With the help of Buzzfeed, Zaha Hadid's design for Qatar's new Al-Wakrah sports stadium - which happens to bear a resemblance to "lady parts" - went viral this week. Philip Kennicott examines Qatar's "awkward moment".
"The world’s design critics have noticed that plans for a new stadium in Qatar—built to host the 2022 World Cup—look a lot like what late night comedians call 'lady parts,'" writes Kennicott. "The undulating folds of the roof that covers the playing field, combined with an almond-shaped opening to the sky above, gives the stadium, designed by AECOM, in association with Zaha Hadid Architects, a uniquely voluptuous profile."
"Architects who pursue 'iconic' sculptural shapes have created for themselves a dilemma: The public will ultimately be the interpreter of those shapes, no matter what the architectural intention is," he continues. "If you plan a building to be instantly 'readable,' like a sign, then you have to be very clear about what that sign says."
And for Kennicott, a sign that speaks to femininity amid Qatar's male-dominated society may not be such a bad thing.
FULL STORY: World Cup Stadium designs for Qatar 2022 elicits titters
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.