Before the coronavirus crisis, the drive-through had been fast losing status, often deployed as a symbol of obesity and the worst of car-dependent urban design. In many cities, it had been subject to outright bans. The drive-in, meanwhile, is nearly extinct, with just a few still operating in Southern California.
But during the pandemic, drive-throughs have become a weird sort of societal glue. And the drive-in has been reconsidered.
— The Los Angeles Times
Writing in The Los Angeles Times, journalist and critic Carolina Miranda takes a look at the renewed significance of drive-thru and drive-in spaces in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Miranda writes, "Their architectural standoffish-ness, in which vendor and client interact largely... View full entry
This post is brought to you by Arquine Images of Contemporary Chilean Architecture In the winter, 15 photographers visited some of the most iconic contemporary architecture projects that have put Chile on the map over the last three decades. A collection of new images presents the singularity of... View full entry
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has outlined the initial phases of new strategic and climate action plans. In a recent virtual meeting that took place between April 14 and 17, leaders of the organization convened to outline guiding principles for AIA's next five years. The AIA... View full entry
The remainder of this week's featured online events, highlighted in Archinect's Virtual Event Guide, include Barbara Bestor and celebrity chef Roy Choi in discussion as part of Woodbury's end of year celebration; Amanda Aman shares her travel research from the Arctic... View full entry
San Francisco-based TW Ryan Architecture (TWRA) completes its first ground-up project in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Three Chimney House sits on a large 45-acre site with a small pond and views westward towards the Shenandoah Mountains. The property was originally part of a larger... View full entry
Working from home has provided some professionals with extra time in the day. With the subtraction of commute hours, the availability to pursue extracurriculars seems more abundant. While many are using that additional time to manage the kids or navigate other ripples of the pandemic, others are... View full entry
Today's installment of Archinect Sessions introduces the first of six episodes sharing conversations we've had with architects, designers, and others in the industry. The discussions address the challenges experienced navigating these uncertain times, from the stay-at-home orders due to the... View full entry
Public health experts, designers and architects say the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed fundamental flaws in the design of public toilets that risk spreading a second wave of coronavirus, and possibly even new pandemics. [...]
Some of the suggested innovations include a greater uptake of sensor taps, fully self-cleaning cubicles, designing exits that don’t require human contact, and having bathroom attendants.
— The Guardian
The Guardian laying out suggestions from health experts on how to improve hygiene standards in public restrooms, not only in light of the current pandemic but in preparation of the next one. "We’ve almost got this little opportunity from the pandemic where people are going to listen and going to... View full entry
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has begun the process for selecting a new president following the temporary recusal of current RIBA President Alan Jones. Jones's tenure is set to last through August 2021. Jones stepped aside from the position in March as news of a "serious... View full entry
When Santa Rosa-based Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) heard a local call to action to help economically disadvantaged schools in Sonoma County facilitate distance learning, they answered the call. Due to COVID-19 many of the underprivileged students in the area lacked the basic resources... View full entry
Material Bank is a New York City-based start-up seeking to upend the building industry's relationship to building materials sampling and ordering. The company is founded by Adam I. Sandow, an entrepreneur who leads the SANDOW company, a collection of interconnected media and designer- and... View full entry
Looking for some inspiration? Today's list of featured online events from our recently launched Virtual Event Guide include a lecture by French architect, urban planner and academic Odile Decq; a conversation on public space, hosted by Indy Design Week, and featuring... View full entry
Architect and urban designer Liang Wang has been selected by Syracuse University as the 2020-21 Harry der Boghosian Fellow. The fellowship will take Liang from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he is a current Doctor of Design candidate at Harvard University, to the Syracuse University School of... View full entry
Scanning Archinect's active community of architecture students and professionals, firms, and schools, we have selected five diverse practices for our latest weekly highlight of architectural employers. Take a closer look at these Archinect profiles to learn more about them and their current job... View full entry
To help parents and kids get through the stay-at-home period, architecture institutions like the ASLA and firms like Foster + Partners have created fun activities to keep everyone busy and creative! Known for their K-12 public learning programs, the Center for Architecture has... View full entry