanted to buy a copy, but couldn't attend our event, so we're reaching out to the publisher to see if we can snag some more copies of this very limited release.

During my conversation with Neil we spoke about his early vision for the monograph, the process of producing and editing this giant tome, his approach to communicating his work through print (Neil did all the layout and graphic design for this book!), and his vision for the next monograph, which he promises won't take another 19 years to release. We will be releasing this conversation as a podcast or article very soon, so stay tuned.

Over the course of the next few months we will be hosting more of these events, with local and international architects, to talk ab...

Here's your chance to get a super limited-edition copy of MASSX, Neil Denari's highly anticipated new monograph

2018-11-24T11:00:00-05:00

Join us Tuesday, November 27th celebrate MASSX, the latest monograph from Neil M. Denari Architects at Archinect Outpost.

We will be selling 20 copies of MASSX, priced at $162.50 + tax. It is recommended that you arrive before doors open at 6 if you want to get a copy of the book, as they will sell to the first people in line (if you already have a copy of MASSX, please feel free to bring it to the event to get it signed and receive secure access to the conversation).

The conversation will start at 6:30, and doors will close at that time until the conversation ends. Space will be limited, so priority will be given to those who buy a copy of MASSX or bring their own copy.

HL23, by Neil Denari

This formidable monograph of Neil M. Denari Architects can be viewed as a point of departure for examining architecture’s role in the contemporary world. It contains more than 700 pages of material that has evolved over time, the majority of which has never been published, and offers both a rich...

Ain't No Party Like an Archinect Party: Treatise Launch at the VDL House

2015-05-06T16:20:00-04:00

The Cognoscenti Coffee cocktails were flowing (and frothing) at the Neutra VDL House on Saturday May 2nd, as Archinect, the VDL House and the Graham Foundation hosted the book launch of Treatise, a series of publications wherein 14 relatively new design offices explored the question "Why Write Alone?" Featuring work from emerging talents such as Andrew Kovacs, Point Supreme, and SOFTLab, the project is part of a larger mandate to explore creative approaches to architecture, and was initially part of an exhibition featuring over 200 models, images, drawings, and multi-media installations curated by Jimenez Lai in Chicago in January.

Photo by Diana Koenigsberg

Several hours into the party, the stylishly-dressed Lai mounted the gravel strewn median above the courtyard to toast the Graham Foundation for providing the grant that made Treatise possible. He also thanked Archinect's Paul Petrunia for hosting the event, to which over 250 attendees affirmatively R.S.V.P.-ed.

Photo by Diana Koe...

Archinect to host party & book launch for "Treatise: Why Write Alone?" at the Neutra VDL Saturday, May 2nd!

2015-04-24T12:48:00-04:00

Mark your calendars for Saturday evening, May 2! Archinect is heading out to the Neutra VDL House in Los Angeles for the "Treatise: Why Write Alone?" West Coast book launch. Archinect, Neutra VDL House, and The Graham Foundation will be co-hosting the event.

The Neutra VDL House in Silver Lake, Los Angeles will be hosting the event. (Photo: David Hartwell)

Organized by Jimenez Lai of Bureau Spectacular, "Treatise" is a publication project featuring the collective works of 14 young design offices, who each explore the concept: "Why Write? And why write alone?" "Treatise" originates from Lai's Graham Foundation grant to pursue non-conformist approaches to architecture, and it made its debut as an exhibition in Chicago's Graham Foundation in January.

Cognoscenti Coffee will be serving espresso and espresso-based drinks -- including espresso-based cocktails! Special guests will soon be announced.

RSVP now. (The event is free!)

View of “Treatise: Why Write Alone?”, 2015, Graham Foundation, Ch...

Win Paul T. Frankl's autobiography + a chance to attend the U.S. Book Launch in L.A.

2014-03-05T15:00:00-05:00

We're having yet another book giveaway! Five Archinectors will win a copy of the Paul T. Frankl Autobiography, published by DoppelHouse Press and edited by notable design scholar Christopher Long and Aurora McClain from the University of Texas at Austin.

On top of that, another winner and their guest will be able to attend the exclusive U.S. Book Launch reception happening this Friday, March 7 at the historic Village Green in Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles. Hosted by the SoCal chapter of Docomomo/US, Professor Long and Paulette Frankl — the daughter of Paul T. Frankl — will feature presentations at this event. (More info in flyer below.)

To enter the book drawing and/or the March 7 EVENT drawing, sign up to the Archinect Weekly newsletter, then send us an email to connect@archinect.com, stating if you are interested in the book or the event drawing.

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Launch event tonight! "Shaping the City" refreshes case studies of contemporary urbanism

2013-11-01T18:52:00-04:00

Drop by Hollywood’s finest art and architecture bookstore, Hennessey + Ingalls, tonight for a special event launching Shaping the City, a newly revised edition of contemporary urbanism case studies. The event will also feature a conversation with University of Toronto’s Director of Urban Design, and Shaping the City’s editor, Rodolphe el-Khoury, along with Qingyun Ma, Dean of USC School of Architecture. The conversation will also include Shaping the City contributors Teddy Cruz, Victor J. Jones, and Paulette Singley.

Archinect picked the brains of el-Khoury and Singley before the launch, here’s some tidbits:

Archinect: What was your contribution to Shaping the City?

Rodolphe el-Khoury: [Co-author Edward Robbins and I] conceived Shaping the City as a potential textbook that would sample aspects of the city without imposing an overarching conceptual framework on the complex and varied manifestations of urban forms and phenomena.

Paulette Singley: "Los Angeles: Between Cognit...