The winning entrant to an interesting competition is a well executed large-scale pre fab solution to micro dwellings in NYC. After working on a POD hotel project in NYC in school myself, I see a lot of clever solutions in this proposal. The subtle break-down of the facade in steps and color creates a shifting scalar impression of part-to-whole, but never the fatal "lego" look of modular prefab that can doom a potential project. The interiors look handsome as well, but I guess it is yet to be seen what the actual fit/finish/price of the units will be. Hopefully the project will remain affordable and legitimately leverage the opportunities of pre-fab. I'm not sure if this is the first pre-fab project of this scale that will be completed in Manhattan, but it looks to be one of the largest. And i imagine the only way it has gotten this far is with the backing of the Mayor. But if it works (economically and culturally) it may act as a catalyst for similar projects.  It is scheduled to be completed in late 2015, so I'm excited to see the finished product.

Oscar Niemeyer died yesterday at the age of 104. From what I understand he worked almost to the last, as passionate about architecture as he was as a young man. I have had the opportunity to visit a few of his many buildings (sketches from those travels below), and they are all very different but all very accessible. He and those that worked with him had a dedication to the user of their architecture, and you truly do move, explore, and touch his buildings. I have tried to learn from the spirit he imbued those spaces with, and hope to catch some of his whimsy some day. Goodbye Oscar, you will be missed.

This is a great example of playful, yet smart design that I think will be really successful as a piece of infrastructure as well as civic identity. NEXT architects designed the Melkwegbrug bridge in the Netherlands to accomodate pedestrian, bike, and water traffic (the lower bridge splits and pivots) and to connect the older part of Purmerend with the new. I think it is beautifully executed as a sculptural form (and quite diagrammatic in organization), but it is also clever in providing varied experiences. Low speed = high elevation (and view), and vice versa. Users will play on this bridge without even knowing they are using a piece of infrastructure. I think really successful infrastructural public works , Like Ghery's bridge in Millenium Park or Weis Manfredi's Olympic Sculpture Park, are such a joy to use you don't even know they are providing a very utilitarian function. Nicely done.  

Woolmai House by Kerstin Thompson Architects. Quite nice. And of course, out of Australia

Sketchin with Jax at Vovomeena

I wish we could keep this slot open at the top of the patio SJ is building. Detail for a later date.

Finally edited and uploaded pictures from the Chile trip. You can check them out here at my Flickr page. It was a really amazing trip, so good to get back down to South America, meet new people, and learn new ways to approach architecture.

Art as Shelter by Tonic Design