Archinect - News

While its future appears tenuous, the EU is about to get a shining new headquarters

2017-01-03T12:49:00-05:00

When European leaders meet for the first time in their new headquarters, known as the Europa and built for about 325 million euros, or $340 million, they will experience “joyful” surroundings, Philippe Samyn, the project’s architect, said during a recent tour of the building. It has been a long time since any gathering of the bloc’s leaders could be described as joyful.

The building is described as a "giant glowing orb" or a "vase". It also includes a restored hallways from the building the previously occupied the site, the former headquarters for the Nazis when they occupied Brussels during the war.

The orb is encased in a glass cube. The structure symbolically gestures at its program, with the 3,750 panes of glass that compose the façade set in refurbished oak frames sourced from demolition sites from each of the EU's member nations. But many members of the EU, in particular those that had austerity measures forced upon them, are less than enthused about the building and its price tag.

It's been one month since Brexit. How are you coping?

2016-07-28T15:24:00-04:00

On June 23rd, 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union. In the following month, the pound dropped 10% in value against the US dollar (the lowest since the 1980s), PM David Cameron resigned, Boris Johnson resigned, Nigel Farage too (not before insulting all of the European parliament), and the Labour party are squabbling like children.

After everyone else jumped ship, Theresa May now resides at No.10 and must deal with the aftermath of Brexit. With her new cabinet in place (we are still hoping Boris' appointment as Foreign Secretary is a joke) and the promise that Article 50 will not be triggered until the new year, what happens next?

Fill out our survey and tell us how Brexit has affected you already, and what you think the future holds for a UK outside of the EU.

Post-Brexit pessimism causes precautionary job losses

2016-07-09T04:05:00-04:00

With the construction industry expected to be the first casualty of Brexit, leading architecture firms in the UK Make, Sheppard Robson and BDP have already started to react to the uncertainties in the construction industry. In February of this year it was reported that housebuilding in the UK hit a seven-year high, as the construction industry was steadily recovering from the last recession. However, post-Brexit uncertainty has caused a crisis of confidence, prompting large firms to take precautionary measures against the loss of projects and a lull in construction.

It may seem as if optimism has been exchanged for pessimism by some big firms, however the actual impact on the architectural profession in the UK in the next few years remains open to speculation. Uncertainty based on assumptions could lead to a self fulfilling prophecy within the industry, as no one really know what will happen if the UK leaves the EU. Speaking to Dezeen, Simon Allford of AHMM respond states practically...

RIBA release a statement following EU referendum result

2016-06-24T12:38:00-04:00

RIBA President Jane Duncan said:

“The RIBA is a global organisation that supports its members, validates schools of architecture and champions the importance of a quality built environment around the world. UK architecture talent is incredibly resilient and we will continue to ensure that our profession has a bright future, whatever the operating environment.

“Clearly there is uncertainty about the timescales and impact on a range of issues important to our industry including free movement in the EU for architects as well as students, trading and material sourcing, inward investment relationships, EU procurement rules and the effect on the construction sector if restrictions are placed on EU migration.

“In common with other UK businesses and organisations, the RIBA is assessing the short and longer term effect of the withdrawal on our members and the Institute and we will provide further guidance in due course.

“Most importantly, we will work with colleagues in industry and government t...

Architects react to shocking EU referendum result

2016-06-24T11:02:00-04:00

All the progress we have made will now be put on hold and the government’s attention will be diverted while we try and work out how to deal with Brexit. - Rob Naybour, Weston Williamson + Partners

Today marks a historic turning point for the UK and European Union - the UK has voted to quit the EU. What lays ahead no one is really sure; Cameron has already resigned this morning and discussions for a second Scottish referendum have begun.

The majority within the architecture industry have strongly and vocally supported the Remain campaign celebrating the integral role the EU has played in inspiring and funding creative projects, free movement and the benefits of an internal single market. Most importantly community; a community based on respect and support that derived from the desolate situation after World War Two that at its core believed in humanity.

The referendum has revealed some alarming results about the state of the UK, a very clearly divided country. However the decision has been made and we must now face up to these consequences, we must now address what kind of a nation we want to be.

We asked top architects for their reactions to the result and how they think it ...