ICYMI, back in April Nicholas Korody published an interview with Bryan MacKay-Lyons and Talbot Sweetapple, about their contextually-sensitive, regionally specific, vernacular. 

Therein MacKay-Layons explains 

"The other non-object sense of our work is that we see the buildings as helmets that you wear[…] Being inside and understanding where you exist in the world in terms of the sun and the wind and the biography. We really designed the buildings to be like helmets to be inside of."

Chemex was pleased

"Nice interview. McK-L work and words, it seems, are the perfect example of good design inspired by tradition and context...Whenever I hear a client or friend complain about modern architecture, I show them McK-L or Holl."

Plus, Julia Ingalls chatted with Will Wright instigator of L.A. AIA's "Encompass" conference. Orhan Ayyüce (one of the speakers) offered up a review "great conference....It was carefully curated by AIA Los Angeles chapter to be inclusive...Discussions and stories of diversity and inclusiveness in architecture were abundant"

News
For the 100th episode of Archinect Sessions, Paul Petrunia featured a conversation with Archinect favorite, Steven Holl. richmon commented "very enjoyable conversation with the admirable Steven Holl….Archinect is the best!"

The first quarter of the year ended on a positive note, for the Architecture Billings Index (ABI). The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the March ABI score was 54.3, up from a score of 50.7 in the previous month.

Over at the Los Angeles Times, Steven Sharp argued, so-called "parking podiums" are aesthetically ruining downtown Los Angeles. On a related note, Roger Vincent explored what a future, of flexible parking garages, for a rideshare-dependent L.A. could mean. citizen took aim at the post’s "City of Quartz" reference, "Not that several podium floors are great, but if the ground floor has public uses and is well-designed as open and engaging with the sidewalk... that's not the same as the Fortress City that Davis (mostly) accurately described in the early '90s."

R.I.P., Diane Lewis, architect and eminent Cooper Union professor. As well as Vito Acconci.

                
Built in 1932, the VDL Research House designed by Richard Neutra is one of Southern California’s modernist gems. It has been named a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Along with Orhan Ayyüce, we celebrated the "Big win for Los Angeles cultural heritage. Congratulations!"

West London House in Hammersmith, UK by Neil Dusheiko Architects and Pars Hospital in Rasht, Iran by New Wave Architecture (Lida Almassian / Shahin Heidari), are just two of the projects from the latest Ten Top Images on Archinect's "Glass" Pinterest Board.

Firms/Work Updates
Chris_Teeter posted another installment from, at the bar, in the Motherboard, NJ universe.

soniarun started a new blog, to examine "the architecture within fictional printed and digital environments...as well as providing insights into how power structures, societal issues, and/or other issues of the built environment are portrayed within these media." The first post makes reference to the "Tower of Barad-dur or the vertical planetary city of Coruscant".

Recently, Shahrzad Razi worked on "Christ Cathedral - Johnson Fain". Meanwhile Megan Koon has been "Designing a Duplex that meets ADA requirements for a family aging in place and an elderly couple next door", for a school project.

For those looking for work; Trahan Architects needs to hire a Full-time Designer, for the New Orleans office. Harry TEAGUE Architects is looking to hire an Architect with 5+ Years experience.

School/Blogs
The Free School of Architecture (FSA) decided to admit some additional students for the inaugural 2017, term. The FSA will be hosted by the A+D Museum for the first year, running June 1 - July 15, 2017.

martig announced The University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts (A&AA) will soon have a new name and a new organization, one designed to "enhance the programs, bring increased value to the degrees earned, and position the students, faculty and staff for greater success."

Georgia Tech students took FIRST PLACE in the U.S. Department of Energy - 2017 Race to Zero Student Design Competition, held in late April, at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.

Discussions/Threads
ennisdavis is unsure whether to pay dues and join AIA. For not the first time, Donna Sink made her case for being an active member "You get out of it what you put into it. The AIA National frustrates me immensely sometimes, but the more those of us who care try to actively steer the organization in the direction we want, the more results we see." proto to the opportunity to ask a question "somewhat sideways to the conversation but still related to benefits of aia...as a sole proprietor, i pay private health insurance. i understand that aia members have access to group health insurance. can anyone using that benefit comment on whether it's worth it?"

shellarchitect is looking for "good info on salaries for this experience level.  Can anyone chime in?" To quizzical the source of truth is definitely "the AIA survey...by far, the most detailed, objective and reliable indicator of actual pay levels." More generically mtdew advised "It all depends on how your talents correlates with the need of that particular office."

archi_dude urged "do not, Do not! Let them try and use the ‘well if you just care about money’ bull. You have a high level degree in your industry, are licensed and have been working in your targeted industry for 8 years. Trying to negotiate a salary in your mid-career in the 70k-80k range in no way makes you a shallow poor steward of architecture that only cares about the money."

And don’t forget, the results from the official Archinect Architecture Salary Poll.

Finally, intrigued by the "large amount of beautiful projects from Vietnam being published" sidewinder started a thread to learn more. Schoon is a fan of Vegan House. jla-x and zenza compare the style favorably to the "perfect minimalist stuff...beautifully mundane sterility...On the other hand, this vernacular modernity takes age in stride."

Additionally
On April 19th at 3 pm Eastern US time, @ablerism talked with @wheelchairdancr about #rampfail. "The 1st of a series of chats inspired by their #kineticlight work which intersects social justice, movt, art + architecture".

h/t @sevensixfive