Opinion

How Brandcentric Architecture is Destroying Our Sense of Place

07.13.2016

By Ben Willis

National chains have brought a mix of outcomes in terms of job creation, quality of life, and national identity, but what are the consequences to our built environment?

NOGLO

National chains have brought a mix of outcomes in terms of job creation, quality of life, and national identity, but what are the consequences to our built environment?

Watching the George Lucas Fiasco from the Cheap Seats

06.28.2016

By Martin C. Pedersen

In the face of considerable opposition, a relentless civic organization, a pesky lawsuit, and a sympathetic judge, the legendary filmmaker has decided to pull his Museum of Narrative Art out of Chicago.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

In the face of considerable opposition, a relentless civic organization, a pesky lawsuit, and a sympathetic judge, the legendary filmmaker has decided to pull his Museum of Narrative Art out of Chicago.

When Intellectual Diversity Mattered

06.21.2016

By Duo Dickinson

Cornell’s architecture school in the 1970s wasn’t a particularly diverse place, but it was open to different ideas about the profession.

arch students via d.lob.ncsu.edu

Cornell’s architecture school in the 1970s wasn’t a particularly diverse place, but it was open to different ideas about the profession.

Donald Trump and the Rage Against Robots

06.16.2016

By Martin C. Pedersen

For all of its insanity, buffoonery, cluelessness, bigotry and narcissism, Trump’s candidacy is tapping into something else besides racism and xenophobia: Economic displacement.

manufacturing robots

For all of its insanity, buffoonery, cluelessness, bigotry and narcissism, Trump’s candidacy is tapping into something else besides racism and xenophobia: Economic displacement.

Why Was Rem Koolhaas’ AIA Speech Not Widely Covered?

06.09.2016

By Martin C. Pedersen

There was a time, not too long ago, when a Koolhaas speech given to thousands of his fellow architects would constitute news. At least in the architecture press. Apparently, that time is not now.

rem in philly

There was a time, not too long ago, when a Koolhaas speech given to thousands of his fellow architects would constitute news. At least in the architecture press. Apparently, that time is not now.

Anatomy of an Architectural Photo Shoot

06.06.2016

By Eva Hagberg

We’ve been photographing the same “wood-grained wood-style wood-inflected engineered-wood” PLANK for oh god, like…. three point five hours.

shulman

We’ve been photographing the same “wood-grained wood-style wood-inflected engineered-wood” PLANK for oh god, like…. three point five hours.

A Design Proposal that Out-Trumps Trump

05.16.2016

By Lance Hosey

Forget the “big, beautiful wall. ” How about a yuuuge domed complex created, not for the “undesireables,” but the people trying to flee from them?

revised trumptown

Forget the “big, beautiful wall. ” How about a yuuuge domed complex created, not for the “undesireables,” but the people trying to flee from them?

What Jane Jacobs Missed

05.12.2016

By Alex Marshall

She profoundly shaped our view of the city, but often overlooked the big systems that make city life possible.

second avenue subway construction

She profoundly shaped our view of the city, but often overlooked the big systems that make city life possible.

Will Architecture Have Its Donald Trump Moment?

05.09.2016

By Duo Dickinson

There are two architectures. Not officially, yet, but the perception is real and growing that there is an architectural apartheid. There is an “inside” and an “outside.”

zaha trump image

There are two architectures. Not officially, yet, but the perception is real and growing that there is an architectural apartheid. There is an “inside” and an “outside.”

It’s National Architecture Week!

04.13.2016

By Martin C. Pedersen

Instead of spending money on what is essentially a branding effort, what if the AIA organized a national education program aimed at the primary schools?

teaching kids arch image

Instead of spending money on what is essentially a branding effort, what if the AIA organized a national education program aimed at the primary schools?

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