Archinect - News

Editor's Picks #422

2015-07-06T13:40:00-04:00

Nicholas Korody interviewed Andrés Jacque (of the Office for Political Innovation ) about COSMO, the winning entry of this year’s MoMA PS1 Young Architect’s Program competition. Therein he argued "I believe that the architect’s role nowadays can also be providing alternatives, and enriching through diversity the collective catalogue of desirable possibilities."

Thayer-D commented "I don't think this qualifies as architecture, but it's very interesting" to which Kozumelle responded "I have seen this in person and it is not architecture in the strictest sense but still a wonderful, fantastic idea. Jaque's ideas are always politically charged and veer into other territories and he does it well."

Plus, for Screen/Print #34 Amelia Taylor-Hochberg featured the latest edition of KTISMA , from the University of Oregon’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts.

News
The Guggenheim Helsinki Design Competition selected Paris-based Moreau Kusunoki Architectes as the grand-prize winners.

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"Man of Steel" Donald Wexler, desert modern icon, dies at 89

2015-06-29T15:31:00-04:00

'His signature style helped bring Palm Springs to the international stage and his body of work is still as fresh today as when first created...'

Aptly nicknamed a "man of steel", Desert Modern-style architect Donald Wexler was known for his affordable sleek steel homes and was one of the principal figures who influenced Palm Springs' iconic modernist aesthetic that has increased in popularity in the last 15 years or so, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. Described by close colleagues as a modest and insightful man, Wexler passed away at the age of 89 this past Friday, June 26 in his Palm Desert home. The Desert Sun reports that he died after dealing with an undisclosed brief illness.

Born on Jan. 23, 1926 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wexler made his way to Southern California after graduating from the University of Minnesota. In California, Wexler worked as an apprentice for Richard Neutra for nine months before moving to Palm Springs when he landed a job in William Francis Cody's firm. In 1952, Wexler established Wexler & Harrison with Richard Harrison, a colleague he met at Cody's firm, but the two w...

Cal Poly Pomona Archives on California Modernism and International Style

2011-04-19T14:33:46-04:00

I recently got acquainted with Cal Poly Pomona's archives of Richard Neutra, Raphael Soriano, Donald Wexler, Garrett Eckbo, Craig Ellwood and others. These archives contain never published before original drawings, photographs, blueprints, and stories. They were given to the College of Environmental Design and they are in care of Dr. Lauren Weiss Bricker. The archives are open to public with an appointment. I have arranged a permission to do an Archinect Feature on them including an interview with Dr. Bricker and others who have many stories about this precious collection. Coming soon...