Architectural Criticism

Gehry Fondation Louis Vuitton

Op-Ed: Starchitecture Fails the Future

An addiction to spectacle and fad, says Peter Buchanan, has set architecture adrift in a sea of meaningless forms. And real design problems go ignored.

March 20, 2015 - The Architectural Review

Blank Wall

The Downtown Dystopia and the 'Continued March of Sameness'

Architecture critic Aaron Betsky provides a new take urban dystopia: bland and homogenous. The antidote, he argues, can be found on the edges.

October 9, 2014 - Architect

High Line Sign

Where Critics Fear to Tread

Design criticism bridges the gap between the process and product of design, and the public’s understanding and appreciation for it. But does it have to be all about architecture?

September 27, 2014 - Mark Hough

What Does it Take to Become an Architecture Critic?

"Minimize description and maximize observation" were among the nuggets of advice delivered by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Blair Kamin to a recent class of Harvard students eager to learn how to think and write like an activist critic.

April 10, 2013 - Nieman Reports

Pioneering Architecture Critic Ada Louise Huxtable Dies at 91

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

Reasons to Celebrate the Death of the Architecture Critic

As architecture and design observers bemoan what recent job moves mean for the future of mainstream architectural criticism, Vanessa Quirk sees reason to be optimistic.

April 10, 2012 - ArchDaily

The Kimmelmania Backlash

Matt Chaban explores the divided opinions on the work of the fairly new architecture critic for The New York Times, Michael Kimmelman, who some complain isn't writing enough about Architecture.

March 10, 2012 - The New York Observer

Reporting on the State of Architectural Criticism

A distinguished panel of architectural critics gathered this past week at the Center for Architecture, in New York, to discuss “Architectural Criticism Today.” Julie V. Iovine presents some choice excerpts from the two-hour conversation.

March 4, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

So, You Want to be a Critic?

Norman Weinstein reviews Alexandra Lange's new book on "Writing About Architecture", and finds a miraculous achievement.

February 5, 2012 - ArchNewsNow

Michael Sorkin Pulls No Punches in New Book of Criticism

Norman Weinstein reviews Sorkin's new book All Over the Map. Sorkin, he says, is at his best when exposing the injustices of architecture.

November 11, 2011 - ArchNewsNow

Why Architectural Criticism Can't Work

In response to a recent piece criticizing architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff, Places Journal Editor Nancy Levinson extends the criticism to the entire field, questioning whether its global scope is realistic.

March 12, 2010 - Places Journal

Critiquing the Architectural Critic

This piece from Design Observer takes a pointed and critical look at the work of New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff and finds much to be desired in his work.

March 7, 2010 - Design Observer

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.