Kendall A. Nicholson, penned Architecture Gave Me a Black Eye: A Note to Architectural Educators. Therein he argues

"Power structures are not dismantled by provocations and open letters, such as this, but by education and deliberate design interventions…Recognizing race as a social construct means it is a fundamental consideration for design professionals…Setting up race education as a supplement to core curricula is a complete disservice to the people who inhabit the spaces we create."

ubu loca believed it "well said" and Gary Garvin offered "Thanks…for giving us a chance to air this out."

Plus, for the latest in the Thesis Review series, Katherine Guimapang highlights the work of SCI-Arc graduate Abdullah Tahseen (M.Arch). Both randomised and Orhan Ayyüce appreciated the "Beautifully done" retro-vibes.

News

Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB) has expanded and renovated one of D.C.'s historic mid-century modern churches. The design includes a new staircase located at the center of the Church which connects all three levels of the building.

Zaha Hadid Architects’ Infinitus Plaza opened in Baiyun, a city in the north of China’s Guangdong Province. Many commentators were not impressed, though 18x32 did admit "To be fair, this is basically just standard office park. I wouldn't mind more office parks looking cool like this, but it would be more compelling if that coolness actually improved something about the office park beyond the look."

ICYMI, Enlai Hooi (Head of Innovation at Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects) reminded the COP26 summit that  "An architect who creates just three typical buildings over their career will be responsible for carbon emissions equivalent to the lifetime emissions of 162 typical Americans" while making the case for government policy and reforms to shape "Propositional models" towards retrofitting existing buildings and designing "for adaptability" over demolition and rebuilding.

In lieu of the headline-blame, archanonymous didn’t want us to forget who's really at fault "So now we are blaming ourselves for the choices rich developers make within the legal frameworks established by our governments?...Seems analogous to blaming every day people's decisions on cars and recycling for the environmental situation when big corporations are responsible for most global emissions."

Despite some last minute challenges Herzog & de Meuron's Tour Triangle looks to be moving forward. Many took the news/opportunity to pan the proposed design/form. Yet, monosierra had a different take,
"I like how the form seems to change with different views - a visual trick Pei Cobb Freed played with a lot in the 70s/80s. No doubt the tower will not be as transparent as the renders show but it does its best to look unassuming despite the vast size. The size itself is a fait accompli - developer economics and zoning politics saw to that."

In November, we lost; "Leading modernist" Bernard Judge at 90, Nathan Johnson "a forward-thinking modernist Black architect who designed some of Detroit’s most iconic structures" at 96. And Virgil Abloh. While all are a loss/will be missed, as mill101 noted Virgil was "Just 41. Very sad." R.I.P.

Fox Residence in Cleveland, OH by Horton Harper Architects and Elevated Camp in New England by Murdough Design are just two of the latest top images (in no particular order) from the Archinect pinterest board Houses.

Blogs/Firms/Updates/Work

Back in November, Dimitris Konstantinakis was working on "+ Form", "V Form" and ".Δ Form" while by December, Zafrin Hossain a "Shou Sugi Ban Interior".

Classes have begun at the new Annie E. Fales Elementary School, the first net-positive-energy public school built in Massachusetts, designed by HMFH Architects and built by the construction management firm Gilbane Building Company.

School/Blogs

Woodbury School of Architecture is accepting applications for three new degree programs set to launch in Fall 2022: Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Practices, and Bachelor of Science in Design Computation.

If interested applying by the priority deadline of March 1st is recommended.

Discussion/Threads

Kyle Smith was looking for advice regarding future-proofing their career against automation and the products of companies such as "Testfit and Google's Delve". trashbandicoot opined "If you worry about being replaced by a program generating designs by sheer brute force, you weren't all that valuable to begin with. The program is simply doing your low-level job faster".

Reflecting on their own work experience, midlander shares "one thing that surprised me when i first worked on a residential tower was how little time we spent on unit layouts. we had a principal who was good at that and once the tower geometry and target sizes were defined it took him all of about 4 hours to hand draft the standard units" they also suspect that "their adoption and evolution will be slower and less impactful than the routine business cycle impacts on the market".

stephen11962 has a home "13 years old, that was incompetently clad in EIFS" and is considering installing EPS, Roxul and a rainscreen over it. Right out of the gate folks were advising him to "Rip it all down" and also to "hire a professional". Although most ‘Nectors had nothing good to say about EIFS, bowling_ball noted "I've used EIFS in literally every project I've ever been involved with. It's ubiquitous where Code requires R27 EFFECTIVE walls...Modern EIFS with a fluid applied avb is surprisingly bulletproof in my climate" that being said they also "didn't even know that EIFS over house wrap was a thing - I've never seen it. Sounds like a terrible idea". Interestingly, Everyday Architect is "starting to see more EIFS with drainage being specified for California projects (which was previously sacrilege where stucco reigned) because it pencils out (easier detailing and installation sequencing too)" and got into the weeds of NFPA 285 compliance.

Finally, Thread Central discussed Virgil Abloh’s passing. square. spoke for some "i think arch's nuance here is appropriate, in terms of evaluating legacy, and one i struggle with when it comes to elite architecture, let alone luxury fashion; imo, all individuals need to be held accountable in some regard in relation to the way they choose to engage with broader systems…obviously what is not debatable is the tragedy of his early death, and many of the positive qualities abloh brought to design at large". 

In response, b3tadine[sutures] pointed to a "$1 million dollar scholarship for future Black designers" and Will Galloway memorialized "a kick ass designer...inspiring AF. Why deny that accomplishment for the sake of a definition of what design should be? I loved his work personally and am sad that he died young enough that we can only wonder at what he would have done, given more time."  

Additionally

Over at the podcast Material Matters, Grant Gibson chatted with architect Amin Taha about "the controversy around 15 Clerkenwell Close; being shortlisted for the Stirling Prize; learning to build in stone; why it’s a sustainable material; the nation’s planning system; beauty; being born behind the Iron Curtain; growing up in Southend-on-Sea; studying under Isi Metzstein and working for Zaha Hadid; designing 30-storey stone towers; and how the construction industry could become carbon negative."