We're excited to announce the release of the first issue in the Archinect Zine!  This is a collaboration between Archinect and our friend Christian Chaudhari's publishing initiative Friction House and features "The most absurd bits of Chinese culture, art news and dissident activism directly or remotely related to Ai Weiwei (crazy awesome Chinese artist who got in a hella lot of trouble with China, in case you live under a rock) printed in this ultra compact, super graphic, mega-bitchin magazine"

Lian Chikako Chang thinks that "It's worth it for the image of the jumping Ai Weiwei alone!" and must really mean it since she posted twice. However, jcr considers the image from the zine's front "cover is the epitome of bad taste. You are disgusting."

News
Renzo Piano recently unveiled plans for a new waterfront cultural center and urban park in Athens. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center will also incorporate several sustainable technologies with the hope of attaining LEED Platinum certification. Orhan Ayyüce believes "in fact, this is pretty bad timing... if it involves any state funding, i'd be surprised if it happens at all in the foreseeable future."

To the announcement that an alley between an old tenement block and a tower block in Warsaw, Poland, will be the location for the skinniest house in the world. Donna Sink responds it may "Possibly even more narrow than this one!"

The news that Itami Jun, Japan’s Korean architect has died led gravity is a drag to exclaim "wow, i feel like this is the greatest architect that i never heard of before now..." He then provides a link to Itami Jun Architects website. I particularly recommend the following projects: Church of the Sky, House at Shimizu, Three Art Museums "Stone" and ITM Seoul.

To the news that you can now Tour The Futuristic New York Hotel Where A Robot Will Take Your Luggage, fade to blackoe quips "less jobs more robots yay"

Schools/School Blogs
Mike at UBC posts about his recent studio project "A Gallery for One". He writes "The point of the project was to choose a work of art and design a space to house only this piece." Mike chose Artemisia’s Judith Slaying Holofernes. The project went through some iterations but  he ended up deciding to "clad the entire thing in marble. The result is super gauche, but it got some great feedback."

Samuel Allen at University of Tennessee is "pleased to announce the completion of interior finish work on the New Norris House project!" He also shares some wonderful  photos taken by Ken McCown, chair of the Landscape Architecture Program in the College of Architecture and Design.

Lian at Harvard GSD provides an update on the recovery from her broken ankle at the end of May.

Matthew at University of Illinois, had the opportunity over the last couple of months to produce a short film about JDS Architects. Working with De Smedt and with the help of the office the video explored what it mean to introduce the office.

Firms/Work Updates
Noah Walker, posted an image from a recent Lumber Drop. Chris Hildrey, finally finished getting his portfolio website up. Also, check out bluarch architecture's project House in Lake June Pointe.

Events
This Wednesday, July 13, AIA Seattle, will be hosting an all-day continuing education forum Energy, Innovation, and the Future of Design, which will "will delve into key frameworks for change and innovation and their impacts on the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Energy leaders will discuss the future of this exciting confluence of technology and design"

Discussion Threads
jojeg07 wants some clarification"i am confused about the difference between digital and computational design.  i had thought they were synonymous. my way of thinking of them now is that UCLA would be "digital" and MIT would be "computational". subtect offers his 2 cents "my 2 cents would be that "computational" design is parametric in nature (grasshopper3D, generative components, et al) -- what schumaker jumped in front of waving the "parametricism" flag;  whereas "digital" design is just utilizing software design tools, typically 3D modeling and such..."

In a discussion thread entitled The Diminishing Returns of Technology Archinecters are talking about the perils of automation and further robotic replacement of previously human labor. Prompted by the news item Tour The Futuristic New York Hotel Where A Robot Will Take Your Luggage, jbushkey asks "Since sustainability is such a big part of architecture lately do you think having robots replacing people's jobs is sustainable?  While bellhop or luggage check is not a great career at least it is work and a paycheck." rusty!, writes "If this thread gets archived (or archinect lasts forever, as it should), you bet your ass robots will be reading this. And they will be coming for you. Or your offspring.  Better renounce now for you know not know what foolish things you are saying!All hail the cloud! And the day it became self aware."

A grad fresh from their Bachelor in Interior Design is frustrated about the job market. k4dm0Nk3y advises "Its a dog eat dog industry and you will be lucky to claw yourself into any firm let alone picking and choosing. Be prepared to be chewed up and spitted out. Bitching and complaining online and hiding behind a keyboard all day won't result in zilch! Go out and prove yourself, and most importantly BE PROACTIVE!" Meanwhile citizen notes It's not just architecture grads...

Finally, wil71 needs some advice on some table legs that he is trying to identify. David Cuthbert, offers up "how about a plank of douglas fir or maple with the bark on the ends, but cut diagonally to give a pencil edge (maybe 1/4" face). Nice legs but seem more like 70s office furniture, no offense, nonetheless an excellent find"