The Year's Architecture Controversies Include Multiple Planning Crossovers

The list of the 12 most "memorable" and "outrageous" controversies in the field of architecture looks a lot like a list of controversies in the field of planning.

1 minute read

December 10, 2017, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Wall Prototypes

U.S. Customs and Border Protection / Flickr

The editors of The Architect's Newspaper have gathered a list of the "best" architecture controversies of the year. By best, they mean "memorable" and "outrageous," and they ask for your responses and additions to the list.

The list includes a few items we missed this year, like an architect that faked professional accreditation, a defunct project with a portentous address and ownership with a seat in the White House, and a high-profile design for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

But we are also happy to see that many of the stories on the list made the news here at Planetizen, such as the GOP tax plan's threat to the Historic Tax Credit, the Trump Administration's plans for the infamous border wall, the removal of racist monuments from cities all over the country, and the battle between Zillow and the popular design blog, McMansion Hell, among others. 

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 in The Architect's Newspaper

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