In the latest edition of the Working out of the Box series Archinect interviewed Steven Fleming an architectural-theorist of cycling.

For those wondering what does that mean, he explains his latest project is an exhibition "inspired by General Motors' Futurama exhibition at the 1939 World's Fair, only instead of whetting everyone’s appetite for owning a car and a house in the suburbs, I want my Utopian vision to open people's eyes to the potential of bikes, if cities were actually built for bikes and other modes weren't allowed to impeded bicycle motion".

Slightly was inspired "For me, this type of work is more inspirational than the glossy renderings I see that is all too common in architecture work these days! Seriously, bike friendly movement needs to be in the forefront of cities around the world!"...

Meanwhile for the latest release of the In Focus feature Archinect talked to Brooklyn-based photographer Jade Doskow. Her "largest and most current body of work involves traveling and photographing the remaining architecture and landscaping from world’s fairs, illustrating how these past-utopian structures interact with today’s environment".

News
Architecture critic Christopher Hume laid the blame for the architectural mediocrity of Toronto at the feet of planning department(s). won and done williams basically called bullshit "I'd be curious to read the Toronto zoning ordinance to see if ‘glass towers’ are actually somehow mandated, i.e. through density requirements, design guidelines, etc. I have a suspicion they are not as it is very difficult to write into code/zoning the aesthetic qualities of buildings...My guess is that the developers are driving the ship on this issue and not City government".

The London Evening Standard reported that "A stadium designed by British-based architect Zaha Hadid and set to be the focal point of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is to be scaled back amid criticism of its cost and size". citizen couldn’t help it "Scaled back...So... it'll look like a smaller flattened miner's helmet?".

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) released the September ABI score, which was 54.3, up from a mark of 53.8 in August. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 58.6, down from the reading of 63.0 the previous month. 

AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. attributed reports of increased productivity levels to "new approaches to business challenges, a very competitive marketplace, the utilization of new technologies, and a renewed focus on efficiency".

Last week the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), L+M Development Partners, The Bluestone Organization, Triangle Equities, American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY) and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) announced that “the team of Swedish firm White Arkitekter has won the two-phase ‘For a Resilient Rockaway’ (FAR ROC) design competition at the Arverne East site in the Rockaways.

Donna Sink wasn’t trying to be a Debbie Downer but argued "Cool proposal, nice designs, glad to see we're trying to think about building sensitively along the shore.
But I'm leaning more towards thinking we can't. With the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012 it's become impossible to insure any house along the coast.  Which means the only people who can live along the coast are people who can afford to lose their house and rebuild it again *without insurance*".

Firms/Blogs/Work Updates
Ampdesign shared "images of a scale mockup built showing an alternate point lighting scheme".

Recently Bilyana Docheva worked on the megapolis transformation while Ibrahim Rajah worked on a Design Collaboration exhibited in M13D Gallery opening in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Schools/Blogs
jsraffin who is a few months into thesis year at the University of Detroit Mercy began their new blog with a  brief description of  the thesis idea - namely "an investigation in how dominant culture and technology shape the new paradigm".

Arid Lands Institute co-founders Hadley and Peter Arnold have a piece published in the  most recent issue of BOOM: A Journal of California,  titled Pivot: Reconceiving Water Scarcity as Design Opportunity | Mapping a More Absorbent Landscape.

[Re_Map]drl part of the Enigma group within Manchester School of Architecture’s started a blog to document their research. They promise "Employing the process of a data dérive, mapping methodologies will be used to clarify and condense data into communicable representations that investigate the theme of post-conflict within the British city of Coventry".

JNBouchard affiliated with the Université Laval posted since for the first time since earlier in March of this year. Reason for breaking the silence? Vortex Shade "a lamp I've been working on for some time". b3tadine[sutures]  offered some encouragement "JN, like this a lot, have fun!".

Discussions
Spidey started a thread to get suggestions re: Good books for learning how to do wall sections. gruen advised skip the books "find some docs from an arch firm and study them. Go to a local arch and ask". ghwarton agreed with citizen "Frank Ching's stuff is pretty good, if rudimentary. Also, find old hand-drawing-era books about how to do detailing and working drawings. CAD-era books in this same genre are mostly crap. The best reference of all is this one though (assuming you don't already have a copy as an old textbook): http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Building-Construction-Materials-Methods/dp/047007468X".

SeriousQuestion wanted opinions on Vault House, a 2013 project by Johnston Marklee in Oxnard, California. SeriousQuestion had some issues with the detailing specifically "the metal mullions to be a little thick / odd", but thought it is interesting overall.

To Miles Jaffe the house was "Ill-proportioned, sterile, pop. Instantly dated” however Noah Walker loved it “I think their work is original and interesting. I like how the window forms that are registered in the facade shape the interior spaces".

tammuz added "there is something appealingly kooky about it, it almost doesnt take itself too seriously ...but  the exterior shot shots show it to be rather  irresponsive, shoebox like and bland white -quite compromising. too bland. with all those funny appertures, why shouldnt the outside skin be more responsive..i mean more fun. and differentiating the outer crust  from the inner surface would add more meaning given that the inner space".

Finally, Aesthete was looking for help identifying a mysterious vintage suspended ceiling system!!!! thisisnotmyname had an answer "I knew this from old magazines as a product called 'Leaflite' or maybe it was 'Leaflight'.  Last use of it I've seen was the Kenzo Tange-designed AMA building in Chicago from 1989 or so.  It's great. Hope someone out there still makes it".