In a quiet, shady street in Rijswijk, the Netherlands, Koen Olthuis and the design team at Waterstudio are changing the world. From this deceptively nondescript headquarters, Waterstudio is designing the cities of the future. If Olthuis has his way, they will be safer, more flexible and more resilient than current cities. How will he do this? Olthuis is designing floating cities. — nextcity.org
The first job I had after graduating from architecture school was in the office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. And I worked under the head person, Gordon Bunshaft, who was terrific. And, after I was there for six months, I was offered a position in the office of Marcel Breuer. So, I went and told Mr. Bunshaft, “I'm sorry that I've only been here a short time…” but I wanted to work in Breuer's office because it was smaller and more of the kind of office I had one day hoped to have for myself. — Esquire Magazine
This post is brought to you by Mosa. Having collaborated with architects and designers throughout the world in its 130-year history, Dutch ceramic surface expert Mosa is no stranger to the growing significance of producing building materials that are durable, versatile, and of course... View full entry
In a move that could dramatically change Los Angeles’ skyline, city leaders announced Monday that helicopter landing facilities will no longer be required atop new buildings.
The fire code requirement has been criticized for contributing to the “flat-topped” look of Los Angeles’ skyline, particularly in downtown.
Los Angeles was the only major U.S. city with such a rule, which has been in place since at least the 1970s.
— dailynews.com
AMP Capital has named 3XN as the architect for the 49-story, 102,000sm 50 Bridge Street tower and master plan for the Quay Quarter Sydney (QQS) precinct. 3XN was selected via a multi-stage international competition, the fourth it has won this year, which included two Prtizker Architecture... View full entry
Sean Smith continues his series, in which three architects discuss their transition from student to professional. Therein, Eric Höweler of Höweler + Yoon makes the point that much of running a firm is about finding work; "In school everyone wants to be designers and have their own practice... View full entry
Movies can be great. Art can be great. But put them together in a museum exhibition, and the combination can be not-so-great. [...]
A new exhibition of early 20th-century cinema at the L.A. County Museum of Art (LACMA), however, rethinks that equation. [...]
Designed by Amy Murphy, a professor of architecture at USC, and Michael Maltzan of Michael Maltzan Architecture, the exhibition design is the antithesis of the traditional framed-stuff-on-a-wall model.
— latimes.com
New York Light by INABA to Anchor Flatiron’s Public Plaza Activities, Providing Interactive Feature Illuminating Month-Long Holiday CelebrationNEW YORK, September 16, 2014 – The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and Van Alen Institute announced the winner of the first-ever Flatiron Plaza... View full entry
This past Wednesday, Kazuyo Sejima of SANAA addressed an overflowing Wood Auditorium, giving the first GSAPP lecture of the semester. Recently appointed dean Amale Andraos gave a brief introduction of Sejima and returned at the end of the lecture to lead a discussion as well as the Q/A... View full entry
Briefly, a new documentary short film by Tom Bassett (Bassett & Partners), explores the relationship between creative professionals and the brief. Featuring interviews with Frank Gehry, Yves Behar (Fuseproject), David Rockwell (Rockwell Group), Maira Kalman, John C Jay (Weiden + Kennedy) and... View full entry
The sterility of the photos, especially the images of prisoner bedrooms, hints at the degree to which the Stasi kept a tight lid on dissenters. In prison culture (or at least prison culture as it’s portrayed in the movies), there’s a lot of graffiti: on the walls, in library books, between cells. “We were searching for any scratching or anything in the cells—usually you would think they were sending messages—but it was very clear you couldn’t see anything” — wired.com
With over 130 years of tile-making experience, Dutch ceramic surface specialist Mosa continues its mission of creating reputable products for architects and designers worldwide with the U.S. debut of two new tile collections, Mosa Scenes and Mosa Solids. The Maastricht-based manufacturer... View full entry
If the sinuous curves of the bone china teacups don’t betray their creator then the gently undulating Aqua Platter surely will.
Dame Zaha Hadid has launched her first “luxury homeware line” and the exclusive Harrods range, which includes a £9,999 serving platter, boasts the signature aesthetic of the acclaimed architect.
— independent.co.uk
Related:Zaha Hadid Granite & Marble Furniture Collection for CITCOIn at the deep end: Zaha Hadid takes the plunge into swimwearZaha Hadid Designs Superyachts For Blohm+Voss View full entry
After Qatar Rail appointed UNStudio as principal architect, the Dutch firm revealed their designs for the new Doha Metro Network, a major component of the Qatar Integrated Railway Project (QIRP). In an effort to motivate more Doha locals to use public transit, UNStudio's design of the Metro Network consists of traditional Qatari-inspired elements and four transportation lines — with an estimate of 35 stations for Phase 1, followed by around 60 stations for Phase 2. — bustler.net
Quite interesting that UNStudio released these designs at a time when Qatar has been making headlines as of late...Read more about the project on Bustler. View full entry
Discover the Villa Savoye as you've never seen it before, through the discipline of Parkour and the movements of traceurs !
Le Corbusier, the real grandfather of hip-hop, could also be the inspiration behind the parkour? View full entry
