Tag: architecture-criticism | ArchDaily

Architecture Doesn’t Need Rebuilding, It Needs More Thoughtful Critics

Matthew Johnson — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 04:00:00 +0000

In the last few weeks, a number of reactionary architectural commentators have come out of the woodwork to denounce what they see as the currently negative direction of contemporary architecture. They claim that architecture needs to be “rebuilt” or that it is “imploding.” From their indications, architecture is on life-support, taking its last breath. The critique they offer is that contemporary architecture has become (or always was?) insensitive to users, to site conditions, to history—hardly a novel view. Every few years, this kind of frontal assault on the value of contemporary architecture is launched, but the criticisms this time seem especially shallow and misplaced. Surveying the contemporary global architecture scene, I actually feel that we’re in a surprisingly healthy place, if you look beyond the obvious showpieces. We’ve escaped from the overt dogmas of the past, we’ve renewed our focus on issues of the environment and social agency, we’re more concerned than ever with tectonics and how to build with quality. But the perennial critics of contemporary architecture appear not to have examined that deeply, nor that thoughtfully either. And unfortunately the various rebuttals to their critiques, ostensibly in support of modern and experimental architecture, have been ham-handed and poorly argued.

City of Los Angeles Appoints Inaugural Chief Design Officer

Evan Pavka — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Recently, long-standing architecture critic for the LA Times Christopher Hawthorne announced that he was stepping down to take up the position of chief design officer for the City of Los Angeles in Mayor Eric Garcetti’s administration. According to Hawthorne, the role will involve raising “the quality of public architecture and urban design across the city — and the level of civic conversation about those subjects.” This dramatic shift from the question: what is the role of the critic and architecture criticism in shaping civic architecture?

Viral Voices IV / STORYTELLING: On Media, Representation, and Narrative

Rene Submissions (Partners) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 05:30:00 +0000

How are contemporary architectural narratives created? And what are the various tools / media used to ‘tell the story’?

How is the said story tailored to a varying audience?

What story do journalists/editors/filmmakers like to tell about the architect? And the architecture? How does that profile shape our work, reach and influence?

What is architectural journalism for architects? What is it for the general public?

Are we in a crisis of architectural representation? What is the future of the publication and representation of architecture across various platforms?

Patrik Schumacher Actually Makes a Good Point

Rory Stott — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 10:30:58 +0000

Last week Patrik Schumacher, director at Zaha Hadid Architects and the practice's frontman in the field of architectural theory, took once again to Facebook to disseminate his ideas - this time arguing that "the denunciation of architectural icons and stars is superficial and ignorant." In the post, Schumacher lamented the default position of the architectural media which he believes sees success and reputation as "a red cloth and occasion to knock down icons," going on to outline his beliefs on why stars and icons are useful and even inevitable mechanisms of architectural culture.

AR Issues: Who Needs Architecture Critics?

Catherine Slessor — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

ArchDaily is continuing our partnership with The Architectural Review, bringing you short introductions to the themes of the magazine's monthly editions. In this post, we take you back to AR's June 2014 issue, which examines the state of architectural criticism in our age of online media and ever-present PR. Here, AR Editor Catherine Slessor argues that "more than ever, architecture is in need of provocative, engaging and entertaining critics."

Martin Filler Admits Mistake in his Critique on Zaha Hadid

Katie Watkins — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Last week Zaha Hadid filed a libel lawsuit against critic Martin Filler, after Filler’s review of Rowan Moore’s book “Why We Build: Power and Desire in Architecture" for the New York Review of Books included a scathing section on Hadid. In the article Filler said she had shown “no concern” for the death of construction workers in Qatar, where she designed a stadium for the 2022 World Cup. Now, Filler has admitted to a significant error in the article he wrote, The New York Times has reported. In an amendment to his article Filler acknowledges that the quotes he used from Hadid were taken out of context and had “nothing to do” with the Qatar stadium she designed. Read Filler’s full statement in the New York Times article, here.

A Case for the Democratization of Architectural Media

Rory Stott — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

In October Phineas Harper, assistant editor of The Architectural Review, published an article about the state of architectural publishing, in which he addressed the crisis facing traditional architectural publishers and heavily criticized online platforms, particularly ArchDaily, that have “little time for critique, turning instead to reworking press releases and biased descriptions from the architects.”

I Wept But About What I Cannot Say: Martin Filler's Moving Tribute to Michael Arad's 9/11 Memorial

Martin Filler — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Beginning with Charles McKim, William Mead, and Stamford White and concluding with Michael Arad, Makers of Modern Architecture, Volume II examines the people behind the work at the forefront of 20^th and early 21^st century architecture. Critic Martin Filler masterfully integrates each person’s unique biography and distinctive character into the architectural discussion. Here is his revealing profile of Michael Arad, the young architect whose design for the National September 11 Memorial at Ground Zero brought him into the national spotlight. It was originally published on Metropolis Mag's Point of View Blog.

What is Architecture in the Age of Digital Networking?

Dessen Hillman — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I get most of my knowledge about the current trends and interests of architects through social media and various websites. My Facebook newsfeed constantly shows an array of pictures, articles, and videos of things ranging from new buildings to data algorithms to bacteria evolution to (usually confusing) romantic, poetic statements about architecture.

A Tribute to Ada Louise Huxtable

Vanessa Quirk — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000

“Even though I wished for her attention, I was scared of it.”

Video: Steven Holl and Jeffrey Kipnis in Conversation

Rory Stott — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

In this fascinating conversation, critic and theorist Jeffrey Kipnis and architect Steven Holl discuss modern architecture, from competitions to cantilevers, courtesy of our friends at 32BNY.

The End of Critique: Baubles on Pedestals

Vanessa Quirk — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The following article by Oliver “Olly” Wainwright (Architecture and design critic at The Guardian) was featured on Fulcrum #67 “The End of Critique”, which also included an article by ArchDaily's co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, David Basulto.

Architects of the 21st Century: Speak Up, Speak Out

Vanessa Quirk — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

"Take Five: A Titan of Architectrual Criticism has Died, but Architects are Best Prepared to Carry on the Conversation" was originally published in AIArchitect.

Alda Louis Huxtable Takes On The New York Public Library

Vanessa Quirk — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The New York Public Library has a plan to save millions of dollars, improve efficiency, and reverse the cutbacks that have been plaguing it. How? By sending little-used resources off-site (after all, most people use the library for its online resources these days), the Library will consolidate three libraries into one Mid-Manhattan branch, renovating the building with a streamlined, efficient design - courtesy of Foster + Partners - to create "the largest combined research and circulating library in the country."

Architectural Criticism in the Age of Twitter / Paul Goldberger

Vanessa Quirk — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

There’s a saying that goes “Those who can’t do, teach.” But many could also claim: “Those who can’t do, critique.” Criticism, particularly Architecture Criticism, tends to get a bad rap for being subjective, impenetrable, and - ultimately - useless. But Paul Goldberger, a champion of the craft, would disagree.

A Short Break: The Story of Paul Goldberger

Karissa Rosenfield — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:00:59 +0000

National Building Museum and Metropolis Magazine contributor Andrew Caruso takes you “inside the design mind” of Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Paul Goldberger.