New York architecture and design practice Axis Mundi have designed a conceptual alternative to French architect Jean Nouvel’s design for a 73-storey tower next to the Museum of Modern Art in New York (see our previous story). (more…)
Dubai architecture firm X-Architects have unveiled their masterplan for a sustainable urban development in the center of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. (more…)
The National Stadium in Beijing by architects Herzog & de Meuron has been awarded the RIBA Lubetkin Prize – an award given each year to the best building by an RIBA member built outside Europe. (more…)
New York architects Rafael Viñoly have completed a new East Wing extension to the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, USA. (more…)
It looks like Robert Lutz isn’t the only icon staying in Detroit for a little longer. The beautiful, gigantic Albert Kahn-designed Argonaut Building in the city, which General Motors had constructed and was using as one of their central design hubs for decades and then administrative offices up until the late 90s, when it was boarded up and had seemingly been simply buying time while awaiting the wrecking balls, has fortunately avoided such an violent end with GM deciding to donate the entire structure to the College for Creative Studies a short time ago. Now that the project is nearing competition and it’s set to re-open with its new life this fall, AutoWeek has this terrific story up about the building’s history, its restoration, and what the school plans to do within its massive 760,000 square feet of roominess. Certainly a nice change to see something positive within a story that uses “Detroit” and “architecture” in close proximity to one another. Here’s a bit about the plans:
The Argonaut will offer space for CCS programs, including new graduate programs, with dining and dorm space for 300. The building also will house a new sort of middle and secondary school, devoted to design. The idea is to hook inner-city kids early in the creative process and foster them along the way. Students of all ages will be able to learn from one another so, the theory goes, talent can be seamlessly encouraged and developed from first budding to full blooming.
There will be a rooftop conference center for public, academic and corporate events. A parking garage for 500 vehicles was added, as well as a gallery and retail space for rent. All told, the planners say, the refurbished building will bring about 2,000 people daily to the New Center area, supporting retail, services and other business.
Japanese architects Suppose Design Office have completed a residence in Nagoya, Japan, featuring a room dedicated to plants. (more…)
Cafe Rekord is a small cafe/bar in Düsseldorf-Flingern.The ambiance is a cool mix of vintage furniture from Eames and Poulsen with modern design ..
If you’re like us at all (and lord help you if you are), you’re a little worn out from all of this Prince Charles vs. Modernism debacle going on across the pond in the UK. But as there are relatively few big, brawling controversies in this blanket industry we call “design,” we must push forward. First, the news that the modernism-hating Prince Charles has resigned from his top position as a patron of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. His reason? The preservationist group had asked Charles write an introduction for a handbook they were putting together wherein he wrote that all restorations should put the buildings back to “their original style.” This didn’t sit well with the Society, as despite their name, they’re up for adding a few modern touches here and there. As we all know, the Prince isn’t so keen on anything even remotely modern, and when they asked him to change his introduction to the book, he up and quit. So that should tell you a little something about how closely the guy sticks to his anti-modern guns. But before this turns into a completely negative Charles post, we also want to point you to this interesting point-counterpoint over at Architectural Record, which pits former Art Review editor and current Christie’s Publications editor in chief Meredith Etherington-Smith, who is “Pro Prince,” against the Sunday Times architecture critic, Hugh Pearman, who is Pro Richard Rogers, in a debate over the recent Chelsea Barracks debacle which started this whole new big fight to begin with. Both have some great thoughts and even though we often like to poke fun at the Prince here at UnBeige HQ, it’s nice to share something beyond “It’s just because the dude hates modern stuff!”
Now matter how semi-sorta-mildly comforting the recent American Institute of Architect‘s Billings Index flat-lining seems to be, it appears that the good news is mostly coming from the residential portion of the industry. The AIA has released their latest Consensus Construction Forecast and things don’t look good at all for architects working in the commercial market. The report states that there was a big hit in 2009, as we’re all aware of, but the AIA is also projecting a double digit drop in the percentage of commercial jobs out there in 2010, with retail and hotels being hit the very hardest (health care facilities and public works seem like the only safe best, but even those outlets are seeing slight declines). Here’s a bit:
“This nonresidential downturn is shaping up to be the deepest decline in nonresidential activity in over a generation,” said Kermit Baker, chief economist for the AIA. “However, we’re beginning to see some moderation in the trends in design billings at architecture firms, so we hopefully are nearing the bottom of this cycle.”
“Commercial facilities such as hotels, retail establishments and offices will feel the decline most dramatically,” said Baker. “The institutional market will fare much better as stimulus funding becomes available for education, health care and government facilities.”
Two interesting stories surrounding the American Institute of Architects to share with you this morning. First up, following the news we told you about back in early June of this year that the AIA had gotten the okay to update their Washington DC headquarters and make the whole thing far more earth friendly, the current owners of the historic building, the American Architectural Foundation, has decided to hand the property over to the AIA. Part of the transfer of ownership involves the AIA making sure the AAF is taken care of financially for the next 5+ years, but it sounds like a pretty great deal, particularly after the AIA has decided recently to put all that additional work in the building. Second up, the LA Times reports that the AIA has just released their full report on building more attractive but still secure US embassies across the world, a project they were commissioned to work on through the State Department. If you have some time this morning, a PDF of the report is available here and it’s a lengthy read, but interesting none the less, covering each portion of embassy building from both the aesthetic sides and the “let’s not let them get blown up” angles as well.
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