2024-05-02T20:16:59-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/149969371/turn-the-lights-off-on-the-way-out-i-aki-balos-s-keynote-at-day-2-of-the-gsd-s-heliomorphism-conference Anthony George Morey 2016-09-19T19:31:00-04:00 >2016-09-22T22:56:12-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/bp/bp6ixmqaz4umxblm.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149968937/thom-mayne-and-jeanne-gang-play-it-safe-with-heliomorphism-keynotes-at-the-gsd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Day one of Heliomorphism</a>, the inaugural conference convened by the new research arm of the Harvard Graduate School of Design&rsquo;s <a href="http://archinect.com/features/article/149964898/come-rain-or-shine-reviving-collective-urban-form-with-the-gsd-s-office-for-urbanization" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Office for Urbanization</a>,&nbsp;ended with Thom Mayne of Morphosis Architects finally breaking through the jargon and superficiality of the topic at hand. The theme of the environment, solar performance along with sustainability were all absorbed and raised to the echelon of where they should exist; as already built in qualities of any project, not a topic or excuse for architectural exuberance. Thom Mayne&rsquo;s ability to recognize and exploit this only provided further proof of the scale, method, and nature of his work as worthy of his recognition and role as a leader in the discipline.</p><p>Sadly, during the second and final day of the conference we found ourselves again forcibly located at the epicenter of Ivy League semantic blurring and Copernican alignments. Day one seemed to have fallen into the shadows of the tone and wording at hand. The day was kicked off with a s...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/149968937/thom-mayne-and-jeanne-gang-play-it-safe-with-heliomorphism-keynotes-at-the-gsd Anthony George Morey 2016-09-16T18:23:00-04:00 >2024-01-23T19:16:08-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/4a/4avqypmug98lxzqd.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>We once knew the world was flat.</p><p>We once knew earth was the center of the universe.</p><p>We once knew the sun was the center of the universe.</p><p>We once knew the Milky Way was the center of the universe.</p><p>Maybe the 3rd is not so far off in the end.</p><p>The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) officially launched its new research focused arm, <a href="http://archinect.com/features/article/149964898/come-rain-or-shine-reviving-collective-urban-form-with-the-gsd-s-office-for-urbanization" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Office for Urbanization</a>, with a conference titled 'Heliomorphism'. Research has a long and varied history at the GSD and of course at Harvard in general. Exploiting and creating these opportunities for collaboration and exploration of disciplinary topics are at the highest aspirations for the Office.</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/650x/59/59lye2ylwxbxeb32.jpg"></p><p>Its goal is thus to become a transdisciplinary initiative designed to focus the intellectual and practical capabilities of the School on a range of applied design research projects, attendant to the contemporary city. While the school itself already contains a plethora of Design Labs, Groups, Lectures and conferences, the Office of Urbanization hopes to distinguish...</p>