The World of Tomorrow in 1939 – post on Design Observer about the 1939 New York World’s Fair, a dazzling display of optimism and innovation 75 years ago with the theme ‘Building the World of Tomorrow’. For a nation just coming out of the Great Depression and …
Daniel Libeskind Is No Architect – thoughtful post about the use of the title ‘architect’, what it means to be an architect, and whether only licensed and registered practitioners should be called architects of buildings. There’s a debate within architectural circles (building architecture) about who can legitimately be identified as …
Why Designers and Engineers is a Match Made in Heaven – post about the benefits of designers and engineers collaborating on projects from their inception. Designers and engineers depend on each other to create innovative, trendsetting and sustainable solutions for humanity. Only a few decades ago, the …
Announcing the AZ Awards of Merit – annual design awards in residential architecture (shown here), furniture design, residential interiors, temporary architecture, furniture systems, commercial architecture over and under 1,000 square meters, landscape architecture, commercial interiors, concepts, and student work. Images for all the finalists are here.
The Cool Hunter – Offices – check out post category ‘offices’ on the design website The Cool Hunter for some unusual workplace design from around the world. Shown here are Belgo Seeds Offices in Kortrijk, Belgium / Hybrid Office in Los Angeles / Dtac Headquarters Bangkok …
More Discussion About Evidence-Based Design – post by healthcare design consultant Sara Marberry is a recap of a discussion among design experts about what it means for architects to be involved in design research. In addition to encouraging schools to prepare students for working in an evidence-based design environment, they …
July travel news: editor’s picks – take a break with this slideshow of 20 hotels and restaurants from around the world selected by Wallpaper for both design and quality of food or drink. 55 slides in all.
Stamen, Maps, and Brightworks – post on the Stamen Design blog about their visit to a school around the corner from them in San Francisco, Brightworks, “an exploratory school whose method is rooted in project-based learning.” What a great coming together of cutting edge map designers at Stamen and young students …
Gensler Releases 2013 U.S. Workplace Survey, Finds Only 1 in 4 U.S. Workers Currently Work in Optimal Workplace Environments – this newest study of workplace design and worker productivity by international architecture, design, and consulting firm Gensler points to a need for balance between spaces for collaborative and individual work. …
The Art of the Bookmark – UK graphic artist Simon C Page offers some great bookmarks in a variety of patterns and colors. Saw it on COLOURlovers. Mirage Bookmark – Swiss makers of fine bookmarks; their site has a exhibition of bookmarks from around the world. Also …
Shed of the Year: boat-roofed creation sails to victory – annual competition in the UK got almost 2000 entrants this year. See some of the others at Shed of the Year 2013 entrants. Why sheds? From Shed of the year contest trumpets UK’s love of garden hideaways: Novelist …
Architecture: Steiner – editorial on WAN (World Architecture News) about wholeness in architecture, particularly in the work of the Austrian “scientist, philosopher, and writer Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925)” who designed and built the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland that is familiar to students of architecture around the world. A link in the …
In Memoriam: Niels Diffrient – anyone who’s been in the design world within the last 50 years will have come into contact with the work and ideas of designer Niels Diffrient who died last Saturday at the age of 84. From his ground-breaking work on the 3-volume reference set Humanscale to …
OMA and Knoll Unveil Furniture Worthy Of Dr. No – Rem Koolhaas’ architectural firm OMA has teamed with furniture maker Knoll to produce a line called Tools for Life. Knoll is known for enlisting famous architects and designers for furniture ideas, and tapped Koolhaas as part of its 75th …
Quick, how many engineers or engineering firms can you name? If you’re having a little trouble, now’s your chance to become more aware of the huge contribution these inventive thinkers make to our built environment. Here are a couple of links with practical information on what engineers do and what …
102 Visual Phenomena & Visual Illusions – website of Michael Bach, a German professor of ophthalmology. Each illusion or phenomenon is explained, includes references, and an interactive way to convince yourself of what’s really happening. Absorbing and fascinating, especially for anyone involved with design, color, signage and wayfinding. Shown here …
Building Research Information Knowledgebase (BRIK) – a great free resource for both finding and sharing research on the built environment. A collaborative effort of the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences, the Building Research Information Knowledgebase (BRIK) is an interactive portal offering online access to peer-reviewed …
For an all-around design magazine, Wallpaper is among the best. To see their Design Awards 2013 you’ll have to find a February print issue, but visit the website and look around. Two sections to start with are Architecture and Travel where you’ll find a lot on hotels.