RECORD speaks with the principal of SOMA, the architecture firm behind the controversial Park51 Muslim community center proposed for Lower Manhattan. Amid the controversy surrounding Park51, the Muslim community center and worship space in Lower Manhattan labeled the “Ground Zero Mosque” by its opponents, the young New York-based firm SOMA Architects last week quietly unveiled designs for the new 15-story building. “I think the location of the center has been overexposed and overrated,” says Michel Abboud, principal at SOMA. Abboud recently sat down in the firm's new Midtown office to answer questions about Park51, its design, SOMA's history, and the
Top Image courtesy Clifton Greyeyes; SMOCA (middle); Roger Tomalty (bottom) Top: Rendering of the Soleri Bridge viewed from the Scottsdale Waterfront towers. Middle: Paolo Soleri has sketched numerous futuristic and innovative bridge designs, but the one in Scottsdale is the first to be constructed. Bottom: Concrete slurry was poured over the reinforced concrete retaining walls on the south plaza to create “drip walls”, a technique developed at Cosanti. The hollow lower pylons have gaps in their cylindrical shape to reveal a 10-ft-high assembly of bronze windbells hanging within. Known as the Goldwater Bells, they were originally cast by Soleri in
Photo courtesy of CityCenter Land LLC Scorcher Hotel owner says it is trying again to fix the alleged ‘death ray’ problem after a 2008 attempt. Related Links: CityCenter Las Vegas Strip resorts vie to be the hottest place in town, but Vdara, a recently opened hotel, literally can scorch those visiting the pool deck during certain times of the day. The 57-story, 1,495-room hotel is one of six towers at the $8.5-billion, 67-acre CityCenter complex, which opened last December. On Sept. 16, Vdara condominium owner and personal injury lawyer William G. Pintas complained to local media that the hotel’s south
The wait is over: the first projects have been certified as meeting the stringent terms of the Living Building Challenge (LBC). Two buildings have achieved full certification after their first year of operation, and a third has earned recognition for performing to LBC standards in four out of six categories. Although all three projects were completed by May 2009, they had to demonstrate through a year’s worth of data that they actually met design intentions for net-zero energy and water use. The Omega Center for Sustainable Living is one of the first two certified Living Buildings. The wastewater treatment center
After more than 40 years with Arup, the famed structural engineer Cecil Balmond is launching his own practice. Renowned structural engineer and designer Cecil Balmond is leaving Arup, the UK-based engineering firm where he has worked for more than 40 years. “I’m stepping out to set up my own practice,” says Balmond, who is credited with making possible some of the most audacious structures in recent decades, including the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture and the Centre Pompidou in Metz, France, by Shigeru Ban. Renowned structural engineer and designer Cecil Balmond is leaving Arup, the
For its new virtual museum, Adobe wanted more than a website designer: It wanted a forward-thinking architect who could make the space feel "physical." It turned to Filippo Innocenti, co-founder of Spin+ and an associate architect at Zaha Hadid Architects. Image courtesy Adobe Museum of Digital Media The Adobe Museum of Digital Media, located at www.adobemuseum.com, will present work by leading multimedia artists. At midnight this evening, software maker Adobe will open the new Adobe Museum of Digital Media, which will present work by leading digital artists. Like many institutions, the California-based company hired a forward-thinking architect to design a
As Rio de Janeiro prepares to host several high-profile events, including the United Nations’ 2012 “Rio+20” Earth Summit, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city is unveiling major architecture commissions and urban improvements. One such undertaking breaks ground this month: the Museu do Amanhã, or Museum of Tomorrow, designed by Santiago Calatrava. Located on Pier Maua, adjacent to Rio’s main cruise ship terminal, the museum will anchor a $2.8 billion
Photo courtesy Siméon Duchoud/Aga Khan Trust for Culture Primary School by Diébédo Francis Kéré in Gando, Burkina Faso. Metro Cable by Urban-Think Tank in Caracas, Venezuela. Among the various trends in architectural practice that emerged in the past decade, two occupied polar sides of the spectrum. On one end, designers capitalized on the once-booming economy, conceiving grandiose towers for burgeoning cities like Dubai and Shanghai. On the other end, they turned their attention to humanitarian work, using their skills to create pragmatic buildings for those in need, from hurricane victims to slum dwellers. The latter is the focus of a
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