Archinect - News

Kanye West visits SCI-Arc while hanging out with controversial conservatives Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk

2018-04-30T19:07:00-04:00

Kanye West has made a confusing return to Twitter this month. During his recent spree, the rapper has doubled down on his support of Donald Trump, praised the right-wing commentator Candace Owens, and—in a move that would seem to be at odds with the first two—referred to Parkland shooting survivor Emma González as his hero.

Amidst his Twitter-ing, West took a quick break yesterday to visit the Southern California Institute of Architecture, where he met with Owens and fellow right-winger and Turning Point USA founder, Charlie Kirk. There, the three walked through the school's Spring Show (which is open to the public), looked at some student work, and learned about desalination. West even took second to tweet about his visit and shout out the work of M.Arch I student Ashley Hastings.

Donald Trump Jr. also got involved, tweeting out his delight at West hanging out with his pals.

Though the reason for their visit is currently unknown, West has long been a champion of architecture. I...

Architecture's Page Six moment: Brad Pitt hangs out with American-Israeli architect and MIT professor Neri Oxman

2018-04-05T17:04:00-04:00

A source exclusively confirms that architecture and design aficionado Pitt recently met accomplished Oxman through an MIT architecture project and they have since become friends. Pitt was referred to Oxman to collaborate on an architectural project he was working on, we’re told. As first revealed on “Page Six TV,” a source told us, “Brad and Neri instantly hit it off because they share the same passion for architecture, design and art. This is best described as a professional friendship.”

Editor's Picks #321

2013-06-25T11:32:00-04:00

For the latest edition of the Student Works: series Archinect featured work by two AA Visiting Schools one held in Athens & the other in Istanbul. Completed prior to the recent OccupyGezi unrest, Noise De-Former (one of the projects from the Istanbul school) "aimed to materialize the fluctuating noise levels in Taksim Square by creating an interface which can regulate noise, enabling a more comfortable environment for the public resting in Gezi Park".

News
Inspired by a recent discussion re: the Influence of Robert Venturi on Louis Kahn Orhan Ayyüce; highlighted a significant thesis by then Master of Science in Architecture candidate Sam Rodell in Washington State University completed in 2008. In the thesis Mr. Rodell, "considers the question of how Louis Kahn’s development as an architect was shaped by the influences of Robert Venturi. The personal and professional interaction between these two historically significant architects began late in Kahn’s career and early in Ven...

The Financial Times calls Zaha an "Unlikely ‘pushover’ who doesn’t play safe"

2013-03-06T15:08:00-05:00

Referring to younger staff variously as “kids” or “the children”, Dame Zaha, cloaked in black and with smudges of fuchsia on both her eyes and lips, says she is approachable. Those who know her (and prefer not to be named) characterise her as volcanic – she blows up but then it’s over. There are no lasting grudges. Her business partner, architect Patrik Schumacher, says the explosions are the byproduct of “uncompromising standards”, suggesting such bust-ups are normal in creative offices.

She pulls the architect responsible to one side. “I don’t care where [the lights go] as long as they’re not in my presence,” she snaps. Dame Zaha’s two assistants stare at the ground. Moments later they fall to the floor to take off her high-heeled Martin Margiela ankle boots so she can walk five yards across the room.

Why does this globally renowned architect – the first female winner of the Pritzker award (considered the Nobel Prize of the field) – pick on her employees? “Some people take the piss and I don’t like that,” she says. “People have to understand my limits. There is a point of no return. Most people who work with me know that line.” You cannot run a business and be “a complete doormat”.

Call for submissions, Conditions Issue #10: GOSSIP

2011-11-30T17:08:12-05:00

What is the function of gossip in architecture? Let’s face it, architects don’t openly criticize or debate each others work in public; they prefer to gossip within their chosen networks, aiding social bonding through subtle passive aggression. Gossip has always been around in architecture as one of the oldest ways of sharing, maneuvering and convincing. But how does it manifest itself today within the instant culture of internet and social media? What is the role of gossip in contemporary networking? Has the logic of gossip and instant gratification also penetrated what we used to call architectural critique? How does the world of architecture really work? Why are some more successful than others? Why do some get their projects built and others not? Are they better architects? How important are networks? How do they work? Why don’t the best projects always win the competition? Behind every project, office or architect there is a story that reveals the truth of how it really happen...