Architecture

The uncompromising writer, who pioneered the position of full-time architecture critic at an American newspaper, and exemplified the pinnacle of the profession for five decades, died on Monday.

January 8, 2013 - The New York Times

A new study out of England provides the first "holistic assessment" linking school design to learning rates. "[S]chool layouts can influence a child’s development by as much as 25 percent over the course of an academic year," reports Ian Steadman.

January 6, 2013 - Wired UK

Elevator technology developed in the 19th century made the advent of skyscrapers possible. Now that skyscraper construction is rebounding after the recession, can vertical transport systems keep up with developers' and designers' lofty visions?

January 4, 2013 - Bloomberg

A new exhibit seeks to document the Los Angeles that could have been, had the visionary plans of the past been executed, reports Eric Jaffe.

January 4, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Architizer previews the year ahead in global architecture. From the restoration of the Manhattan skyline to a temporary cathedral made of cardboard, the website looks at the projects that will heal, house, and astound in 2013.

January 4, 2013 - Architizer

Lloyd Alter dismantles the aggrandizement of the new LPL Financial building being developed by Hines in La Jolla, California, which a recent press release touts as the "Largest Net-Zero Energy Commercial Office Building in U.S."

January 4, 2013 - Treehugger

Counterfeiting is, of course, nothing new in China. From DVDs to Apple stores to an entire Austrian village, the country is rife with copycats. But a new project in Chongqing may take the cake, reports Kevin Holden Platt.

January 3, 2013 - Spiegel Online

No, the title of this post is not an analogy. Diane Ackerman takes a looks at the very literal ways in which cities around the world are harnessing body heat to warm up residential and office buildings.

January 3, 2013 - The New York Times

In a photo essay on small homes and the people who love them, Sightline Fellow Alyse Nelson explains the attraction of compact living and the ways in which small homeowners are living it up by scaling down.

January 3, 2013 - Sightline Daily

The mass shooting at Newton, Connecticut brought gun control, violence in TV and video games, and mental health care to the forefront of a national debate. As talk turns to school design, architects consider the tradeoffs of fortress-like schools.

January 2, 2013 - Architectural Record

We've known for decades the better ways to do things, for greater urban health, sustainability, resiliency, vibrancy and economic success. So this year, let's resolve to have the will and skill to get past the short-term politics, the rhetoric, the market momentum, and the financial self-interest that has kept our better solutions from being realized.

December 31, 2012 - Brent Toderian

From guerrilla wayfinding to future-tising, these are my top five, perhaps lesser known, highlights of a banner year for Tactical Urbanism.

December 30, 2012 - Mike Lydon

NYC's recently released energy efficiency ratings are full of surprises: 1930s landmarks such as the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings outperformed later mid-century structures, as well as contemporary LEED-rated designs.

December 29, 2012 - The New York Times

The BIG news out of New York City last week was the City Planning Commission's approval of Durst/Fetner's pyramid shaped apartment building slated for the west side of Manhattan, reports Matt Chaban.

December 25, 2012 - The New York Observer

Who wants to read about the best buildings of the year when you can read about the most controversial? Architizer will guide you through the year's best in copycats, criticism, and crybabies.

December 24, 2012 - Architizer

Arch527, a coalition of African-American architects from Harlem with an impressive portfolio, says Columbia University is failing to include them in its $6.3 billion campus expansion into West Harlem, in violation of a community benefits agreement.

December 24, 2012 - DNAinfo.com

In Los Angeles, the Skid Row Housing Trust is breaking past precedent by building modular, but vibrant, housing aimed at emulating city-life; giving residents a sense of community, and a new lease on life.

December 23, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

The good news is that we've survived yet another doomsday prophecy. Bad news - there's plenty more reasons to think our world is under threat. Vanessa Quirk looks at architectural responses to the threat - real or imagined - of apocalypse.

December 21, 2012 - ArchDaily

In the past four years, the real estate and housing downturn has drastically cut billings at architecture firms. However, the Architecture Billings Index shows improvement for a fourth consecutive month and the highest reading since November 2007.

December 20, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Much has been written, both in favor and against, ambitious renovations planned for New York's landmark Public Library building on Fifth Avenue. Until this week, those opinions were written without the benefit of the architect's design concepts.

December 20, 2012 - The New York Times