Bryan explores the differences between the entries by MASS Design Group and Formlessfinder "The good news is that underpinning these two manifestations of architectural ambition is a singular hopefulness. The differences arise when these teams attempt to connect their own aspirations for an architecture capable of making an impact with more specific thoughts about where that impact is most likely to happen, why it needs to happen, and how it might be best accomplished."

In 1961, three young, visionary architects were commissioned by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara to create the world's most beautiful art school on the grounds of a former golf course in Havana, Cuba. Construction of their radical designs began immediately and the school's first classes soon followed. But as the dream of the Revolution quickly became a reality, construction was abruptly halted and the architects and their designs were deemed irrelevant in the prevailing political climate. — Unfinished Spaces

The clinic's mandate is to expose architect students to the real world of the business by allowing them the chance to work with clients as lead designer from start to finish while giving the public exposure to the profession.

Cottrell says most of the projects the students take on are too small for architects to take on - projects such as kitchen and deck renovations for instance, to a custom home on the Rideau River in Smiths Falls. — emcottawawest.ca

Combs is the winner of the 2011 Rome Prize, awarded by the American Academy in Rome, a recognition that includes a fellowship to explore the architectural resources of Italy, Europe, and the Academy. The Rome Prize is awarded annually to about 30 individuals who represent the highest standard of excellence in the arts and humanities. — news.rpi.edu

A couple of weeks ago, while i was visiting him at the School of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, Otto von Busch told me about an extraordinary experiment that architect Armin Blasbichler had carried out with 21 of his architecture students at the University of Innsbruck. I didn't get much details, except that Blasbichler's students had been assigned to pick up a bank in the city, study it, identify its Achilles' heel and plan a bank robbery. — we-make-money-not-art.com

This fall [Tony Robins] taught [a studio], which he called ‘Exploring Space’, with another young, local architect, James Eidse. James currently works at the Patkau’s office on Granville Island. The goal of their studio was to create spaces first, with a focus on conceptual development, materials, form-finding and detailing; layering in structure and program afterwards. The studio was obviously the most coveted of the semester and I was lucky to get a spot via the school’s lottery system. — UBC (Mike)

In a collaborative effort, the University’s School of Architecture and the nonprofit organization Africa’s Promise Village are working together to build a school for the Maasai people in the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. After a trip to East Africa in September, Donna Gunn, executive director of the nonprofit, said she was moved by the plight of the many children who live in poverty. — dailytexanonline.com

It’s difficult in this town to compete with the quality and price of the Smithsonian. DC is uniquely blessed with such incredible public museums that private museums often have to compete, and while they often do it incredibly well, it’s tough to see one move from a free model to one supported by admission fees. The National Building Museum announced today that by the end of the month they will be charging an $8 fee for adults, and a $5 fee for children, students, and seniors. — welovedc.com

It is not too hard, then, to imagine a future Olympics held in temporary and reusable buildings. Not only would this save cities from debt, redundant venues and white elephant awards, it would also mean that the Games could be held in those with precious little money to throw away. A low-cost travelling Olympics could tour the world, taking in cities that might gain greatly from the event but could never begin to think of the equivalent of Zaha Hadid's Aquatics Centre at Stratford. — Guardian

Historians today don’t do history, but historiography. Each aims to better the last in range of content and extremes of references, in language increasingly esoteric and dense: a babble of self referential writing that addresses only others in the lodge. Architectural writing, prone to fashion like all else in the design professions, has followed. — architectsjournal.co.uk

Inhabitat was on the scene to bring us exclusive photos of the new High Line Park extension, Section 2. However the article caused one of Archinect's resident landscape architects, Barry Lehrman to note "I'm getting tired of all the folks (cough.. architects... cough) who only credit DS+R for the Highline - DS+R maybe, just maybe deserved 20% of the credit for the design, with Field Operations responsible for at least 80% of what you see..."

Richard Gage, AIA, architect for more than 23 years, uses only scientific and forensic principles to argue that the the three World Trade Center skyscrapers could not have collapsed on September 11th 2001, by plane impacts and jet fuel alone. — benzinga.com

Maybe they just couldn’t come up with any questions. So here are a few: Can you confirm that the architect of the building is Norman Foster, like everyone’s reporting? Is Apple going to make the grounds open to the public so they can enjoy the fifty billion trees that he’ll be planting? Will there be any kind of programming in the new auditorium that can expose the next generation to careers in technology and science? Could you share your awesome private transit system with the public? — Gelatobaby

This report [by David Giles with Cristina Maldonado] details the powerful economic impact of New York's architecture and design sectors. It shows that New York has far more designers than any other U.S. city, but concludes that far more could be done to harness the sector's growth potential. — David Giles - Center for an Urban Future