Archinect - News

The glory days of fast food architecture may be gone forever

2023-02-21T19:10:00-05:00

Goodbye bright colors and unusual shapes. Today, the design is minimal and sleek. Most fast-food restaurants are built to maximize efficiency, not catch motorists’ attention. One critic has called this trend “faux five-star restaurants” intended to make customers forget they are eating greasy fries and burgers. The chains now sport nearly identical looks. Call it the gentrification of fast-food design.

The psychologically manipulative color schemes may remain, but fast food’s once-iconic Googie and mid-century modern designs are quickly being swapped out for more monolith structures. Changes caused by the pandemic and technology are the largest factors, along with the rise in popularity of drive-thru-only chains.

If it goes on unabated, the America your children grow up in could become one vast dystopic warren of bland 5-over-1s, converted strip malls, Amazon fulfillment centers, these unhealthy slat facade Wendy’s stores, and the occasional mass timber luxury tower attainable exclusively to the very rich and well-connected.

The NYT asks: In a housing crisis, is building ‘bland’ better than the alternative?

2023-01-23T18:34:00-05:00

The new developments look startlingly alike, often in the form of boxy, mid-rise buildings with a ground-floor retail space, sans-serif fonts and vivid slabs of bright paneling. The bulky design is conspicuous, jutting out of downtown streets and overpowering its surroundings. Over time, it attracts a certain ecosystem — the craft breweries, the boutique coffee shops, the out-of-town young professionals. It’s anytown architecture, and it’s hard to know where you are from one city to the next.

The disappearance of America’s vernacular architecture and subsequent rise of what some call developer modernism is the product of necessity, reluctance towards artistry, and the monopolization of residential development across the country, according to the Times’ real estate reporter Anna Kodé.

The question of the kinds of structures (especially outside of large cities) they are replacing, if at all, is a potential counterargument in favor of their ubiquity. The larger question of whether drabness is a permanent condition of contemporary architecture, however, remains unanswered.

In a postscript with the Times’ Insider section, Kodé added: “I think one of the surprising things that came out of this story for me was finding out the number of people who defend these building types. I thought I would have to scrounge for those kinds of people. But a lot of people dee...

The pandemic is causing a host of changes in multifamily unit design

2021-08-13T09:00:00-04:00

The conversation around the shift from workplace to workspace often gets stuck on how the office is transitioning to meet the evolving needs of employees. But it isn’t just offices that are adjusting. Like their office-owning counterparts, multifamily landlords and operators are studying shifts in workplace strategy, planning new ways to design layouts and apply technology to support the growing work from home population.

The pandemic has caused a sharp pullback in multifamily construction as developers have struggled to adapt to the shift in lifestyles. Increased needs for high-quality internet and added remote workspaces have beset the residential market historically driven by amenity trends and aesthetic considerations.

Some firms have been investing in comprehensive surveys and other types of consultations. It has been estimated that up to 70% of the workforce could be remote by mid-decade. Propmodo has more on pandemic-induced design trends in multifamily design here.

Pantone has selected 2021's "color(s) of the year" – should architects care?

2020-12-10T16:04:00-05:00

The announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year seems to cause the media to stir every year. While everyone jumps on the hype showcasing how "excited" they are, how do color trends impact architects?

Don't get me wrong; I love seeing the use of color in projects. The study of color theory is valuable and impacts a project tremendously. Verner Panton and Josef Albers are probably two of the most recognizable color aficionados in design, amongst others, but do these yearly trends make their way into built projects?

While the public may "welcome" the 2021 color of the year (PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating), its announcement is more of a reminder that color trends don't have much weight unless they're used and applied.

To see color in action we've gathered eleven projects featured on Archinect that celebrate color and its use.

Elementary School Vřesovice/Reconstruction of Baroque Rectory by Public Atelier

Elementary School Vřesovice/Reconstruction of Ba...

IKEA publishes 70-year catalog archive

2020-09-08T14:41:00-04:00

Last month the IKEA's Museum in Älmhult, Sweden opened an exhibition showcasing 70's years of their iconic catalogs. Due to the location, and COVID, the exhibition was limited to a small number of visitors. Fortunately, they have just published their Swedish catalog archive for all to see. Quite fascinating to see how furniture trends have evolved over the decades...

1950's...

1960's...

1970's...

1980's...

1990's...

1997 - Same year that Archinect launched!

2000's...

2010's...

2020's...

How did architect Morris Lapidus' 'Stairs to Nowhere' transform stepped seating?

2019-10-27T15:00:00-04:00

The visually ascending nature of stairs often creates two initial reactions, amazement or hesitation. In a recent piece by the Washington Post writer Maura Judkis unpacks the "stairs to nowhere" design concept. Initially coined by architect Morris Lapidus after his signature staircase for the famed Miami Fontainebleau hotel, the design has transformed into an interior detail that's taken over offices, public areas, and universities.

Lobby of Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. Designed by Morris Lapidus. Image © Phillip Pessar via Flickr.

Judkis shares that this style of stairs have "become such Instagram magnets, though architects insist they're not designed with that in mind." Iconic stairs can be found all over the globe, representing structures of symbolism as well as functionality. However, the humble stair has also become a casual gathering hub for people to talk, work, and give presentations.

Where does architecture fit in at this year's Salone del Mobile?

2019-04-10T16:50:00-04:00

April 9th kicks of a week filled with head-turning designs and exhibitions at this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan. Over 300,000 visitors from all over the globe come to experience the newest designs and ideas in product, furniture, and interiors. In conjunction with Milan Design Week, Salone del Mobile is one of the most highly anticipated design events of the year. From Muuto to Armani design professionals and enthusiasts flock to Milan to be apart of the conversation and witness upcoming design trends and innovations.

However, beyond the newest product trends and furniture designs where do architects fit? The event takes place in Milan, a city filled with rich architectural landscapes and history. This year's event even honors the 500th anniversary of Leonardo DaVinci's passing. A pioneer in the arts, science, and architecture an installation by Alessandro Colombo and Davide Rampello create a visual representation of da Vinci's approach to buildings and design. However, within...

How the infinity pool became a social media status symbol

2018-03-26T19:02:00-04:00

To Skip Phillips, consumer-driven demand has moved the infinity pool away from its original design premise of blending with the landscape. It doesn’t have to be a vertical drop, like that at Marina Bay Sands. “The impetus for this came from the buying public,” and, he adds, “an uneducated pool industry.” To understand how the infinity pool became a status symbol, it’s important to realize that “wellness” is a luxury commodity.

This Outline piece by Daisy Alioto dives into the origins of the vanishing edge infinity pool, which now — thanks to a lot of help from social media — has evolved into a trendy symbol of luxury.

Designers want to transform elevators into "fashionable and functional room(s)"

2017-01-05T20:25:00-05:00

Forget climbing stars, or even walking laterally--in the increasingly dense and rapid reality of urban life, elevators have become a major part of daily living. According to The Guardian, major elevator designers like Otis are considering re-designing the elevator to become a more comfortable and friendly space. Precisely what form this will take is a bit unclear, but it may involve more stylish decor, and perhaps even a change in elevator culture itself (the reason most elevators have the floor number display up so high is to give people an excuse not to have to make eye contact with each other).

Elevators, making news:

Increasing demand for education, healthcare, and government buildings bolsters Architectural Billings Index

2015-07-22T13:33:00-04:00

According to the AIA, while the demand for multi-family housing has slowed, many other design sectors, especially those related to institutional facilities, have prompted a significant increase in the architectural billings index, from 51.9 in May to 55.7 in June. To provide perspective, the meaning of these figures is based on a median of 50.

A figure below 50 indicates a decline in average billings, while a figure above is a sign of expansion. The rapid uptick is echoed in the new projects inquiry index, which has currently rocketed to 63.4, up from 61.1 in May. Regionally, the Midwest is currently the hottest place for growth, with an average of 57.2, while the Northeast is trending gently upward with an ABI of 50.4.