Senior editor Orhan Ayyüce published the first in a series of mini-interviews for a new feature Touching Base: In which he profiled Volkan Alkanoglu, founding principal of Volkan Alkanoglu | DESIGN LLC. It was a reminder for Donna Sink of how small the world is, as her "husband's company Indianapolis Fabrications made and installed Volkan's piece Memorial”. Plus, she did some “shop drawing work on it!"

News
Two new books claim Le Corbusier was a 'militant fascist'. Lightperson thought it was "a leap to say he was a nazi because of a sort of anti-Semitic note to mom". Yet, Jayness wanted to stand against false idols who aligned themself "with those in power (Vichy, France), and which by default is the act of a coward. No amount of design or expressive talent can overcome this shortcoming".

Over at The Los Angeles Review of Books, Joseph Giovannini examined plans for the new Peter Zumthor at LACMA. Orhan Ayyüce only wished "Giovannini had given more hi-end decision-making board of trustees 0.1% dirt instead of talking about pancakes and curves". Meanwhile, boy in a well was pleased sort of "Yay! for long form! BOO! for the first half being filled with so much pointless rhetorical hot air!"

Architect Lance Hosey compiled a list of comments from the small group of architecture writers on 'serious criticism' in architecture. eric chavkin opined "so sad seeing what passes for 'criticism' these days. Forget the Victorianism of Ruskin, but is aesthetics now just a branch of sociology? or psychology? or biography?" A number of commentators then expressed admiration for Frampton as the writer/critic they turn to when wanting to "KNOW something about an architect, or piece of architecture".

Tehran's new popular Tabiat bridge was designed by (then) 26-year-old architecture student Leila Araghian. jla-x griped "26 years old...This would never happen in the US...too many old people with little weiners...no IDP...no ncarb...look what happens...young people succeeding…"
 

Firms/Work Updates

casa DATRI & DASA in Amanali, Tepeji del Rio, Mexico by [mavarq] and House Passage of Landscape in Toyota, Japan by ihrmk are just two of the projects to be found in the latest Ten Top Images on Archinect's "Outdoors" Pinterest Board.

Niyat Soni launched her blog Rethink Port Urbanism. One of her goals "is to find an  accessible way of talking about port architecture and to use it in exploring what might be the shared and defining characteristics of the port as constructs of the  littoral".

Recently Alexandre Piacsek worked on a "Vebus Mojave project".
 

School/Blogs
University of Tokyo T_ADS is running a lecture series on structural engineering. Mika Araki from Jun Sato Lab and Professor Jun Sato got things going with presentations on material tests and bending moments.

Joachim Perez shared some evidence of the "Aftermath" from Final reviews at University of Miami SoA.

Michael Young affiliated with the Department of Architecture (which is a part of the Izmir University of Economics) started a blog in the run up to a panel-discussion/conference the department will be hosting on "The Transformation of Architectural Education".
 

Discussions/Threads
JsBach was looking for advice regarding exit stair termination, due to an ambiguous reading of term "exit refuge". Carrera  argued "That fact that it is unclear allows you to interpret if it's a necessity" and bklyntotfc advised the OP "read the means of egress section of the code you're using". Later on geezertect had a thought "but why not talk it over with someone at the applicable building department?"

In a similar vein kalpana_gupta was in need of assistance with stadium seating? JLC-1 believed some research on the "fifa website or olympic committee" might be useful. gruen suggested "Get in touch w a rep for stadium seating". Meanwhile g.thomas.z recommended the Hussey Seating website "great resources about designing for the proper sightlines, comfortable seat and row widths, as well code related info".

Finally, bfffffffffff is trying to figure out the best way to balance; starting a post M.Arch career, relocating and having kids. chigurh felt it was simple "have kids. work will always be there". shuellmi offered some great advice "you should start on exams asap as well...boring firms tend to have great hours, pay/benefits, and stability.  exciting firms tend towards the opposite". Advice sameolddoctor seconded "If you think that a license is of any value at all (I am still undecided about that) - then study hard and get it done before you have a kid. Working with young kids around is still OK, but studying is hell".