For the latest Working out of the Box: Archinect talked with artist and architecture theorist, Santiago Borja. He relates that one thing he learned from architecture school is 

"a sense of structural logic that most artists lack. They imagine things they have no clue how to build. Having said that, you could maybe say the same thing about architects…"

midlander was impressed "The installations are refreshing - they react to the architecture without following an architectural logic...these look free of the forced logic which constrains a lot of architects working in installation. My compliments to the artist!"

Plus, did you notice, a new sidebar graphic/ad was launched for Archinect Sessions?

News
Bustler announced Moshe Safdie will receive the 2015 AIA Gold Medal. Harold-Sprague Solie, agreed with many commentators "about time. I worked in his office during my first year out of school and it was an amazing experience". Contrarily, HotelSphinx admires "Habitat, as do most architects - but otherwise, eeek...Honoring his entire life's work when it's so inconsistent leaves me a bit puzzled".

Donna Sink tried to explain her appreciation "He seems like he's been slogging along doing significant work for a long time without getting a lot of fanfare for it".

Following the news that Rural Studio was the 2015 recipient of the AIA's Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, Justine reminded readers of their student-led design/build projects that assist focus on the communities of Hale County, Alabama.

Lightperson did the math "Rural Studio > all crap starchitecture".

The NYT reported that the architecture school run by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation will try to raise $2 million before the end of 2015 to ensure its future as an independent organization.

Two projects by Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) / Rem Koolhaas generated discussion over the last week. 

First, new details on the Norra Tornen twin towers led shivuy to criticize the lack of "change of scale at the ground" although davvid believed "Its a nice design and the rough texture...is a well-timed shift away from the usual metal cladding".  Meanwhile, Orhan Ayyüce pointed out an ongoing public outcry over plans for a projected development on a prime sea-front location in Beirut (Lebanon): the Dalieh of Raoucheh. 

He stated "This is an invasion and take over of public space by the private investment for profit issue". A bit pessimistically curtkram summed up the situation"if OMA is paid to destroy the beach, they will probably destroy the beach.  that's not because of a design philosophy, but rather political and economic philosophies".
 

Firms/Blogs/Work Updates
Pomeroy Studio unveiled plans for an innovative park and skygarden orientated eco-township, located in the 100-year old former colonial town of Kluang, Johor, Malaysia.

Franco Chen recently worked on a Final board showing kit of parts.

For those looking for employment New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is looking to hire a Senior Architectural Designer while the Paralyzed Veterans of America is seeking a full-time Architect.

School/Blogs
At University of Miami, a group of a students were able to collaborate with Dutch artist Theo Jansen on his Strandbeest Exhibition during Art Basel.

Derek Ham started a blog, to contribute to the discussion about Increasing Diversity in Design Education. Reacting to the personal experience Derek shared, b3tadine[sutures] writes "your short anecdote is so confounding, I can't even begin…"

Nicole Doan highlighted a proposed "large-scale love hotel" along the former Berlin Wall, from Frank Clementi's topic studio at Cal Poly Pomona, titled ‘The Heresy of Function’. Miles Jaffe quipped "A public park for prostitutes".

Discussions/Threads
hello what was looking for someone to "impart some knowledge" about RTKL and the firm’s culture aka "Work/life balance". sameolddoctor answered "the ones that deal with China are always overworked. The domestic/other studios are a bit better". Responding to a post by midlander, gwharton clarified "RTKL is not buying or merging with Callison. Just FYI. Callison was purchased by Arcadis, which also owns RTKL. So it's more of a sibling relationship now".

Gang Chen, Author, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is indignant "Why AIA due does not include FREE AIA documents subscription" while NAR/CAR membership includes "FREE and unlimited use of the Zip form". jitter12 and Steven Ward both agree the membership numbers of the two national organizations offer an explanation. Similarly quizzical noted "Documents represent a major source of revenue".

Finally, maybe it was due to the Northern Hemisphere’s winter season, but go do it started two threads which touched on ice/snow. First, wondering if one could design a room divider inspired by an incidental combination of ice and wire fencing. 

Then asking "if FLW was inspired by the patterns in ice for his leaded glass designs"?

The room divider idea, was kennesland thought, "a very striking architectural design element and it would be interesting to render it in something that doesn't melt at room temperature.  It would also make a spectacular landscape design element". As for the FLW question tint believed "the inspiration was largely plants, wheat (at least) in those pics"
 

Additionally
07: (the latest issue) of Scapegoat, addresses the design and construction of spaces of punishment from an abolitionist perspective, insisting emphatically on the abolition of all forms of incarceration as a key component in the struggle against wider systems and practices of domination.

h/t @aljavieera