A new addition to the Architecture Blogsphere is Nancy Levinson's Pixel Points, over at ArtsJournal. With nine posts since October '04, Levinson's posts are long, but well worth the read. Her latest post, Yesterday and Today, recaps last year's architecture from a unique point of view: the obituary page.
A welcome addition to online architectural discourse.
Friday, January 7, 2005
AIA Honor Awards
The AIA announced its 2005 Honor Awards, in three categories: Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Regional and Urban Design.
A couple local projects and other highlights.
Architecture:
Contemporaine in Chicago by Perkins + Will
A great mid-rise residential project in the River North area of the city. The generous glazing, exposed concrete (rare in the city that loves to paint the stuff) and the articulation of the two materials make for a bold expression for where the city's residential architecture might head.
Holy Rosary Church Complex in Amant, LA, by Trahan Architects
Featured on my weekly page in July last year, this complex is simple yet poetic, focused inward to its chapel and its beautiful interior.
Mill City Museum in Minneapolis by Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle
A renovation of a landmarked - though gutted by fire in 1991 - flour mill that is amazing for its addition as much for the existing structures.
Mountain Tree House in Dillard, GA, by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects
Another simple design, this time sensitively sited in a dense forest of Northern Georgia.
Somis Hay Barn in Somis, CA, by SPF:a
A contemporary steel structure is clothed in hay, for insulation, as a wind break, and sometimes as food for the horses housed within!
Interior Architecture:
Boys Club in Sioux City, IA, by Randy Brown Architects
Again the Midwest is home to some creative design, as always on a shoestring budget.
L.A. Eyeworks in Los Angeles by Neil Denari
Denari deserves this award for finally getting one of his designs built. His undulating and folding curves are perfect for the short-term, stylish world of retail design.
Hyde Park Bank Building Hall by Florian Architects
Another local project, this time a renovation on the South Side of Chicago. The design effectively contrasts the old with the new without being confrontational or reactionary.
Regional and Urban Design:
Jackson Meadow in St. Croix, MN, by Salmela Architect & Coen + Partners
Maybe I'm seduced by the Edward Hopper-like quality of this photo, though I think the reduced vernacular style of the houses is a welcome change from today's pompous and stylish housing design.
Riparian Meadows in Warren, AR, by University of Arkansas Community Design Center
A public greenway along a creek, this project adds exciting architectural events along its length, like pearls on a string.
A couple local projects and other highlights.
Architecture:
Contemporaine in Chicago by Perkins + Will
A great mid-rise residential project in the River North area of the city. The generous glazing, exposed concrete (rare in the city that loves to paint the stuff) and the articulation of the two materials make for a bold expression for where the city's residential architecture might head.
Holy Rosary Church Complex in Amant, LA, by Trahan Architects
Featured on my weekly page in July last year, this complex is simple yet poetic, focused inward to its chapel and its beautiful interior.
Mill City Museum in Minneapolis by Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle
A renovation of a landmarked - though gutted by fire in 1991 - flour mill that is amazing for its addition as much for the existing structures.
Mountain Tree House in Dillard, GA, by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects
Another simple design, this time sensitively sited in a dense forest of Northern Georgia.
Somis Hay Barn in Somis, CA, by SPF:a
A contemporary steel structure is clothed in hay, for insulation, as a wind break, and sometimes as food for the horses housed within!
Interior Architecture:
Boys Club in Sioux City, IA, by Randy Brown Architects
Again the Midwest is home to some creative design, as always on a shoestring budget.
L.A. Eyeworks in Los Angeles by Neil Denari
Denari deserves this award for finally getting one of his designs built. His undulating and folding curves are perfect for the short-term, stylish world of retail design.
Hyde Park Bank Building Hall by Florian Architects
Another local project, this time a renovation on the South Side of Chicago. The design effectively contrasts the old with the new without being confrontational or reactionary.
Regional and Urban Design:
Jackson Meadow in St. Croix, MN, by Salmela Architect & Coen + Partners
Maybe I'm seduced by the Edward Hopper-like quality of this photo, though I think the reduced vernacular style of the houses is a welcome change from today's pompous and stylish housing design.
Riparian Meadows in Warren, AR, by University of Arkansas Community Design Center
A public greenway along a creek, this project adds exciting architectural events along its length, like pearls on a string.
Thursday, January 6, 2005
Millennium Park Additions
The Chicago Sun-Times reports on six additions to everybody's favorite park of 2004, Millennium Park: a new gift shop and welcome center (both in the pavilions behind the bandshell), two Gehry-designed concession stands under the trellis, and grass areas at the North and South Terraces will be replaced with granite and sycamore trees (more a change than an addition). Half seem geared towards making money, the other half in response to pedestrian patterns on opening day and the need for help orienting the Park.
(via Archinect)
(via Archinect)
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
What's the Matter with IKEA?
The Blogsphere is up in arms about the demolition of five historic structures in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn to make way for an IKEA parking lot. Yes, a parking lot. In an odd public relations move that has the Swedish furniture manufacturer/retailer aping for Wal-Mart's urban public approval, this move is reminiscent of 2003's news that IKEA wanted to demolish a Marcel Breuer building in New Haven, Connecticut.
But this time no compromise appears to be in site as the wrecking ball has already completed the demolition of one structure dating from the Civil War.
Image from Lex's Folly
I'll admit that my apartment is populated with a lot of IKEA-ware, but I purchased all of it from one of their suburban locations, where the big box format was born - and needs to stay. IKEA tried to move into Chicago a few years back, but the City didn't want them, mainly because of the traffic they would create. Ironically they would have moved down the street from a Best Buy, Crate & Barrel, Container Store, Whole Foods, and many other large retailers that are patronized by people in cars. Witness the ocean of parking lots nearby the proposed location at North & Clybourn.
Entities like IKEA need to adapt their formulas to the urban fabric, something that IKEA and Wal-Mart seem unwilling to do. Home Depot did just that on Halsted Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, as seen below. Best Buy moved into a new development on Clark, also in Lincoln Park, living below apartments and next to a retirement community.
More images like this here
It is possible to integrate, for the benefit of the city, the residents, and the retailers; something IKEA should keep in mind.
But this time no compromise appears to be in site as the wrecking ball has already completed the demolition of one structure dating from the Civil War.
Image from Lex's Folly
I'll admit that my apartment is populated with a lot of IKEA-ware, but I purchased all of it from one of their suburban locations, where the big box format was born - and needs to stay. IKEA tried to move into Chicago a few years back, but the City didn't want them, mainly because of the traffic they would create. Ironically they would have moved down the street from a Best Buy, Crate & Barrel, Container Store, Whole Foods, and many other large retailers that are patronized by people in cars. Witness the ocean of parking lots nearby the proposed location at North & Clybourn.
Entities like IKEA need to adapt their formulas to the urban fabric, something that IKEA and Wal-Mart seem unwilling to do. Home Depot did just that on Halsted Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, as seen below. Best Buy moved into a new development on Clark, also in Lincoln Park, living below apartments and next to a retirement community.
More images like this here
It is possible to integrate, for the benefit of the city, the residents, and the retailers; something IKEA should keep in mind.
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
The Joys of Urban Exploration
Beyond the already popular "archi-tourism", there appears to be a growing fascination with exploring places - particularly in cities - that are in ruin or where the public isn't allowed. Loosely coined Urban Exploration, it usually involves trespassing, not for vandalism and destruction, but for curiosity and most likely a rush. Zines like Infiltration illustrate the popularity and its fringe nature simultaneously.
The picture above, taken by Charles Janda inside the Manteno State Hospital, shows what unique discoveries can be made in these off-limit places. His page features an Urban Exploration/Ruins Gallery, links to other UE sites, and photo albums with recent photos, including the Manteno State Hospital (password: visitor).
This image of an abandoned natatorium is from a French page with a massive gallery of places in Europe, such as Bridges, Closed-down Buildings, Hospitals, Quarries and Tunnels. The moody photographs capture the feeling of time and unintended human interaction, what happens when buildings and other structures are abandoned and fall into disrepair.
Many other links can also be found at Chicago Urban Exploration, the Urban Exploration WebRing, and the Open Directory of Urban Speleology.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
(Though I guess that's the point, since you can't anyways!)
Update 01.05.05: If you find the image of Manteno State Hospital appealing, check out The Manteno Project, "the most comprehensive source of information about the history of Manteno State Hospital. This site includes historical photographs, images, reports, and other information about the former Manteno State Hospital, operational in Manteno, Illinois from 1929 - 1985." Thanks to Michael A. for the link.
The picture above, taken by Charles Janda inside the Manteno State Hospital, shows what unique discoveries can be made in these off-limit places. His page features an Urban Exploration/Ruins Gallery, links to other UE sites, and photo albums with recent photos, including the Manteno State Hospital (password: visitor).
This image of an abandoned natatorium is from a French page with a massive gallery of places in Europe, such as Bridges, Closed-down Buildings, Hospitals, Quarries and Tunnels. The moody photographs capture the feeling of time and unintended human interaction, what happens when buildings and other structures are abandoned and fall into disrepair.
Many other links can also be found at Chicago Urban Exploration, the Urban Exploration WebRing, and the Open Directory of Urban Speleology.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
(Though I guess that's the point, since you can't anyways!)
Update 01.05.05: If you find the image of Manteno State Hospital appealing, check out The Manteno Project, "the most comprehensive source of information about the history of Manteno State Hospital. This site includes historical photographs, images, reports, and other information about the former Manteno State Hospital, operational in Manteno, Illinois from 1929 - 1985." Thanks to Michael A. for the link.
Monday, January 3, 2005
Monday, Monday
My weekly page update:
Milwaukee Rowing Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Venter Denk Architects.
The updated book feature is Coney Island: Lost and Found, by Charles Denson.
Some related and unrelated links for your enjoyment:
Milwaukee Rowing Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Venter Denk Architects.
The updated book feature is Coney Island: Lost and Found, by Charles Denson.
Some related and unrelated links for your enjoyment:
AIA Wisconsin's 2004 Design Awards Gallery
Eight awards, including this week's dose.
ConeyIsland.com
Online home of Coney Island USA, a non-profit organization who cares about old and new Coney Island.
The Holy Consumption of Chicago
Weekly comics by Jeffrey Brown, John Hankiewicz, Paul Hornschemeir, and Anders Nilsen.
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