A venture firm and a major taxi company began trials of passenger-carrying autonomous taxi services on Monday with an eye on launching the full service around 2020 when Tokyo hosts the Olympics and the Paralympics.
ZMP Inc., a Tokyo-based developer of autonomous driving technology, and Hinomaru Kotsu Co., said they are the first in the world to offer autonomous taxi services to fare-paying passengers in the test through Sept. 8.
— Japan Times
Other tech companies and automakers have also been testing autonomous driving services in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. If the Tokyo RoboCar MiniVan trial is successful, officials hope to scale up the program to assist with the increased transportation demand during the 2020 Summer Olympics and... View full entry
While most architectural awards aim to designate the best of the best, since 2006, the Carbuncle Cup has been doing the opposite. A light-hearted antidote to the prestigious Stirling Prize (which recognizes excellence in architecture), the Carbuncle Cup instead honors the United Kingdom's ugliest... View full entry
The environmental review period for the $1-billion Hollywood Center development has kicked off, and an initial report for the project offers up new details on what's to come.
The proposed mixed-use complex, slated for 4.5 acres of surface parking that wraps the iconic Capitol Records Building, would consist of four new buildings containing a total of 1,005 residential units - including 133 apartments to be set aside for extremely-low- and very-low-income seniors.
— urbanize.la
Previously: Hollywood Center towers proposed near Capitol Records Building View full entry
Earlier this week, the Oregon Building Codes Division announced a statement of alternate method (SAM) that makes Oregon the first state to allow for construction of wooden high-rises without special consideration. Previously, Portland, Ore., was the first American city to issue a permit for an all-wood high-rise, Project’s 12-story-tall Framework. — engineering.com
The statement of alternate method (SAM) was developed over two years by a committee created from the International Code Council’s Board of Directors. The committee proposed 14 suggestions concerning cross-laminated timber standards and best-practices, which were all accepted by the Oregon... View full entry
Since topping off last December, the new Statue of Liberty Museum continues to shape up ahead of schedule and is currently expected to open in May 2019. Last month, the Statue of Liberty Museum-Ellis Island Foundation launched a fundraising campaign that would help the construction of the new... View full entry
In a vast expanse beneath the Finnish capital lies a soaring circus-top culture hub. Will the €50m Amos Rex art museum put the city at the forefront of Europe’s art scene? [...]
“It is as if the museum didn’t quite agree to go underground,” says Asmo Jaaksi of local architecture firm JKMM, which masterminded the project, “and it’s somehow bubbling up into the square.”
— The Guardian
"The architects hope their sloping landscape will become a spontaneous auditorium for outdoor concerts and events," architecture and design critic for The Guardian, Oliver Wainright, writes, "but even without any performances it has already become a magnet of activity in the middle of the city... View full entry
Morphosis recently announced the opening of a new flagship research and design facility for The Kolon Group, a leading manufacturing company based in South Korea. The 820,000-square-foot facility is located in Magok, an emerging tech hub in Seoul. Kolon Group facility by Morphosis, located... View full entry
Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2018 With a new school year upon us, it's time for Archinect's latest Get Lectured, an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back regularly to keep track of any... View full entry
Creating a fantasy world involves more than just magic and mysticism; it requires the creation of a built environment to host these stories, folktales, legends, and fables. While CGI and special effects help to make this look as realistic as the newest technology allows, the architectural... View full entry
The ancient city of Palmyra in Homs, Syria, which was severely damaged by the extremist group Isis, is set to have its artefacts restored and be ready for tourism next summer, Syrian government says.
“The authorities now have a project to repair all the damage caused to Palmyra's Old City,” say the Homs' provincial governor Talal Barazi [...]. “There are also good offers from the world powers to restore the artefacts and historical value of Palmyra. [...]"
— The Art Newspaper
First seized and severely damaged by ISIS militants in the spring of 2015, then briefly retaken under Syrian government control, recaptured again in December 2016 and eventually freed four months later, the ancient architectural treasures of Palmyra, a Unesco World Heritage site, have suffered... View full entry
The beginning of September marks a return to school, bringing with it the start of the academic talks and events in the Architecture field as everyone returns from their adventures to the city. With London Design Biennale and London Design Week right around the corner, make sure that you get to... View full entry
Initially announced last fall, Gehry Partners' design for Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) has now been revealed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The new structure will be the first permanent facility for YOLA located in the Los Angeles neighborhood Inglewood. Exterior model view of the... View full entry
It's time for another Archinect Employer of the Day weekly round-up! Check out the latest profiled firms amid the thousands of active listings on our job board. If you don't already, follow Employer of the Day on Facebook, where we showcase a firm every day, along with a gallery of their... View full entry
Niemeyer originally designed the property for his wife’s sister, Carmen Baldo. Seven years ago, Baldo’s children sold it to the artist Adriana Varejão and her partner, the film producer Pedro Buarque. — The New York Times
The New York Times shows off a newly renovated home in Brazil designed by Oscar Niemeyer, one of the country's greatest architects. The five year long upgrade was carried out by Brazilian artist Adriana Varejão and her partner, the film producer Pedro Buarque, who dramatically transformed the... View full entry
The Kent State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) has announced that Associate Professor Ivan Bernal has been appointed the new Director of Architecture programs. Professor Bernal, currently serves as a Guest Curator at the A+D Museum in Los Angeles. Before... View full entry
