Author: Mackenzie Goldberg

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/rk/rkoklnj6o2wpahu4.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" /><a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/39902/big-bjarke-ingels-group" rel="nofollow" >Bjarke Ingels Group</a> has been tapped to design the New National Theater of Albania, a 3-in-1 cultural venue tailored to the thriving cultural scene of the country's capital of <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/7211/tirana" rel="nofollow" >Tirana</a>. The new, 9,300 square meter contemporary building will be located in the heart of downtown, adjacent to the iconic Skanderbeg Square, the National Opera and the National Art Gallery.

Shaped like a giant bow-tie, the cultural space will replace the existing National Theater, designed by the Italian architect Giuglio Bertè and built during the Second World War. It will also add three new indoor performance spaces, a rooftop amphitheater as well as a covered public space underneath the building.

"Tirana is going through an era of unprecedented transformation and innovation" the city's mayor Erion Veliaj said. "BIG’s new theater will become a crown-jewel of this transformation in the heart of the capital! The “bow-tie” will tie together Continue reading "BIG tapped to build new, bow-tie shaped National Theater of Albania"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/9r/9rasc20omowvjb9k.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />The <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/169130/aia-los-angeles" >AIA's Los Angeles chapter</a> recently announced the winners of its second Architectural Photography Awards. Created last year, the awards recognize that photographers have long been an integral element of the architect’s work; they not only document buildings, but act as translators, explicating the architect's ideas to the public. 

This year's celebrated selection does just that. From images of Frank Lloyd Wright's historic Hollyhock House and Johnston Marklee's curvaceous Vault House, to ones of the famed Venice skatepark and an unremarkable parking structure, the photographs this year remind us that photography is capable of doing so much more than simply capturing a structure. Through the 2018 honorees' works, we see, not only the transcendent qualities of space, but the photographer’s eye, skill, and talent in expressing it. Take a look at the winning selection below! Honor Award:

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/5q/5qhvsarshruqtj81.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />Emerging Objects is a self-described 3D Printing MAKE-tank founded by <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/801/ronald-rael" rel="nofollow" >Ronald Rael</a>, an Associate Professor of Architecture at University of California Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, an Assistant Professor of Design at San José State University. They are trailblazers in the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/475/3d-printing" rel="nofollow" >3D printing</a> industry, specializing in cutting-edge architecture and building components. Their innovations include a porous ceramic brick that passively cools interiors, a teapot printed from actual tea, furniture made from recycled tires, and now, a fully-livable cabin. <br>

The Cabin of Curiosities is a culmination of the work the Bay Area start-up has been perfecting since its founding and proves the architectural potential of additive manufacturing on a weathertight, structurally sound building. Made from more than 4,500 3D printed ceramic tiles, the structure demonstrates 3D printing's potential for making highly designed building components from unlikely materials.  

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/d5/d554mdjuurip9h65.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />In a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/13/arts/design/richard-meier-sexual-harassment-allegations.html" rel="nofollow" >story published by<em> the New York Times</em> this morning</a>, five women—four of whom worked with Meier and another who encountered him through the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/15822/getty-center" rel="nofollow" >Getty</a>—have gone on record with their stories of sexual harassment and assault at the hands of <a href="http://richard%20meier%20in%20the%20study%20of%20his%20summer%20home,%20a%20farmhouse%20built%20in%201907.%20credit%20rebecca%20smeyne%20for%20the%20new%20york%20times/" rel="nofollow" >Richard Meier</a>. The behavior ranges from grabbing a woman's "underwear through her dress at a firm holiday party," to exposing himself to unwilling employees. In one instance, according to <em>the Times</em>, Meier forcefully pulled a women into bed, causing her to flea his home in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/1322/los-angeles" rel="nofollow" >Los Angeles</a>.

With these women going public, Mr. Meier has decided to take a six month leave from his firm, which is a rather short amount of time considering the severity of these accusations. He has issued the following statement: “I am deeply troubled and embarrassed by the accounts of several women who were offended by my words and actions. While our recollections Continue reading "Richard Meier, accused by 5 women of sexual harassment, to take a six-month leave of absence"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/9e/9ehsvv9enyyzksab.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" /><a href="http://archinect.com/features/tag/7347/in-focus" ><em>In Focus</em></a> is Archinect's recurring series dedicated to profiling the photographers who help make the work of architects look that much better. What has attracted them to architecture? How do they work? What type of equipment do they use? What do they think about seeing their work in blogs?

For this installment, we interviewed Imagen Subliminal, a New York and Madrid-based practice run by Miguel de Guzman and Rocío Romero.

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/n0/n06xhaqb3i93un7k.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />After 14 years as the <em>Los Angeles Times' </em>resident architecture critic, <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/4359/christopher-hawthorne" rel="nofollow" >Christopher Hawthorne</a> is moving on to become chief design officer for the city of Los Angeles. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-hawthorne-notebook-20180312-story.html" rel="nofollow" >Announced this morning</a>, Hawthorne explained that "beginning next month, [he'll] be working in the mayor's office to raise the quality of public architecture and urban design across the city—and the level of civic conversation about those subjects." His position will be housed in the city's Office of Economic Development.

Created by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the position has been something he has openly proposed over the years as he's discussed the future of the city. In a story for the New York Times last year, Garcetti described the role as "a guru who can marshal the forces of the city and look at every bus stop, curb, utility box, every facade, every subway portal.” Beyond bus stops and Continue reading "Christopher Hawthorne leaves LA Times to become Chief Design Officer for the City of Los Angeles"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/y0/y0h8a3luve2zjkhi.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />Jennifer Newsom and Tom Carruthers of <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/150053205/dream-the-combine" >Dream the Combine</a> were recently announced as winners of <a href="https://archinect.com/news/bustler/6352/minneapolis-based-practice-dream-the-combine-selected-for-moma-ps1-s-2018-young-architects-program" >MoMA PS1's 2018 Young Architects Program</a>. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the two run an experimental design practice focused mainly on public art installations that revitalize neglected spaces like an unused railroad track (<em>The World is Rated X</em>), a subway platform (<em>Space Destroyer</em>), or an abandoned fragment of Minneapolis' Skyway System (<em>Longing</em>). 

For this week's Small Studio Snapshot, we talk with Newsom and Carruthers about their practice, their winning proposal Hide & Seek, their use of reflective materials, and the thriving art scene of Minneapolis.

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/ip/ip5qdgm2gkc6yzrs.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />Designed by <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/3110/michael-graves-architecture-design" rel="nofollow" >Michael Graves</a>, the pioneering <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/387078/portland-building" rel="nofollow" >Portland Building</a> is at once considered to be a postmodern icon as well as the <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2018/01/the_ugliest_building_in_oregon.html" rel="nofollow" >"ugliest building in Oregon"</a>.  A rectangular block of four, heavily ornamented, salmon and turquoise facades, the building can easily be likened to a small, fancy French cake. But, beyond the merits of its aesthetics, the 15-story office tower has also been criticized for its structural mishaps that include seismic deficiencies and water intrusions issues.

Concern over these flaws, as well as a healthy dose of po-mo hate, have led to long held discussions regarding its potential destruction. In 2015, the conversation was finally brought to head when the city decided to move forward with a major, $195 million reconstruction of the building.

The rebuild, which was approved by the Landmarks Commission due to the building's historical significance, will mean updates to the Continue reading "The iconic Portland Building’s postmodern, multicolored facade is dismantled"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/it/itn07q4kic78ynoy.gif" border="0" /><p>In fighting a long, uphill battle for a more inclusive profession, one way that women in architecture are making their well-deserved presence known is through the beautiful, inspiring buildings they create for cities around the world. In celebrating <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/149897681/why-international-women-s-day-matters-for-architects" >International Women's Day</a>, Archinect rounded up a selection of stunning projects built within the last year and designed by woman-led architecture firms.</p>         

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/pi/pidaaz35pg1dmcg6.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />Despite their recent work creating <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/150031305/new-photos-of-the-floating-carbon-fiber-roof-foster-partners-designed-for-apple" rel="nofollow" >carbon-fibre roofs of impressive thinness</a>, the UK-based <a href="https://archinect.com/fosterandpartners" rel="nofollow" >Foster + Partners</a> appears to be less adept when it comes to those made of glass. Releasing their <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/714712/gender-gap" rel="nofollow" >gender pay gap</a> data, the firm revealed yesterday that they have been, not so shockingly, paying women 10.5% less per hour than men—a figure that sits slightly above the country's national average of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/26/uk-gender-pay-gap-narrows-to-lowest-for-20-years-but-is-still-91" rel="nofollow" >9.1%</a>. 

In 2017, in an effort to help close the wage gap, the UK began requiring all companies with 250 or more employees to submit gender pay gap data to the government. As the UK's largest architecture practice with 1,450 employees globally., Foster + Partners was one of the many companies obligated to submit their figures, which they have also made public.  According to the firm's analysis, the pay gap is less the result of men and women not being paid Continue reading "Foster + Partners, releasing gender pay gap in staff salaries, commits to taking action"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/kk/kkegu4w2uxt48r48.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />On the 61st anniversary of Ghana's national independence from Great Britian, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo celebrated by revealing plans for the new National Cathedral of Ghana. “The Cathedral will address the missing link in our nation’s architecture by providing a Church of national purpose" the President proudly proclaimed. 

He went on to describe an inter-denominational house of worship and prayer that will "serve as the venue for formal state occasions of a religious nature, such as presidential inaugurations, state funerals and national thanksgiving services."

Designed by Sir David Adjaye, who was born in Tanzania to Ghanian parents, the national worship center will be a celebration of religion, culture, and local traditions. Situated within 14 acres of landscaped gardens near the Osu Cemetary in Accra, it will house a series of chapels, a baptistery, a 5,000-capacity auditorium, a grand central hall, a music school, a choir Continue reading "Adjaye Associates unveils design for new Ghana National Cathedral in Accra"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/xl/xlap1vsh8sob1x8g.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The annual competition run by <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/13791/moma-ps1" >MoMA PS1</a> that awards an <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/162/young-architects" >emerging architecture firm</a> the opportunity to design a site-specific installation in the courtyard of the Long Island City art institution has selected the Minneapolis-based practice, Dream the Combine. The 2018 <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/564398/yap" >Young Architects Program</a> winners have collaborated with Clayton Binkley of ARUP for their victorious proposal, <em>Hide & Seek, </em>beating out five other finalists for the honor. </p>           

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/gn/gn06m7mvh87pyfi5.gif" border="0" />The 2018 <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/51168/pritzker-prize" rel="nofollow" >Pritzker Prize</a> will be announced tomorrow, on Wednesday, March 7th at 10 AM EST. Speculation surrounding who will take architecture's top honor this year has been going on for some time, with <a href="https://archinect.com/forum/thread/150043161/pritzker-2018" rel="nofollow" >discussions</a> quite active in our <a href="https://archinect.com/forum" rel="nofollow" >forum</a> and elsewhere. After <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/149994613/rafael-aranda-carme-pigem-ramon-vilalta-named-2017-pritzker-prize-winners" rel="nofollow" >last year's stunner</a>, in which three architects (a first!) from a relatively unknown practice took the prize, we are all left wondering what direction the 2018 jury will go in. Will they continue to move away from the starchitects (usually white and male) once favored by the prize, as they have in recent years? Will they continue to place a premium on those whose work addresses pressing social issues such as housing or the environment? And, will they once again praise collaboration by awarding multiple architects, or will it return, as is usually the case, to a solo prize?

Either way, while we wait for the results, Continue reading "Archinect’s Front Runners for the 2018 Pritzker Prize"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/ep/epfhsr6uu9z9t8fo.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />After winning 67% of the vote by the AA School Community (comprised by students, academic and admin staff, and members of Council), Eva Franch i Gilabert has been selected to be the new Director of the <a href="https://archinect.com/schools/cover/298/architectural-association-school-of-architecture-aa" rel="nofollow" >Architectural Association</a> in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/722/london" rel="nofollow" >London</a>. Final contractual negotiations still need to be made and a formal announcement of the appointment will come later this month.

Franch, who beat out two other short-listed candidates for the title, comes from the Storefront for Art & Architecture in New York, where she served as Chief Curator and Executive Director. She has taught at Columbia University GSAPP, the IUAV University of Venice, SUNY Buffalo, and Rice University School of Architecture. She has been running her own solo practice, Office of Architectural Affairs, since 2004 and has represented the U.S. at the Venice Architecture Biennale.  The AA has been without permanent leadership since the departure of their Continue reading "Eva Franch i Gilabert has been announced as the new Director of the Architectural Association"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/g8/g84ayheq2sozo97q.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" /><p><a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/150052974/tierney-conner-design" >Tierney Conner</a>, based in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/120959/oakland" >Oakland, CA</a>, is a full-service firm integrating the fields of architecture, landscape and interiors. The two co-founders, Anne Tierney and Erin Conner, decided to create their own practice after the two each became mothers. For this weeks <a href="https://archinect.com/features/tag/845829/small-studio-snapshots" >Small Studio Snapshot</a>, we talk with the team about their journey. </p>         

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/r8/r89hfqi529bbvay5.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/713395/women-in-architecture-awards" >Women in Architecture awards</a>, jointly presented by the <a href="https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/" ><em>Architects' Journal</em></a> and <a href="https://www.architectural-review.com/" ><em>The Architectural Review</em></a>, have revealed their winners for 2018. Announced on the dawn of Women's History Month, the top prizes have been given to Sandra Barclay, for 'Architect of the Year', and Gloria Cabral, as the winner of the 'Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture'.</p>          

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/eq/eqas3uggzj04pjbu.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />152 AIA members and two international architects have been inducted into the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/546776/american-institute-of-architects" rel="nofollow" >American Institute of Architec</a>t's College of Fellows for this year. The College of Fellows is the highest rank within the AIA and is only awarded to those with 10 or more years of membership. Beyond, the honor is given to architects who have made significant contributions to architecture and society on a national level and have demonstrated great influence. Members are assessed by the following: 

• Promoted the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession;
• Advanced the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education, training or practice;
• Coordinated the building industry and the profession of architecture through leadership in the AIA or other related professional organizations; or
• Advanced the living standards of people through an improved environment.

Fellows are chosen by the AIA's Jury of Fellows, which, this year, includes  Karen Nichols, F...

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/oe/oer331h7qzgd5uwp.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" /><em>Property firm GVA said it was open to offers after being asked to find a buyer for the transformed Sussex coastal landmark.

The charity behind dRMM’s much-loved refurbishment of the pier went into administration last year. Now the administrators have appointed GVA to sell the asset.

The charity responsible for restoring and running Hastings Pier—the once derelict landmark whose £14.2 million rebuild won this year's RIBA Stirling Prize—has been forced to put the property up for sell after experiencing some financial difficulties. According to the Architects' Journal, last year, the charity failed to agree a new three-year business plan with the Heritage Lottery Fund, Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council in order to become self-funding. Due to the charity's insolvency, administrators Smith & Williamson were appointed back in November in hopes of ensuring the pier's future. They have now put the property firm GVA in charge of selling Continue reading "dRMM’s Stirling Prize-winning, revamped Hastings Pier is already for sale"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/h2/h2r1ph83x7mxm306.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" />Since opening its doors in 1994, Thomas Keller's restaurant, <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/890699/the-french-laundry" rel="nofollow" >The French Laundry</a>, has been considered one of the best fine dining destinations in the world. It has three Michelin stars to its name, has been called "the best restaurant in the world, period" by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, and consistently tops Restaurant magazine's annual list of the world's best restaurants.

So, when the celebrated culinary chef decided four years ago to remodel his wine cellar, he turned to one of the architecture world's most distinguished firms to do so—the award-winning, internationally renowned Snøhetta. Their partnership, strengthened by a shared penchant for minimalist design, eventually grew into an extensive remodel involving a new kitchen design and courtyard renovation that is now nearing completion. 

Redone to the tune of 10 million dollars, the project has involved a revamp of their 3,000-square-foot kitchen; the addition of a 2,500-square-foot annex Continue reading "The French Laundry gets a $10 million Michelin-starred revamp from Snøhetta"

            <img src="https://archinect.imgix.net/uploads/1a/1astuymcwthvpofz.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&w=1200" border="0" /><a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/382/oma" rel="nofollow" >OMA</a>/Rem Koolhaas have released plans for their redesign of <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/59324/moscow" rel="nofollow" >Moscow</a>'s New Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val. As one of Russia's largest museums, the space hosts 20th century Russian and Soviet art including works by Malevich, Kandinsky, Chagall, and Soviet artists such as Aleksandr Deyneka and Vera Mukhina.

Since 1985, the gallery has sat in a large modern building designed by N.P. Sukoyan and Y.N. Sheverdyaev that consists of multiple exhibition halls for a total floor area of 61.091m². OMA's redesign will create four distinct sections of the museum—a space for art storage, an Education Center, room to house the collection, and a Festival Hall. The renovation will also focus on creating a new entrance along the Moscow river and carefully placed cutouts in the façade will open up the interior spaces to the city.