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Design

Cornell Tech moves into its Roosevelt Island Home

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Aloof institution. Catalyst for Change. Environmental poster child. Architectural theme park. Government-initiated economic development. Digital new world. Boondoggle.

The recently-opened Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island is all of the above, or perhaps none of them. How it develops and if it succeeds are questions to be answered in the future. Today, however, it exemplifies multiple trends in American architecture and urban/economic development. [Read more…] about Cornell Tech moves into its Roosevelt Island Home

Take a Train: The Q – NYC’s new subway extension is airy and full of art

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Vic Muniz’s “Perfect Strangers”
70th St. entrance art: Vic Muniz’s “Perfect Strangers” portray riders you are likely to come across on your travels.

New York City’s new math: 100 years, $4.5 billion, 3 subway stops.

New Year’s Day 2017 saw the ribbon cut on the first phase of the Second Avenue subway, the locally-mythic train touted to alleviate the overburdened east side subways since the late 1920s. A Great Depression, a world war and a City bankruptcy interfered with its execution. After nearly 10 years of actual construction and neighborhood misery, three airy, clean and art-filled stations opened for business. [Read more…] about Take a Train: The Q – NYC’s new subway extension is airy and full of art

Vertical Urban Factory — A Review

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Vertical Urban Factory
Cover: Van Nelle factory, ca. 1960, Courtesy Collectie Gemeentearchief Rotterdam

The role that industry played and continues to play in molding American society was a hotly contested topic this political season. While talk mostly centered on workers and the economic forces that engulf them, little was mentioned about the actual factories where they work and how these structures shape our cities. The interconnection of factory buildings with urban landscapes and the position they hold in the lives of cities are topics that Nina Rappaport, an architectural historian, curator and educator tackles in her latest book, Vertical Urban Factory (2015, Actar Publishers, New York). In nearly 500 pages and 400 photographs and illustrations, she investigates the history of the factory building, manufacturing processes and the integration of industry within cities. [Read more…] about Vertical Urban Factory — A Review

Quick peek at the Calatrava’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub

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Calatrava WTC transpo-hum, photo-3
So near and yet so far . . .

The long-anticipated WTC Transportation Hub designed by Santiago Calatrava had a “soft” opening at the beginning of March. Shoe-horned next to the WTC Memorial, the Hub’s steel wingspan has loomed over the active construction site for years, promising big things to come. In fact, the opening was so low-keyed that the main entrance was still unfinished and signs showing how to enter were non-existent. The building itself is surrounded by cyclone fencing with no obvious way of getting inside. Ask a stranger how to enter, and the only response was “I don’t know, but I know it cost $4 billion!” [Read more…] about Quick peek at the Calatrava’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub

Towers in the Park—Unsafe at Any Income?

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Frederick Douglass House
Frederick Douglass Houses on the Upper West Side were built in 1958 and consists of 17 buildings of various heights and contains 2,056 apartments. The complex is still a public housing project run by the New York City Housing Authority. (Photo, Carol Berens 2013)

The month of June saw the opening of a major exhibition on the works of Le Corbusier at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the signing of a contract for a $2.2 million apartment in Lincoln Towers, about 20 blocks north of the museum. What, you may ask, do these events have to do with each other? [Read more…] about Towers in the Park—Unsafe at Any Income?

The Cronocaos Exhibit at the New Museum: Rem Koolhaas Says Make No Little Plans.

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Rem Koolhaas Biennale VeniceThe July 27th post by Jerri Holan was an impassioned plea for preservation advocates to become even more resolved in the face of adversity, an appeal which clearly struck a chord with the author panel. Tucked in her piece was mention of Rem Koolhaas’s allegation of “historical amnesia” for what historic preservationists have wrought. [Read more…] about The Cronocaos Exhibit at the New Museum: Rem Koolhaas Says Make No Little Plans.

Turn the freeways into Solar Collectors

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Turn the freeways into solar collectors and at the same time mitigate noise, pollution, blight, and open space encroachment.  This is a fascinating idea from architect Måns Tham of Sweden.  He also proposes that the solar canopy capture auto exhaust for feeding algae ponds to create bio fuel.  While it seems at first glance to be ‘pie in the sky,’ upon further reflection it may not be so far fetched.  It could help resolve the controversy regarding solar arrays in the desert and possible effects on  fauna such as the desert tortoise.  Freeways typically involve vast  sun exposed stretches of real estate that would seem ideally suited for solar panels.  Read more on the architect’s blog.

Design is Changing the World

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Power of Pro BonoBook Review: THE POWER OF PROBONO 40 stories about Design for the Public Good by Architects and Their Clients

Edited by John Cary and Public Architecture

Book Design by Pentagram

Published by Metropolis Books

?I received a courtesy copy of this book and yes it was a beautiful feeling to see my name in the ‘acknowledgments’ for the book.  What’s more beautiful is to contribute a 1% of your workday to help someone so that you feel good for the other 99% of the time.

Based on this simple concept of contributing just 1% of your service for a good cause, Public Architecture started ‘the1%’ program in 2005. Today it’s even shaped itself into a book.  This book goes a long way with its inspiring and successful stories of people that believe in doing public good.

[Read more…] about Design is Changing the World

10 Principles of Planning Pleasant Places

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There are many academic lists regarding the principles of urban planning, a sampling of which is included below.  However, I’ve put together my own list about what creates a pleasant place in the built environment.  Its based on nothing more than my personal observations.

1) Narrow streets make nicer neighborhoods and shopping districts.

2) Setbacks suck. (Compare all the places we are attracted to for vacations.)

3) Great cities happen at the street level, not the skyline.

4) Preserve the old buildings not just for architectural significance, but for diversity of architecture.

5) Small lot development is smarter development. (i.e. large master planned developments lack soul) [Read more…] about 10 Principles of Planning Pleasant Places

Tokyo, Japan=Super Amazing City

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Prada Store, Tokyo

I am in Tokyo traveling/visiting this week.  I must say, it’s an amazing progressive city and culture.  So many amazing buildings here.  Wow.  It’s a huge city, but has a small city feel in the smaller neighborhoods within the city.  Public transportation is easy to use, bikes are all over the place, public spaces/parks are great, public art and multiple museums dot the city.   It’s like New York City, a bit of Chicago and Vegas lights.  Will be posting more pictures when I return.  Today’s picture is of the Prada store.  This building was built several years ago but has an amazing look and feel from both the outside and inside.  Designed by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meauron.