In the third part of the CONTOURS: feature Sherin Wing, talks about urban justice. Specifically the needs of those impoverished, living in our own urban centers often in what Sherin describes as "Segregated urban centers". Drawing on the work of Edward Soja, Distinguished Professor at UCLA’s Department of Urban Planning at the School of Public Affairs, she goes on to argue that rather than "limiting oneself to architecture-based volunteer organizations...real involvement could change the trajectory of our urban [in]justice. That requires working with community activists and leaders who are directly effected by what Dr. Soja insists must be recognized as discriminatory: location in space. Architects can work with community activists and leaders, as well as politicians, to re-vision and reshape our urban centers, precisely to offer the access and services Dr. Soja identifies." toasteroven suggest however that the real problem isn't a lack of architects interested in such work instead "the main problem is funding. there are many people who are working on finding ways to provide better access to affordable goods and services to impoverished neighborhoods, even people with extensive architectural training - the problem is that no one wants to fund these programs because of the stigma against people who live in these areas."

News

This October New Yorkers get to celebrate - for the first time ever - a very special month in their city: Archtober, a month-long festival of architectural design activities, programs and exhibitions. Presented by the Center for Architecture and many, many other collaborating organizations, Archtober's program is just packed with special tours, lectures, films and exhibitions that focus on the importance of architecture and design in everyday life. As Archtober's media sponsor, Archinect & Bustler have selected a few Archtober goodies you should definitely mark red in your calendar.

The announced winner of the 2011 Solar Decathlon is the University of Maryland's WaterShed house! The house is especially noteworthy for it's focus on water-conservation. Emily Kemper, comments that she visited and toured all the homes. She'll be blogging about later this week and promises to post a link. As a teaser she writes "some of the houses provoked some very strong responses."

Bustler.net pimps Polymorphic which is a "fascinating kinetic installation designed and produced by ten architecture students from Columbia University GSAPP in New York City." and also a bench. Lian Chikako Chang exclaims "Beautiful in both concept and execution! Congratulations!"

Suzanne Labarre of Fast Company uses the term "Lady Parts" in a review of the self-designed Shanghai studio by/for Taranta Creations. Liebchen correctly points out "When its vaginal, its a "design crime." But Philip Johnson gets to hold is little Johnson/model of the AT&T building on the cover of time magazine and everyone's fine with it? http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1979/1101790108_400.jpg"

Elizabeth Farrelly opines on the "veritable global phenomenon, this rushing of the world's architects like so many half-baked platelets to the site of the latest catastrophe." in Victims need art like a hole in the head. Derek Kaplan agrees "some may bristle a bit, but something that needs to be discussed..."

Inspired by the massive public protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and Madrid’s Puerta del Sol Square, hundreds have camped out in a square near Wall Street since Sept. 17, 2011, as part of a campaign dubbed "Occupy Wall Street." Orhan Ayyüce, responding to FRaC "i don't think this has to be a partisan protest. people from all walks of life are hurting right now. they want fair chance at future and decent return on their labor, affordable healthcare, education, housing and jobs to make a living. is that a socialist utopia?" Discuss with other Nector's here

Schools/School Blogs

Lian at Harvard's GSD posts some images of Flatland: an installation at Gund Hall by Casey Hughes with Hiroshi Jacobs is dedicated to the incoming students of the Graduate School of Design.

The Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Design at University of California, Berkeley is conducting a search for an open-rank position to shape the department’s offering in Sustainability, Energy & Environment (SEE).

The Julius Shulman Institute at Woodbury University presents: Richard Barnes: Unnatural Spaces. Beginning this upcoming Sunday, October 9, 2011 with a private opening, reception, and awards ceremony at 5:30–7:30 p.m followed by the public opening and a gallery talk with Richard Barnes.

Work Updates/Firm

Jeffrey Butts recently wondered whether "...the clout of the architecture profession dwindling? http://www.examiner.com/architecture-design-in-national/does-the-architecture-profession-have-a-future-the-united-states-part-1"

Quilian Riano, has returned home. Quilian has a new Archinect blog on which he promises "to talk about all these things and the issues that tie them: ecologies, communities and case studies, design, agency, tactics and strategies, activism, art, theory, media, etc..."

Meanwhile, Chris Malloy, recently asked "where to start" One assumes he is talking about a new project/site and Mariano Arias-Diez, recently updated a10studio's profile on Archinect.

Discussion Threads

LITS4FormZ is looking for some constructive criticism as he starts finalizing his thesis plans. The thesis will be focused on providing "worker's housing" for constructions sites. He hopes to "propose a system of on-site housing integrated within the confines of 4 unique construction sites using the same kit-of-parts in different cities and climates across China." rusty! thinks it "Sounds like a really cool thesis project. I do hope you have researched the hell out of England's industrial revolution. The precedents can not be ignored." and despite LITS4FormZ's claims to the contrary rusty! believes "Your thesis topic is very much political, no matter how much you say it isn't"

jordans99 wants to know about "schools that do anything with prison design". It isn't a school but Brian Henry, mentions the Socio Design Foundation "which held a prison design competition for students. The studio I was in took part in it and it's a tough problem to tackle. You can find the winners on SDF's website under "past winners" and a google search for "prisoned design competition" can get you more info."

Kirk Wooller started a thread to find out more info on Free Teaching Copies for Professors from publications. barry lehrman replies "Kirk, it was from my 'teaching like I give a damn' archinect 'school' blog before it fell down (long story - don't bother asking why). But I did save the post on my other blog here. Good luck and looking forward to your updates!"

blankblank's confessions about the frustrations of being an unemployed grad watching his family pay $30K to another architect, launches a great discussion about the potential pitfalls and dangers of designing for your family and book learning, vs 'design' skill.

Finally, drawmore.flounces "Did deconstruction turn into blobitecture some time in the 90's?" From SUF1200mcg's comment it appears as if he would answer affirmatively "deconstruction free'd us from any historical commitment, thus allowing computer technique to takeover." Although, cosmin_buta cautions "first off, you need to clarify some terms. Not all blobs and fish-shaped Ghery buildings are deconstructivist. "