at least some part of architectural practice needs to move on from having buildings as the only output. The answer to every urban question cannot always be a building, clearly. Whilst buildings may be part of some solutions, there are broader, deeper questions in play—good architects see this, but the practice (from education up) is still not exploring this implied question broadly enough. — cityofsound
A call for architecture, for architects, their schools, their buildings and their cities via the technology they still struggle to grasp regardless of their software driven shaping skills, a valuable read by Dan Hill of City of Sound. Technological effect is elsewhere. View full entry
This post is brought to you by Dwell on Design New York. Extending from the downtown neighborhoods of Tribeca, the West Village and Chelsea to the Upper East Side, this year’s Dwell Home tours showcase residences with bright, open layouts and details that are as varied as their zip codes. The... View full entry
Chicago Architecture Biennial participants Point Supreme's Nadja Apartment is a study in color and geometry: specifically, how vivid, geometric forms can unite and disassemble a space, giving the visitor clues on how to navigate and inhabit their environment.It's a technique that has been employed... View full entry
For the 'Square in Square' series, Brooklyn-based photographer Oliver Michaels creates geometric images by combining various architectural elements into one piece digitally. His photo collages are neatly arranged into a square and are made of "parts of different buildings captured in a chosen area or route". — Ignant
Here are a few more of the London-born photographer's digital mash-ups: View full entry
My philosophy is based on: I think everyone deserves a soupçon of glamour in every bit of their home. [...]
When people look back on early 21st-century design, they will remember: the chaos produced by the technological revolution, a chaos that can be interpreted as either depressingly meaningless or excitingly free.
— wsj.com
In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect... View full entry
The London garden bridge project has been placed in jeopardy after a London council withdrew its support because of public costs and the Labour mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan, said he would ditch the proposed horticultural Thames river crossing if he took office. — The Guardian
Thomas Heatherwick's proposed Garden Bridge, which recently inspired a satirical contest of unpalatable entries, may be doomed to remain a hotly contested rendering. The £30 million of public funds needed to fund the bridge has temporarily been withdrawn because Lambeth council leader Lib Peck... View full entry
While Thomas Heatherwick's proposed Garden Bridge hasn't attracted universal acclaim, it has spurred an unusual competition. A purposefully free-to-enter satirical contest known as "A Folly for London" encouraged anyone and everyone to submit "absurd, illogical, egotistic and obtrusive designs... View full entry
the greater L.A. area sees more additional heat than any other region, in part because of how urbanized it is. [...]
Solutions include planting more trees and bushes, painting roofs white so they don’t absorb as much heat and using lighter colored concrete on streets and sidewalks.
— scpr.org
“An out-of-the-ordinary restroom is very telling about the business itself,” said John Engel, spokesman for restroom cleaning and supply company Cintas, which runs the competition. “If they pay that kind of attention to their restroom experience you can bet the overall experience will be phenomenal too.” — mashable.com
After [the 23-foot-tall air filter designed by Daan Roosegaarde] filters smog from the air, it compresses the collected waste particles into cubes that can be embedded into jewelry such as rings and cufflinks — and, hopefully, prompt further conversations about extreme air pollution. — Hyperallergic
For more on how designers are creatively tackling pollution:• Delhi’s air pollution is worse than Beijing's. A new app measures the air quality in real time.• Beijing mayor says air pollution makes his city "unlivable"• Air Pollution Google Earth Mashup View full entry
Beginning in 2017, the London transit hub that's been described as "a dingy, grey, horizontal nothingness"* will undergo a massive redesign to incorporate a new high-speed rail line connecting London and Birmingham.The first phase of the so-called HS2, connecting London and Birmingham... View full entry
Instead of relying on a subway that breaks down and causes interminable delays, what if the 17 miles of London's Circle Line were replaced with three moving walkways, much like the ones in airports, that allow pedestrians to step on at three miles per hour and then amble over to a fast lane of... View full entry
While often referred to as the world's most famous living architect, Frank Gehry is also known as a product designer, creating pieces of furniture, jewelry, clothing and appliances. To honor these design contributions, which have included collaborations with Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, and... View full entry
Gehry feels his work is never perfect, never finished.
"It can never be perfect," he says. "By definition it can't because we're defective creatures."
— NPR
As part of an interview about Paul Goldberger's forthcoming biography "Building Art: The Life and Work of Frank Gehry," Frank Gehry revealed the emotional underpinnings of his practice, going so far as to turn down work that would unduly hamper his emotional expression. As the interview notes... View full entry