Robert Urquhart’s first piece for Archinect, was a report from the front lines of the London Design Festival.

Plus, Julia Ingalls talked with Guggenheim Fellow and Los Angeles Times book critic David Ulin about his book ‘Sidewalking: Coming to Terms with Los Angeles’.

News

Over at The Wall Street Journal, Jennifer Smith wrote about the ongoing LDMC plans for a performing-arts center planned within the World Trade Center complex. buck i let's the cat out of the bag "Its REX. my buddy has been working on this for a while--can't wait to see it revealed. Wyly 2.0 I hope."

The second season of Archinect Sessions premiered with some changes. A new, shorter format Mini-Sessions, along with a new podcast, Archinect Sessions: One-to-One, aka an interview show, straight-up.

Nicholas Karody criticized The selective amnesia of Foster + Partners' Maspero Triangle District Masterplan.

There are now 14 programs working with NCARB to offer licensure upon graduation. null pointer believes "the result of this: state boards will require more than just NCARB's standard stuff in order to grant licensure."

The NYT leaked the news that "persistent water" and other problems are delaying the opening of World Trade Center Transit Hub's luxury shopping mall. With a bit too much enthusiasm (and tongue-in-cheek perhaps?), Joseph Sigelman commented "Looks very modern and impressive!"

Firms/Work Updates

KSR Architects' design for the 2016 Triumph competition for an “Energy” themed Pavilion in the V&A Museum of Childhood Gardens, was inspired by the Coriolis Effect.

James Turrell and schmidt hammer lassen are working together on a new extension for ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Denmark. Titled ‘Next Level’ the project will contain a 1,200 m2 subterranean gallery and two semi-subterranean art installations, ‘The Sphere’ and ‘The Dome’, by James Turrell.

Sébastien Perrault recently worked on an Advanced Master in Computational Design and Making - ENPC Paris Tech.

Showroom Eurobike - Porsche in Brasília, Brazil by 1:1 arquitetura:design and Melissa - We Are Flowers in New York, NY by SOFTlab are just two of the “Ten Top Images on” projects found on Archinect's brand new "Shopping Spaces" Pinterest Board.

School/Blogs

Parker Ammann affiliated with California State Polytechnic University Pomona, wrote about The Many Arches of Minor Triumphs: Midterm Review.

SCI-Arc announced the launch of SCI-Arc EDGE, Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture. Beginning in fall 2016, the new center will offer four graduate degree programs in fields including architectural technologies, fiction and entertainment, design of cities, and design theory and pedagogy, along with two fellowships in synthetic landscapes.

David Ruy who will be leading one of the new Masters "of Science in Design Theory and Pedagogy" was praised by a number of commentators. knoa thought he is a "Brilliant lecturer" while Olaf Design Ninja_ noted he was "good teacher as well!"

Discussions/Threads

tmly is thinking of relocating to Boise ID and is curious what the "architectural scene feels like and the how is the employment opportunity there?" Carrera just read "that Meridian (west suburb) was just listed as the #1 city for economic opportunity" and knows "a company there that does timber framing/log, some modern interpretations…looking to get more architectural and has big money behind them". Coincidentally Good_Knight happens to "know several partners of the larger firms that are hiring" so offers "get me a copy of your resume and I'll chat offline about specifics."

bmedi shared personal Highlights: of the World Architecture Festival 2015. While not sure if the crit format is used in similar conventions or biennials, bmedi enjoyed it and found "it more relatable.  You don't hear architects talking about large abstract ideas, instead you see how projects respond to larger themes”.

Finally, Donna Sink took the easy way out but asked a tough-minded question -

"I'm fairly lazy and so many of you are so smart: In my minimal understanding of Passivhaus it seems to me that a LOT of its success relies on materials that are 1) terrible for the environment (polystyrene foam board, etc.) and 2) adhesive tapes that will deteriorate over years of freeze-thaw cycles. What is the longevity of the super-tight envelope? If I want to build a house that will last 100 years, is Passivhaus at all reliable, or will I end up with a fifty year old junky and separating foam box?"

Everyday Intern replied "as I understand it, it is simply a performance-based standard when you boil it down to its essence...Foam plastic insulation might be one easy, effective way of achieving the standard, but other techniques could achieve it as well". Andrew.Circle added "The oldest Passivehaus was built in 1991, so it isn't even 30 years old yet. Not sure if the newer membrane tapes in the US were around in Germany in 1991. Would be interested to see how those early projects are holding up, and whether any newer projects have failed or not." Later xx__ affirmed "you can make breathable passivehaus-thickness wall using twin studs and cellulose wool."

Additionally

Harvey Molotch reviewed ‘Rule By Aesthetics: World-Class City Making in Delhi’ by D Asher Ghertner.