Thomas Heatherwick plans to bring more eccentricity to Manhattan’s west side with two condo towers covered in a bubbled facade and bisected by the High Line, as CityRealty reported on Wednesday. The straddling pair at 515 West 18th Street, currently known as the Hudson... View full entry
It's been just over three years since the Smithsonian Institute announced their massive, 2-billion-dollar redevelopment plans. Designed by BIG, the intended overhaul includes a renovation of the Smithsonian castle, expanded visitor services, a new courtyard and mall-facing entrances and walkways... View full entry
From temporary installations to large-scale urban interventions, a total of 32 projects were named as winners in the 2018 AIA New York Design Awards, which distinguish exceptional work by AIANY members and architects practicing in New York City. Awards are given in four categories... View full entry
That, Mr. Zwirner said, is the site of what in the fall of 2020 will become the new heart of his New York operation: a five-story, $50 million gallery designed by Renzo Piano. [...]
The precise design has yet to be determined — Mr. Piano is in the early stages of the process. But it is likely to have a similarly spare aesthetic to Mr. Zwirner’s current spaces, by Annabelle Selldorf.
— The New York Times
In its article about art dealer David Zwirner's upcoming Renzo Piano-designed gallery and global headquarters, the NYT recounts a telephone interview with Piano about (early) design visions for the building: "You kill art by making just white boxes, so you need to integrate emotion in some way... View full entry
Long before foam insulation and concrete tower blocks, humans were finding ingenious ways to address their needs through architecture. Using local materials and inherited construction techniques, societies have ensured that buildings provide protection and comfort. In Tonga, traditional curved roofs offered aerodynamic protection against storms and cyclones. In the Uros islands of Lake Titicaca in the Andes, reeds were used in houses due to the insulating properties of their hollow stems. — cnn.com
A key issue in sustainability lies with imported building materials, leading architects to look for more ways to use local resources. As attention is turned towards existing materials, traditional design solutions must also be taken into account as each culture has its own history of building in a... View full entry
London photographer Rich McCor, who is better known by his instagram handle @paperboyo, travels the world transforming some of the world's most notable buildings through the use of black paper cutouts. By placing the intricate, shapes in the foreground of his image, McCor playfully gives his... View full entry
With only one month to go until the 2018 Winter Olympics officially kick off on February 9 in PyeongChang, South Korea, athletic teams from around the world prepare to represent their nations in front of an international audience. Canada isn't limiting itself to sporting competitions alone to... View full entry
Always wanted concrete walls? Now you can choose from a selection of Concrete Effect Wallpaper from murals wallpaper. Featuring the Brutalist Welbeck Street Mural option pictured above, the company offers multiple Brutalist choices of Cathedral, High Rise, London, or Metro. Most of mural... View full entry
It's a new year, so it's time to get back into the swing of things. Wondering what architecture and design events are happening around Los Angeles? For the month of January, Bustler put together a snappy list of architecture and design events around town that are worth checking out... View full entry
The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has approved interior demolition of the lobby at Philip Johnson and John Burgee’s postmodern tower at 550 Madison Avenue. Though the 1984 tower is up for landmark consideration, the designation would only protect the facade, not the interior.
Department of Buildings (DOB) records show demo plans received LPC staff approval on December 15 and permits were issued that same day.
— The Architect's Newspaper
Uncharacteristically bright January skies forecasted make this week one to wrap up and get out in the city. If your resolution was to get more involved in architecture and design, then make sure you get to this week's selection of talks and screenings. Check back regularly to keep up to... View full entry
From disapprovals over the design to concerns about parking, the Obama Presidential Center has been met with strong opposition since its unveiling. In particular, residents of Chicago's South Side, where the center will be located, have been quite critical of the Foundation's location choice... View full entry
An architecture policy sets an aspirational goal for what we value about the built environment, and helps create a framework for that contribution to culture. The Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ) is actively consulting with the government on the establishment of a provincial architecture policy. This is a positive move and shows leadership in the preservation of Canadian culture. It is an example that our federal government should follow. — theglobeandmail.com
Canadian architecture needs the support of a national policy in order to survive the global competition. Canada's architecture must be seen under the umbrella of cultural policies that support local arts, culture, and businesses. As it stands, the country has no architectural policy to speak of... View full entry
Architect Robert Frasca, FAIA, founding design partner of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF) and an influential figure on Portland and Oregon's architectural scene for several decades, has died on January 3 at the age of 84. ZGF has released the following obituary: It is with great sadness that... View full entry
Google on Wednesday unveiled its plans for a striking new development in Sunnyvale’s Moffett Park, where thousands of the company’s employees could work in more than 1 million square feet of offices. The search giant filed a proposal with Sunnyvale city officials late Wednesday for a two-building, 1.04 million square foot project, called Caribbean, that would be large enough to accommodate 4,500 Google workers. — mercurynews.com
Google's massive expansion plan in Sunnyvale include two buildings designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Renderings of the new project show a complex named the Caribbean featuring long inclines allowing employees to walk, bike, or skate to any level of the building. Located on Caribbean... View full entry