November 20, 2008
More than 2,000 architecture fans recently gathered in Barcelona at the first-annual World Architecture Festival. While visitors enjoyed seminars, lectures and a product showcase, the world’s architects vied for the 17 awards, including the coveted “World Building of the Year.” The awards program drew 722 submissions from 63 countries and were considered by super-juries of “starchitects” including Robert Stern, Neil Denari and Stefan Behnisch. In the end, Irish firm Grafton Architects took “Best Building of the Year” for its design at the Luigi Bocconi University in Milan. “We were up against fairly stiff competition, and there were some really interesting projects,” said Shelley McNamara, who runs Grafton with Yvonne Farrell. “We were surprised and delighted to win it.” Read More
November 19, 2008
A great little essay by Steve Rose of London’s The Guardian, notices how the James Bond movies – from the earliest to the newest, Quantum of Solace, consistently feature stunning pieces of Modernist architecture. Only to destroy them: “Bond movies invariably end like Quantum: with 007 single-handedly trashing not only the plans of would-be world dominators but also their hideouts, which is a pity because most of them are rather splendid.” Rose traces the trend to Bond creator Ian Fleming. Apparently, original villain Goldfinger was named after Erno Goldfinger, architect of London’s Trellick Tower. “The conservation-minded author was incensed when he demolished two Victorian houses to build his now-classic modern villas on Willow Road.”
November 13, 2008
Peter Gibbons from the movie Office Space was on the right track when he sawed off the front of his cubical. As more companies improve workplace design – away from the cubicle jungle – they also improve inspiration, employee retention and job performance, according to researchers. John Hamilton, designer for Steelcase Architects and Designers in Michigan, predicts, “Open sight lines will predominate. Partitions will be lower, making the cubes feel bigger and offering a more panoramic view.” Hamilton says less privacy means more collaboration, with architects emphasizing common areas. (In real estate parlance, such “creative space” has long been used by advertising firms, for example.) Read More
October 14, 2008
It was not long ago that the Hot Sheet reported on plans for 56 Leonard Street – a 57-story condominium tower made almost entirely of glass in Manhattan’s chic hood of Tribeca. Dramatic outdoor terraces and breathtaking views from virtually every angle will define the translucent glass skyscraper. But is an all-glass structure all it’s cracked up to be? Read More
October 2, 2008
We pass through them as an obligatory stop on the way to our various destinations. During our (hopefully) brief stay, we grab a cup of coffee, shop in their duty-free stores and people-watch, but rarely look up and appreciate the often spectacular architectural artistry of our airports. Increased airport traffic demands optimum efficiency, and award-winning architects are commissioned to design ever more creative and inspiring gateways to the sky. Sondika Airport in Bilbao, Spain instinctively shows travelers where to go without any signage direction while its aluminum wings are reminiscent of a dove about to take flight. Read More
September 16, 2008
After designing one of the most astounding Olympic stadiums in the world – the “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing – Swiss architecture firm, Herzog & de Meuron, is at it again. This time in New York City. The firm unveiled plans this week for 56 Leonard Street, a 57-story condominium tower in Tribeca. Read More
September 11, 2008
Seven years after the tragedy of September 11th, the Hotsheet notes that little progress has been made in the reconstruction efforts at ground zero. The 1,776-foot Freedom Tower was scheduled to be completed in 2006, but has barely risen above ground level and only one of the six office buildings is finished. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, owners of the 16-acre site in lower Manhattan, blame basic transportation and security needs among the litany of obstacles. The Pentagon faced its own security controversies in constructing its 9/11 Memorial site, however the two-acre park will open to the public with a dedication ceremony on September 11, 2008. The park is located where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the left wing of the Pentagon and features 184 cantilevered benches, each with a name of the 184 victims. Pentagon 9/11 Memorial Park architect Keith Kaseman said, “The Park is really all about the visitors’ thoughts and their interpretations when they visit this place.”
Read more about the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. Read More
August 28, 2008
As Americans continue to adopt more earth-conscious lifestyles, it was inevitable that sustainable living would eventually extend to our favorite pastime – food. The Slow Food Nation ‘08 expo kicks off this weekend in San Francisco, offering information about eco-friendly farming and samples of the resulting organic and artisanal “slow food” (as opposed to fast food and its origins which we’d rather not know). In keeping with slow food techniques, local architects designed the festival’s 14 sustainable pavilions by utilizing local organic materials and considering the structure’s eventual resting place. Slow Food Nation Design and Content Coordinator Talia Dillman says that architects and slow food advocates are natural allies since architecture and land use are connected and there “is a link between the spaces we inhabit and food and sustainability.”
Interested in slowing down your food? Learn more about the multi-faceted effects of slow food in this article. Read More
August 21, 2008
The latest design from award-winning Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. is the new AFL-CIO pavilion, debuting at the Minnesota State Fair on August 21st. The pavilion is the first Minnesota state fair building designed to meet green building standards and criteria for LEED® certification. Read More
August 18, 2008
Albeit nearly 7,000 miles from his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, The Beijing National Aquatics Centre – or The Water Cube as it’s been called during the 2008 Olympics – may forever be remembered as Michael Phelps’ playground and record-book smashing facility. Like Babe Ruth to Yankee Stadium, Phelps has put his own signature on a place that deserves credence of its own. Read More
