Yearly Archives: 2011
An Alarmed Architect’s Complaint: Preservation Distorts the Past
Has preservation become a dangerous epidemic? Is it destroying our cities? That’s the conclusion you may come to after seeing “Cronocaos” at the New Museum. Organized by Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu, a partner in Mr. Koolhaas’s Office for Metropolitan Architecture, the show draws on ideas that have been floating around architectural circles for several
Constructive criticism: the week in architecture
Over-reaching ambition is the order of the week as Liverpool tries to outshine Shanghai, an ex-footballer plans to outdo the Teletubbies and Shoreditch lands a shiny skyscraper. Ambition can get the better of architects, buildings and even entire cities. When you hear people joking about British cities turning into lesser versions of modern Shanghai –
Populous wins national award for Target Field design
Target Field, the new Minnesota Twins ballpark designed by Kansas City-based Populous architects, has been named Sports Facility of the Year by a national sports business publication. The ballpark in downtown Minneapolis, which also has its own light-rail station, completed its first season last year. The award was announced Wednesday at a ceremony in New
Demand for architectural design drops in April
Demand for architectural design fell in April to the lowest point of the year. The Architecture Billings Index, which indicates construction volume, decreased marginally to 47.6 in April from 50.5 in March, according to American Institute of Architects data released Wednesday. The benchmark for the index is 50. Anything above that indicates an increase in
Architects face a ‘new normal’ but will recover as business slowly improves
“Big Tent” event brings together economists, designers in half-day session Architects and other designers need to readjust their careers to match the “new normal” in real estate development, according to local economist Gary London. “The past is not prologue,” London says. “Virtually every understanding we’ve had about the built environment prior to the recession has
Young architectural firm lands major projects, expands staff
Reaching higher in a recession In just five years, Matt Rinka has built his firm, Rinka Chung Architecture Inc., into one of the hottest architectural firms in the area. The Milwaukee firm is working on two major downtown projects — the Moderne apartment high-rise in the former Park East freeway corridor and Washington Square, which
Architecture Killed the American Folk Art Museum
Last night, the American Folk Art Museum — that beloved, bedeviled museum on West 53rd Street — confirmed what many of us had feared for years. It is in such deep debt and has such low attendance numbers that it will sell its building and relocate back to a lobby space one sixth its current
UNStudio Architecture design of Education Executive Agency & Tax offices in Groningen, Netherlands
A new, 92 meter tall complex of soft, undulating curves marks the skyline of Groningen. This asymmetric, aerodynamic construction is set amidst small, ancient woodland, sheltering rare and protected species. The project includes the design, construction and financing of two public institutions; the national tax offices and the student loan administration. The commission from
‘Why Architecture Matters’ gets behind the facades
“It’s all architecture.” So said master designer I.M. Pei some years back, when an interviewer asked him to distinguish between the different styles then prevalent on the American landscape. Pei’s good-humored evasion is true enough. In simplest terms, architecture, as the design and construction of buildings, legitimately includes everything from Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia State Capitol
Progress Report: Ground Zero Projects
1 World Trade Center: It’s reported that it’s currently rising about one story per week, with 64 of the 104 floors built. Estimated completion: End of 2013 2 World Trade Center: Crews are currently working on the basement. Estimated completion: Undetermined 3 World Trade Center: Basement work is going slowly, full tower construction is in
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