So says Nicolai Ouroussoff in his review of the recently released winning design, by the Philadelphia firm KieranTimberlake, for the State Department’s new embassy in London. NYTPreviously
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"Firms like Preston Scott Cohen, Daly Genik Architects and Greg Lynn Form, to name just a few, have been shut out of high-profile government commissions by a convoluted competition process that favors known quantities."
do these firms have enough relevant experience for these types of government projects?
Sectionalhealing, I think it further undercuts his argument that kierenTimberlake won the embassy competition against Meier and Mayne (who has built at least two comissions for the Federal government).
I think Ouroussoff's point that many talented architects are not being included in these competitions is a good one, but I think it's a point very much apart from the merits of the KieranTimberlake submission. From what I can see, and that's not much, the project is yet another example of a thoughtfully detailed, tectonically rich design from them. Personally, I am very glad to see the return to rational, thoughtfully designed projects winning competitions here. The idea that because the submission is perhaps formally conservative and perhaps pays homage to the existing embassy is not a bad thing in my mind.
did Lynn or Cohen even try? they could have submitted their credentials but they didn't. they were not shut out from the competition, they didn't even try...
Ouroussoff is stuck in the 90's and believes the only thing relevant in architecture today is form making. What a dated, irrelevant critic.
I for one am please to see a thoroughly modern building proposed. They picked the right entry IMO.
Feb 25, 10 1:59 pm ·
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"Firms like Preston Scott Cohen, Daly Genik Architects and Greg Lynn Form, to name just a few, have been shut out of high-profile government commissions by a convoluted competition process that favors known quantities."
do these firms have enough relevant experience for these types of government projects?
Greg Lynn, not so much but Cohen and Genik have enough built work in their portfolio they could easily handle it.
Sectionalhealing, I think it further undercuts his argument that kierenTimberlake won the embassy competition against Meier and Mayne (who has built at least two comissions for the Federal government).
"sectional healing" is one of the best usernames i have seen in a long time.
I think Ouroussoff's point that many talented architects are not being included in these competitions is a good one, but I think it's a point very much apart from the merits of the KieranTimberlake submission. From what I can see, and that's not much, the project is yet another example of a thoughtfully detailed, tectonically rich design from them. Personally, I am very glad to see the return to rational, thoughtfully designed projects winning competitions here. The idea that because the submission is perhaps formally conservative and perhaps pays homage to the existing embassy is not a bad thing in my mind.
did Lynn or Cohen even try? they could have submitted their credentials but they didn't. they were not shut out from the competition, they didn't even try...
Ouroussoff is stuck in the 90's and believes the only thing relevant in architecture today is form making. What a dated, irrelevant critic.
I for one am please to see a thoroughly modern building proposed. They picked the right entry IMO.
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