New(ish) Archinect writer Niall Patrick Walsh suggests this year’s (rescheduled) Venice Biennale missed a "golden opportunity" to radically reform how it promotes contemporary architectural trends, and in doing so, address long-held concerns over its relevance, accessibility, and environmental impact.

richmon agreed with the take, as did Ole Bouman who pointed out it was "a conclusion that was clear from the day the decision to postpone was made."

Plus, Rukshan Vathupola published a great interview with Tammy Eagle Bull, FAIA, AICAE, NCARB and President/founder of Encompass Architects, which touches on the way the passage of the ADA shaped her early career and her belief that there is "huge need and big opportunities for Native Architects now."

News

Frank Gehry's new Youth Orchestra Los Angeles facility had it’s first sound check. The_Crow likes "this new Gehry phase. I think this in addition to the Philadelphia project are some of his best work in years. Happy to see him enjoying his sunset moment and continuing to re-invent himself."

A proposal to build dozens of affordable apartments, designed by Eric Owen Moss Architects, near Venice Beach has been approved. While many were skeptical and wondered about the aesthetics or design choices ie: "Who in their right minds hires EOM to do affordable housing?" lower.case.yao believed "It’s better than a parking lot at least, and lord knows we need more infill development everywhere. I don’t like the style, but it might be an interesting addition to the neighborhood."

Construction of the Morphosis-designed Hanking Center is complete. Contrary to press about the efficiency of the detached-core configuration for the 65-story tower, midlander argued "it's more accurate to call this a triple core building...there's no practical advantage to this - any talk about it is just architectural bs. the purpose is to create a fantastic space and interesting form."

The AIA reported that the May ABI scored 58.5, one of the "highest ever" and "billings continued to expand at firms across the country in May as well, with all regions seeing billings growth for the third consecutive month."

R.I.P. Gottfried Böhm at 101 and Thomas Gordon Smith, at 73. About the former, midlander offered up a prediction 

"in 150 years he'll be viewed as the most important architect of the second half of the twentieth century, someone whose inscrutable and frightening work inspired a whole century of advancement in the craft of design" while kevlo shared this tribute to the later, a former teacher "As a young student, who was not in love with classical architecture, he opened my eyes to what the true values of it were meant to be and how that could produce something very unique and meaningful."

The Nancy L. Ellis Tea House in Sarasota, FL by Hall Darling Design Studio and THE FIELD in Xiamen, China by TEAM_BLDG are just two of the latest top images (in no particular order) to be found on the Archinect Pinterest board Doors & Gates.

Blogs/Firms/Updates/Work

Back in June, Wai Chun Yan was working on their "First Submission!"

Did you catch rzlbd’s proposal for #YongeCity "a long, mid-rise (~6-story) mega space-frame"?

School/Blogs

Those looking to get their foot in the door of academia might consider applying for one of two openings, at The University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, fellowships focusing on racial and spatial justice.

If more senior, Harvard University’s GSD is "searching for a distinguished practitioner and/or scholar at the full professorial level in urban design, or a candidate with superior attainment and strong promise at the associate professorial level."

Otherwise, for something in higher-education but less academic Woodbury University is hiring a new Career and Outreach Coordinator and MIT’s Museum Studio and Compton Gallery, an Artist and Fabrication Specialist.

Discussion/Threads

alxporter started a thread (first ever) asking for help identifying "black-owned architects in Miami, preferably with a diverse portfolio, including residential projects." Non Sequitur pointed out that The Directory of African American Architects could be viewed by States and others used Archinect’s Firm Directory to find FRAP Studio.

It was also noted "there are many black-owned firms in Miami that our in our database" it is just that "this is the only firm that has opted to identify as black in their profile settings". Unfortunately the thread devolved a bit "Jeezus this thread is a disaster. We owe OP an apology. If y'all didn't want to just answer the question you could've said nothing."

Although sonaila wrote a thesis on "bio integrated design focused on the facade" and had hoped to turn their idea into a viable startup, further research has led to disillusionment and a question "Is this idea worth exploring more?" EverydayArchitect gave the OP props for knowing enough to call bullshit on the "air quality myth" yet also noted there were already "living wall systems (including moss)" on the market so it might make sense to start there. One final verdict, "The only real benefit here is eye candy."

Finally, archanonymous wanted "A place for the posting, analysis, and appreciation of all the fine duck buildings out there." The thread kicked off a discussion about "Where's the line between sculpture and architecture? Where's the line between duck and fish?". With many highlighting the importance of a C of O. Though the OP argued "It's not necessarily the C of O, it's the acknowledgement that this is a place occupied by humans."

Additionally

ICYMI, on the occasion of Spinning Tales, an exhibition of newly reinvented fish lamps by Frank Gehry, Gagosian republished a 2014 essay by Paul Goldberger in which he considers Gehry’s earlier ColorCore Formica fish lamps and traces the history of the fish form throughout a seven-decade career.