As we enter another new year (Archinect's 15th!), it is an opportunity to reflect back on the previous year and share the most trafficked pages in Archinect's diverse online ecosystem, with a list of 11 top 11 lists for '11, based exclusively on visits by unique page-views.

The most popular news item was the post Plans for new Apple HQ, by Norman Foster, officially released. Orhan Ayyüce, had two of the ten most popular features namely: his review of Central Park at Playa Vista by Michael Maltzan Architects, which came in at number 1 and his factual and fictional manual to the types of people who sit on architectural juries, coming in at number 6. Javier Arbona’s post inspired by a NYT article which profiled Rafael Viñoly and his wife’s Sunday Routine, earned the number 1 slot, out of all blog posts this year. While Lian at GSD had 4 of the top ten blog posts. Additionally, it should come as no surprise that the number one discussion thread of the year was the annual (2012) M.Arch Applicants, Commiserate Here!, thread.

Archinect also published a new Showcase feature, highlighting The White Elephant : designed and created by the team of Jimenez Lai, Thomas Kelley, Cyrus Penarroyo, Andrew Akins. The project is a combination between object and pavilion or configurable furniture and a small house.

News
Y Design Office has proposed Unit Fusion, a modular, plug-in high-rise residential typology for Hong Kong. However, as of yet, the 75-story tower project is still in its conceptual design phase. Liebchen quipped "Who wants to bet it won't leave the conceptual design phase?" and trily linked the project back to it’s architectural predecessors. "This type of plug-in architecture had been envisioned 40 years ago by the Metabolist architects and they failed miserably... I'm surprised there is no mention regarding the origin of the concept and if there is anything different than the Metabolist ideas?”

A post on a new project, Pallet Garage by Wes Janz, inspired Alexander Worden, to point out an old competition entry of his The Pallet House. Alex commented: "I am a strong proponent for the use and reuse of materials, like pallets, for building materials. A couple years ago I began developing a shelter from pallets. Inspired by the work done at the Rural Studio.” Though FRaC questioned, "how do you keep the bugs out?"

Events
If I happened to be in Dallas on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 I would be attending New Humanism: Taking a Stand - A Report on Ghost 13, at the Dallas Center for Architecture.

Also, over at her school blog Susan Surface recommends attending the upcoming Public Interest Design / SEED workshop at Yale University on January 13/14. The workshop/conference will include sessions with the likes of Emily Pilloton, Michael Murphy and Bryan Bell.

Schools/School Blogs
meganbasnak at the University of Buffalo featured a guest post by Scott Archambault on her blog. Entitled Material : Culture :: Culture : Material the post explores a new housing typology the Continual House. Scott writes: "Today, we live in a culture of foreclosed-on homes, abandoned houses, and financial meltdown.  The Continual House seeks to use these problems to create a new housing typology which eliminates the need for mortgage payments, instead directing those same funds to a continuous construction, addition, or transformation on an initial rudimentary space."

Matthew Messner, at University of Illinois Chicago shared some final images from his Interior City project.

Work Updates/Firm Updates/Blogs
In light of Ricardo Legorreta’s recent passing, check out the photos of the Museo Laberinto, in San Luis Potosí, MX designed by Legorreta + Legorreta Architects, which were recently posted to the Archinect profile of Allen Vallejo, architectural photographer.

Gregory Walker tried to explain the difference between a recent study, put out by Georgetown University and the Department of Labor's annual average unemployment figures, when it comes to architectural unemployment numbers. The Georgetown study showed projected unemployment rates for upcoming 2012 graduates and listed architecture as facing the highest rate of unemployment out of any field while the Department of Labor’s figures showed that "architecture had a BELOW average unemployment rate for 2011, with a 7.3% figure". His conclusion is "perhaps what this confirms is, in part, what most of us have experienced: yes, the world temporarily stopped in 2008. yes, there were a ton of casualties. yes, it's picking up again." Moreover he asks a good question "can someone get the aia on this? i mean, really? does anyone have a hotline to robert ivy?  why in the world can't they put their resources to use on this and settle the numbers once and for all?"

Discussion Threads
Todd Leback, introduced himself. He is new to the community.

DavidTg asked for help identifying "the achitectural style of the doorway to the Fletcher Moss Gardens in Didsbry". To which Donna Sink responded "Spread eagle doorway I was TOTALLY expecting something else." 

Finally SeriousLee wanted to know "Does learning the art of sculpting help one become a better architect?" trace™ answered "No, it won't.  Like SW points out, anything, particularly creative endeavors, will help stimulate your mind.  Jogging stimulates my mind as well, as does a good wine (to keep things in perspective)". However, snook_dude differed, he said "go for Sculpting...I have over the years dabbled in sculpting. Casting in Bronze, Clay, and Stone along with some constructive sculpture.  I have been dying to start Welding steel, but I think I will wait  until I retire from Architecture.  Sculpting will make you a better Architect and Architecture will  make you a better Sculptor.”

Additionally
Read Ulrike Knöfel on the Renzo Piano designed building The Shard, in The Building That Will Change London Forever. Therein Knöfel contends that "This glass tower is meant to show that London can defy the financial crisis, or at least that's how London Mayor Boris Johnson phrased it a year ago. In the worst-case scenario, the glass wedge will simply become a symbol of the fact that everything in London is growing fancier and more expensive, and that it's time for old England, with its eroding working class, to abandon the city and its exorbitant costs of living. In fact, these costs are precisely what prompted thousands to take to the streets in protests last summer."