Demedicalize Architecture

In its latest exhibition and book, Imperfect Health, the Canadian Centre for Architecture critiques what curators Mirko Zardini and Giovanna Borasi call a “new moralistic philosophy: healthism.” Zardini and Borasi trace the long relationship of environmental design to shifting social and political concepts of well-being, from 19th-century urban parks to 20th-century sanatoria to the "healthy buildings" of today. And they ask: would it be possible to “demedicalize” architecture — to replace the prescriptive solutions of “cure” with the more expansive goals of “care”?
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STAN ALLEN

The Future That Is Now

In a chapter from a new book on architecture education in North America, Princeton dean Stan Allen offers an overview of the past two decades — as he says, a volatile period during which "rapid technological and social changes presented complex challenges to practice and education." Allen focuses especially on the digital revolution, the theory/practice debates, and the increasing emphasis on global urbanism and the environment.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Green Building and Climate Resilience Report Released

The report, by University of Michigan faculty and students and the U.S. Green Building Council, reviews recent research on the likely impacts of climate change at various scales and recommends strategies to increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of building projects.

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FROM OUR SPONSORS

Learn to be a design critic through SVA's D-Crit program.Design as subject matter, criticism as a literary genre and the range of tools with which to practice design criticism.
Watch videos of presentations by the Class of 2011 >>
The D-Crit Program >>
SVA Website >>

This spring Sappi is hosting a national road show, in collaboration with 826 National, to launch Special Effects, Volume 5 of The Standard. Issue 5 shows designers how the creative use of special effects can make a printed piece dimensional, tactile, intriguing and sometimes interactive. The next event is on March 28 in New York City.
More about Volume 5 of The Standard >>
View the road show schedule and registration details >>
Find out more about Sappi here >>

ALEXANDRA LANGE

How to Be an Architecture Critic

We’re surrounded by buildings, says Alexandra Lange, but we don’t know how to talk about them. We chat about real estate instead of having a real conversation about the urban environment. As architecture criticism fades in the daily newspapers, it’s time we take matters into our own hands: “We need more citizen critics,” she writes, “equipped with the desire and the vocabulary to remake the city.” So how do we learn how to talk about buildings? Lange suggests starting with “Sometimes We Do It Right,” Ada Louise Huxtable's classic review of the Marine Midland Bank Building in New York.
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Sappi and 826 National debuts The Standard 5: Special Effects and you're invited.
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An Annual Celebration of Excellence, Enterprise and Intent
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All kids deserve a shot at their American dream >>

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2005

Campus Design as Critical Practice

How to turn a lackluster midwestern campus into an international cultural destination.
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PARTNER SCHOOL

University of Minnesota, College of Design
The University of Minnesota’s College of Design is preparing the next generation of problem solvers. Through a unique commitment to sustainability, creativity and advancing technologies, the college is improving the way we interact with our world by designing new systems, new environments, new products, and new ways of living and working. Located in one of the major design cities and in one of the largest research universities in the U.S., the College of Design is a leader in multidisciplinary research, creative production, teaching and public engagement. The college encompasses the full range of design disciplines, including architecture, landscape architecture, apparel design, graphic design, interior design, product design, retail merchandising and housing studies.

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


WEEKLY EMAIL: MARCH 14, 2012
FEATURED THIS WEEK : GIOVANNA BORASI & MIRKO ZARDINI Demedicalize Architecture In its latest exhibition and book, Imperfect Health, the Canadian Centre for Architecture critiques what curators Mirko Zardini and Giovanna Borasi call a “new moralistic philosophy: healthism.” Zardini and Borasi trace the long relationship of environmental design to shifting social and political concepts of well-being, from 19th-century urban parks to 20th-century sanatoria to the "healthy buildings" of today. And they ask: would it be possible to “demedicalize” architecture — to replace the prescriptive solutions of “cure” with the more expansive goals of “care”? READ MORE
STAN ALLEN The Future That Is Now In a chapter from a new book on architecture education in North America, Princeton dean Stan Allen offers an overview of the past two decades — as he says, a volatile period during which "rapid technological and social changes presented complex challenges to practice and education." Allen focuses especially on the digital revolution, the theory/practice debates, and the increasing emphasis on global urbanism and the environment. READ MORE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Green Building and Climate Resilience Report Released The report, by University of Michigan faculty and students and the U.S. Green Building Council, reviews recent research on the likely impacts of climate change at various scales and recommends strategies to increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of building projects. Read more READ MORE FROM OUR SPONSORS Learn to be a design critic through SVA's D-Crit program.Design as subject matter, criticism as a literary genre and the range of tools with which to practice design criticism. Watch videos of presentations by the Class of 2011 >> The D-Crit Program >> SVA Website >> This spring Sappi is hosting a national road show, in collaboration with 826 National, to launch Special Effects, Volume 5 of The Standard. Issue 5 shows designers how the creative use of special effects can make a printed piece dimensional, tactile, intriguing and sometimes interactive. The next event is on March 28 in New York City. More about Volume 5 of The Standard >> View the road show schedule and registration details >> Find out more about Sappi here >> ALEXANDRA LANGE How to Be an Architecture Critic We’re surrounded by buildings, says Alexandra Lange, but we don’t know how to talk about them. We chat about real estate instead of having a real conversation about the urban environment. As architecture criticism fades in the daily newspapers, it’s time we take matters into our own hands: “We need more citizen critics,” she writes, “equipped with the desire and the vocabulary to remake the city.” So how do we learn how to talk about buildings? Lange suggests starting with “Sometimes We Do It Right,” Ada Louise Huxtable's classic review of the Marine Midland Bank Building in New York. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Sappi and 826 National debuts The Standard 5: Special Effects and you're invited. Get New York tickets >> Products of Design in France Apply today >> An Annual Celebration of Excellence, Enterprise and Intent Visit Core77 >> All kids deserve a shot at their American dream >> PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2005 Campus Design as Critical Practice How to turn a lackluster midwestern campus into an international cultural destination. READ MORE PARTNER SCHOOL University of Minnesota, College of Design The University of Minnesota’s College of Design is preparing the next generation of problem solvers. Through a unique commitment to sustainability, creativity and advancing technologies, the college is improving the way we interact with our world by designing new systems, new environments, new products, and new ways of living and working. Located in one of the major design cities and in one of the largest research universities in the U.S., the College of Design is a leader in multidisciplinary research, creative production, teaching and public engagement. The college encompasses the full range of design disciplines, including architecture, landscape architecture, apparel design, graphic design, interior design, product design, retail merchandising and housing studies. 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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