Vanity Fair - Modern Marvels #9

Number 9 on Vanity Fair's Modern Marvels list is probably the first architectural marvel I ever visited. The thing is... I can't remember the first time. In fact, I've seen it so many times I have trouble distinguishing any particular memories.

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I'm from the east coast and have a history buff for a father, so I've made quite a few visits to DC, all of which included stops to the Vietnam Memorial.

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One of the most striking aspects of the design is that it doesn't look anything like memorials as we know then. This one requires your engagement. You can't just take a look at a statue and move on... you actually have to walk through and along and experience the wall.

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I with more memorials engaged the public like this one, instead of simply pandering to our cliched ideas of memorials and patriotism.

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And what makes it even cooler... Maya Lin completed this competition entry while still in school, beating out (among others) her teacher who gave her a 'B' on the design!

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Architecture's Modern Marvels - #5

Number five on Vanity Fair's Modern Marvel's list is actually #3 on my list of visited marvels. And even better, it is located in my current hometown, which means I can go back as often as I'd like.

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The Seattle Public Library's downtown branch is a spectacular building by Rem Koolhaas. But, just because I think it is spectacular, doesn't mean I love everything about it.

I'm not the biggest Rem fan. Having studied abroad in the Netherlands and received my degree from Illinois Tech, I've probably come in contact with more OMA buildings than the average american architect. And like most architects of his caliber, Rem has a few things that he does over and over to varying degrees of success.

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My biggest problem with OMA's projects is their longevity. In my humble opinion, Rem tends to select materials that will shock you, without caring about what will happen years down the road. He is trying to illicit a reaction from you, and he is generally successful. But buildings are still meant to be used and occupied, once we've had an initial reaction to his interiors, they seem to lose their inventiveness. And even worse, they lose their usefulness, as wear and tear seems to affect his projects more harshly than others. You could argue (and I've heard this from people on his staff) that when the project runs over budget, value engineering is done at the end, usually affecting the interiors. So really, it isn't Rem's fault that the materials are falling apart. I would personally completely disagree. Imagine if I told my clients that it wasn't my fault that I picked an unsuitable material that needed to be replaced in only a few years. Part of my responsibility as an architect is to think holistically about the building beyond the ribbon cutting ceremony.

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My other beef with OMA is that all of their buildings tend to take form by way of an extruded diagram. Sometimes this is very successful, and other times it is a useless concept (IIT's student center comes to mind). The library is one example of forcing a concept - the extruded circular path which determines most of the plan, sections, and overall form is incredibly difficult to use and frustrating for library patrons. This in not a library one visits to borrow books. You can go and use the computers, hang out in the lounge, walk around... but the actual process of finding and borrowing books is immensely frustrating. As a community center and gathering space, the library is very successful, but as an actual library - not so much.

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But, even with these complaints... I think the library is a fantastic structure. It hasn't quite had a "Bilbao Effect" on the city of Seattle, but it still brings visitors. And it has brought a kind of innovation and modernity not generally found in the staid architectural community of the Pacific NW. That is my favorite thing... it helps the region think beyond the timber construction with exposed steel brackets that is so often regurgitated. There are so many things we can do today structurally, and this structure is really a fantastic example... in fact, the best part about walking around looking for a book is that you get to look at the structure from all different angles as well. It really is a special place. And if we think of a library as a place to gain knowledge, then the Seattle Public Library is definitely doing its job. You're just not going to find that knowledge in a book.

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The Green Blue Book

I've been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to review a few books lately... the latest being the Green Blue Book by Thomas M. Kostigen.

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As someone who is interested in all things green... I think this is a great little book! So often, we think about the easy way to save materials (and in this case water), but we don't worry about the embodied energy of those same materials. I mean, bamboo flooring may be certified green, but it is still shipped over from overseas, which isn't exactly sustainable. The same kind of thinking can be applied to water conservation and this book really shows you how.

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The Green Blue Book illustrates exactly how many gallons of water go into your daily foods, materials, resources, and more. Want to know how many gallons it takes to produce your tennis shoes? or your spinach salad? It's all in the book... Which by the way was definitely written by a man. In the clothing section it suggests women can save water by wearing thongs instead of briefs, but doesn't suggest the same for men!

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The book is a quick and easy read, and a great resource for future purchases. If you're interested check it out...

The Green Blue Book: The Simple Water-Savings Guide to Everything in Your Life

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And, in celebration of World Water Day... today I'm giving out one copy of the book (sent straight from the publisher) to the reader with the best idea for saving water. Put your idea in the comments (with an email address), and if I think your's is the best I will email you for your shipping info.

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Can't wait to hear your good ideas!

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For the Architect or Designer in your Life

A few easy gift ideas for the creative person in your life...

Think Outside the Box
How to Start and Operate Your Own Design Firm

Senz Umbrella

Objectified

Nava Ark A4 Bag

How To Be a Happy Architect

Evolution of Architects

Design Revolution: 100 Products That Empower People

Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism

randL Canvas Business Cardcase

amy tavern earrings

Una Arm Warmers

Meier Smith House t-shirt

Give Green Reads

As someone who is very interested in sustainability, green technology, and the like... I generally find if difficult to find good books to read. Usually, the books seem overly simplistic (compost is good!) or overly scientific. Its hard to find a well-written and informative book for general, but well-educated reader. Luckily, I've recently had the opportunity to read two such books!

Our choice is the follow up to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Where An Inconvenient Truth was quite the doomsday presentation, Our Choice presents us with clear options for moving forward. Its not just telling us everything that we've done to screw up the Earth, but its explaining how we can fix what we've done... using both large and small scale solutions. The book is an easy read, while still explaining in detail the science behind the global warming crisis. And unlike An Inconvenient Truth, its got fantastic full color photos and diagrams to help illustrate the text. And personally, I really enjoy the immediacy of the book. Gore tells stories about current events - liking the birthers to climate change deniers - which helps root the book in the now. So, if you or anyone you know is looking for an informative book on climate change, with an upbeat personality... check out

Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis

The Whole Green Catalog is a much more interesting book than the cover would suggest... Really makes that whole, don't judge a book by its cover thing ring true. The book lists 1000 action items that individuals can undertake to improve our quality of life. The book is broken down into simple sections - homebuilding, energy, clothing, furniture, etc. Within each section are various technologies and suggestions pertaining to sustainability and a high quality of life. Products range in scale from solar powered calculators to equal exchange chocolate to geothermal HVAC. The beauty is that each product recommendation comes with a 2-3 paragraph explanation of the technology and image to help you understand. Again, this is a great book for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of green technology without reading through scientific literature. Its an easy and entertaining read... in fact, it was sitting on my coffee table during Thanksgiving dinner and everyone passed the book around and even took time out of watching football to read it! If that sounds good to you... check out

Whole Green Catalog: 1000 Best Things for You and the Earth

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If you need to look on the internet, you're really not worthy to hire them

I guess I'm not the only one who has always wondered about architects' websites.

Dwell on Design

Most everyone probably already knows that the Dwell on Design Conference and Expo is taking place in Los Angeles, June 5-8.

If you haven't already checked out the conference, consider going... it should be well worth it. And if you're already in the area, then you have no excuse!

Here is a link to the conference registration... Dwell has been nice enough to send us a code for a free ticket to the exhibit - BDODEC , and a discounted conference ticket code - GRP22SP .

They are also offering Atelier A+D readers a free month to Dwell's online magazine. If you don't already subscribe, check it out!

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I hope some of these links will be helpful! I sure wish that I could attend the DOD... maybe next year!

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Is LEED Green Enough?

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I'm not yet LEED certified... I keep meaning to take the test, but after finishing the AREs, I'm frankly not all that interested in studying. Besides my lack of motivation for studying in general, I'm just not very motivated to take the exam because I'm not completely convinced of its merits. I consider myself a fairly green person, and try to design green whenever my job allows it (which I must admit is not as often as I'd like), so I've never really understood how LEED would or could help me in my work. I could obviously be even more green in my life and work and perhaps studying for the exam would introduce me to technologies and practices with which I'm not currently familiar. But mostly, I feel like its a lot of added paperwork for a job that's already heavy on the paperwork just to prove that I'm getting the result that we should all be aiming for anyway!

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Last month, there was an article in slate about these very ideas (and even more about the value of the points system) that more clearly expresses my hesitation for bothering with LEED. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the points, effort, and results tied to the LEED process.

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Rendering of the Antilia
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A Return To Techne

I'm very excited because my first contribution to a magazine was just published. The nearly brand new magazine, Art Signal is mainly online (their print edition isn't quite out yet) and is published in both Spanish and English. The article I wrote is about Cecil Balmond and can be read here, or here in pdf form (with photos).

Is Architecture Becoming Mainstream?

Lately, it seems like there has been definite increase in architectural awareness of the general public. Magazines like Dwell have been becoming more and more popular with every year. Brad Pitt espouses the virtues of architecture in between making movies and collecting children. Companies such as Banana Republic and Special K (see their current commercial on tv) have been using architects in some of their more recent ads...

Americans have always been impressed by architects; impressed, but completely disinterested in Architecture. Is is possible that this is changing? It sure seems like I've been seeing an increase in exposure of architects and architecture in mainstream media, both ads and magazines.

Home fix-it and 'design' shows have been extremely popular over the last few years (or decade). Unfortunately these shows like Trading Spaces seem to have devalued architecture for the average American. Everyone seems to think that they can do it just as well as the next guy, so why would we need architects? I think the real problem is a lack of education... As a culture, we don't tend to value good design and architecture as much as we can and should and we certainly don't make any effort to educate the public about the importance of good design. We take ceramics, drawing, and music classes in school. Why not study architecture/urban planning/design, too? After all, its the art form that we most often experience and arguably the one that effects our lives most often and most significantly.

Seeing architectural references in mainstream magazines (and other media) excites me. The reference can be serious (the fashion editorial in Men's Vogue featuring prominent architects in the Glass House), tongue in cheek (see Gehry on the Simpsons), or casual (a short reference to the Herzog and deMeuron Olympic Stadium in Vanity Fair), but at least we are seeing some sort of attention paid to architecture. I've also seen recent articles on Frank Gehry in Martha Stewart and various architectural features in GQ's design section... I'd like to think that this increase in exposure is linked to an increase in awareness. Maybe that's a little hopeful, but the more knowledgeable the public is on the importance of good design, the easier our jobs will be (and the more productive).

Here's hoping that we continue to see an interest in architecture!

Tom Kundig on MSN

I stumbled on this interview with Tom Kundig on msn of all places... Something of a local architectural hero, Tom gives an interesting albeit brief interview that is worth a read, especially if you are into pacific northwest architecture.

Dear Architects

Apparently, this letter has been traveling through the internet for over a year, but I just received it as an email from a friend (thanks BK!) today and it cracked me up! According to this thread in Part IV, it was written over a year ago and published in Pidgin... Anyone who knows an architect or architecture student should get a kick out of this letter... its sadly and hilariously accurate!

Once, a long time ago in the days of yore, I had a friend who was studying architecture to become, presumably an architect. This friend introduced me to other friends, who were also studying architecture. Then these friends had other friends who were architects - real architects doing real architecture like designing luxury condos that look a lot like glass dildos that I will never work or live in and serve only to obstruct my view of New Jersey.

Do not get me wrong, architects. I like you as a person. I think you are nice, smell good most of the time, and I like your glasses. You have crazy hair, and if you are lucky, most of it is on your head. Bud I do not care about architecture. It is true. This is what I do care about:

• burritos
• hedgehogs
• coffee

As you can see, architecture is not on the list. I believe that architecture falls somewhere between toenail fungus and invasive colonoscopy in the list of things that interest me.

Perhaps if you didn't talk about it so much, I would be more interest. When you point to a glass cylinder and say proudly, hey my office designed that, I giggle and say it looks like a bong. You turn your head in disgust and shame. You think, obviously she does not understand. What does she know? She is just a writer. She is no architect. She respects vowels, not glass cocks. And then you say now I am designing a lifestyle center, and I ask what is that, and you say its a place that offers goods and services and retail opportunities and I say you mean like a mall and you say no. Its a lifestyle center. I say it sounds like a mall. I am from the Valley, bitch. I know malls.

Architects, I will not like, you confuse me. You work sixty, eighty hours a week and yet you are always poor. Why aren't you buying me a drink? Where is your bounty of riches? Maybe you spent it on merlot. Maybe you spent it on hookers and blow. I cannot be sure. It is a mystery. I will leave that to the scientists to figure out.

Architects love to discuss how much sleep they have gotten. One will say how he was at the studio until five in the morning, only to return again two hours later. Then another will say, oh that is nothing, I haven't slept in a week. And then another will say, guess what, I have never slept ever. My dear architects, the measure of how hard you've worked and how much you've accomplished is not related to the number of hours you have not slept. Have you heard of Rem Koolhaas? He is a famous architect. I know this because you tell me he is a famous architect. I hear that Rem Koolhaas is always sleeping. He is, I presume sleeping right now. And I hear he gets shit done. And I also hear that in a stunning move, he is making a building that looks not like a glass cock, but like a concrete vagina. When you sleep more, you get vagina. You can all take a lesson from Rem Koolhaas.

Life is hard for me, please understand. Architects are an important part of my existence. They call me at eleven at night and say they just got off work, am I hungry? I ate hours ago. So long ago that, in fact, I am hungry again. So yes, I will go. Then I will go and there will be other architects talking about AutoCAD shortcuts and something about electric panels and can you believe that is all I did today, what a drag. I look around the table at the poor, tired, and hungry, and think to myself, I have but only one bullet left in the gun. Who will I choose?

I have a friend who is a doctor. He gives me drugs. I enjoy them. I have a friend who is a lawyer. He helped me sue mu landlord. My architect friends have given me nothing. No drugs, no medical advice, and they don't know how to spell subpoena. One architect friend figured out that my apartment was one hundred and eighty seven square feet. That was nice. Thanks for that.

I suppose one could ask what someone like me brings to architects like yourselves. I bring cheer. I yell at architects when they start talking about architecture. I force them to discuss far more interesting topics, like turkey and eggs. Why do we eat chicken eggs, but not turkey eggs? They are bigger. And people really like turkey. See? I am not afraid to ask the tough questions.

So, dear architect, I will stick around, for only a little while. I hope that one day some of you will become doctors and lawyers or will figure out my taxes. And we will laugh at the days when you spent the entire eventing talking about some European you've never met who designed a building you will never see because you are too busy working on something that will never get built. But even if that day doesn't arrive, give me a call anyway. I am free.

Your truly, Annie.

Looking for Something Good to Read

Now that we are settled into our new house and I'm done with my exams, I've finally got time to catch up with my reading. I recently stumbled on The Sequipedalist, which is a fantastic blog offering insightful reviews on a wide variety of architectural publications. Its a great site that not only provides intriguing commentary, but also gives basic information regarding cost and length of the books. I've already added several to my reading list based on these reviews!