Critique & Commentary 2009

Fame: A Fickle Mistress
For architects on the edge, early success can be a sword that cuts both ways.

Photo © Norman Mcgrath/Esto

Don’t roll your eyes: Architects can learn a lot by playing golf
Golf? Yes, golf. Critic Robert Campbell, FAIA, argues that architects can learn a lot by playing the game.

Photo © Peter Vanderwarker

Serving up a heady cocktail of gravitas and glamour
Martin Filler finds an object lesson in the Four Seasons as the New York restaurant that married design with cuisine celebrates its 50th year.

Photo © Ezra Stoller/Esto

Connect the dots: Dubai, labor, urbanism, sustainability, and the education of architects
Michael Sorkin returns from a trip to Dubai with some ideas on how to change the education of architects.

Photo © Robert Ivy

One good fit and one bad in New York City
Robert Campbell visits the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition at the Guggenheim and discovers it doesn’t work with the building’s architecture. Read two additional takes on the show in our [Featured Events] column and in this month’s Editorial.

Photo © David Heald/The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation

After 50 years, Lincoln Center still offers plenty to criticize
Critic Martin Filler looks back on 50 years of Lincoln Center and finds plenty to complain about in terms of its urban plan and architecture.

Photo © Arnold Newman/Getty Images.

Temporary openings in the city fabric tempt a critic to imagine
Openings in New York’s urban fabric lead critic Michael Sorkin to imagine a new approach to public space.

Photo © Aleksandr Bierig

Making monuments right before an era comes to a close
Critic Robert Campbell explains some of his laws of architecture and what the Alhambra tells us about our current moment.

Photo © Bettmann/Corbis

How Medellín Got Its Groove Back
A city once known as Murder Capital of the World has been looking to architecture to help it change its reputation and its fate. Jimena Martignoni takes us to Medellín, Colombia.

Photo © Sergio Gomez

Rolling out the unwelcome mat for visitor centers
Critic Martin Filler looks at the current rash of visitor centers and explains why he hates them all.

Photo © Paul Warchol

A Stimulus for Good Design
Special Commentary: North America design director for RMJM, New York, Peter Schubert, AIA, argues that federal stimulus dollars should be spent on creative, sustainable buildings that will stand the test of time.

Image courtesy Peter Schubert

Some suggestions on how to spend $800 billion
Michael Sorkin writes an open letter to President Obama outlining some of the things he feels should be part of the new administration’s agenda.

Photo © Michael Goodman

Bringing Good Design to Affordable Housing
John King discusses Bay Area architects who see their affordable housing work as part of a long tradition of progressive culture and urbanism.

Photo © Brian Rose

Some free advice to President-elect Obama
Critic Robert Campbell offers some free advice to the new administration. His recommendations for President-elect Obama cover everything from a more meaningful federal role for architects to gasoline taxes.

Photo © Nic Lehoux