Honoring Architecture's Highs and Lows for 2013

They might call it the "Lunch with the Critics" award, but in my mind they're the "Archies" (is that taken?). Critics Alexandra Lange and Mark Lamster deliver their fourth annual awards for the best and worst in architecture and design of 2013.

December 8, 2013, 1pm PST | Jonathan Nettler | @nettsj

"Like the Nieman Marcus catalog, the Rockettes, and Mannheim Steamroller, the Lunch With The Critics Year-End Awards has become a holiday tradition, beloved and hotly anticipated," write the audacious critics. Lange and Lamster sharpen their critical pencils for a year end review of the stupid and sublime. Here's a sample:

"Marion Barry Award for Civic Responsibility: To Rob Ford, who transformed the often dull business of municipal governance into an R-rated gift that won’t stop giving."

"Unfortunate Design Trend of the Year: In cities worldwide, billionaires forsake estates and classic sixes for supertall luxury tower aeries. This is urbanism?"

"The Man Who Would Be King Award: To Mike Bloomberg. For better and worse, he transformed New York City as no one since Robert Moses. It will be a different place without him."

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Lunch with the Critics: Fourth-Annual Year-End Awards

Published on Friday, December 6, 2013 in Observatory