Hasta La Ideas

Remember back in the early summer of 2009 when all eyes were on the raging battle between Prince Charles and Richard Rogers, the former using his stature and influence to remove the latter from the project because it was believed to be too modern for royal blood’s taste? That eventually died down a bit by the end of the year, and save for a few little pieces of news popping up here and there (like in the court hearings about the matter last year and even more recently when the Prince said his critics reporting on his supposed anti-modern bias drive him “insane”), in the end, a new architecture firm was hired for the project and all parties have seemingly gone their separate ways. However, in a very slight, quiet way, there’s been a bit of a bite back recently. Last year you might recall that the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) had its government funding pulled during the massive financial cuts that swept the whole of Britannia. At that time, some critics were crying foul as it appeared the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment was trying to move in to take CABE’s place, helping to oversee the design of buildings in the UK. Since then, CABE has managed to stay afloat by recently securing a partnership with the also-budget-cut Design Council. Got all that? Now late last week, if you read into it and are angling for an angle (which we’re more than happy to do), the newly reinvigorated CABE handed down a number of critiques to the newly submitted plans to the firm in charge, Dixon Jones, Squire & Partners and Kim Wilkie Associates, saying that the development needed to better adapt and grow into the 21st century, instead of just exist in the moment as a “traditional garden square.” Granted, CABE also handed down recommendations for alterations on Richard Roger’s plans, and by and large, they seem to like the new project layout, but we’d like to believe there’s a subtle little dig at work here, whether there is one or not. Here’s a bit from Building Design on CABE’s response to the new plans:

Cabe said it commended the quality of the proposal and welcomed its “elongated squares”, but added that the project needed to be less formalist and more flexible in meeting the “more varied” surrounding area. It also said the proposed development was not ambitious enough in allowing for “a modern, sustainable, low-carbon lifestyle, community engagement and social interaction”.

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You might recall hearing that since 2002, there’s been a concerted effort to make architecture a career that Barbie finally would accept. Despite winning that year’s annual “I Can Be” contest, toy manufacturer Mattel supposedly decided that the business of building didn’t fit within the iconic doll’s range and axed it. Last year, the fight raged again and it seemed like an Architect Barbie might finally be a possibility. But sadly, it was not to be, and instead she went into computer engineering and news anchoring. However, as glum as last year was for those pushing for her career path, it looks as though the efforts have paid off. Rita Catinella at Architectural Record broke the story that 2011 is the year the world will finally see Barbie as an architect. Now, along with previous years’ winners of Dolphin Trainer, Chef, and Pet Vet, the disproportionate, iconic blond will be designing buildings right along side all those other disproportionate blond icons, like Frank Gehry or Zaha Hadid. The doll will be available sometime this fall and has already appeared on Target’s website for pre-order. What’s most surprising/optimistic about all of this finally happening, is that Mattel even reached out to the AIA. Here’s a bit from Catinella’s report:

According to the AIA, they did not partner with Mattel on the doll, but two AIA members from upstate New York were part of the conversation with the company. The organization is supportive of the concept however. According to Matt Tinder, Media Relations, AIA, “We’re pleased that a new generation of young people have an opportunity to imagine becoming an architect. We believe the Barbie I Can Be… Architect will help inspire a new generation of young people to consider the profession of architecture.”

That doesn’t really indicate how much the AIA contributed, but we’re hoping it’s more than just “so what’s the perfect kind of black-rimmed glasses for an architect to wear?” because of course Architect Barbie has them.

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Join us for the FIRST Designers Accord Town Hall to be held in the UK! Thursday March 10th at the University of Brighton, Brighton.

Come and discuss how we can all take actions to design a more sustainable future together.

6.00-6.15 – Intro
6.15-7.15 – Presentations
7.15-8.00 – Food, wine & break out group discussions
8.00-8.45 – Feedback & action items

Brighton Designers Accord Town Hall
Thursday, March 10th 2011, 6pm
University of Brighton
Grand Parade
Brighton BN2 0JY

Please RSVP, space is limited http://designersaccordbrightonuk.eventbrite.com/

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Metamorphosis of classical stand in six scenesClassical stand with light and fine form.Ecological material: birch plywoodSurface finish: color from dy..

From Emmylou Harris to Billie Tsien. It’s not the subtitle of a new feminist reader but one way to describe the membership of a new national commission created to bolster teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences. Formed by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in response to a bipartisan request from Congress, the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences will be chaired by Richard H. Brodhead, president of Duke University, and John W. Rowe, chairman and CEO of Exelon Corporation. Heavy on university presdents, the 43-member commission also includes the aforementioned Harris and Tsien, Smithsonian secretary G. Wayne Clough, filmmaker Ken Burns, Adobe chairman John E. Warnock, and James Cuno, director and president of the Art Institute of Chicago. Journalist David Brooks and actor John Lithgow are also among those tapped to assist the Academy in responding to this doozy of a Congressional charge:

What are the top ten actions that Congress, state governments, universities, foundations, educators, individual benefactors, and others should take now to maintain national excellence in humanities and social scientific scholarship and education, and to achieve long-term national goals for our intellectual and economic well-being; for a stronger, more vibrant civil society; and for the success of cultural diplomacy in the 21st century?

With funding from the Mellon Foundation, the Commission will focus on education, research, and the institutions critical to advancing the humanities and social sciences in the first comprehensive national assessment of the state of the the humanities since the 1980 report of the Rockefeller Commission on the Humanities.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.