The latest edition of ShowCase:  featured Casa H by Bojaus Arquitectura. Located in a typical suburban area near Madrid,  the proximity of the houses that surround the plot lead Bojaus Arquitectura to develop a system of voids, deep windows and patios which would allow large openings without neglecting the equally important need of privacy.

Plus, the tenth edition of Screen/Print: highlighted: "Utopia" published by Zawia a multi-national collaboration based in Egypt. Specifically, Amale Andraos’ piece, "Visionary Urbanism and Its Agency" which dissects five myths long associated with a concept she calls "Visionary Urbanism".

News
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) have committed themselves to timely passage of the National Design Services Act (NDSA), which will give architecture students the same relief from crushing student loan debt, which is already granted young lawyers, doctors and others – in return for community service. The bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4205, was introduced by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and co-sponsored by Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL). Roberto Vasquez thought it was a great idea "two thumbs up from me on this one. let's help get this approved".

Responding to some critics Levi Wall wasn’t sure "what you're thinking is illegal, unless you're thinking that the bill will create unpaid internships (which I am opposed to). When I read the article, I get the impression that this could create programs akin to Teach for America, or other ‘Public Service Loan Forgiveness’ programs. In these, recent graduates are compensated, and some of their student debt is forgiven for participating in public service jobs".  

Meanwhile, one young architect, Evan Litvin of Philadelphia, has launched an online petition that enlists the support of architects nationwide for speedy passage of the NDSA. The link to that petition can be found here.

Last Tuesday, Editorial Manager Amelia Taylor-Hochberg attended the A+D Museum’s screening of archival footage of craftsmen working on The Farm and the early days of UCI. The event included a presentation by Robert Kett and Anna Kryczka discussing their book Learning by Doing at the Farm: Craft, Science, and Counterculture in Modern California.

The book is an exploration of; techno-utopianism, Hippies, craftsmen, and sociologists and radical education in 1960s southern California.

The Municipal Art Society announced that Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic of The New York Times, has been named the winner of the 2014 Brendan Gill Prize. Mr. Kimmelman will be presented with the prestigious award by MAS President Vin Cipolla and Board Chair Genie Birch, during the organization’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 25th. 

Donna Sink believed "This is really excellent and well-deserved.  I enjoy Kimmelman's writing very much". 

Bustler.net wrote about the winning narratives of the first Fairy Tales Architecture Competition. Chris Teeter suggested "This competition says a lot about the current state of architecture (design)"  he also linked to The Architect Business Plan Competition March - June 2014 writing "says as much as this competition does about the current state of architecture (business)".

 

Firms/Blogs/Work Updates
In honor of Her winning best original screenplay in the Oscars, Mitch McEwen finally posted a piece titled Her analogous city. Therein she writes

"As much as the cityscape panoramas of Her present the virtual Los Angeles, the interiors show us something that might be closer to the Rossi idea of the analogous".

In reply OBO Olaf Design Ninja queries "Can sci-fi not be nostalgic? I presume you suggest this by noting the movie Her dares to acknowledge nostalgia. Is the time gap being narrowed with the speed of social media? Again I presume you suggest this with dot com passe. What then is architectural nostalgia?"

Orleans House in Cape Cod, MA by Charles Rose Architects and TIGERTAIL in Brentwood, CA by Tighe Architecture were just two of the projects from the post Ten Top Images on Archinect's "Architect Sure!" Pinterest Board.

Ampdesign noted some recent press for their ‘'Sonic' sculpture project.

Recently Nir Ben Natan worked on a proposal for a mosque in Qatar while Jonathan Jimenez worked on an Ecological research center, Rocky Glen Park Moosic, P.A.

School/Blogs
Over at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) affiliated blog, Pascale Vonier provided a sneak peak of the re-designed Journal of Architectural Education (JAE). Issue 68:1 entitled design+ which will be shipped in the next few weeks is the first issue to feature the re-design by graphic design studio Project Projects.

Boston Architectural College launched a Master of Design Studies in Design for Human Health (MDS-DHH). Candidates who complete this program will be able to assess and design private, public, and community spaces based on the human dimensions of physical activity, cognitive performance, and personal wellbeing.
 

Discussions
Donna Sink wanted to talk EIFS success stories? She "has a friend/client considering a house clad in EIFS... From what I can see it looks to be in excellent shape. Any advice on keeping it in good shape, assuming it is?"

Miles Jaffe warned "I would NEVER buy a house sheathed in EIFS. Every single one I have seen has been riddled with rotten framing and black mold. It's not an ‘install’ problem, it is fundamental to the design of the product". However, Saint in the City differed "I dislike EIFS, but it can be installed correctly, and when it is, it is extremely energy efficient. ..when well executed, EIFS is essentially just another rainscreen...OP -- many variables in the house scenario you're describing, and IMHO it doesn't sound like you have the necessary experience to advise your friend".  

Later Steven Ward chimed in "No matter how good, if installed in the 80s, this system has probably about reached the end of its useful life. It's been a success story. Is this person ready for a re-skin?"

Saint in the City had a question re: some details for a base of exterior wall condition. Was particularly worried about condensation in the insulation area below the flashing. 

snooker-doodle-dandy advised "45 the top of the insulation at A...It is amazing what we will go thru for a thermal break....ya screw you structural guys.....and the guys in the field building". For his part Miles Jaffe suggested that the OP  "run the slab under the wall plate and insulate bottom of slab. Now the insulation is contiguous exterior to under slab (spec high psi foam if necesary for bearing), eliminating unsupported vinyl (eeewwww) mould" and  b3tadine[sutures] was having a "lot of difficulty in understanding the detail. Where are you located? In my neck of the woods, our frost depth is 4', and we don't provide a thermal break that large".

bowling_ball was also puzzled "My question is about why you'd outsolate the superstructure, but then bring the insulating plane to the inside face of foundation, rather than maintaining the same plane on the exterior of the building.  Just maintain that plane, wherever it is, and be done with it".

Additionally
Architecture critic Mark Lamster shared an open letter to President Vladimir Putin, concerning the fate of the Shukov Radio Tower in Moscow.