Viral Cities

"Rapidly rising human populations living in increasingly unsanitary conditions, combined with transcontinental air travel, have greatly increased the likelihood of a viral pandemic — one that would affect both daily life and the global economy in profound ways," says architect and educator Thomas Fisher. Fisher traces the interconnections between urban design and public health, from the plagues that ravaged medieval Europe to last year's H1N1 outbreak — which is likely a harbinger of worse to come. This is, Fisher argues, a threat to take seriously — although "history suggests that we rarely act against an invisible threat until we have suffered the pain of ignoring it."
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QUILIAN RIANO

Relearning the Social: Architecture and Change

"Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement," which opened last week at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, reinforces the institution's current focus on design as an agent of change, begun last year with "Rising Currents." Of course, as architect Quilian Riano notes in his review, which follows Alexandra Lange's on Change Observer, the exhibition is less a discovery than a rediscovery. "Leading architects," Riano writes, "were once fluent in the language and practice of social change." With this latest exhibition, he suggests, MoMA is attempting "to start up an old conversation — to move into the mainstream a movement long consigned to the edges, to the thankless realm of the 'alternative.'"
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Rockefeller Foundation: Bellagio Center

The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, in Northern Italy, has issued a call for proposals for scholarly and artistic residencies in the summer and fall of 2011.
Applications are due by December 1, 2010.

More information
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PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2001

Village Vices: The Contradiction of New Urbanism and Sustainability

A critique of New Urbanism focusing not on its traditionalism but on the unsustainability of its planning models.
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PARTNER SCHOOL

Pratt Institute, School of Architecture
The work of the students here at Pratt shows a clear appreciation and understanding of the possibilities of architecture today, as the mission of the school is dedicated to design and a complete understanding of the making of cities and buildings. The spirit of advancing architectural ideas in terms of both form and technique is at the essence of the transformation of contemporary design.

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American Glamour
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Reading the American Landscape: An Index of Books and Images
Lex ter Braak, David Hamers, Anne Hoogewoning, Erik de Jong, Frank van der Salm, Dirk Sijmons and Hanneke Schreiber

Boomtown 2050: Scenarios for a Rapidly Growing City
Richard Weller


WEEKLY EMAIL: OCTOBER 20, 2010
FEATURED THIS WEEK : THOMAS FISHER Viral Cities "Rapidly rising human populations living in increasingly unsanitary conditions, combined with transcontinental air travel, have greatly increased the likelihood of a viral pandemic — one that would affect both daily life and the global economy in profound ways," says architect and educator Thomas Fisher. Fisher traces the interconnections between urban design and public health, from the plagues that ravaged medieval Europe to last year's H1N1 outbreak — which is likely a harbinger of worse to come. This is, Fisher argues, a threat to take seriously — although "history suggests that we rarely act against an invisible threat until we have suffered the pain of ignoring it." READ MORE
QUILIAN RIANO Relearning the Social: Architecture and Change "Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement," which opened last week at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, reinforces the institution's current focus on design as an agent of change, begun last year with "Rising Currents." Of course, as architect Quilian Riano notes in his review, which follows Alexandra Lange's on Change Observer, the exhibition is less a discovery than a rediscovery. "Leading architects," Riano writes, "were once fluent in the language and practice of social change." With this latest exhibition, he suggests, MoMA is attempting "to start up an old conversation — to move into the mainstream a movement long consigned to the edges, to the thankless realm of the 'alternative.'" READ MORE Rockefeller Foundation: Bellagio Center The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, in Northern Italy, has issued a call for proposals for scholarly and artistic residencies in the summer and fall of 2011. Applications are due by December 1, 2010. More information READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2001 Village Vices: The Contradiction of New Urbanism and Sustainability A critique of New Urbanism focusing not on its traditionalism but on the unsustainability of its planning models. READ MORE PARTNER SCHOOL Pratt Institute, School of Architecture The work of the students here at Pratt shows a clear appreciation and understanding of the possibilities of architecture today, as the mission of the school is dedicated to design and a complete understanding of the making of cities and buildings. The spirit of advancing architectural ideas in terms of both form and technique is at the essence of the transformation of contemporary design. RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED American Glamour Alice T. Friedman Reading the American Landscape: An Index of Books and Images Lex ter Braak, David Hamers, Anne Hoogewoning, Erik de Jong, Frank van der Salm, Dirk Sijmons and Hanneke Schreiber Boomtown 2050: Scenarios for a Rapidly Growing City Richard Weller
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