Showing posts from category: architecture
This fresh, new, and fascinating approach to sustainability and human population growth is truly awe inspiring.
Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has redefined the conventional skyscraper. His 132 story complex for the south edge of Roosevelt Island addresses the pressing need for environmental and ecological sustainability. This conceptual design focuses on creating a completely self-sustaining organism that not only utilizes solar, wind, and water energies, but also addresses the pending food shortage problem.
Full article via DK blog
architecture, architecture critic, buildings, modern architecture, modern buildings, new buildings, skyscraper
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Belgian, human population, Solar, sustainability, Vincent Callebaut, water energies, wind
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From the BSA Currents online Newsletter, May 21, 2009 – Bring your children on May 29 and 30 to learn about architecture and design from the ground up at KidsBuild! Adults and children ages six and older will design the building of their dreams and see a city come to life at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA, 100 Northern Avenue, Boston). Friday, May 29 is reserved for school and community groups and ICA members from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. On Saturday, May 30, the public is welcome to participate from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The activity takes approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
For more information, visit KidsBuild.
This Dynamic Architecture building by David Fisher will be constantly in motion changing its shape. It will also generate electric energy for itself. If you haven’t seen this vidio lately it’s worth revisiting (90 sec.)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY0Uuyf8Xhw]
More via Dynamic Architecture
These organizations can help match your business with stimulus projects.
By Jennifer Wang
Entrepreneur.com
Wed., May 20, 2009
There’s $787 billion in the economic stimulus pot, but it can’t help you if you don’t know how or where to get it. Data on stimulus money is publicly available, but pinpointing what’s relevant to your business is a daunting task: $400 billion-plus is being distributed at the local and state levels, and there are more than 89,000 of these agencies around the country.
That’s where organizations like National Strategies, Inc., Onvia and Business Matchmaking come in.
Full article via MSNBC
Related links via Architectural Record
Park Service Releases $750-Million List of Stimulus Projects
AIA Nevada Pushes “Pencil-Ready” Stimulus Projects
How Architects Can Land a Government Contract
Guide Offers Tip for Tapping Into Stimulus Plan
The Final Stimulus Bill, Sector by Sector
- National Audubon Society Manhattan Headquarters
FXFOWLE’s Manhattan headquarters for the National Audubon Society offers lessons in how to maintain green leadership
By Aric Chen
Some organizations jump through elaborate cost-benefit hoops before deciding to build a green office. But for the National Audubon Society, the choice was a no-brainer. When changing needs prompted the century-old, New York-based environmental advocacy group to move its headquarters elsewhere in the city, “We wanted to make sure we were maintaining our leadership in green architecture,” says John Flicker, its president and CEO.
Full article via GreenSource
Kauffman Center
Principal Isaac Franco AIA and associate Sarah Lindenfeld of Moshe Safdie and Associates join the Performing Arts Design Committee at The Architects Building on Friday, May 22 at 8:00 am to discuss the much-anticipated Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. Currently under construction, the project includes a 1,800-seat proscenium theater, 1,600-seat concert hall, banquet hall and grand foyer. Dynamic forms, dramatic views and expressive lighting add to this project’s compelling design. No RSVP is needed for morning meetings.
Cross published from Boston Society of Architects
Unity Temple, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for his own Unitarian congregation in Oak Park, Illinois, remains an icon of early modern architecture, with its geometric design, strong massing, characteristic detailing, and use of exposed concrete.
But despite ongoing maintenance of this National Historic Landmark, the 1909 building has suffered extensive damage from years of water infiltration. Its precarious state prompted the National Trust for Historic Preservation to name Unity Temple one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places” for 2009.
The annual list highlights architectural, cultural, and natural heritage sites at risk of destruction or irreparable damage. This year’s sites range from a single school building in Georgia to an entire mountain in New Mexico, from a 19th-century factory complex to such modern landmarks as Minoru Yamasaki’s 1966 Century Plaza Hotel.
Neglect, lack of funding, insensitive public policy, and natural forces — often working in combination — have put many of these buildings in jeopardy. Several of the listed sites are threatened with demolition to enable redevelopment.
Wright’s Hometown Masterwork
Reflecting on Unity Temple near the end of his life, Wright said, “That was my first expression of this eternal idea which is at the center and core of all true modern architecture. A sense of space, a new sense of space.”
Full article via Architecture Week
The economy has changed radically throughout the world in the last few months. The impact has been strongly felt in the New York City design community. Projects have been put on hold or altogether stopped; new commissions are not readily forthcoming. Firms have begun, in turn, to downsize. Many of our colleagues are losing their jobs. Many young professionals are not being hired. And our bills are not being paid.
AIA New York kicked off its Not Business as Usual lunchtime initiative on December 17, 2008, in an effort to unite the architecture and design community around these issues. As the location for these lunches, the Center for Architecture serves as a space for problem-solving, discussion, and action planning, as well as for coping with the realities of an economic downturn. The initiative continues in 2009 with two Wednesday sessions every month, each with a different focus.
Full article via AIA NY
Facility touted as next big thing still shut
Shawn D. Lewis / The Detroit News
Troy — It was supposed to be a shining example of the green movement — a completely independent solar-powered house with no gas or electrical hookups.
Seven months ago, officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the $900,000 house owned by the city of Troy that was to be used as an educational tool and meeting spot.
But it never opened to the public. And it remains closed.
Frozen pipes during the winter caused $16,000 in damage to floors, and city officials aren’t sure when the house at the Troy Community Center will open.
“It’s not safe right now, and there’s no estimated opening time because it depends on when we can get funding,” said Carol Anderson, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
That surprised the Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Department, which advertised tours of the house for its Tuesday Oakland County Green Summit.
“No, I didn’t know anything about it,” said Steve Huber, spokesman for county planning.
Bret Rasegnan, planning supervisor for the department, said the solar tours have been removed from the finalized agenda for the summit.
“It is disappointing that we can’t tour, but the summit will still be of great value. I don’t think it’s reflective of the technology.”
Lawrence Technological University, with help from DTE, mostly paid for the building. Its students built the 800-square-foot home, which was supposed to be livable year-round, free from the grid and churn out enough solar power to support a home-based business and electric vehicle.
So what caused the flood?
The city says it was a mechanical problem. University officials heard it differently.
Jeff Biegler, superintendent of parks for the city, said the flooding occurred from a glitch in the heater.
“The system was designed to kick a heater on to keep water from freezing,” Biegler said.
“The heater drew all reserve power out of the battery causing the system to back down and the pipes froze.”
Joe Veryser, an associate dean of architecture at the university, said he heard otherwise.
“What I heard repeatedly was that somebody turned off the breaker during the winter and forgot to turn it back on, which caused the pipes to freeze and then break.”
Chicago based developer Urban R2 hopes to move their project forward. The condominium building named Catalyst designed by Lucien Lagrange Architects is located at 123 N. Des Plaines Street in the West Loop.
Catalyst designed by Lucien Lagrange Architects 123 N. Des Plaines Street
123 N. Des Plaines Street
