Archinect - News

In Memoriam—Those we Lost in 2017

2017-12-29T09:00:00-05:00

In 2017, we said farewell to some of our most legendary names. This year will regretfully be remembered for its notable losses as we said goodbye to some of architecture's biggest and brightest champions, educators, historians, and practitioners. Here, we pay tribute to those who changed the field, and for many, our lives.

↑ FBI Headquarters

Carter Manny (1918-2017)

Over the course of his decades-long career, Carter Manny, who passed away at 98 earlier this year, worked on iconic projects such as the O'Hare International Airport and the J. Edgar Hoover F.B.I Building. He also served a lengthy career as the director of the Graham Foundation, a Chicago organization that offers research grants to architects around the world.

↑ Radio City Music Hall in New York, renovated in 1999 by Hardy

Hugh Hardy (1932-2017)

Over the course of his legendary career, architect Hugh Hardy breathed new life into some of New York City’s most famous theatrical landmarks, with his many restoration and renova...

Archinect Sessions Podcast Highlights from 2017

2017-12-28T16:21:00-05:00

This week, for our last show of the year, Donna, Ken and Paul share highlights from their favorite episodes. It wasn't an easy task, as the year was filled with some brilliant guests and engaging conversations. Let us know, in the comments, what your favorite moments were from this year. We're also looking for listener requests for upcoming shows... who do you want us to invite on the show as guests? What do you want us to talk about more? What do you want us to talk about less? Should we add music to the show?

Archinector Marc Miller (and previous guest on the podcast), started a thread a while back soliciting ideas for the podcast. It would be great to see some more comments there as well!

Listen to "Archinect Sessions Podcast Highlights from 2017":

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Projects Making Headlines in 2017

2017-12-28T11:00:00-05:00

2017 saw a multitude of new projects from proposal to completion. A floating roof for Apple, San Francisco's tallest building, semi-transparent "Concrete"... Here are the 14 most attention grabbing projects of 2017, in case you missed the headlines.

A “hyper-democratic” housing complex in Copenhagen combines community input with contextual design

Krøyers Plads, a five-story housing project in the center of Copenhagen, was completed by Danish architects Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and COBE. The building was designed with site-specific considerations and neighborhood input.

Bjarke Ingels compares the shape of the just-opened Tirpitz Bunker Museum to a freshly sliced hot potato

The Tirpitz Museum saw the completion of its new design by Bjarke Ingels. The site is an uncompleted bunker turned museum, which now houses exhibitions in its underground spaces.

Perfectionists versus contractors: the details of building the Apple Campus

Imagine building Apple's own campus for them. If archi...

Stories That Shook the Architecture Industry in 2017

2017-12-27T09:00:00-05:00

From sexually explicit architecture sculptures to battles over postmodern icons, the architecture community has had its fair share of controversy over the past 12 months. It’s not easy to narrow down the sheer number of gaffes and scandals, but here are some of the more memorable moments from 2017.

Operation Vandelay Industries

One of the biggest stories of the year was that of Paul J Newman, the man discovered through an investigation dubbed “Operation Vandelay Industries” to have been practicing as an architect in the state of New York despite being neither licensed nor registered. Newman was subsequently arrested on three indictments and charged with 58 felonies related to his unauthorized practice of architecture, forgery, and submission of documents to various municipalities.

SCI-Arc can't seem to find a single female architect to include in its Spring 2017 lecture series

When SCI-Arc announced its Spring 2017 lecture series, many noticed that something, or rather, someone(s),...

The Top Fun Culture News of 2017

2017-12-26T12:00:00-05:00

Architecture: It's a serious lifestyle — but one that can still make room for some fun and laughs, too. The last 12 months have brought on an entertaining mix of design-themed films, whimsical projects, pop culture crossovers, and even some clever hacks. Have another look at these fun, shareable reads in Archinect's round-up of top culture news for 2017.

A self-taught designer builds a secret work studio on the underside of a bridge

Photo: Jose Manuel Pedrajas

Fernando Abellanas, a self-taught designer from Valencia, made headlines when he built a pop-up studio into the underside of a traffic bridge. “Observing passing cars and trains with no one seeing me gives me great sense of peace,” Abellanas said.

Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal to star in a new movie about Mies van der Rohe and Edith Farnsworth

Photo by Gorman’s Child Photography. © Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois.

The scandalous (and not so accurate) story of Mies van der Rohe and Edith Farnsworth's relationship got the...

Politics & Architecture in 2017—A Year into the Trump Presidency

2017-12-26T09:00:00-05:00

As the year comes to a close and Trump finishes up his first year as President, we're taking the opportunity to reflect on 2017's trials and tribulations and how they affected the architecture world. 45's Border Wall, and its implications for the industry, dominated our coverage of his presidency this year. But, 2017 was also a pretty turbulent year in terms of policy. The National Endowment of the Arts, the Historic Tax Credit, research into climate change, the effectiveness of HUD, and our extremely vital immigrant workforce were all threatened this year by various actions taken by the current administration.

Trump may eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts — here's why that matters for architecture

In spring, President Trump suggested plans to eliminate all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. All three are organizations that support many architectural initiatives including c...

Most Popular Features of 2017

2017-12-25T11:00:00-05:00

From job auditions and activism to artificial intelligence and life beyond architecture, 2017 brought upon a very eclectic collection of top features of the year. Looking back, we collected the the most relished and savored; which one did you love?

The Architecture of Artificial Intelligence

What is the role of the architect in the never ended advancement of technology, automation and now, the arrival of artificial intelligence? Working through various perspectives such as issues of social research, design decision-making we worked our way through the possible outcomes and speed bumps of today’s reality.

What’s Wrong with Academia? On Alternative Schools of Architecture

From Free School of Architecture, Beatriz Colomina’s project, Radical Pedagogies and SCI-Arc’s Theory and Pedagogy program, the current state of architectural education, profession and methods have been a hot topic of 2017 along with being the main focus of endless institutional symposia, lectures, and exhibitions. F...

High-profile Projects Unveiled in 2017

2017-12-25T09:30:00-05:00

This year brought forth several new designs involving some key players in and out of the architecture world—from Obama's Presidential Center to the MAD Architect designed George Lucas museum. Check out the most noteworthy 11 projects unveiled in 2017.

Stunning construction photos of Zaha Hadid Architect’s Leeza SOHO tower and its record-setting atrium

Zaha Hadid Architects revealed progress photos of their mixed-use tower in Beijing. The tower will reach a final height of 207 meters with a 190 meter tall central tunnel making it the world's tallest atrium.

Foster+Partners to Build a New Luxury Hotel and Apartment Complex in Makkah

Foster + Partners announced winning the Jabal Omar Development Project competition to build a luxury hotel and service apartments in Makkah (commonly known as Mecca), Saudi Arabia. Due to its location, the project will respect the sacredness of being in close proximity to the Kaaba.

New renderings of Peter Zumthor’s $600-million LACMA redesign

The Los An...

Architecture as Propaganda? What do we do now?

2017-12-12T11:40:00-05:00

This isn’t a new phenomenon for 2017–see Tiananmen Square, North Korea’s totalitarian buildings, Nazi architect Albert Speer. But this year we were reminded of architecture’s enduring power to be used as political propaganda thanks to Trump’s proposed border wall.

Architecture has played a fundamental role in the propagandized rhetoric of the Trump Administration. The aim of any kind of propaganda is to promote an idea or an ideology, and Trump and his administration have used architecture to promote their own program and ideology with an unquestionable emphasis on nationalism.

How are we to look forward and discuss this appropriation of a discipline, history and study as a tool for biased and demeaning indoctrination and publicity?

The best UK and international architects and researchers gather for Vision 2017

2017-04-19T04:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by Vision 2017.

Aimed at architects, designers, specifiers and their clients, Vision 2017 provides an international focus for innovative products and building solutions, bringing together some of the best designs and leading figures from across Western Europe. Across two days in June, the CPD-certified show will host the best and brightest from established practices and start-ups, with new ideas and technological innovation at the heart of the event.

Vision 2017 Speaker Studio Saxe Canopia

All the talks and presentations at Vision will take place under the umbrella topics: Materials Innovations, Technological Insight and Architectural & Design Evolution. This framework will help delegates rethink the built environment and the manner in which we can shape places and spaces. Speakers have been sourced from the best practices in the country and around the world, both small and large. Caroline Bos of UNStudio will talk about their research into the circular eco...

AIA announces recipients of its 2017 Honorary Fellowships

2017-02-14T12:51:00-05:00

Drawing from an international roster of architects who meet the five objects of nomination (including ensuring "the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment") the AIA has announced this year's honorary fellowships. The fellowship, which doesn't have a set number of fellows and usually favors international candidates, has honored no Americans or women this year, although it did include U.S.-based Denise Scott Brown among its 2016 beneficiaries. With a highly ethical drumroll, we're pleased to introduce this year's outstanding eight fellows:

Mario Cucinella
Stein Halvorsen
Giancarlo Mazzanti
Bong-Seek Oh
Jose Luis Salinas
Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas
Bruno Stagno
Ishtiaque Zahir