Snøhetta has released details of their competition entry for a new landmark at Qianhai Bay, Shenzhen. No overall winner was chosen for the competition, with Snøhetta sharing second place with Sou Fujimoto’s floating tower design. Snøhetta’s scheme, titled “Lunar,” is inspired by the... View full entry
China’s National Development and Reform Commission has implemented an outright ban on the construction of buildings taller than 500 meters, following mounting safety concerns over the quality of some tall projects. The move is seen as a formal ratification of an in-principle ban on new buildings... View full entry
Pratt Institute has announced the appointment of its new Assistant Dean Quilian Riano. As an architect, urban designer, researcher, and writer, his work explores architecture's relationship to design justice, anti-racist pedagogy, and urban design strategies that address socio-political issues... View full entry
Researchers at the MIT Senseable City Lab have unveiled their latest project, which seeks to understand human mobility in cities. Titled Wanderlust, the project uses large-scale cellphone data to understand the movement of people in the metro areas of Boston, Abidjan, Braga, Lisbon, Porto, Dakar... View full entry
An international consortium of engineering, construction, and infrastructure development firms has begun work on Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) project. The team, named LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), is led by experienced public-private... View full entry
A new scientific paper has warned of the looming environmental and social consequences of the world’s appetite for sand. The study, headed by Aurora Torres at Michigan State University’s fisheries and wildlife school, notes that the global demand for sand and gravel is set to double by... View full entry
According to New York Times restaurant critic, Pete Wells, who “loves outdoor dining,” the Big Apple is in the process of another makeover with a “third wave” of Open Restaurants being added to the city’s already bustling streets. Nevertheless, as more parking spaces are given over... View full entry
Berlin is to hold a referendum on a grassroots proposal that would force major property companies to sell thousands of their apartments to a public-owned body. A public petition for the idea, fueled by anger over surging housing prices, has gathered 183,711 valid signatures, which is more than the... View full entry
The American Institute of Architects Los Angeles (AIALA) has published a set of strategies urging LA city leaders to tackle the city’s homelessness and affordable housing crisis. The“House All Angelenos” Call-to-Action urges officials to adopt seven strategies aimed at accelerating the... View full entry
Scott MacTavish explored how architecture firms can Attract and Retain Staff in a Post-Pandemic World? To davincenzi the answer is obvious "Provide a competitive and respectable salary. Offer benefits and family leave. Prioritize a healthy balance between work and life with clear boundaries... View full entry
This post is brought to you by Architecture at Zero The American Institute of Architects, California (AIACA) announces the launch of the tenth annual Architecture at Zero competition focused on decarbonization, equity, and resilience in building design. The annual competition is open for... View full entry
Plans to transform the northernmost pier within Hudson River Park have picked up steam again with landscape architecture firm !melk sharing that construction will begin this summer. — Urbanize NYC
Zaha Hadid Architects has signed an agreement with Hyperloop Italia to co-design the next phase of development for the transformative transportation system. Hyperloop Italia is a start-up born from an initiative by Bibop Gresta, the founder of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), to... View full entry
It's no secret that a lot of public engagement is worthless—or worse. It's not just that much of it is lazily designed to check off a box on a list of requirements—though that's true. It's not just that there's a built-in power imbalance, in which public feedback tends to overrepresent groups with a lot of access to and familiarity with the political process—older, wealthier, whiter, and more politically engaged residents. Though that's true too. — Strong Towns
Often the public surveys on a public space, new building proposal, town center, shopping area, a local roadway, housing, etc., involve meaningless questions and public input via the neighborhood workshops, hearings, and other means of conjuring up political support for the projects already decided... View full entry
Los Angeles has moved a step closer to implementing free public transport, with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority approving a program that will give free bus and train travel to students and low-income users. The 23-month pilot program will begin in August 2021 for students, and for... View full entry
