Hasta La Ideas

Dezeen Wire: an exhibition of work by Rotterdam architects OMA opens at the Barbican Art Gallery in London tomorrow and Dezeen were at this morning’s preview. 

OMA/Progress is the first major presentation of OMA’s work in the UK and features over 450 items from their archive including sketches, models and documentation of both completed and unrealised projects.

Speaking at the opening, co-founder of OMA Rem Koolhaas claimed he has become “allergic” to the homogenised renders produced by contemporary architects.

Koolhaas said that the exhibition comes at a transitional period in the practice’s evolution, adding “the word ‘retrospective’ makes me very nervous because I feel we are only at the beginning of our whole effort.”

The exhibition is curated by Belgian collective Rotor.

See all of our stories about OMA here and some initial photos of the exhibition in our Facebook album.

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Dezeen Wire: editor of Elle Decoration Michelle Ogundehin has published a second article on the magazine’s blog condemning copies of classic furniture, following her scathing attack when it emerged that the UK prime minister’s wife purchased a reproduction Arco floor lamp for her home. In the article, Ogundehin clarifies her position and adds comments from licensed manufacturers and retailers including Vitra, Fritz Hansen, Skandium and Aram.

Read the original article here, the new update here and reactions to the debate in our Dezeen Wire story here.

Dezeen Wire: architect Richard Meier will receive the 2011 President’s Award from the AIA New York Chapter for his architectural contribution to New York City.

Meier will be honored at the Heritage Ball held in support of the AIANY and the Center for Architecture Foundation on 27 October.

Completed projects by Richard Meier & Partners in New York include 165 Charles Street, 66 Restaurant and the 173-176 Perry Street Condominium buildings.

Here are some more details about the award and the architect:

Richard Meier to receive President’s Award at AIANY’s 2011 Heritage Ball

New York, October 4, 2011 – Richard Meier will be granted the 2011 President’s Award in honor of his significant influence on New York City.

The President’s Award is given by the AIA New York Chapter to an architect whose work has made an important impact on New York City. Past recipients include Philip Johnson, I.M. Pei, and Henry Cobb.

Richard Meier will be distinguished with three other honorees who have demonstrated a commitment to the importance of design in New York City and beyond. Gary Barnett, President of Extell Development Company will receive the AIA New York Chapter Award; Leslie Koch, President of The Trust for Governors Island will be granted the Center for Architecture Foundation Award, and Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of New York City Department of Transportation will be honored with the Center for Architecture Award. The award reception will be at the Heritage Ball in New York City at the Chelsea Piers.

About Richard Meier & Partners Architects

The work of Richard Meier & Partners is instantly recognizable and internationally respected. For over four decades, we have been appointed to create important public and private buildings. Our offices in New York and Los Angeles employ a multicultural staff of talented professionals practicing architecture, urbanism, product design and exhibition design. We aspire to thoughtful, elegant contemporary architecture that exceeds our clients’ expectations for beauty and elegance.

Richard Meier & Partners is led by Richard Meier and five partners – Michael Palladino, James R. Crawford, Bernhard Karpf, Reynolds Logan, Dukho Yeon – and sustains an international practice with offices in New York and Los Angeles.

Dezeen Wire: an arts centre by architect Oscar Niemeyer in the Spanish city of Avilés is to close, having been open to the public for just six months. The regional government claims there are irregularities in The Niemeyer Centre‘s accounts and has forced it to close for at least the next two months, sparking protests from local residents and business owners – The Guardian

Dezeen Wire: design critic Alice Rawsthorn dicusses the difficulty in accurately defining design, suggesting that more “open” design processes mean anyone can claim to be a designer – The New York Times