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The loss of this charming pavilion would be a double blow for Philadelphia history. Not only is Columbus Square’s little stone tower a fine example of mid-century modern design, it is also one of a handful of surviving buildings by Elizabeth Hirsh Fleisher, the first woman in Philadelphia to receive a license to practice architecture. — Inga Saffron, philly.com
The crown-roofed cylindrical pavilion designed by Elizabeth Hirsh Fleisher in 1960 is a landmark in South Philadelphia's Columbus Square. Now, the building is slated for demolition as part of a renovation of the park. “Because this is women’s history month, it’s also worth pointing out... View full entry
The past few weeks have been quite "stormy" for the Northeast, no pun intended. However, with tumultuous weather seeming to make its final round and the recent win of a certain sports team, the Northeast can focus on other news worthy topics like architectural job opportunities. For this week's... View full entry
Philadelphia has made significant contributions to architecture in the US, from introducing the row house back in the 17th century to erecting the first international style skyscraper, the PSFS Building. The city is also home to Robert Venturi's Guild House, one of the most important examples of... View full entry
[...] one Washington, D.C. architecture firm wants Philly to become a trailblazer in the future of high-rise construction.
Specifically, it wants Comcast to build its rumored third tower out of wood — mass timber, to be exact. [...]
At 62 stories, Timber Towers would be the first high-rise to utilize mass timber. Two office towers are linked by a connecting bridge, with a third tower including residences, a school and ground floor retail.
— Philly Voice
Taking his inspiration from a Chestnut Street shoe store designed by architectural pioneers Oskar Stonorov and Louis Kahn, Martin produced a diaphanous glass jewel box, two stories tall and 35 feet wide. Large shop windows separated by the thinnest possible aluminum strips offered passersby views of the library’s bookshelves and clusters of comfortable reading chairs. — philly.com
Sydney E. Martin's Mercantile Library was awarded the gold medal in 1954 by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Inspired by modern retail buildings, Martin designed the library with a transparent glass facade to display the books as merchandise. This innovative design is hailed as one of... View full entry
Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2017 Ready or not, the start of the new school year is coming up. Back for Fall 2017 is Archinect's Get Lectured, an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back... View full entry
This week we're joined by Inga Saffron, the Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer. If you haven't read her latest piece on Henry Wilcots, the relatively unknown architect responsible for finishing Louis Kahn's masterpiece in Dhaka, go read it now. We talk with... View full entry
Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Winter & Spring 2017Archinect's Get Lectured is back in session for Winter and Spring 2017. Get Lectured is an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back... View full entry
The AIA announced last Friday that Philadelphia architect Alan Greenberger will receive the 2017 Thomas Jefferson Award for architectural advocacy and achievement. On the same day, the AIA selected the Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship and Lawrence Scarpa for the 2017 Collaborative... View full entry
After being proposed for addition to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places last year, the iconic Vanna Venturi House has officially joined the list after being voted in by the Philadelphia Historical Commission on November 10th. According to PlanPhilly:"After a nomination first heard last... View full entry
What features an interior periscope, exterior stacked precast concrete panels in a basket-weave shape that mimic the curvature of a ship's hull, and 26,000 square feet of freshly occupied office space? Bjarke Ingels Group's newly completed "Intrepid," a four-story, LEED Gold certified office... View full entry
Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2016Gearing up for another eventful school year this fall? Archinect's Get Lectured is back in session. Get Lectured is an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check... View full entry
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill released new rendering of their proposal for a master plan for Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station Precinct. Described as a “long-awaited vision of a bold, fully-integrated mixed-use urban district, with a vibrant transformation hub situated at its core,” the... View full entry
A spec office is not how a superstar usually makes a debut. [...]
Ingels hasn't reinvented the form with 1200 Intrepid, but he does manage to inject it with an impressive level of pizzazz, imagination, and even refinement. [...]
The optical effects are mesmerizing. If you stand at the corner and look across the breadth of the facade, the front wall appears to be tumbling to the ground like a collapsing row of dominos. The curves are reminiscent of a Richard Serra sculpture.
— philly.com
Related on Archinect:Inside Bjarke Ingels' Serpentine Pavilion: "The work becomes a pure manifestation of that architect."Bjarke Ingels Group + AECOM join forces with Hyperloop"The first major architect who disconnected the profession completely from angst": Rem on BjarkeBIG unveils moat-encircled... View full entry
Legally, sidewalk repair is the responsibility of homeowners, but historically, enforcement of upkeep has been thin. [...]
“[sidewalks] should be part of the money we spend on transportation ... because people who walk are transporting themselves on their feet.” [...]
The liability is actually two-tiered: The property owner is responsible if someone sues after an injury due to poorly maintained sidewalks, but the city has secondary responsibility because sidewalks are public infrastructure.
— nextcity.org
Related on Archinect:Sidewalks, New York's "most desirable real estate"Not all sidewalks are created equal in D.C.Why Los Angeles is struggling to fix thousands of miles of sidewalksHumanizing street design with 'shared space'Antonia Malchik on the end of walking in America View full entry
