Nicholas Korody profiled GRNASFCK, an experimental landscape studio. Therein they explained "We travel to places of material action, geologically leaky locations, where the evidence of disturbance, but also creation, is evident...While we see our narratives as a version of a field report, it seems important to acknowledge ourselves as emotional, human agents. In this way we are equally inspired by Hunter S. Thompson, John McPhee, and Chris Kraus".

Plus following last month’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake, Julia Ingalls reviewed How Architects Can Help Nepal (And Learn From Past Disastrous Mistakes/Successes). Will Galloway stopped by and provided some insight into post-tsunami redevelopment in Tohoku

"The trick is to  still be there and still be engaged 2 years or 4 years or 5 years later, when communities are finally ready to build...Now is really the time for architects to act, to help build a sustainable community. But we blew our wad on sexy stuff in the early days, and anyway the news cycle has long since moved on".
 

News

Justine Testado highlighted the Stage Two proposals by the six finalists for the Guggenheim Helsinki. Responding to some commentators davvid wrote "Use of wood was stated in the competition brief for sustainability and cultural reasons. Perhaps its forced. Perhaps its appropriate. Maybe both...I agree with you that there is a cautiousness hanging over the entire endeavor".

Quilian Riano linked to a piece on a clinic in Kenya built  by Selgas Cano, Ignacio Peydro and MIT students. eric chavkin was surprised "Since when has environmental science, modern design and site planning, modern construction become 'neo-colonialism'? Conversely, when has learning and adapting vernacular architecture solutions to modern architecture become cultural theft?"

Donna Sink couldn’t help "Lusting for. LUSTing" after Stephanie K. Clark's many architecture-themed embroideries.

The AIAS advocacy Task Force launched "Studio Culture 3.0" a survey. Xenaxis opined "It comes with the game - it may seem like tough love Marine Corp. boot camp. but ya know what? ...you will be grateful".

Firms/Work Updates

For those looking for employment Paralyzed Veterans of America is seeking a Project Architect for its National Office in Washington, DC, while the MIT Center for Advanced Urbanism is hiring a Research Associate.

Lian Chikako Chang traveled to Chicago for ACSA, to attend Do Good Data 2015. There she sat in on talks by Kristi-Lynn Jacovino (from the Onion and Clickhole) and Bethany Lang.

natcheng shared a photo essay which "represents a brief 10 year survey of Architectural Innovation in the Gagnam District".

School/Blogs

Joachim Perez put up a blog post about U.Miami’s Final Reviews held in the historic Moore Building.

Peter Foniciello (affiliated with University of Houston) penned A Reflection on Simplicity, his review of the Contemporary Arts Museum in the Houston Museum District.

SCI-Arc and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles will start construction of IVRV House in June.

Discussions/Threads

Olaf Design Ninja_  started a thread with the question what is 'beauty' in Architecture? Lye__Nerd____Sky__Nerd answered "For me truth is beauty and beauty is truth. There are many kinds of truth and many kinds of beauty….I think we as Architects should stop arguing about inside baseball issues". midlander argued "ugly is often more interesting than beautiful"

the.formalists posted a Manifesto. xx_ questioned "Is it 1920s again?" . Citing Sanford Kwinter the.formalists asked "Who's Afraid of Formalism?...We bet you all still sit around and talk about typology and program and function" archanonymous added "Form is nothing. Death is inevitable. Void is all."

Finally, Erin Lani wanted to talk about the recent earthquake in Nepal and how architects can help rebuild such a place? quizzical pointed to the AIA Disaster Assistance Program. Sagar Chitrakar based out of Kathmandu, provided some updates from on the ground "I've been in touch with Shigeru Ban Architects and waiting to hear back from them....We're open to collaborations but we need experts on board."