The Year in Architecture

Two of the country's most famed and respected architecture critics have produced a list of the "good, bad, and the pink" of architecture in 2017.

1 minute read

December 20, 2017, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cupertino

Uladzik Kryhin / Shutterstock

The annual review of the year in architecture produced by Alexandra Lange, architecture critic for Curbed, and Mark Lamster, architecture critic for the Dallas Morning News, is a fan and Planetizen favorite. This year's list continues the tradition of previous mixing some fun in with some snark for an irreverent approach to the year's events in a usually stuffy field.

Among the list are some recognitions that have the fingerprints of planners too, such as the "Best Disappearing Act," which goes to the design leadership at Apple: "From the 11,000-car garage at Apple “Park,” to the company’s claim that stores are “town squares,” the behemoth has lost the plot," according to the post.

There's also a "Honk Twice for Sustainability Award," which goes to Totota for "[dumping] plans for their own LEED-rated Texas headquarters in suburbia, with 6,500 parking spaces and effectively zero public transit."

Planetizen picked up news of Lange and Lamster's annual architecture review in 2016 and 2014. The annual architecture review pairs well with a review of the year in landscape architecture, published earlier this month and written by Charles A. Birnbaum.

Monday, December 18, 2017 in Curbed

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City