New World Design Ltd. has shared a hypothetical proposal that would partially obscure the view of the infamous Trump Tower Chicago sign with four giant, gold-colored balloon pigs. [...]
the pigs would be tethered to buoys in the Chicago River and provide “visual relief to the citizens of Chicago,” many of whom are presumably tired of seeing Trump’s name everywhere.
— consequenceofsound.net
More acts of architectural protest:Architects Respond to the AIA’s Statement in Support of President-Elect Donald TrumpTaking a stand against privately-owned public spacesHawaii protesters block construction of giant telescope on sacred mountain Mauna KeaCooper Union graduates stage tuition... View full entry
After his firm Vincent Callebaut Architectures was awarded the bid to create the building in 2010, Callebaut decided to erect a structure that was "like an inhabited tree," that could create a green urban landmark for the city with a minimal carbon footprint.
Slated for a completion in September 2017, the tower will stand 20 stories tall with a 90 degree twist that is achieved with a 4.5 degree turn per floor as the building ascends.
— taiwannews.com.tw
Vincent Callebaut, the Belgian architect known for audacious, ecologically-minded design proposals now has a project under construction in Taipei. We previously featured Callebaut's "LILYPAD, A Floating Ecopolis for Ecological Refugees" in 2008.Related on Archinect:Architecture Dean Poh says... View full entry
Are you a LAUSD student who loves architecture and would like to attend SCI-Arc free of charge starting in the fall of 2017? Well, you're in luck: if you apply online by January 15, 2017, you'll be in the running for the recently announced merit-based, full-tuition scholarship for first-year... View full entry
The mosque-cathedral of Córdoba in southern Spain is one of the great Rorschach tests of medieval architecture. Like the ink blots that psychologists use to divine unconscious thoughts, we tend to see in the building what we please. For some, it embodies the artistic creativity and religious tolerance of the Muslim period. For others, it is a symbol of the conquests and bloodshed that have washed over this region throughout the centuries. — Wall Street Journal
Whichever message we choose, the mosque is surely one of the most beautiful and controversial monuments in Europe today.More religious architecture:Artist catalogs the drab architecture of America's megachurchesAncient Italian church comes back to life – built in wire meshOmaha is... View full entry
I’ve been privileged to interview Craig Dykers, founding partner in the extraordinary global architecture firm Snøhetta, on several occasions and walked away each time incredibly inspired by the breadth and depth of their creativity and innovation approaches. [...]
Analyzing their innovation process can yield important lessons for companies. Here are some highlights.
— forbes.com
The Forbes list of Snøhetta innovation lessons and glimpses into the firm's intercontinental problem-solving process includes flat hierarchies, embrace of contrasts across a variety of sectors, an internal podcast, and celebration of good news, among many others.Other Snøhetta stories on... View full entry
This windswept outcropping, peering over the Atlantic, was a Gilded Age haven where the wealthy built mansions known by their names, not addresses: The Elms, Marble House and, most famous of all, The Breakers...
Newport has cared deeply about appearances ever since.
So when large steel beams rose high in the air between the city’s most storied thoroughfares, framing a mansion that will have an unusual, many-sided shape and a flat roof, neighborhood residents and observers were aghast.
— the New York Times
More on the architecture of the mega-rich:Having bazillions of dollars helpsIt's official: $250M mega penthouse in Stern-designed 220 Central Park South tower is now NYC's priciest address$500,000,000 spec house under construction in LA View full entry
... the dual Canadian-American citizen expressed serious concerns about the incoming commander-in-chief.
“I don’t know whether we should get into politics here because some of you may think Trump is OK, but I’m very worried about him,” said Gehry, 87.
“I remember in 1937 and being in Canada and listening to Hitler’s speeches on radio – and this resounded similar to me. It’s just frightening.”
— ipolitics.ca
Quoted above from a recent discussion at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Frank Gehry told the audience that he was not leaving the U.S. for France, while facing the imminent future of a "frightening" Trump presidency. In a previous interview with Le Figaro, a French newspaper, Gehry had mentioned... View full entry
At a perfect time of year to take stock (the 'silly season' of parties hasn't quite started, but we are quickly moving towards the year's close), this week provides a series of events focusing on reflection. From collections showing the life works of iconic creators to a discussion on how we... View full entry
Now that Helsinki's city council has rejected the latest round of financing plans for the Guggenheim outpost, it appears that the winning design by Moreau Kusunoki most certainly won't be built. We reached out to the architects for comment, and they provided the following statement:Guggenheim... View full entry
At nearly 350 square miles, [Berlin is] a difficult city to tour without some guidance. Its vastness is doubly inconvenient for architecture buffs...The [Modern Berlin Map] documents 50 buildings, selected by Berlin-based journalist Matthew Tempest. Unfolded, the front of the guide displays the landmarks on a map of Berlin, while the reverse catalogues the buildings in chronological order. This provides a unique lens through which to track the city’s political shifts. — Wired
Want more travel tips for Berlin? Check out Archinect's Berlin Travel Guide, which features recommendations from Jürgen Mayer H: Let Jürgen Mayer H. help plan your next trip to Berlin with his own travel tips View full entry
As part of this year’s Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, the Brazilian megacity drafted a proposal for a digital interchange platform designed to connect vendors with restaurants, markets, and other retailers in an effort to make it easier for them to sell their wares. On Wednesday, São Paulo’s proposal was named the winner of the third ever Mayors Challenge, which gives it a $5 million cash prize to implement the idea. — citylab.com
"Four other cities will also receive $1 million each to implement their respective proposals. The winners include two Colombian cities, Medellín and Bogotá, as well as Santiago, Chile, and Guadalajara, Mexico."Click here to learn more about the winning proposal "São Paulo: Growing Farmers’... View full entry
Five different statues have been revealed, but only one - a depiction of Britannia with her hips to one side - will be handed out to winners at the February ceremony. [...]
Brit Awards chairman Jason Iley said: "We are delighted with the finished statues.
"Like Zaha, they are innovative and original and have gone well beyond our expectations to create something special that will progress the award into the future."
— bbc.com
Last month, the Brit Awards revealed Zaha Hadid's concept sketches for their 2017 statuette. The finalized design will be given out at the BRITs ceremony on February 22nd in London.More ZHA news:Zaha Hadid Architects rejects Patrik Schumacher's "manifesto" in open letterPatrik Schumacher on... View full entry
For those who are interested in seeing Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future (reviewed here on Archinect), they'll have their chance on December 27th when PBS airs the documentary as part of its American Masters Series. The film, which charts both Eero's professional and personal... View full entry
The mix of private and public funding for the Guggenheim Helsinki has officially been rejected in a city council vote, meaning that the plans for the museum designed by Moreau & Kusunoki are unlikely to ever be built. A new financing plan that drew the bulk of public funding from the city and... View full entry
"Architects corrupt discourse, manipulate competition, make morality their banner and social responsibilities into an amulet or agit-prop," writes New-Territories, the constantly-mutating Bangkok-based, French-born architecture studio, previously known as R&Sie and elsewhere as M... View full entry