Architecture

SF's New Federal Building is Green and Safe, But Is It Good?

25 July 2008 - 5:00am
Slate.com

Witold Rybczynski visits Thom Mayne's new Federal Building in downtown San Francisco. He finds a number of energy conservation innovations at play, but concludes that precious little else is playful or human about the architecture.

Underpreserved Beijing Feels Sting of Gentrification

24 July 2008 - 8:00am
The New York Times

As Beijing undergoes rapid redevelopment, many historic buildings have been lost in the scramble. Now the few that remain are inspiring a flood of gentrification.

Project Lilypad: A 'Floating Ecopolis'

23 July 2008 - 7:00am
The Daily Mail

Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has designed a floating city with the noble goal of housing displaced peoples who's homelands have been destroyed.

Is Prefab Overhyped?

20 July 2008 - 7:00am
The Architect's Newspaper

Prefab housing is experiencing a revival of interest among architects and design magazines. But as one realtor puts it, “I just think the whole thing is a false promise."

Architects Say Planners Waste Their Time

18 July 2008 - 12:00pm
Irish Times

According to a recent survey of architects in Ireland, 80% think that local planning decisions do not support good design and are essentially a waste of time.

Film Celebrates 'Garbage Warrior' in Struggle Against Planners

18 July 2008 - 9:00am
Independent

A new documentary film looks at the achievements of Michael Reynolds, who for 20 years has been building eco-friendly, off-grid "earth ship" houses built out of natural materials and car tires.

Do Sustainable Buildings Need to Be Ugly?

14 July 2008 - 1:00pm
Christian Science Monitor

As the number of sustainable buildings increase rapidly, ecologically friendly designs are shedding an ugly past for a sleeker and more striking future.

Local Governments 'Heroes' of the Climate Crisis

11 July 2008 - 9:00am
Gristmill

If buildings are responsible for almost half of the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, then our energy and building codes are incredibly important tools attaining energy and climate sanity.

Paris Considers Ditching Building Height Limits

10 July 2008 - 8:00am
Telegraph

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë has proposed abandoning the city's long-held building height restriction of 37 meters, citing the city's need to grow.

Lost in (Storage) Space

8 July 2008 - 11:00am
Macleans Magazine

Americans have been storing a staggering amount of personal belongings in self-storage units. But along with the foreclosure crisis, storage companies are now seeing people foreclose on their lockers.

Vancouver's New Policies for Greener Buildings and Large Sites

7 July 2008 - 10:00am

In my recent post outlining Council's approval of the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions I referenced that two new rezoning policies approved by Council (Actions A-1 and A-2) may give Vancouver the highest green requirements for private-sector building design and large site design in North America. Here are these two policies that are in effect as of May 13, 2008. 

Friday Funny: Colbert Outraged By US City Skylines

4 July 2008 - 1:00pm
Comedy Central

Satirist Stephen Colbert demands an explanation why the U.S. no longer has the world's tallest skyscrapers while construction is booming overseas.

Arcosanti Revisited: The Sustainable Utopia

3 July 2008 - 9:00am
NBC 12 News

A short video profile shows renewed interest in Arcosanti, the utopian community founded by architect Paolo Soleri. Could Soleri's 40 yr. old utopia be the wave of the sustainable future?

False Creek North - The Residents' Views

1 July 2008 - 11:59am
What do the residents of Vancouver's False Creek North think of living in one of the largest centrally located, high-density, pedestrian- and family-oriented mixed-use neighbourhoods in the world?   

What Makes A Neighborhood Historic?

1 July 2008 - 9:00am
Forbes

Older districts are often marked by high property values and traditional architecture, but it's not just aesthetics and history that define them. Some historic neighborhoods have gone through vast changes, while others don't appear "historic" at all.

Best American Cities for Design

1 July 2008 - 8:00am
Business Week

Business Week looks at a recent list of the best cities for design in America.

Autograph Architecture

30 June 2008 - 5:00am

Architect John Field believes that signature buildings by celebrity architects are destroying the urban fabric and our sense of community.

Friday Funny: Wasn't That A Taco Bell?

27 June 2008 - 2:00pm
Not Fooling Anybody
Not Fooling Anybody collects photos of former chain restaurants that have been awkwardly converted into ethnic restaurants, chiropractors, police stations, and more.
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