Comments on: St Edward’s University New Residence and Dining Hall / Alejandro Aravena

By: Hui Chen

Hui Chen — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:22:58 +0000

the texture is beautiful!

By: ryanhoelting

ryanhoelting — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:41:02 +0000

dig this new residence hall in st eds atx. http://tinyurl.com/242px9m

By: Yearbook Survey 2009 #2Last year's best according to Polis | Y Magazine

Yearbook Survey 2009 #2Last year's best according to Polis | Y Magazine — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:43:20 +0000

[...] 5. St. Edward’s University Dormitories, Austin TX, Alejandro Aravena [...]

By: veronica

veronica — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:36:56 +0000

very good! I’ll publish it on an italian magazine!

By: Juan

Juan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:58:27 +0000

I bet you were trained on a low profile school in the States…. it shows.

Great architecture by Aravena. Foreigners are improving the quality of living environments in the US

By: SKYY VODKA BLOG » Blog Archive » Residencia Universitaria / Alejandro Aravena

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:24:02 +0000

[...] Vía ArchDaily [...]

By: Roman

Roman — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:10:01 +0000

I can’t wait to skatboard there.

By: StructureHub Blog

StructureHub Blog — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:54:42 +0000

I would write more, but Andrew Russin AIA says it all!

By: St. Edward’s University Residence and Ding Hall by Alejandro Aravena @ Dailytonic

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:29:30 +0000

[...] continue @ ArchDaily [...]

By: Lachie

Lachie — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:05:28 +0000

in desperate need of landscaping, would slight improve the contrast between blocks

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:26:33 +0000

The climate of Austin, while more pleasant than other parts of Texas, can be unbearable at times. The building’s lack of regard for any sort of coherent or humane landscape treatment is disappointing.

By: Lumiges

Lumiges — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:09:51 +0000

I like the exterior. Building itself has interesting, string appearance. The form, angles is also involving. Fine texture and cuts around window openings bring some finesse to the project.

By: Andrew Russin AIA

Andrew Russin AIA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:42:22 +0000

I agree with Daidaloos in that it is refreshing to hear an architects honest reference to relevant precedents (Monasteries, Aalto, and Kahn). Unfortunately the building feels (I have not visited) more like a monastery: inwardly focused, closed, and defensive , rather than a 21st century university residence hall which needs to be inviting, friendly and open, as well as serve a comfortable student refuge. I feel sorry for the lonely freshmen leaning on the solid walls.

I wish there were more Aalto- Baker House and less Kahn monastery here . This Academic Residential building follows a long and sad (for the students) tradition of an architectural statement undermining the basic needs of the resident.

Too bad this obviously talented architect could not achieve both a statement and a great place like Aalto did with the MIT Baker House.

By: Jose Tomas R

Jose Tomas R — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:34:18 +0000

I’ve been there twice…
The proportions and materials are great. The relation between colour – texture and interior – exterior are great for texan weather. A good answer for a complex question. Congrats.

By: James Lucas H⁺

James Lucas H⁺ — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:19:56 +0000

It kills me when an architect can create such a great solid/void relationship and still fumble on the formal resolution: http://tr.im/wcMU

By: mw

mw — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:18:13 +0000

You guys should be math teachers, it might help people to escape from prison. Sad exteriors + good interiors = -1+3, i guess that’s good for that kind of weather?

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:21:46 +0000

@ sonic
People building = showing the scale of the building

I rather see the architecture in use than a clean room with some expensive design furniture.
It shows how things come out, maybe differently than how the architect thought it would be.
In that way, you can learn a lot more.

I think this is a building that can resist aging.

By: john

john — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:53:35 +0000

people are leaning because of the textural qualities the wall provides, it feels great

By: Sonic

Sonic — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:47:47 +0000

why are there people leaning at every second wall?
and wouldn’t you clean up you 12 sqm when you know that some photographers are coming around?

p.s. design? very nice!

By: Daidaloos

Daidaloos — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:41:47 +0000

I really enjoy the way he talks about the project, not being afraid to acknowledge precedence, not being afraid to point out and stand against the aestheticisation/ idealising of architecture, be it in the form of objects or academic theories of space. This is a guy who talks in an erudite but straightforward way akeen to the way he builds. It may not be the most radical rethinking of this typology, but it is a building that seems to function in its context presenting a strong, (dare say classic?) identity and character. This i found to be refreshing stuff especially for all of us who are in the western (developed?) world!