Mr. Koolhaas’s vision is even more apocalyptic. A skilled provocateur, he paints a picture of an army of well-meaning but clueless preservationists who, in their zeal to protect the world’s architectural legacies, end up debasing them by creating tasteful scenery for docile consumers while airbrushing out the most difficult chapters of history. The result, he argues, is a new form of historical amnesia, one that, perversely, only further alienates us from the past. — nytimes.com
Archinect's Building of the Day series is brought to you by our friends at OpenBuildings.com, the web's most comprehensive directory of buildings. 'Cité de l'océan et du surf', a project in Biarritz, France by Steven Holl, and Brazilian artist Solange Fabião... View full entry
The late John Chase was the City of West Hollywood's urban designer for 14 years. During that time, he made his mark on every corner of West Hollywood, helping transform Santa Monica Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly strip, shepherding high-quality development, commissioning well-designed signage, and carving out much-needed pocket parks. — A group of his friends, family, co-workers, and collaborators
On May 21, John's birthday, a group of his friends, family, co-workers, and collaborators will lead a walking tour across the city to experience John's legacy. Architects and city leaders will meet the group at the various projects to talk about working with John and offer advice on how designers... View full entry
Co-editor Mark Foster Gage will present Composites, Surfaces, and Software: High Performance Architecture. Composites, Surfaces, and Software: High Performance Architecture explores how computer technologies and digital fabrication techniques give architects unprecedented tools for crafting performance and aesthetics through cross-disciplinary collaboration. — AIA Website
The top may not reach unto heaven, but the Argentinian artist Marta Minujin's 25-metre tower is made of 30,000 books in languages from all over the world. Built in San Martin Square, Buenos Aires to mark the Argentinian city's naming as 2011 World Book Capital, the artist suggested that in 100 years people will say 'there was a Tower of Babel in Argentina ... and it didn't need translation because art needs no translation' — guardian.co.uk
If you're in Copenhagen these days, make sure to swing by the brand-new Bella Sky Hotel in Ørestad which was officially opened today by Danish Minister of Economic and Business Affairs, Brian Mikkelsen and Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen. Last week, we already posted first photos of the newly completed hotel exterior, today, we can also give you an insight view of what 3XN designed to impress arriving guests as a tasteful and warm Scandinavian home. — bustler.net
The New Amsterdam Plein & Pavilion at Peter Minuit Plaza has now officially opened to the public in New York City's Battery Park. The pavilion was designed by Amsterdam-based Ben Van Berkel/UNStudio in collaboration with Handel Architects LLP, New York serving as associate architect. The project's landscape was conceived by Parks Dept. Landscape Designer Gail Wittwer-Laird. — bustler.net
The Montreal UNESCO City of Design initiative aims at creating opportunities for designers in Montreal so as to give vital and tangible expression to Montréal’s status as a UNESCO City of Design.
First launched throught an investment of $1.2 million over three years (2007-2011), the initiative aims to fund design and architecture competitions as well as promote made-in-Montréal design initiatives via various digital communication tools.
— Montreal UNESCO City of Design
To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Montréal's designation of a UNESCO City of Design, the city will be hosting a year-long event titled Montréal, UNESCO City of Design, from May 2011 to May 2012. View full entry
Most ills in this world (and we know there isn’t a shortage of them) require massive change on systematic and ideological levels. Indeed, it is a capacity—and many say, a responsibility—of design to address the many pressing problems facing the world today.
But is this the only role for design? Is design solely a form of crisis management and problem solving? Or can design also offer a different perspective on a problem, without having the aim of solving the problem entirely?
— openhouse2011.com
Renny Ramakers responds to the NYT Opinionator piece by Allison Areiff, published last week. View full entry
The Urban Physic GardenThis summer a medicinal garden will bloom on a slice of neglected London land This summer the designers of the Union Street Urban Orchard will return to 100 Union Street, Southwark to transform a derelict site into the Urban Physic Garden, a pop-up community built garden... View full entry
Copenhagen's Bella Sky hotel, the largest hotel in Scandinavia, is scheduled to officially open next Monday, May 16. The hotel, designed by Danish studio 3XN, tries to become a new landmark on the Copenhagen skyline, symbolizing the identity of the modern Ørestad area, and also marking the capital’s increasing importance on the international convention and congress scene. — bustler.net
Place: Living Room Studio
Time: 12:18 PM
Photos from the final!
— Columbia University GSAPP (Anthony)
Anthony shares with us photos from the final reviews at Columbia. Star-studded cast! View full entry
The John Lautner Foundation is pleased to present the John Lautner Turns 100 series this July 16-November 13, 2011. In celebration of what would have been John Lautner’s 100th birthday on July 16, 2011, the series will showcase Lautner’s extraordinary body of work while informing and inspiring the public about the importance of preserving it. — johnlautner.org
Since last year, every semester at USC School of Architecture ends with a public spectacle called BLUE TAPE. These two day marathon review sessions bring together nearly half of the architecture faculty from all five accredited architecture schools of Los Angeles and from other states.Last year... View full entry
Aaron Jones, a M.Arch student at Cranbrook Academy of Art, sent us news of his YouTube Theater installation. Very cool. This project is based on the assumption that the internet (WiFi) can potentially deliver entertainment and information into any place, even a neighborhood that may be... View full entry