For one of the last features of 2022, Daniel Vella explained why It’s Time To Consider the Refugee Camp as a City.
Orhan Ayyüce "couldn't agree more with the main idea" and noted that in fact "Turkey is building extra story addable, planned, cmu based cities in Idlib to accommodate refugees who want to return to Syria…In this aerial view, there seems like some commercial, possibly public spaces start to establish themselves per the planned layout which fascinates me as the seed."
Plus, Niall Patrick Walsh chatted with WilkinsonEyre Sports Director, Sam Wright. Who accepted "Clearly the current FIFA World Cup format is not sustainable" but added "The unsustainable stadiums are the ones that have no potential to grow, and end up being carved up or torn down in short time...As architects involved in these discussions, it can be difficult to force change from the bottom. At some point, legislation has to force you to do it. Until you get to that point, you are relying on a well-informed, aspirational client, and an aspirational design team to help drive that."
Foster + Partners won a competition to design a master plan for the King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Some weren’t buying it
"Looks like LAX but much worse (both design wise and context wise). Also, bicyclists in the airport concourse in Saudi, yeah right" but others believed there were lessons to be learned, while also acknowledging the complexities of "labor and human rights issues" in the Gulf.
The International Residential Code (IRC) accepted a modified appendix that would allow the legal use of hempcrete.
Several chapters of the AIA in California, including AIA California and AIA Los Angeles, published an open letter to the California Architects Board (CAB) in opposition to proposed changes in how licensed architects must advertise their license number. Janosh argued
"Architects in California would be more accepting of this if there was any effort at all put towards actually enforcing the unlicensed practice laws and backing them with meaningful penalties".
A new, two-tower mixed-use scheme from Studio Gang has been completed in Amsterdam. thisisnotmyname complained "Studio Gang needs to use its elevated position in the profession to do much more innovative work that what we see here. Their high rise residential jobs are pretty formulaic at this point: a box with some kind of cranked facade action or shifted floorplates."
NEOM announced plans for new man-made island development called Oxagon. sameolddoctor chimed in "As cringeworthy as this shit is…this is probably the most realistic of all the ‘giga projects’ in the Kingdom, as Orhan says."
Yujidao Park in Nanbu, China by BLVD International and Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens in Midland, MI by Metcalfe Architecture & Design are just two of the latest top images (in no particular order) from the Archinect Pinterest board Outdoors.
R.I.P., Meinhard von Gerkan and Arata Isozaki.
Will Galloway offered up a paean to the later, "Even with his Pritzker win he remains an under-appreciated architect…Like Phillip Johnson in the West he made the careers of others as much as his own. Which is an astonishing thing. And a pretty powerful legacy, beyond his own works."
ICYMI, back in November Mustafa Hadla was working on "Al Narjes Villa". Then in December, Andrew Miller shared a pic of "WSU Facade Installation".
Over at his blog, David C. McFadden acknowledged the range of benefits from unionization for employees in the architecture field, yet also noted factors which make "unionization a less attractive for many architecture firm owners."
More than one ‘Nector agreed that unions may not be the solution to the problems facing architecture professionals. Since while "Unions work when there is nearly infinite money to go around, such as with gov position or with large corporations. They don't work the same way when the bills are paid by private clients." However, square. countered it is not just "about wages, it's about collective action and holding your boss accountable, otherwise there is 0 structure for that in the typical workplace, as you're often at the mercy of the mood your boss is in. many things are often promised but there's no formal mechanism to ensure they happen with a contract or a union."
Looking for work in the new year?
The School of Architecture (TSOA) highlighted the thesis project of Jessica Martin, who created a rammed-earth shelter 'Cinders', in the Chapparal region of Arizona, using three varieties of the local soil.
As of December 1st, Heather Flood is the new Dean of the School of Architecture at Woodbury University. All the commentators thought she was an excellent choice! Though Janosh also quipped "I wouldn't want that job for any amount of money".
Wanting a new gig in academia? EPFL’s School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) is accepting applications, for a position in Architectural Geometry and Digital Design, through March 1st.
Or, the School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) at Morgan State University has an opening for a "Tenure Track Faculty position to serve its Graduate Program in Architecture in the areas of Architectural Design and one of the following: Digital Design, Environmental Design and Climate Change, and/or Building Technology and Structures". Note, "For fullest consideration, please submit materials by 01/30/2022."
Markytect wanted "to hear from designers and builders who have built butterfly roofs at least 5 years ago and how they've held up & resisted leaks or water infiltration issues" as they can’t help cringe a little when coming across one. Almosthip had a simple answer "Internal Roof drains" though others like Wood Guy responded "Butterfly roofs are never a good idea." Everyday Architect teased out a key consideration
"there's a big difference between residential and commercial construction (materials, scale, profit margins) and the companies that do each. You can make it work on residential (even in cold climates), but you'll need to pay for it (and many times that means convincing your GC that their typical roofer isn't who they should hire)."
OneLostArchitect was curious how much folks were getting for a holiday bonus. While some places apparently try to frame or "justify the xmas bonus as compensation for all the unpaid OT throughout the year" most treat it as a separate "chunk of cash / additional compensation." A few folks are even lucky enough to get more than one/type of bonus a year. Whistler always shoots for giving out at least a "15-20 % bonus", even more in better years. Unfortunately a couple of ‘Nectors got anywhere from nothing, to only a low single digit % of salary.
Finally, Mr. Astaire put out a call for anyone with "experience shifting from working full time to working part time (less than 32hrs/week)." archanonymous is "doing it now. I have 12 years of experience also, and when I made this change I was super burned out." Another approach, taken by msparchitect, is quitting and starting your "own path/firm. I've found myself ultimately working less and making more." Gregory Walker wasn’t the only one to point out that at least in the USA, the IRS, insurance companies and the like have pretty clear definitions of part/full-time as it pertains to other forms of compensation, so "if all of that is important or vital to you, make sure you're on the right side of the ledger".
For Levi Wall reduced hours has "meant a little more life balance, more time with my kiddo and more ability to support my wife when she’s busy with work. I’ve still been able to work on projects that I enjoy. I feel more productive with my time."
No Comments
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.