L.E.FT, started in 2005 by Makram El Kadi and Ziad Jamaleddine, was profiled as part of the Small Studio Snapshot series. 

For some reason BulgarBlogger and Positive Pete got into it over issues of state licensure, international practice and other "types of technicalities".

Plus, Anthony Morey started up a new series Fellow Fellows, which focuses on the trend of fellowships in academia which "has exploded over the past decade". The first three featured; Zachary Tate Porter, WAI Architecture Think Tank and Outpost Office.

News

Toon Dreessen (president of Dreessen Cardinal Architects Inc) penned an editorial arguing why Canadian architecture needs the support of a national policy. Non Sequitur was surprised "we're doing rather well.  Not sure what this is for."

BIG revised plans for a $2 billion Smithsonian redevelopment plan, which was under fire. citizen added to the criticism, "Yet more work proposed in a major Olmsted-planned urban landscape-- see also the Obama Library project for Jackson Park in Chicago." won and done williams agreed "Between this and the Obama Library, it's a wonder any major works of civic architecture are built these days."

Since the start of 2018, both Robert Frasca, FAIA (founding design partner of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects) and Neave Brown, (social housing pioneer) have passed away. Referring to the later, randomised memorialized "At least his, very belated, RIBA Royal Gold Medal wasn't a posthumous one."

Firms/Work Updates

akc27838 shared 6 maps for Permaculture Farm Design from "tenth acre farm".

Last month Alejandra Novelo Lugo worked on "analyzing the proposals and architectural positions of the Futurist movement, the social movement of the Sessantotto, works and texts by Antonio Sant’Elia and Filippo Marinetti...reflecting on the perplexed and chaotic mind of the Italians with the help of Beppe Severginini’s La Bella Figura, from and architectural point of view". While Kato Shotaro worked on "House K".

If you are looking for work at the intermediate level; Adjaye Associates wants someone with 5-8 years experience, Snøhetta (6-10) and Diller Scofidio + Renfro (6-12 years). All in their NYC offices.

Positive Pete experimented with the idea of a mood gifboard.  Marc Miller suggested making them "Slower and more spatial." He was also reminded of some images he made over the "summer, juxtaposing cakewalks over Serlio's drawings for stage sets."

School/Blogs

sdonnelly began the fifth semester of a dual degree at Taubman College super excited, having come out ahead from the Studio Roulette balloting. So they will get to "spend some of frigid February doing field studies along the Rio Grande River and the U.S. - Mexico border in El Paso and Juarez!"

For those looking for a new start in academia, UCLA has two open tenure-track positions; in Architectural Design and History & Theory. The application are due by 2/28/201.

Laurila (a 3-Year Masters of Architecture student at Taubman College) published a State of the School 2018, concluding "Thank goodness the social project still has a pulse".

Discussions/Threads

BulgarBlogger started a rant about trendy, collaborative, creative innovative Workplace Environments. JonathanLivingston added "I'm convinced privacy and creativity have a strong link...But open offices make for better pictures, and first impressions." kjdt pointed out "There is research into office spaces and creativity.  See Tom DeMarco, Timothy Lister...Also 1950s Solomon Asch experiments on the dangers of group think, and recent ones by neuroscientist Gregory Berns about the areas of the brain triggered by collaboration vs. isolated creativity."

Tinbeary There there wanted to talk Mentoring. Key it seems is a willingness to give "time, knowledge, and advice". Everyday Architect further believes that "people who won't share information or teach others do it because they have a hard time justifying their purpose in the profession...a misguided attempt to stay relevant."

Finally, the AIA took a stand against deregulation and for licensure. 

"We oppose efforts on the federal and state levels that could result in weakening or eliminating professional licensure for architects." As AIA President Carl Elefante reminded us "The essential purpose of licensing architects is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and shield consumers from unqualified practitioners". 

Marc Miller noted it is also a topic of concern in Landscape Architecture and that "This is part of a long standing dilemma about the role of architecture and the minor professions...aka...the stuff you do will be replaced by ai’s anyway, so tighten those belts and sharpen those pencils." jla-x went on to make a bipartisan case for "occupational licensing reform".