Archinect Sessions still wants you to share your client horror stories!, (Inspired by the insane Just lost a-hole clients thread from a earlier this month) which you can do via twitter #archinectsessions, email or call us at (213) 784-7421.
 

News
Stephen Burgen traveled to the newly opened Museo Universidad de Navarra, designed by Rafael Moneo. Mr_Wiggin was disappointed "To me, Moneo's best works are those that are inserted into a place built up 100+ years ago....this, standing alone in the middle of a verdant green, looks like failure of planning".

The NYT reported on the latest developments regarding Paul Rudolph’s Orange County Government Center in Goshen, N.Y. Thayer-D lamented "I know this building is a maintenance nightmare, but it's truly one of the more interesting brutalist buildings out there.  A lot of ideas to cull from it".

Orhan Ayyüce shared a quote/story from Esther McCoy's 1981 memorial to Konrad Wachsmann, wherein both Corbu and Konrad praise the Pont Transbordeur as the "most beautiful structure in this century". Unfamiliar with the work, Chris Teeter went hunting for pics.

SDR had also never seen "this structure before.  Wonderful.  One thinks of the Firth of Forth bridge, skeletonized.  Isn't the spiral stair amazing ?"

Justine Testatdo suggested you read the Urban Land Institute's full report on the micro unit housing trend.
 

Firms/Blogs/Work Updates

Recently Brian Smith worked on "Research, Human-Machine Virtuosity Group" while David Amdie worked on an "irrelevant container".

In the post is DECON still alive ?, Rob Mothershed asked for Archinector’s thoughts on COOP HIMMELB(L)AU: Dynamic Raumplan,  an exhibition on view at SCI-Arc Gallery.

Chris Teeter wasn’t able to visit but shared his take based on the press materials "the statement is a very conceptual take on what could be an interesting scenario if you take it literally…"

Lian Chikako Chang and her colleagues at ACSA visualized the data from Archinect’s own Architecture Salary Poll. Responding to some commentators Paul Petrunia noted "The salary poll is due for an update, so if anyone else has any ideas to propose, for how to improve it, share it here and we'll take it into consideration".
 

School/Blogs
Maria Ornelas continued her exploration of Healthcare Design, and specifically the impact of the Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act.

victoriapham who is currently an undergraduate, introduced her first project of the new semester. Students will be doing precedent analysis of any of 13 modern homes and then create an "open 3-D spacial model" derived from what they have learned from the analysis. She chose House VI by Peter Eisenman and her analysis will be guided by her understanding of the difference between literal and phenomenal transparency.

Discussions/Threads

Olaf Design Ninja_ wanted to get opinions about giving out free advice on archinect. Donna Sink agrees with "The very talented architect Marica McKeel" who "has made it clear that she believes giving away knowledge in the helpful form of blogging, etc. is valuable in building up the general knowledge of the community which then leads to more commissions". Similarly Carrera has "always used advice to educate people about architects". Yet as gruen argues "Some forums are for advice...Some are for the trade. I don't post on professional painting websites looking for faux finishing tips".

piero1910’s professor gave students a list of firm he rates. Unfortunately "many of the american firms that the professor mentioned do not" inspire him and he is looking for suggestions for Best firms in USA. Larchinect  and justavisual were surprised by the number of landscape architecture firms on the list and wondered what school piero1910 goes to.

For his part, natematt thought the "list has some nice firms on it, but it is seemingly biased against large corporate firms".

Finally, BulgarBlogger has been reading AIA Document B101 and is in need if some tips on estimating Construction Cost.

Regarding, how does a young fresh architect both meet "1) his/her contractual obligations for preparing an estimate, and 2) the fiduciary responsibility to stick to the budget?"

Non Sequitur  was confused "I remember making detailed construction estimates in undergrad for no less than 3 projects. Do they not teach this anymore?". tint advised "Make a spreadsheet...Know the difference between an estimate, a budget, and a quote" while mightyaa added "I liked the RS Means format to get you started.  Just google it and get the books...Experience is where you can make adjustments like curtkram does".