September 22, 2009

September 17, 2009

LentSpace - The New York Times > Arts > Slide Show > Slide 1 of 9

Liège-Guillemins train station: a ticket to tomorrow

The renovated railway station at Liege-Guillemins in Belgium

The 21st century is being defined by huge infrastructure investments across the cities of the world - major and more visble/usable being the trasportation networks and transit hubs. These Transit Cities are defining new urban paradigms and are fast becoming mixed-use mega structures that combine speed, densities and uses hitherto embodied only in airport architecture. With air travel becoming more expensive for short distances and less favored for its fuel-dependency; automobile-centric lifestyles changing in light of increasing oil prices and global warming concerns, more sustainable public transportation such as railway and commuter trains are going to change the we live, connect and commute in the 21st century cities.

September 11, 2009

Architecture Review - Atlantic Yards

New Design for Atlantic Yards Project Restores a Bit of the Old - NYTimes.com

I am not greatly impressed with the flip-flopping design proposals for the Atlantic Yards site. However, I am also equally unimpressed by NY Times' lopsided critiques. Is NYT into marketing architects or good architecture and urban design? Mr. Ouroussoff sounds concerned and terrified (or Gehryfied?!) while reviewing the revised plans for the project by SHoP Architects....

It is tragic when architectural critics sing praises of architects rather than focusing on issues concerning architecture and urban design... There are many unanswered questions about the proposals for this site including absence of a plan - infrastructure planning and who is paying for it along with other costs that the taxpayers are presumed to bear..... In these times of Less rather than more, a critique of Excess is more we look forward to when evaluating large-scale architectural projects, not just iconic branding. Good is difficult to define however, accepted norms for what is considered to be a "high standard" remains indubitably questionable. NYT readers would be better served if Mr Ouroussoff  focused more on the larger issues facing the profession of architecture and its responsibility towards shared goals; and writing a critique on architecture of the "sameness" that defines much of contemporary architecture including the work of Gehry's office rather than vilify other architects.

Competing for a Cause - Allison Arieff

September 2, 2009

Copenhagen Design Week | INDEX Awards



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