designing graphics -

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/a-less-colorful-seal-of-approval/

The NY Times has an interesting article on the new Good Housekeeping logo, which looks surprisingly retro [not a judgment, just an observation]. Read the comments too, theyre awesome [click the title of this post].

BIG: Slussen Masterplan -

Proposed Slussen [an area of central Stockholm] Master Plan, by BIG.

By moving the public program towards the most attractive place, and integrating the heavy traffic under the cover of a public square, it is possible to regain the waterfront, and at the same time connect the city parts around Slussen. The edge towards the water is terraced to provide day light to the public and commercial spaces behind.

.:quoted text via->BIGs Youtube page

pool parties -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/us/29pools.html?hp

The NY Times features a story about skaters in Cali, and the unique way theyre benefiting from the rise in home foreclosures [click the title of this post to read the article].

Ninjas on the ?Net: Happy 2009! -

Happy New Year, my people! Sure, its about 4 days late - but Ive been on a vacation from the interwebs. As for our first installment on Ninjas on the Net for the New Year, Im bringing you the first [of 2] part of a selection of some of my favorite posts from 2008 - along with a random assortment of links that Ive collected over the past two weeks [mostly while at work, bored from the holiday lull].

Hope you enjoy - and a happy start to your 09.

Jan - The ?Air Tree?

Feb - Pittsburgh RiverPark

Mar - The Eiffel Tower?s Giant Lily Pad [because it turned out to be a fake]

April - Andrew Maynard?s Suburb-Eating Robots

May - The Solar-Shade

June - GreenPix Zero Energy Media Wall

Tune-in next week for the second half of 08.

Moving along, those links from the past two weeks:

- the NY Times published an article about architects running wild and not solving any real-world problems, and Architecture for Humanity responded

- the NY Times also had German passive homes and the green-osity of roundabouts

- Time Magazine tracks the evolution of dorms

- the BBC covers new German hotels

- designboom features the creators of some pretty cool fonts

- dezeen has some interesting concept cars

-the Times Online explains that Prince Charles doesnt think green buildings need to look modern

- Wired has a proposal to save the Netherlands

- Archinect features selected predictions for 2009

- the evolution of church design? [ha! see what I did there?

- last but most definitely not least - don?t forget about the rest of the MNP [My Ninja Please!] crew: the parent site, MyNinjaPlease; MusicMNP; GreenMNP; PolitricksMNP; and RobotNinja.

- and that?s it for this week?s Ninjas on the ?Net - don?t forget, you should also be clicking those sidebar links + buttons and checking out all of our blogging ninjas out there.

Holidays [and laziness] -

[Lazy Afternoon, by Piotr Bakowski - via]

So first off - no, that image above doesnt have anything to do with anything really, it just happens to be called Lazy Afternoon [and I thought the name made it appropriate considering things around here as of late].

Some of you may have noticed the lack of updates here for the past week or so, and I just want to assure everyone that were still on our grind. We have some goodness in the works for the new year [next week], and will start posting again on Sunday or Monday at the latest.

Until then, happy [belated] Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year - lets start off the 09 right [well, as right as an economy in the gutter will let us]. All the best to you and yours, from us here at AMNP and the entire MNP shogunate.

Peace and love, my ninjas.

The Lili Lite -

You know, Ive always wanted to start a Furniture Friday feature - but I know Ill never keep it up [Ill run out of cool furniture too quickly]. That said, it is Friday, and I have some furniture to post - so enjoy.

Designed by Studio Smeets Design [based in Amsterdam], the Lili Lite is a bookshelf, a reading lamp, and a bookmark - all in one. A simple wood plane is bent so as to create a shape that will both provide some book storage, as well as forming a space for the light. Simple, yet effective.

But - it gets better. While the light has a typical on/off switch, it also has a built-in sensor - which turns the light off when a book is left open on the shelf [above], and back on again when the book is lifted off the shelf to be read. Pretty siiick. Buy one here [I know I want to].

.:found over at DeZona->

Cities Saving the Planet? -

http://www.slate.com/id/2206841/?wpisrc=eDialog

Slate Magazine looks into whether cities [and their size / density] can help save the planet [click the title of this post to follow the link].

Hope for a ?New? New Deal? -

[Image: Elmer Browns murals for Valley View portrayed a heroic image of Clevelands industrial history in classic WPA style, via]

In about 32 days Obama goes into office - and hes promised change. Well, I think we all realize that change would mean doing something about this clusterf@ck of an economy - but what could this mean for architects? The President Elect has promised new public projects, to both create jobs and rebuild our infrastructure - and hes said he wanted to be an architect when he was younger. So, will this translate into a new era of great American architecture - schools, government buildings, public spaces, libraries, courthouses, embassies, etc? This nations image is in great need of a facelift - maybe architecture can benefit from the political botox.

In his radio announcement, Obama mentioned roads and bridges, sewer systems, schools, mass transit, electrical grids, dams and other public utilities, windmills and solar panels, and expanded access to the Internet.

Nothing in there specifically about architecture.

The program is clearly modeled on FDRs New Deal recovery programs of the 1930s, of which the best known was the Works Progress Administration. The WPA, too, was an effort to jump-start a morbid economy. But it created much more than infrastructure. It sponsored superb public architecture - post offices, courthouses, airports, dams, office buildings for government agencies - fine works that were still proud to live with. The term WPA style is used by historians to denote a whole trend in architecture.

Architecture is whats missing in Obamas proposal. But maybe theres hope.

&

Lets ask the Obama government to create a great heritage of civic architecture in this country.

If that sounds crazy, youre forgetting the days when government did just that. It wasnt only the WPA. Most eras of American history have seen the creation of great public architecture. Were currently the exception, not the rule.

.:Robert Campbell->via The Boston Globe

Also, speaking of global image and embassies - check out the November issue of Monocle for an interesting article on embassies in a post 9-11 world [and how ours suck].

Navigate the Economy -

http://www.aia.org/navigatingeconomy

The AIA has a lot of information to help professionals find their way through this f@*ked up economy. AMNPs advice: try hibernating until 2010.

25 Year Award -

http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek08/1212/1212n_25yr.cfm

Bostons Faneuil Hall lauded with the AIAs 2009 25 Year Award [click the title of this post for more info].

AIA Awards -

The AIA announced this years winners of its national awards:

- 2009 Gold Medal: Glenn Murcutt, Hon. FAIA, Australia
- 2009 Architecture Firm Award: Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, Seattle
- AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion: Adele Naude Santos, FAIA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Whitney M. Young Jr. Award: Clyde Porter, FAIA, Dallas
- Edward C. Kemper Award: Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA, New York City

.:via->archrecord

driven by coffee -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/science/16objava.html?ref=science

In what I believe to be an incredible waste of sweet caffeinated deliciousness, scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno, have made diesel fuel from used coffee grounds. Now the price of that, AND corn will be inflated - dont worry tho, we still wont pay a fair price for it [click the title of this post to read the article].

Energy Challenge -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/us/politics/16energy.html?_r=1ref=science

Have you been keeping track of Obamas picks for his team? How about his energy + environment picks? The NYT keeps us up to date on the possible future of our environmental policies [click the title of this post].

Jetson Green: Eco-Lab -

Preston, green ninja master over at Jetson Green, writes:

This could just be one of the most innovative sustainable designs youll see all year.  Heres the background: a team from Weber Thompson designed this building for the Cascadia Natural Talent Design Competition put on by the Emerging Green Builders of the USGBC.  They won the Cascadia competition and moved on to compete against about 15 other regional winners from around the country.   They won there, too, and Eco-Laboratory was announced as the winner of the 2008 Natural Talent Design Competition at Greenbuild.  Eco-Laboratory is a theoretical design set in Seattle with affordable and market-rate residential housing, a job training center, homeless shelter, hygiene station, and public farmers market.

Aesthetically speaking, Eco-Laboratory is quite slick, but the innovative symbiosis of the systems, I believe, earned them a grand prize at Greenbuild.  You can enlarge the models above to see the energy (left), ventilation (center), and water (right) systems specifics.

Click here to read read the rest of this article [this is just an excerpt] over at Jetson Green.

::article written by Preston, founder + editor of Jetson Green - original article entitled Eco-Laboratory Concept Living Building. These articles from Jetson Green on MNP?s Green Tuesdays are part of a feature you can find here every week - just click any Tuesday in the calender and enjoy! And for more ?green? news + info, head on over to Green.MNP::

green gingerbread -

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/12/12/hok-leed-platinum-gingerbread-house/

Sustainable-themed gingerbread houses, designed by architects like HOK and Michelle Kaufman? Must be over at Inhabitat&[click the title of this post to read the article]

A Quiet Space to Write -

A short film about New York architect Andrew Bermans dream project. Commissioned to design a writing studio in the woods in Long Island, he took the challenge and created a building which seems to float in a sea of foliage.

The film, while informative conveys the tranquility of the building by simply inviting you to enter and experience the pace of the writers world inside.

Directed  Produced by David Vegezzi
Cinematography by Ben Wolf

.:watch this in HD->via Vimeo

Ninjas on the ?Net -

[Internet Map, via - click the image for a larger, version]

Happy Monday, my peoples - and as you know, here on AMNP that brings another installment of Ninjas on the Net. You know another thing that a new Monday morning brings us? That much closer to January 20th, and the end of the Bush regime. I mean, holy shit people - the man only has about 36 days to go, and thats a good thing whether or not you voted Obama. If you want to keep the countdown going on your own [dont worry, well be holding it down here as well], visit Backwards Bush [ignorant, but hilarious].

Now I know Im beating this damn near to death - but have you signed up for the MNP Newsletter yet? Because its going to drop at the beginning of January, and you dont want to be missing out. Also, weve been discussing the idea of some reader-generated content for the newsletter, so if you have anything you like to submit - or if you have anything that you think should be up on the site / any links to share - be sure to hit us up at architecture[at]myninjaplease[dot]com. Also, check us out on Twitter for links to whatever were reading/checking out on any given day.
- the Daily Kos covers a possible solution to the economic crisis, being proposed as the 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan [yes, from the people at Architecture 2030]

- speaking of money trouble, Philipe Starck hips us all on how to live on a tight budget, but stay fly

- Metropolis POV wonders what were going to do with all these vacant lots

- The NY Times Magazine features the 8th annual Year in Ideas

- NPRs All Things Considered features a new makeover in northern VA to battle Sprawl

- Arch Record features the AIAs 2009 award winners, and lets us know that foreign markets arent bringing in the work wed hoped for [in case you didnt already know]

- apparently the Amish dont have to follow our building codes? good for them, I guess

- Where continues its investigation into the future of urban journalism

- Tschumi presented his new Acropolis museum to the RIBA [btw, those marbles should be in Greece if they want them - otherwise the brits are simple thieves]

- Archinect drops a new t-shirt design, based on CAD hatch patterns [in case you werent geek enough before]

- BLDGBLOG discusses the first beer made with barley from space-plants [seriously], made by Sapporo

- last but most definitely not least - don?t forget about the rest of the MNP [My Ninja Please!] crew: the parent site, MyNinjaPlease; MusicMNP; GreenMNP; PolitricksMNP; and RobotNinja.

- and that?s it for this week?s Ninjas on the ?Net - don?t forget, you should also be clicking those sidebar links + buttons and checking out all of our blogging ninjas out there.

secretary of housing -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/us/politics/13appoint.html?_r=2hp

Obama picks Shaun Donovan - housing commissioner for NYC - to be the secretary of housing in his cabinet [read the full article at the NYT by clicking the title of this post].

VS: Höweler + Yoon in Focus -

Those of you whove been reading the site for a while now know that were fans of Boston-based Höweler + Yoon Architecture - both because we like supporting the work of Beantown designers [sorry, were biased, people], and because their work is pretty feckin sick.

More Höweler + Yoon on AMNP, here.

.:videos via -> arch record

::Video Sundays, or VS, is a weekly feature here on AMNP. For more architecture-related videos, click on any Sunday in the sidebar calendar - or on the ?videos? category in the ?archjutsu? section. Additional videos that have been featured on any of the MNP sites can be found here on our YouTube page. And don?t hesitate to submit suggestions for video features to architecture[at]myninjaplease[dot]com::

Seaside Utopia? -

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/travel/14SeaRanch.html?em

While Im sure many of you know all about Sea Ranch, the New York Times travel section explains some planned changes/additions. Dont miss the slideshow [click the title of this post to read the full article].

Not History Yet -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/arts/design/14ouro.html?ref=arts

The New York Times talks I.M. Peis new Museum of Islamic Art at Doha, Qatar - and why theyre still impressed with his work [click the title of this post to read the article].

runnin? @ the mouth -

http://archrecord.construction.com/features/critique/0812critique-1.asp

Arch Record asks why architects talk so much [click the title of this post to read the article].

foster @ yale -

http://mba.yale.edu/news_events/CMS/Articles/6723.shtml

Foster designs the new Yale School of Management [click the title of this post to see the project].

not for profit? -

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3129724origin=bldgweeklynewsletter
Some contractos [in the UK anyways] have gone to zero-profit biding? What is the world coming to? Damn - next thing down will be up, black will be white. Click the title of this post to read the full article, over at Building.

The SawStop -

A table saw that knows the difference between wood and fingers? Sounds great to me - no more late-night accidents involving stressed-out model builders and deadlines.

Thank you, creators of the SawStop. Students and carpenters everywhere owe you [a finger].
.:video from Discoverys Time Warp->via

M. Cooper Interview -

http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=1362

I expect all the true ninjas out there to know who Martha Cooper is - so Im just going to say click the link above for a great interview with the photographer, whos discussing a new book entitled Tag Town and her history of documenting grafitti.

Be?ikta? Fish Market -

Seriously, I love this project.

Designed by GAD [Global Architectural Development], its a new fish market in Istanbuls Besiktas district. Inhabiting a triangular urban site, the fish market was in need of a new structure - and as a solution, GAD created a simple concrete-shell that covers the market. Column-free, the new building is little more than a roof - curving down to meet the ground at the triangular sites 3 points. The new market therefore retains the scale of the streets - defining a narrow passage between the buildings - while remaining open and public.

Plus, its just sick. And plus, look at how pretty that photo is above - with the yellow/orange glow of the sky, and the orange glow of the lights in the market reflecting off the concrete&damn.

Located in one of Istanbul?s most populated and diverse neighborhoods, Be?ikta? is an eclectic area with a village-like atmosphere that is in the process of urban renewal.

The Be?ikta? Fish Market is located on a triangular site. It is an iconic venue where many locals and visitors buy fresh fish daily. The construction of the old fish market was in very poor shape and needed to be replaced.

The design solution was to maintain its iconic neighborhood presence, while also reaffirming its welcoming feeling. GAD designed a triangular shaped concrete shell covering the entire site with large openings at street level. The concrete shell provides a column-free interior space, optimizing the project?s programmatic needs. The new design injects a contemporary and pragmatic solution, at once preserving the fish market?s history [via].

.:more images -> courtesy of GAD

.:via our new partner -> +mood

top design ?08 -

http://nymag.com/arts/articles/08/12/toptenarchitecture/

The NY Times has its top 10 designs of 2008 - what do you think, did they get it right? [click the title of this post to view the slideshow]

arch + journalism -

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2008/12/one-of-the-majo.html

The uncertain future of all media [well, that people are paid to produce] has the LA Times wondering about the type of architecture that should house these institutions [click the title of this post to read the article].

New LEED -

http://archrecord.construction.com/community/blogs/ARBlog.asp?plckController=BlogplckScript=blogScriptplckElementId=blogDestplckBlogPage=BlogViewPostplckPostId=Blog:ac946cd0-ba4a-4e0e-8da4-47c9e7c5d923Post:44450ae5-0f7c-47f2-b002-b1de55e28c5b

New LEED test? New requirements to maintain LEED AP status? Better find out what the deal is, before they take away your special certificate people&[click the title of this post to follow the link]

Photo du Jour -

[Upwards, by Flickr user Tristan C]

Floor Power -

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20081204/162357/

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) will install piezoelectric elements in the floors at ticket gates and other areas of Tokyo Station to test a system that generates power using the energy created by passengers passing through the gates [click the title of this post to follow the link].

Jetson Green: weeHouse -

Preston, green ninja master over at Jetson Green, writes:

Wow, check out this stunning, prefab home located in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.  Just like the Marfa Weehouse, a home we talked about a long time ago, this home was designed by Alchemy Architects.  The Johnson Creek weeHouse is a 2,200 sf retreat home consisting of the main living area for daily activities and a small tower for less intenstive activities, like sleeping.  The two parts are connected by a patio bridge and the entire home is surrounded by the heavily wooded site.

Gander at the images and note the simplicity of construction.  Were talking about, I believe, a total of four modules with some extras.  And generally speaking, the materials used are similar to those used in other weeHouses.  The result: high design at a more approachable price.

The various problems with prefab have been discussed often, but as companies start to ramp up production, the benefits and green aspects of prefab, I believe, become more dominant.  And according to a recent article in Portland Monthly, approximately 20 weeHouses have been sold since 2002.  That number may seem small, but its not.  With each house, the process becomes more refined and homes get better and better &

Click here to read read the rest of this article [this is just an excerpt] over at Jetson Green.

::article written by Preston, founder + editor of Jetson Green - original article entitled Johnson Creek weeHouse Prefab Home. These articles from Jetson Green on MNP?s Green Tuesdays are part of a feature you can find here every week - just click any Tuesday in the calender and enjoy! And for more ?green? news + info, head on over to Green.MNP::

Quote of the Day -

Las crisis de las ciudades se deben a que no hemos sido capaces de entender la compleja manera en la que se relacionan las personas.

~ Yona Friedman

Yona Friedman on AMNP:

Yona Friedman: Pro Domo
Eye Candy: Ville Spatiale

Ninjas on the ?Net -

[Image: Map of the Internet - Connections Between European Cities]

One full week of work - after having some time off for the first time in a minute - and Im about ready for another vacation. Luckily, the way the economy is going, many of us are going to be freeing-up an extra 40 hrs a week for personal time&yay! Anyways, sorry for the cynicism - its no way to start on a Monday, I know.

Moving along, have you signed up for the MNP Newsletter yet? You dont want to get caught sleeping when the first issue drops in January. And with that said, if youd like to contribute anything to said newsletter - or if you have any links, questions, comments, etc - be sure to hit us up at architecture[at]myninjaplease[dot]com.

- Crains New York talks architecture and financing [as in, there is none - so what do we do now?]

- Record suggests heading South as a solution, although the example given [Perkins Eastman] just had layoffs

- dont worry, tho: CNN has architect listed as one of fifteen careers that pay more, and predicts well be making MORE in 2016

- designboom investigated Che Guevera as a pop culture icon

- speaking of Che, read about the end of the end of the revolution, over at the NY Times

- WAN predicts London will become a Cycle City

- On Point with Tom Ashbrook [AMNPs favorite show on NPR] asks which America will we build of Obamas promises on new infrastructure projects

- Metropolis features Dessaus creative solution to urban shrinkage [I say dry off and warm up, my friends]

- Archidose informs us that Chipperfields SLAM addition is on hold, and that theres some [altho just a little] progress with the parasol

-  Where contemplates the future of urban [print] journalism, and discusses new strategies for the big-box retailer and the suburb

- varnelis asks: where is the good new architecture? I think it got VEd, replaced with EIFS and standard detail

- if you think you have some good new architecture up your sleeve, maybe you should check out the eVolo competition

- we were recently put on to the sites Tomorrows Thoughts Today [great name, great site] and, + MOOD and think you should check them out too

- last but most definitely not least - don?t forget about the rest of the MNP [My Ninja Please!] crew: the parent site, MyNinjaPlease; MusicMNP; GreenMNP; PolitricksMNP; and RobotNinja.

- and that?s it for this week?s Ninjas on the ?Net - don?t forget, you should also be clicking those sidebar links + buttons and checking out all of our blogging ninjas out there.

Thom Mayne: DJ? -

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/gd/gd081203thom_mayne

Yes - you read the title right - Thom Mayne was invited to be a guest DJ at KCRW. Check it out.
Tracklist:

1.) Dr. John - Right Place, Wrong Time
2.) John Lurie (as Marvin Pontiac) - Runnin Round
3.) Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood
4.) Laurie Anderson - From the Air
5.) Prince - Musicology

[Click the title of this post to listen to the show]

VS: Building an Eames Chair -

.:found via -> plataforma arquitectura

::Video Sundays, or VS, is a weekly feature here on AMNP. For more architecture-related videos, click on any Sunday in the sidebar calendar - or on the ?videos? category in the ?archjutsu? section. Additional videos that have been featured on any of the MNP sites can be found here on our YouTube page. And don?t hesitate to submit suggestions for video features to architecture[at]myninjaplease[dot]com::

The MNP Newsletter -

The Newsletter!

So, we here at MNP are prepping the launch of a newsletter, which will bring you content from all the MNP writers from the various sites - ensuring that you dont miss any of the goodness, and bringing you some exclusive content not normally found on the sites. To start, it will run monthly - basically cataloging all the content on MNP that we think you should be sure you didnt miss. From there, who knows?

The newsletter itself is undergoing some fine-tuning and finalization - and is due to launch on January 1st, 2009. Signup by entering your email address in the right sidebar [right below search]. Dont sleep

.:sign up for the MNP Newsletter -> Here

freedom in philly -

http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=2994

Is it just me, or should Daniel Libeskind maybe be a little upset about KPFs newest tower design? Sure, its not exactly the freedom tower - but cmon. What do you think? [click the title of this post to read the article]

CPH Arch by 3XN -

By now I assume that most of you have seen Steven Holls wining design for the harbor entrance in Copenhagen. That said, we got this in our mailbox last week [I know, I slept - my fault] from 3XN, showing-off their proposal for the competition. From what I understand, 3XN designed the original masterplan, upon which the competition itself was based - which you can read more about here.

Essentially, the concept of the masterplan is to give the residents of Østerbro direct access to the harbor and the Sound while creating a gateway for the city. Now, Im not coming down on Holls design, but how sexy is this thing 3XN submitted? I mean, Im not even necessarily a fan of this kind of curvy architecture usually - but this makes Holls proposal look dated and clunky by comparison.

The design results from an evolution of three forms: a low, broad structure to the West [Marmormolen], a high-rise tower to the East [Langeliniekaj], and a classic arched bridged to connect the two and span the water. The three forms then twist and melt together, emulating the flowing movement of the water, and the directionality of the desired movement across/through the site. Sick.

From the architects:

A bridge spanning a body of deep water, providing the only dry connection between two stretches of land, is one of the most powerful architectural experiences in the landscape. Another classical element is the town gate, which marks the boundary between the countryside and the town, and ?contains? the town, physically, structurally and aesthetically.

3XN?s proposal for a construction on Marmormolen in Copenhagen is both: a town gate and a bridge that links Marmormolen with Langeliniekaj, creating a new coherent area in Copenhagen Harbor.

The towers and the bridge constitute one single, floating dynamic movement, characterized by the bold span across the harbor entrance in terms of both the plan design and the facade. Establishing a connection across the harbor radically improves public access and creates brand new opportunities for life and growth in the area.

On both sides of the harbour entrance there is, in terms of both architecture and development, a movement towards the water, which is reinforced by the urban traffic patterns and the public flow in general. Extending this movement in an arch across the harbour creates a progression that connects the buildings on either side of the harbour. While the tall tower will be perceived as a natural extension of the existing buildings on Langeliniekaj, the lower tower on the opposite side will be bound to the coming development on Marmormolen: in towards Østerbro in a snake that forms the desired noise screen; and towards the water in a more open construction which opens up for views. On the Marmormolen side, pedestrians will emerge onto the gently arching bridge from the tower?s central atrium. On the Langelinie side, when you step ashore, so to speak, from the bridge, it will be possible to take a lift down to the foyer. A key element in the design has been to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists will experience the public link across the harbour as a continuous route and as an easily accessible continuation of the infrastructure on both sides.

.:More info on the project [3XN and Holl]->via

.:Additional info on 3XNs proposal->via their website

::Special AMNP thanks to Lise of 3XN for the email/links/info::

Architects and Johnny Cash? -

I couldnt help posting this after our review of Why Do Architects Wear Black. I love Architecture Students in Hell - site is just killin me.

.:On Attire -> via Architecture Students in Hell

dubai ain?t scared -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3536012/Dubai-vows-to-keep-building-despite-global-crisis.html

Many hope that Dubai [and a few other places] will save our profession during this recession - still providing high-end, large-scale projects. But with the economic clusterf@ck going global, can we rely on the UAE for work? Dubai says we can - click the title of this post to read the full article.

Why Do Architects Wear Black? -

Editor: Cordula Rau
Publisher: Springer Wien New York
Year: 2009
Size: 228 pages
ISBN: 978-3-211-79191-2

__

It truly is a question for the ages: why do architects wear black? Really, Id like some kind of history of the entire phenomenon researched - from the trends inception to today [my favorite is the all black clothes except for the socks, which are obnoxiously colourful - always classic]. That, and those damned thick-rimmed glasses&

Well apparently Cordula Rau, editor of Why Do Architects Wear Black, was asked the question and couldnt think up an answer. Her response: Ask the other architects!. So thats exactly what she did - over the span of a few years Cordula asked architects themselves the question, and had them write out an answer. For the book, she has compiled these scribbled replies as they were written by the architects, along with a translation/typed version.

The sometimes amusing and other times programmatic or hair-splitting answers I have received over the last seven years are listed chronologically in this little black volume. Read, and please, don?t ask me why architects wear black! [via]

[I also wonder why everyone wears black. Nowadays Im trying to wear bright colors, but today Im all in black by accident. What a pity!!, Toyo Ito]

Almost perfect in its simplicity, the book is absolutely hilarious - and telling. Answers range from the honesty of Toyo Ito [above], to Bjark Ingles ridiculousness [below], Eisenmans I dont wear black [a lie!], Jun Aokis An architect is (still) a kind of communist [he hasnt heard of Dubai, apparently], and Arno Brandlhubers They are in mourning about their many unrealized projects [possibly the answer that makes the most sense].

Definitely a great little book - bringing some levity to the profession [much like AMNP!], while asking the tough questions. I always thought it had something to do with the GSD&

[Cuz I iz black, Bjarke Ingles, PLOT (now of BIG)]

Why Do Architects Wear Black, edited by Cordula Rau, can be purchased here from the AMNP store.

::Special AMNP thanks to Hee for the book!::

tack sharp -

http://tacksharp.tv/
Free, informative photography podcasts? Count us in! Visit Tack Sharp to download free episodes, discussing cameras and photography, or subscribe via iTunes [click the title of the post to follow the link].

Putting the ?New? in Newburyport -

Dan Hisel, previously featured here on AMNP, has completed a renovation/addition on a home in Newburyport, MA - which was featured in this past weeks Boston Globe Magazine. Check it out.

The house the Ultmans found, originally a cottage for workers at the James Steam Mill across the street, is at least 100 years old by their estimation. Architect Dan Hisel, whom the couple hired to head up the renovation, immediately appreciated what he calls the structures iconic house shape. Its almost like a Monopoly house in the sense that it has such a simple elevation and clean lines, he says.

The inside was another story. The home had been a rental property for a number of years and had fallen into disrepair. I think there were probably four different materials on the floors of the first floor, Hisel remembers. It was a seriously challenged house.

His design preserved the exterior simplicity of the house, so that it exists in harmony with its neighbors, while completely transforming the interior to accommodate the Ultmans dream to live in open, connected spaces that would bring the outdoors in.

Ill see what I can do about getting some more images.

.:Organic Chemistry->via Boston.com

urban obama -

http://thewhereblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/urban-america-urban-world.html
An office of Urban Policy? See - this ninja isnt even in office yet and hes already facilitating change - simply by acknowledging that our cities [and by our, I mean the worlds] need some help from some people in the know. Read all about the new position, from a global perspective, over at Where [just click the title of this post].

The Anti-Planner? -

http://americancity.org/index.php/an-interview-with-randall-otoole-the-anti-planner
Well, this interview with Randal OToole, The Anti-Planner is definitely interesting - if only to show you that dude is definitely a tool. Libertarian? Government off your back? Who do you think invented the suburbs, Randy? Shit is just a giant government conspiracy aimed at diffusing the population and selling cars and oil while leasing property. Read all his nonsense over at AmericanCity.org by clicking the title of this post.

My [Urban] Playground -

Well, I hope you all recognize the building at the beginning of the video&a certain housing project by the ninjas over at BIG.

A teaser for an upcoming documentary, MY PLAYGROUND by Kaspar Astrup Schröder.

It is a film about movement, tricking, freerunning and parkour in the urban space.

Keep a look out for more clips released during the winter and a premiere of the film in summer 2009.

The film will feature parkour and freerunning by:
TEAM JIYO

Interested in parkour? Check out our previous post on the urban sport, here.

The Unfinished Swan -

Ian Dallas has created a videogame where you experience the 3d environment by shooting globs of paint at your surroundings - therefore defining the space youre trying to maneuver through. Pretty siiick, if you ask me. I just cant wait to get a chance to play it&

.:go check out the Unfinished Swan->

Eye Candy: Sydney Opera by Jorn Utzon -

Photographer, AMNP reader, and ninja Tobin dropped us an email on Saturday about the passing of Mr. Jorn Utzon - architect of the Sydney Opera House - and submitted some photos he took while in Australia.

Photo credit: Tobin Russell