Holy cow! So much was going on this week that I really needed that extra Leap Day! The Pritzker Jury unexpectedly made an early announcement of their winner—Wang Shu. Most people were calling Shu the "first Chinese architect to win the Pritzker Prize." That might be true, but we saw something more in Dr. Shu's profile—the trend toward the architect scholar.
New and Updated Pages:
- Wang Shu, Rise of the Architect Scholar
- Wang Shu Portfolio 1999-2010
- In Praise of Zaha Hadid
New Video:
- Characteristics of a Victorian Gothic Home
Like many of you, I often get frustrated and confused by house style classification. In this week's new video, Fred Abler, Graduate Architect and CEO of FormFonts.com gives his definition of Victorian gothic architecture. Frankly, I think he missed the mark. But, style classification is often a matter of interpretation. What do you think of Fred's new video?
- Colors for a Split-Level Home
- Dumb Design
- Is America Ugly?
- What Is Architecture?
A good home design software program will let you create some pretty fancy renderings with elevation drawings and 3D views. But, what if all you really want is a basic floor plan? Do you really need a high-powered software just to draw shapes and lines?
Let the Games begin! The London 2012 Olympics have launched, and wouldn't you just love a view of Olympic Park from the Orbit? The "tallest art structure in Britain" stands higher than a football field is long—125 yards (115 meters).
This week is the traditional start of summer in the U.S., and I've got a lot of projects on my to-do list. I've already remodeled a third floor bathroom in my Queen Anne building that needs a new roof. As I scrape and repaint my own house (not quite as bad as repainting the Golden Gate Bridge!) I'm reminded of the care required by buildings and structures. It's exciting to see new architecture being developed, but every architect knows that design is just the beginning of the journey.
By now you've seen the 2002 documentary Blue Vinyl. It's been ten years, and we're still arguing for and against vinyl siding. The salesman says it's magic -- it doesn't rot, it doesn't flake. Your local historic commission says wait a minute -- look what happened when this little Victorian was sided with vinyl. The house can't breathe. What's the answer? Before you install vinyl siding on your new or historic home, consider these concerns about vinyl siding. 
We're seeing green and celebrating Saint Patrick's Day all weekend! Where shall we go? Let's start at this famous bridge in Dublin.