What Architecture Has in Common with Organized Religion
10.05.2016
Faith in both architects and clerics is rapidly waning.
Faith in both architects and clerics is rapidly waning.
Opinion
What Do Architects and Commerical Fishermen Have in Common?
09.16.2016
As it turns out, high rates of suicide. But blaming the design studio “culture” for it seems short sided and lacking in evidence.
As it turns out, high rates of suicide. But blaming the design studio “culture” for it seems short sided and lacking in evidence.
In Architects We Trust? 10 Trusts Worth Busting
09.01.2016
How the profession sabotages its value and relevance.
How the profession sabotages its value and relevance.
More Thoughts on Jane Jacobs from One of Her Closest Collaborators
08.25.2016
Author Roberta Brandes Gratz clears up some misperceptions about the legendary urbanist.
Author Roberta Brandes Gratz clears up some misperceptions about the legendary urbanist.
10 Lessons Learned by Rereading Jane Jacobs
08.08.2016
Last week I was in the middle of packing and came across a well thumbed copy of The Death and Life of Great American Cities.
Last week I was in the middle of packing and came across a well thumbed copy of The Death and Life of Great American Cities.
Donald Trump as Architecture’s Nightmare Client
08.02.2016
Not since Thomas Jefferson has there been a presidential candidate more involved in designing and building structures than the Republican nominee.
Not since Thomas Jefferson has there been a presidential candidate more involved in designing and building structures than the Republican nominee.
How Brandcentric Architecture is Destroying Our Sense of Place
07.13.2016
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?
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?
The Pleasures and Futility of Teaching Drawing to Architecture Students
07.05.2016
Sometimes it feels like I spend as much time advocating for its usefulness as I do teaching it.
Sometimes it feels like I spend as much time advocating for its usefulness as I do teaching it.
Staging Trump: The Republican Convention Reveals Its Set Design
06.30.2016
If the designers had been asked to create a setting that signals the chaos of this campaign, they could not have done it better.
If the designers had been asked to create a setting that signals the chaos of this campaign, they could not have done it better.
Watching the George Lucas Fiasco from the Cheap Seats
06.28.2016
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.
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
Cornell’s architecture school in the 1970s wasn’t a particularly diverse place, but it was open to different ideas about the profession.
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
For all of its insanity, buffoonery, cluelessness, bigotry and narcissism, Trump’s candidacy is tapping into something else besides racism and xenophobia: Economic displacement.
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
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.
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.
Why Architects Don’t Do More Pro Bono Work
06.08.2016
Despite all of the high profile exhibitions celebrating it, the profession is still struggling to define its social mission.
Despite all of the high profile exhibitions celebrating it, the profession is still struggling to define its social mission.
Anatomy of an Architectural Photo Shoot
06.06.2016
We’ve been photographing the same “wood-grained wood-style wood-inflected engineered-wood” PLANK for oh god, like…. three point five hours.
We’ve been photographing the same “wood-grained wood-style wood-inflected engineered-wood” PLANK for oh god, like…. three point five hours.
Why de Blasio’s Huge Rezoning is Unlikely to Create Enough Affordable Housing
05.23.2016
A longtime community board member weighs in on Mayor de Blasio’s ambitious plans to remake the city.
A longtime community board member weighs in on Mayor de Blasio’s ambitious plans to remake the city.
The AIA’s Response to Crisis: Call in the Stars!
05.17.2016
How do you fight irrelevance? With star power! If you can’t book a former president, you can at least book an actor who plays one on TV!
How do you fight irrelevance? With star power! If you can’t book a former president, you can at least book an actor who plays one on TV!
A Design Proposal that Out-Trumps Trump
05.16.2016
Forget the “big, beautiful wall. ” How about a yuuuge domed complex created, not for the “undesireables,” but the people trying to flee from them?
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
She profoundly shaped our view of the city, but often overlooked the big systems that make city life possible.
She profoundly shaped our view of the city, but often overlooked the big systems that make city life possible.
A Young Architect’s Brutally Honest Job Evaluation
05.11.2016
An interactive employee evaluation, leaked to us by a very distressed employee.
An interactive employee evaluation, leaked to us by a very distressed employee.
Donate to CommonEdge.org, a Not-For-Profit website dedicated to reconnecting architecture and design to the public.
Donate