The latest Proust Questionnaire featured Herman Hertzberger—one of the most important Dutch architects and theoreticians of the modern age known for his designs of housing complexes, offices and schools. 

Or, as randomised summed up "Legend"! Others were interested to learn more about his seemingly conflicted relationship to/thoughts on, Le Corbusier.

Plus, Hannah Wood discussed Housing after Debt? with Alastair Parvin.

News

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy RIBA’s Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, released a set of 15 initial recommendations, for changes to Building Regulations and Fire Safety systems, regulations and guidance.

Noémie Despland-Lichtert highlighted the work of a relatively unknown Austrian architect Konrad Frey, who is getting a second look. Particularly for his series of sun house prototypes and ties to the Grazer Schule.

After seven months of steady growth in the  demand for design services, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) paused in September. The ABI score was 49.1, down from a score of 53.7 in the previous month.

Martin Miller from Antistatics and Caroline O’Donnell from CODA partnered with one another as OMG!, for their ‘Primitive Hut’ pavilion. Made of decomposing materials, the project can be seen at Architecture OMI at OMI International Arts Center in Ghent, NY.

t.heiredal couldn’t help noting "One big difference I see between the original primitive hut and the new version is the amount of wait material from the CNC. It would be interesting to hear about the consideration given to the use of this method and plywood, in regards to the concept of the decomposing materials."

The Guardian reports that the almost completed Vali-e-Asr mosque in Tehran, designed by Iranian Fluid Motion Architects and nearly 10 years in the making,  is facing harsh opposition from Iran's conservative establishment. The complaint, its modern appearance.

fictional\_/Christopher argued "to abandon symbolism is the first step in modernizing a religion, to strip it clean of tradition and value it for its conceptual philisophical framework.   See ronchamp by Corbusier or that church by Philip Johnson as examples in architecture.  Its interesting that this was done in a theocracy, amd frankly a good sign if it survives."

Burntwood School in London, UK by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and The French International School of Beijing (LFIP) in Beijing, China by Jacques Ferrier Architecture are just two of the excellent projects from the latest Archinect Pinterest Learning Spaces board.

Firms/Work Updates

The editors of lunch 13: Mischief cordially invite articles, letters, manifestos, anti-manifestos, quasi-manifestos, graphics, poems, comics, napkin sketches, recipes, games, and dirty jokes that approach design more impishly than urgently. Abstracts are due December 20, 2017; full submissions due January 11, 2018.

The City of Santa Monica is looking for a people leader and process manager to serve as it’s City Architect.

Mitch McEwen posted an excerpt from Profound Modernity, her recent e-flux essay, on the design of dry ground in Mexico City and its image of modernity.

School/Blogs

Laurila an MArch student at Taubman College, visited/reviewed the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial. She drew special attention to the curators use of wall text "which sounds minute but is incredibly important for any exhibition...makes excellent use of common language over architectural jargon." threadkilla chimed in "yes, knowledge of the history of the discipline helps 'get into' the work, but I wouldn't say it is a prerequisite for reading it".

Looking for a job in academia?

Currently the Design School in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University is accepting applications for a Clinical Assistant Professor position, in landscape architecture and sustainable design. Alternatively, the College of Architecture at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is seeking highly motivated candidates for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position, focusing on teaching first and second year design studios.

Discussions/Threads

likeit started a thread with questions about how firms can offer CA as additional service. I.e."How does liability work, as AOR, after stamping permit set?" thisisnotmyname answered "Our insurance carrier recommends we do CA on everything.  It is my understanding that not doing CA is not an effective liability shield.". The thread led Everyday Architect to learn something 

"I thought there were a handful of jurisdictions that required the stamping architect to perform CA, but I can't find more than one that does ... though my search hasn't been exhaustive."

 Later geezertect shared a story, the conclusion "plan on monitoring the project whether or not you're being paid for it.  Include that time in your calculations when setting your fee.  If something goes wrong, you're going to get sucked in."

Over on Thread Central, Tinbeary There there, wondered "Does anyone have experience with owners/contractors not getting permits and getting busted for it?" David Curtis advised "Fire the client, in writing. Watch the bldg dept for when the plans get submitted (if ever) then advise the bldg dept of what occurred and ask that your plans be withdrawn/given to you." Miles Jaffe agreed "Subject to liability exposure (structure, code) I'd place the call and/or have an attorney advise the ex-client that they have no right to use the work and must immediately relinquish all drawings. CYA."

jbdebit had an ADA Door Push Pull Question. While geezertect's was more fundamental "Is the ADA a good idea that has gone too far?"

archinine believed the first thread made a good case for bringing "a code consultant on board. An architect or sometimes plan examiner who has deep knowledge of that locality's code requirements." As for the later, thatsthat wasn’t sure of the premise "Are we saying the requirements are too stringent? The amount of space needed for ADA clearances is too much of the building? The financial cost of some of these fixtures/conveyance systems is too much? Sometimes I think yes to all of the above, but then I think about how different my experience in a building would be if I were in a wheelchair or seeing impaired, and it changes my mind."

b3tadine[sutures] took it further "hasn't gone far enough. until we reach the point of Universal Design, like Single-Payer, anything else is a half-measure".

Additionally

Places Journal published ‘The Ugly Pet’, David Heymann’s reflections on; contemporary sustainable architecture, hyper-specificity and the work of the great Australian architect Glenn Murcutt.