Best of 2020
Given how awful 2020 was, it may seem kind of absurd to post a “best of” list. But it’s another way to stay hopeful. Best Stamps The Ruth Asawa stamps
Christmas Tree
In twenty years together, we have only had a few Christmas trees. In the beginning of our relationship I would ask Paul if we should get a tree. He would
The history of the dome, from the Pantheon to Abu Dhabi’s Louvre
Retracing the history of one of the greatest symbolic and constructive expressions of architecture through old and contemporary examples, from Islamic domes to Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic domes.
Unhoused, Unwelcome? Public Space and the Stigma of Homelessness
Public spaces need to be leveraged to support people experiencing homelessness.
He Art Museum by Tadao Ando
Making simple geometry resonate in complex ways is a hallmark of Ando’s work.
Ten opinions on how the pandemic will change the world
Dezeen rounds up this year’s most incisive opinions on how the coronavirus pandemic will impact our lives, courtesy of everyone from Norman Foster to Li Edelkoort and Rem Koolhas.
Hidden Territories: Uncovering the racist legacy of the American landscape
The term “landscape” historically referred to pictures of the world—vistas or views—and so it is only a small step to think of landscapes as portraits of society, representations of social
Prominent Architects Group Prohibits Design of Death Chambers
The American Institute of Architects has changed its stance on members who design spaces for executions or prolonged solitary confinement.
The Brutalist Architecture that Shaped Poland’s Urban Landscapes
Brutal Poland creates a photographic exploration of the country’s Brutalist heritage, highlighting the intrinsic qualities, as well as the shortcomings of the post-war architecture, promoting a better understanding of the
The Chicano Moratorium and the Making of Latino Urbanism
The 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.
The Trouble with Consumption
The contradictions between capitalist priorities and ecological imperatives are now impossible to ignore. How might the tenets of alternative hedonism foster electoral mandates for radical economic and political change?
Writing Through Prison Storms
I have been to the area outside San Quentin for protests. But I don’t have a sense of it as a place. This piece is worth reading.
The Black Reconstruction Collective works to dismantle systemic racism within art, design, and academia
Working across media and facilitating much needed discourse, the BRC is poised to do just that.
Manchester prepares for fall of its ‘Berlin Wall’
Tadao Ando’s modernist work in Piccadilly Gardens has divided opinion since 2002
Architecture Misses Charles Moore
Moore’s innumerable collaborations, academic venues, writings, and buildings reflect this truth: Humanity was his greatest strength, and he saw that strength in others.
The rise and rise of ugly buildings
An inelegant new neighbour to Foyles bookshop on London’s Charing Cross Road is typical of buildings whose components seem to have met on a blind date.
Seymour Chwast On Milton Glaser, the Importance of Illustration + the State of Contemporary Design
On the recent publication of a new book on his work, we catch up with the legendary designer and illustrator.
When the USPS Is In Trouble, Artists and Designers Create Grassroots Efforts to Help
Using mail to drive social change has historical precedents. In 2020, it became personal.
Richard Blanco: Miami, Florida to Bethel, Maine
An interview about place (Bethel, Maine to be precise) with one of my favorite poets.
‘The equals of Klee and Matisse’ – the Alabama quilt-makers who shook America
They made quilts to keep the cold at bay. And their bold creations ended up being hailed as masterpieces – the visual equivalent of jazz and blues, tokens of solace
Finding Artist Heidi Schwegler
Leaving Barstow, the road drops and the great vast Mojave desert comes into clear view. The huge emptiness is both frightening and strangely familiar. On the one hand, it’s hard