In a recent Washington Post article architect Roger K Lewis wrote about a recent article in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology which examined how commercial architecture’s similarity across nation provides mobile Americans with a sense of stability. Donna Sink, thinks it has less to do with with concepts like "familiarity-seeking" and more to do with the profit motives of developers.
In the second part of the CONTOURS: Whither Goest Thou, Green Economy: feature, Sherin Wing looks at the how the R-word index and the drag that the so-called PIIGS is having on the economy, are impacting the greening of the economy. Her essay attempts to put aside overblown... View full entry
This ad for mega-exhibition Pacific Standard Time has been floating around for a few days and the bad news is it's not an actual campaign image. The good news is that Ice Cube's celebration of Ray and Charles Eames is totally real. A rep for PST tells us this ad is "an unapproved rough concept" that was leaked, but she adds that "The ads for the campaign featuring Ice Cube and Eames will be released in the coming weeks." — la.curbed.com
Gotta love LA. View full entry
Is this what Disco looks like? I’m a bit conflicted about how to describe the interior of this installation by Serge Salat, because I’m not sure how to combine the following words into a single sentence (other than just listing them): Sol LeWitt, Fractals, Disco, Kaleidoscope and LED. — thefoxisblack.com
While there is indeed real cause for anxiety, and new crises continue to emerge, the most pertinent stance young (and for that matter, established) designers can take is to translate the wealth of research emerging from design schools into further activist engagement and new research opportunities — and to advocate for that central role for designers in solving the profound dilemmas that define our time. — Places
The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art describes his efforts to expand MoMA's role to support experimentation and advocacy in architecture and design. For several years now, through exhibitions and workshops MoMa has explored how designers can... View full entry
Six designers have had their futuristic visions for visually pleasing electricity pylons shortlisted for a competition that could see their plans spark into life. — channel4.com
In Holland, we have two words for design. One is vormgeving; in German formgeben. And the other word is ontwerpen; in German entwurf. In the Anglo-Saxon language there’s only one word for design, which is design. That is something you should work out. Vormgeving is more to make things look nice... While ontwerpe means, and the Anglo-saxon word, but its stronger, means engineering. — thatnewdesignsmell.net
David Adjaye, Principal Architect of Adjaye Associates, is this year's recipient of the Design Miami/ Designer of the Year Award. David will be commissioned to design and install a site-specific pavilion, entitled Genesis, along the Miami Beachfront in line with the show scheduled for November 29 - December 4, 2011. — huffingtonpost.com
CLOG slows things down. Each issue explores, from multiple viewpoints and through a variety of means, a single subject particularly relevant to architecture now. Succinctly, on paper, away from the distractions and imperatives of the screen. — CLOG
CLOG is a new publication that tries to address the problem of speed and deluge of content we experience in today's new media landscape. To continue the dialogue initiated in this issue, on October 7, 2011 Storefront for Art and Architecture will host CLOG and Bjarke Ingels as part of their... View full entry
I stuck to master plan — NYT
The architect Daniel Libeskind reflects on his Op-Ed from June 23, 2005, about his embattled master plan for rebuilding ground zero. He kind of alludes most important design decisions for the outcome was his. From the ashes of 9/11 rises Daniel Libeskind... What do you think? View full entry
Noted international architect Santiago Calatrava has informed Denver International Airport officials that he and his firm are halting their work on DIA's South Terminal Redevelopment Program and are withdrawing from the venture.
DIA officials said they intend to proceed with the project using designs already produced by the Spanish architect and his firm, Festina Lente.
— Denver Post
Calatrava is apparently quitting over the speculation that the city & county of Denver does not have enough cash to complete the project to the level of quality that is befitting his name and the reputation of his firm. View full entry
Warsaw, Poland-based studios Super Super (Hanna Kokczyńska, Jacek Majewski) and Inside/Outside (Agnieszka Kuczyńska) have shared with us their latest collaboration project, a temporary Pop-up shop for an independent clothing brand Zuo corp. The project was planned initially for the... View full entry
An exhibition of young polish architecture 'Avant-garde of tomorrow?' will inaugurate the opening of Centre for Architecture and Design in Łódź / Poland on the 7th of October. The exhibition gathers 14 of most promising polish designers and "puts focus on individual design... View full entry
... the place is inspired by the deeply strange Club Silencio in Mulholland Drive. Everything from the toilet bowls – black on black – to the saltiness of the nuts on the bar was decided on by the master himself. He even created the 1950s-inspired furniture, the chairs designed to "induce and sustain a specific state of alertness and openness to the unknown".
This is Lynch's answer to Warhol's Factory, the existentialists' Café Flore, the dadaists' Cabaret Voltaire.
— guardian.co.uk
David Lynch has opened his private nightclub in Paris, which he designed. View full entry
Michael Korn, a student at the Royal College of Art, has won the UK James Dyson Award, which he hopes will increase global sales of his creation.
Mr Korn's design, the KwickScreen, lets healthcare professionals give privacy to patients with a lightweight, portable screen.
— news.sky.com
theids wants to start a conversation about the Animal Architecture Awards. To theids, "this is not Animal Architecture. I feel that they have taken a term that was already being used to describe other projects... which pre-dates this competition that has been hosted for 3 years. " der flaneur cautioned "Zoomorphic is an architecture book for 1st year students that want to see 'cool animal-looking buildings'."
News Apple’s just-opened 4th Street (N. Calif.) store, is designed so that the new sidewalk, store window panels and inside stone floor tiles all are dimensioned and positioned to present a symmetrical appearance. subtect feels "This is a really terrible drawing. if you draw the room volume as... View full entry
