As architects confront the new economic, environmental, and political realities of the 21st century, the essential practice of building design is called into question. How can one justify a conventional structure, composed of orthodox materials, when problems of natural resource management, overpopulation, and climate change plague the globe? Perhaps, as proposed by David Benjamin, Assoc. AIA, one can use architecture to address a number of these concerns rather than exacerbate them. Continue reading “Designing at the Vanguard of Technological Innovation”
Month: February 2013
Active Spaces for Digital Natives: Edgeless School Symposium
The contribution of school facilities to the quality of education is difficult to determine, not only because so many other variables affect a school’s performance (faculty and parental input, students’ varying backgrounds, general societal change), but because education itself resists easily communicable metrics. As the animated debate at this daylong symposium suggested, continual improvement in the design of buildings, classrooms, and equipment remains a high priority for architects, educators, and the officials of extracurricular institutions. Continue reading “Active Spaces for Digital Natives: Edgeless School Symposium”
The Multi-Faceted Work of Hariri & Hariri
Gisue and Mojgan Hariri have collaborated for nearly all of their lives. Born in Iran, the two sisters officially founded their architectural practice, Hariri & Hariri, in New York City in 1986. Their work, which often features faceted forms, ranges in scale from master plans to buildings and interiors, down to furniture and product design. Gisue Hariri recently presented a selection of her firm’s work at the Center for Architecture as part of the annual Oberfield Lecture series, named in honor of the late Gilbert R. Oberfield, AIA, a Gensler partner and founder of the AIANY Interiors Committee. Many of Gil’s family, friends and colleagues were in attendance. Continue reading “The Multi-Faceted Work of Hariri & Hariri”
The Multiplier Effect of Good Design
David Baker enjoys rising to the challenge of revitalizing tough and gritty neighborhoods in decline. Many of his projects seize upon the potential in such situations, often serving as catalysts for further development and refurbishing of neighboring buildings. New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman has characterized this as the multiplier effect of good design, which incidentally contributes to rising real estate prices in the area. Continue reading “The Multiplier Effect of Good Design”
Oculus Quick Take: “FIT: An Architect’s Manifesto”
On 01.14.13, Miguel Angel Baltierra, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, interviewed Robert Geddes, FAIA, the longtime Princeton professor and author of FIT: An Architect’s Manifesto, published by Princeton University Press. Listen to the interview, which took place just prior to his Oculus Book Talk. Continue reading “Oculus Quick Take: “FIT: An Architect’s Manifesto””
Danforth W. Toan (1918-2013)
Danforth W. Toan, FAIA, recently died at the age of 94. He was an architect and founding partner of Warner Burns Toan & Lunde Architects & Planners in New York, now known as WBTL Architects. Dan designed many significant buildings in New York and around the world. Many were college libraries and educational facilities, including the Columbia University Hammer Health Sciences Center and NYU’s Warren Weaver Hall here in New York City. Continue reading “Danforth W. Toan (1918-2013)”
Partnership through Design Education: CFAF & Urban Assembly School for Design and Construction
On 01.16.13, the Urban Assembly School for Design and Construction (UASDC) on West 50th Street welcomed a number of design professionals and recent UASDC graduates to serve as jurors for the architecture program’s midterm reviews. The student designers in grades 9-12 presented their drawings and models of houses and museums to the assembled juries as the culminating piece of their semester-long architecture class led by the Center for Architecture Foundation’s design educator Yves Roger. Continue reading “Partnership through Design Education: CFAF & Urban Assembly School for Design and Construction”
In The News
(Slideshow Above)
In this issue:
– King of Kings County Opens in 2014 – Loew’s Kings Theatre
– Manhattan’s First New Synagogue in 50 Years Opens – Lincoln Square Synagogue
– Something to Sing About at the Kennedy Center
– BIG, Bigger, Biggest – Three BIG Projects
– Making Beautiful Music Together – Bing Concert Hall
Names in the News
Contract magazine announced the winners of the 34th Annual Interiors Awards, including the Grand Hyatt New York by Bentel & Bentel Architects/Planners (Hotel); Untitled by Rockwell Group (Restaurant); 22squared by Gensler (Sustainable); and Confidential Multimedia Entertainment Company by FXFOWLE (Adaptive Reuse); Michael Graves, FAIA, was honored with the 2013 Legend award…
Graves was also appointed by President Barack Obama as a member of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (a.k.a. U.S. Access Board)… Continue reading “Names in the News”
On View: At the Center for Architecture & About Town
At the Center for Architecture
Urban SOS: Frontiers
Through 02.11.13
Via Verde
Through 02.27.13
Arch Schools 2012
Through 03.23.13
The Edgeless School: Design for Learning
Extended to 05.25.13
Building Connections 2012
Through 06.15.13 Continue reading “On View: At the Center for Architecture & About Town”