Hasta La Ideas

There are plenty of interesting bits and pieces going on outside of architecture as well so far this week, so let’s commence:

After four months of a lockout of unionized art handlers at Sotheby’s, things still don’t seem to be progressing toward stability. According to a report by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the lockout has now cost the auction house $2.4 million in fees ranging from temporary employees to extra security. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that the company just gave its CEO, William Ruprecht, a $3 million raise. Union representatives for the art handlers are quick to point out that their entire contract dispute totals $3.3 million.

In Washington DC, the Smithsonian has reportedly hired Wolff Olins to help in a major rebranding. The main thrust of that effort is set to be the roll out of a new tagline next year: “Seriously Amazing.” The Washington Post reports that the organization has thus far paid $1 million “for research and creation of the slogan.”

Speaking of rebranding efforts, the always great Brand New blog has filed its own year end list, starting with their picks for the very worst identity changes in 2011. Unfortunately, it seems to have been written before State Farm unveiled their new logo.

And finally: so much for the potential of the Tate possible eschewing corporate sponsorship from British Petroleum following a full year of protests (and now likely more to come in 2012). The museum has renewed their contract with BP, telling the BBC, “The fact that they had one major incident in 2010 does not mean we should not be taking support from them.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Yesterday, two things happened surrounding the 2012 London Olympics. First, the organizing committee announced that it has selected the winners of its competition to design two large public spaces for the soon-to-be Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Second, and by extension, its selection of James Corner Field Operations for one half of the project, proves that the powerful name now wielded by the co-designing firm behind New York’s High Line extends well across our own borders. Corner’s firm will handle the south side of the park, and native London-based Erect Architecture will take the lead to the north, combining for a total of more than 50 acres in new landscaping. However, it won’t just be the two working within their own ranks, as this was a large competition and, as such, meant bringing in a handful of top tier other firms to serve under their lead. Here’s a break down of each from the Press Association:

The south park design team is: James Corner Field Operations working with engineers Arup (London), Make Architects (London), identity and graphics by tomato (London), planting and horticulture by Piet Oudolf (Netherlands), lighting designers and consultants L’Observatoire International (New York), events and live activity planning by Groundbreaking, play consultants Playlink (London), quantity surveyors Deloitte (London).

The north park design team is led by Erect Architecture collaborating with structural engineers Tall engineers (London), service engineers Max Fordham (London), landscape consultants Land Use Consultants (London), artist and enabler Ashley McMormick (London), quantity surveyor Huntley Cartwright (Surrey) and play safety experts Children’s Play Advisory Service (Coventry).

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

As any pensive puppet frog will tell you, it’s not easy being green—unless you have access to Diana Balmori. The landscape and urban designer works at the interface of nature and structure (to wit: Groundwork: Between Landscape and Architecture, written with Joel Sanders and freshly published by Monacelli). Her New York-based firm continues to push the boundaries with innovative green roofs, floating islands, and temporary landscapes that get people talking in more ways than one. On Tuesday, November 15, Balmori will be the one doing the talking, as she sits down for a conversation with Peter Reed, MoMA’s senior deputy director of curatorial affairs, at 92nd Street Y. She will show slides of her work, discuss the role of landscape in today’s cities, and explain her vision of life-enhancing design. Tickets are available here, and you can save 25% off by entering discount code UNBEIGE11.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Speaking of government-based contests as we were in that last post, we turn to something a bit more positive (or at least something that fewer people seem angry about). Launched last month, the National Mall Design Competition, which is attempting to rehab three specific areas to focus preservation efforts on (Union Square, the Washington Monument grounds at Sylvan Theater and Constitution Gardens) has now named their jurors. Picking their favorite entries for the estimated $700 million project are a list of, as was expected, luminaries from a number of fields. They include the Washington Post‘ former architecture critic, Benjamin Forgey, Pentagram‘s Michael Gericke, and architect about town, Thom Mayne. Thus far, the competition has reportedly registered more than 1,200 designers and firms from 10 countries and 30 states who are interested in participating. Out of those, the jurors will pick 58 to move forward. Here’s a bit about the process:

“In Stage I, the Jury will evaluate lead designers based on past design performance, philosophy, design intent, thoughtfulness, creativity and overall resume,” said Donald J. Stastny FAIA FAICP FCIP, the Competition Manager. “The Jurors’ professional expertise and diverse perspectives will be valuable assets in the selection process.”

The Jury will meet over three days to select the lead designers who they recommend be invited to participate in Stage II. That recommendation will be made to the Steering Committee, which will confirm that the designers met all of the requirements as stated in the Competition Manual and that there were no conflicts of interest in the Jury process.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

This year, you’d be hard pressed to find a more exciting, more captivating electrical pylon redesign contest than the Pylon Design Competition run by the UK’s Department of Energy & Climate Change, the National Grid, and the Royal Institute of British Architects. Granted, that’s because there weren’t any other competitions to compete with this one, but that’s neither here nor there. What’s important is that a winner has now been crowned. The Copenhagen-based Bystrup has won for its T-Pylon, which looks as it sounds, in an uppercase T shape, but is reportedly up to two-thirds the height and weight of current electrical pylons. And while Bystrup is the big winner, the contest organizers plan to also continue working with two of the finalists, Ian Ritchie Associates and New Town Studio, in trying to incorporate a number of their designs (sadly, our pick, designed by Gustafson Porter with Atelier One and Pfisterer, isn’t included). Here’s a bit from National Grid director Nick Winser:

‘In the T-Pylon we have a design that has the potential to be a real improvement on the steel lattice tower. It’s shorter, lighter and the simplicity of the design means it would fit into the landscape more easily. In addition, the design of the electrical components is genuinely innovative and exciting.

However, the Totem and Silhouette designs are worthy of further consideration – both of them have strong visual appeal and characteristics that could work well in different landscapes.

We are genuinely delighted at the prospect of working with all three companies to develop some real options for the future.’

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.