Today’s News - Wednesday, March 20, 2013
• Two disheartening reports re: the making of "McMecca" and why Saudi leaders are "allowing the destruction of historical sites in Islam's holiest city" (it's "a good opportunity to visit Mecca and Medina, do some shopping, make a vacation out of it," says one deputy minister - oh joy).
• Jaffe reports on scholars calling for a "move past urban studies and toward urbanization science": "An improved science of urbanization would isolate the underlying processes that caused unsustainable development in the first place."
• Hosey issues a call to action following the AIA's decision to discontinue the sustainable design requirement ("educators don't appear to be making significant headway either").
• Russell takes us on a video tour of NYC's new waterfront parks that "open the waterfront in ways that can handle rising waters, while still giving the public access."
• Lubenau goes on the road for a first-hand look at Rudy Bruner Award finalists - first up: the Congo Street Initiative in Dallas (very cool).
• Canada's Royal B.C. Museum taps McAslan and Merrick to master plan a makeover "that takes your breath away."
• Madeiros and Schwinge beat out some big names to "enhance the visibility and image" of Grimshaw's Millennium Point science and technology center.
• HOK and Switzer Group tapped for massive $225 million Urban League Empowerment Center in Harlem.
• Capps reports that the Leicester Cathedral is enlisting architects and designers to settle the question of how to reinter the remains of Richard III.
• Wainwright weighs in on Ito's Pritzker win: "the 'dropout robot' who never tires of reinventing himself"; what's next: "No doubt another radical reinvention."
• Q&A with Lamster re: his new gig at the Dallas Morning News and UT Arlington: "It's the best of all possible worlds for everybody."
• Nield tapped to be Australia's Northern Territory Government Architect.
• The University of Pennsylvania taps Weller (another Aussie) to lead the Department of Landscape Architecture.
• Speaks is named the new dean of Syracuse University's School of Architecture; says he and former dean Mark Robbins share similar views on where the school should go in the future.
• Call for entries: 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge + Design BBC Radio 4's The Listening Project's Pod.
• Happy first day of Spring! (So why are our daffodils buried under snow?!!?)
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McMecca: The Strange Alliance of Clerics and Businessmen in Saudi Arabia: Why are Wahhabi leaders allowing the destruction of historical sites in Islam's holiest city? ...demolishing some of the oldest sections of the Grand Mosque..."a good opportunity to visit Mecca and Medina, do some shopping, make a vacation out of it." By Zvika Krieger- The Atlantic |
The photos Saudi Arabia doesn't want seen – and proof Islam's most holy relics are being demolished in Mecca: Archaeologists fear billion-pound development has led to destruction of key historical sites.- Independent (UK) |
Is It Time to Move Past Urban Studies and Toward Urbanization Science? Some scholars are calling for a stronger understanding of the "DNA" of cities — and, by extension, an improved ability to address urban problems in a systemic manner...An improved science of urbanization would isolate the underlying processes that caused this unsustainable development in the first place. By Eric Jaffe -- William Solecki; Karen Seto; Peter Marcotullio- The Atlantic Cities |
Why architects must lead on sustainable design: The decision to discontinue the sustainable design requirement means that while the AIA insists that architects "must" alter their actions, change, in fact, is not compulsory. The USGBC has had its share of controversies...Educators don't appear to be making significant headway either...A call to action. By Lance Hosey- GreenBiz.com |
A Critic’s Tour: New Parks Along the Waterfront: It’s not just in Queens and Brooklyn. James S. Russell says new parks like these are historic in the city because they open the waterfront in ways that can handle rising waters, while still giving the public access. [video]- WNYC.org |
On the Road with the Rudy Bruner Award: Dispatches from the field: Congo Street Initiative, Dallas:...an alternative strategy for redevelopment focused on rebuilding the existing homes and street infrastructure over the next five years without displacing a single inhabitant. By Anne-Marie Lubenau -- bcWORKSHOP [images]- Metropolis Magazine |
Victoria's Royal British Columbia Museum seeks a makeover "that takes your breath away": The “dysfunctional” entrance is one of many things being targeted for change in a new master plan... -- John McAslan + Partners; Merrick Architecture; Office of Mcfarlane Biggar architects + designers; Arup; Donald Luxton & Associates- Times Colonist (Canada) |
Daniel Madeiros and Jonathan Schwinge triumph in Millennium Point contest: ...to enhance the visibility and image of the Grimshaw-designed science and technology centre... [images]- BD/Building Design (UK) |
Hudson Companies taps HOK for massive $225 million Urban League Empowerment Center in Harlem: ...Switzer Group to handle the interior design of the Urban League and Conference Center...- The Real Deal (NYC) |
God Save the King: Authorities have identified the remains of Richard III. Now they are seeking designs for the King's final resting place...The Leicester Cathedral is enlisting architects and designers to settle the question of how to reinter the remains of Richard III. By Kriston Capps- Architect Magazine |
Toyo Ito: the 'dropout robot' who never tires of reinventing himself: The 71-year-old architect has finally won the Pritzker Prize for an experimental body of work that refuses to be pinned down...So what can we expect next? No doubt another radical reinvention... By Oliver Wainwright- Guardian (UK) |
Newsmaker: Mark Lamster: ...will become the Dallas Morning News’ architecture critic...a partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington..."the reason to become a critic...is not to worry about posterity but to think about how you can bring light to the community you live in. It’s about changing communities for the better..."- Architectural Record |
Lawrence Nield appointed Northern Territory Government Architect: An advocate for an environmental approach to city-making...Over his 45 years in practice, Nield’s contribution to architecture in Australia has been siginificant... -- BVN Architecture (now BVN Donovan Hill); Studio Nield- ArchitectureAU (Australia) |
Australian To Lead University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Landscape Architecture: Penn Dean Marilyn Jordan Taylor believes that Richard Weller is just the person to build on the department’s well known legacy...founded over 50 years ago by the legendary Ian McHarg. -- James Corner Field Operation; Room 4.1.3- The Architect's Newspaper |
Michael Speaks has been named the new dean of Syracuse University’s School of Architecture: ...currently the dean of the College of Design at the University of Kentucky...said he and [former dean] Mark Robbins share similar views on where the School of Architecture should go in the future.- The Daily Orange (Syracuse University) |
Call for entries: 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Call for Porposals (international): BFI awards $100,000 to support the development and implementation of a solution that has significant potential to solve one of humanity’s most pressing problems; deadline: April 12- Buckminster Fuller Institute |
Call for entries: Design BBC Radio 4's The Listening Project’s Pod (international); earlybird registration deadline (save $$$): April 8, otherwise, April 18- RIBA Competitions / BBC Radio 4 / British Library |
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-- Workshop: "Form as (Dynamic) Unknown: Toward an Interactive + Smart Architecture," AA Rome Visiting School, Rome, May 9-19, 2013
-- Image Library: Michael Graves: Miramar Resort Hotel, El Gouna, Egypt |
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