The Asian metropolis is spending $2.8 billion to construct an enormous cultural district. The goal: to become one of the greatest cities in the world. Image courtesy Foster + Partners Click on the slide show button below to view schemes by Foster + Partners (pictured), Rem Koolhaas/OMA, and Rocco Design Architects. With the recent unveiling of three competing master plans for the colossal West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), Hong Kong finds itself at a watershed moment—one that will not only shape a prominent waterfront site, but also help define the city’s place in the ever-changing firmament of global cultural destinations.
Image courtesy MVVA A team led by MVVA won the competition to design the grounds surrounding Gateway Arch. Click on the slide show button below to see schemes by all five finalists. Related Links: Shortlist for Gateway Arch Competition Announced Saarinen's Gateway Arch Celebrated in Documentary Design Competition to Enliven St. Louis Arch Park In the 1960s, when the Eero Saarinen-designed Gateway Arch in St. Louis was built, the work created an American icon as recognizable as the Statue of Liberty. But plans never materialized to develop the surrounding grounds into a fully accessible public site, leaving the Arch isolated
« Return to Recession & Recovery In the past two years, the recession has taken its toll on the profession, leaving many hunting for work. Exactly how many architects are unemployed, however, can be the subject of debate. Assessing the jobless rate for the design profession can produce wildly disparate results—and architects, economists, and recruiters aren’t precisely sure how bad things are. Part of the problem, they say, stems from the fact that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lumps architects under its sweeping “Architecture and Engineering Occupations” category, which is tilted heavily toward engineers. In fact, of the 20
Photo courtesy University of Iowa The Max Abramowitz-designed Hancher Auditorium, which suffered severe damage during the 2008 flood, likely will be torn down. Photo courtesy University of Iowa Related Links: Midwest Flood Wreaks Havoc on Landmarks As it continues to rebuild and fortify after the devastating flood of 2008, the University of Iowa has chosen Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects to design its new main theater. On September 15, the school announced that the New Haven firm had won a competition to create a replacement for Hancher Auditorium, a performing-arts facility by architect Max Abramowitz that was significantly damaged when the
Image courtesy Shelbourne Development Chicago Spire’s foreclosure lawsuits heat up as condo market remains frozen. Foreclosure lawsuits mounting atop the $2-billion Chicago Spire project come at a time when the Windy City’s glut of condominium inventory has forced developers to make other deals. In the near term, “I think any high-rise residential developments will be rentals,” says Gail Lissner, vice president of Appraisal Research Counselors, Chicago. A dozen rental high-rises are planned downtown, she says, including a 49-story tower that is being floated by luxury apartment developer AMLI Residential, Chicago. As for condos, such as the 2,000-ft-tall Spire—which so far
Going up against an icon, Steven Holl has released his plans for a new building that will rise directly across from the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art.
Image courtesy Gunnar Birkerts The Latvian National Library was conceived in 1991, the same year Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union. Image courtesy Gunnar Birkerts The building is rising on the banks of the Daugava River in the capital city of Riga. Gunnar Birkerts, FAIA, a Latvia native now based in Massachusetts, won the commission to design the Latvian National Library in 1991—the same year the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. But the high-profile project never got off the ground due to funding woes. Now, nearly two decades later, construction of the library is finally under way
Meet the man who'very wisely'acquired the 'Architect.com' Web site, which helps drive substantial business to his residential design practice. Thomas Bollay, AIA Santa Barbara, Calif.—In today’s brutal business climate for architects, even a small edge that can help a firm stand out and secure new business becomes extremely valuable. With a prescient purchase 16 years ago, architect Thomas Bollay, AIA, acquired for a few dollars a big marketing advantage that could be worth tens—or, in his view, even hundreds of thousands of dollars: the architect.com domain name. As those with even a rudimentary understanding of the workings of search engines
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