I’m still fuming over the fact that Western architects are (so far) getting a free pass as they fellate dictators (I don’t know any female ones commissioning major Western architects) for money and ego projects that will put forth their vision of a prettified (but not more humane) 21st C.
Now, I see that the Chinese [...]
Entries Tagged as 'architecture'
Herzog & de Meuron Becomes Wing of Chinese Propaganda Ministry
July 8th, 2008 · 2 Comments
Tags: American · New York · architecture · design · human rights · pop culture
UNESCO World Heritage Committee Meets in Quebec
July 7th, 2008 · 1 Comment
It’s that time again boys and girls and UNESCO is convening in the historic French-Canadian capital of Quebec City for this year’s UNESCO World Heritage meeting (July 2 -10).
Quebec City is a perfect locale considering it is the 400th anniversary of the arrival of French settlers and it is already on UNESCO’s list of historic [...]
Tags: architecture · art
Frank Gehry’s Edgemar Development (1984)
June 27th, 2008 · No Comments
This is the second time I experienced this early Frank Gehry development in Santa Monica and I was struck by how institutional and cold it looked and felt. For a neighborhood known for its friendly and relaxed architecture, Gehry really made an effort to create an impersonal-seeming shopping/cultural complex.
The most bizarre detail was the chain-like [...]
Tags: American · architecture · art criticism · design · photography · pop culture
Architects With a Conscience: Liebeskind & Williams Speak Out
June 24th, 2008 · 4 Comments
In the early 20th C. there was a sustained debate about the role of architecture as a medium for social change. Czech modernists devoted themselves to building public housing that is still considered today as beautiful landmarks. These modernists dismissed architects like Mies van der Rohe for his lust for luxurious materials (marble, alabaster, etc.) [...]
Tags: architecture · human rights
