AIBC eNews
December 20, 2010
By Alison Gregor, New York Times
December 16, 2010
The economic downturn and a shift to recycled and repurposed material have brought out the creative side of architects and builders. How about a bay window made of an old truck body, or a closet made of red wine barrels? Or even a home framed in steel from melted-down submarines. That time may be fast approaching. More … http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/realestate/19posting.html?_r=1.
December 17, 2010
Preservation Studies in Italy
Participation is invited for the San Gemini Preservation Studies Program’s 2011 field school. The program, now in its twelfth year, is dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage and offers participants the opportunity to study and travel in Italy. This year’s course listing features a new program on paper restoration as well as:
Field projects include restoration of the Porta Burgis and archaeological survey of the public baths in Carsulae. Courses are open to students from various disciplines, both undergraduate and graduate, and all lessons are taught in English. To find out more about the program and review the syllabi, please visit http://sangeministudies.org.
December 16, 2010
By Christopher Hume, Toronto Star
Wednesday, December 15
Perhaps it’s not surprising that Peter Milczyn, trained architect and city councillor, should have designs on Toronto. And now that Mayor Rob Ford has appointed him chair of the city’s planning and growth management committee and TTC vice-chair, Milczyn’s moment has finally come. More … http://www.thestar.com/news/article/907552–hume-peter-milczyn-the-man-with-the-plan.
December 16, 2010
The course schedule and on-line course registration process for 2011 is now up and running (Click here) . You are encouraged to register early to be sure of getting into the sessions you want, and to do so on line for even quicker results (instantaneous confirmation notice and receipt).
December 16, 2010
The State of Washington is in the process of introducing new legislation to govern the practice of architecture. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5529, signed into law last March, will come into effect in three stages over the next two years. Amongst the many changes are specific provisions related to business licensing, mandatory continuing education, cross-jurisdictional recognition, and updated language regarding exceptions. As a result of the new legislation, the Washington State Board of Architects is also introducing changes to its Washington Administrative Code, and is currently seeking feedback from its members on the draft rule proposal. For more information, visit http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/architects/architectrulechanges.html.
December 16, 2010
By Marc Stoiber, BC Business
December 9, 2010
Customers are growing weary of green branding, so how will green go forth? As a staple, not a perk. We are witnessing an explosion of green products in the North American market. By some measures, launches tripled between 2008 and 2009, and show no sign of slowing down. More … http://www.bcbusinessonline.ca/bcb/bc-blogs/conference/2010/12/09/green-branding-thing-past.
December 15, 2010
Canadian Architect magazine has announced the winners of its 2010 Awards of Excellence, given each year to architects and architectural graduates for buildings in the design stage. Among the six recipients of an Award of Excellence is Cannon Design for the Capilano Film Centre in North Vancouver, and Patkau Architects Inc. for the Cottages at Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Four merit awards and two student awards were also granted. This year’s winners were selected by a jury consisting of James Cheng MAIBC (James KM Cheng Architects, Vancouver); Andrew King M.Arch (Cannon Design, Calgary); and Janna Levitt OAA (Levitt Goodman Architects, Toronto). The awards recognize design excellence with consideration for response to the program, site, geographical and social context, and evaluated physical organization, structure, materials and environmental features. Detailed coverage can be found in the December 2010 issue of the magazine.
December 15, 2010
You are invited to take part in the Cross-Laminated Timber Symposium from February 8-9, 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel, also known as a solid wood panel, is one of the new products recently introduced to the wood construction sector, and one of the most discussed wood products in B.C. and across the country. You can be one of the first to learn about this innovative product, and receive the new Cross-Laminated Timber Handbook, which provides key technical information related to its manufacturing, design and performance in construction. This two-day symposium, presented by Wood WORKS! BC, BC Wood and FPInnovations, offers a unique opportunity to discover how CLT can enhance and benefit your projects. Expert speakers from Austria, Italy and the United Kingdom will cover all major aspects relating to CLT panels. The deadline for registration is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2011. Go online to www.wood-works.org/BC/Timber. For more information, contact Lorna Malone by phone (1-877-929-9663, ext. 4) or e-mail (lmalone@wood-works.ca).
9 Core LUs
December 15, 2010
By John Parman, Living Urbanism
December 10, 2010
Early in 2010, San Francisco witnessed another skirmish over density. This one involved a proposal to replace an existing building on the same block as the 48-story, 850-foot-high Transamerica Pyramid (1972). Located at the corner of Sansome and Washington Streets, along the north edge of the Financial District, the proposed 38-story tower considerably exceeded the maximum-height “wall” of 200 feet called for by the City’s current zoning regulations along the district’s north edge. More … http://livingurbanism.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/density-and-urbanity/.
December 14, 2010
Those interested or involved in six-storey, wood frame, multi-family construction are invited to be part of an upcoming forum to explore how B.C.’s numerous manufactured building (housing) producers can contribute to more technically advanced, quickly executed and cost-effective building solutions. Intended primarily as a dialogue and information exchange between manufacturers and those in the development/construction industries, it acknowledges the critical third-party roles that architects, engineers, and wood construction specialists can play as facilitators. The forum will be held in the lower mainland in the spring of 2011. Interested parties are invited to contact architect Ian Bazley MAIBC at (250) 862-3263 to discuss attendance and participation or to offer information or contacts that can help to make this event a success.
December 13, 2010
By David Heymann, Places
December 13, 2010
The role of site in various forms of Western cultural production has evolved dramatically over the past 50 years. Roughly speaking, where once site was seen as setting, now it is seen as source. It’s easiest to see this change in certain evolutions within Western artwork over the past 50 years. Compare, for example, Andy Goldsworthy’s Rain Shadow to Henry Moore’s Large Spindle Piece. As the artist Robert Irwin has pointed out, the Moore may work well in landscape (in the photograph it has temporarily landed at Kenyon College), but even here we perceive that the work is fundamentally about the internal concerns of Moore within his oeuvre, and has little to do with the qualities of this specific place. More … http://places.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=21159.
December 13, 2010
By Brian Martin, Journal of Commerce
December 13, 2010
Vancouver can be an odd place. In recent months, the municipality dug up part of city hall’s lawn for a vegetable garden. It has also approved chickens in backyards and has been busy creating bike lanes where previously only evil autos freely roamed. More … http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id42029/buildingenvelope.
December 11, 2010
By Kim Davis, Vancouver Sun
December 11, 2010
Like any other urban design or planning team, the 20 or so students from UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and the School of Community and Regional Planning started with a set of projections and objectives. They imagined a doubling of Vancouver’s population over 40 years, emphasizing the city’s rapidly aging demographics, and a reduction of greenhouse gases to 80 per cent of 1990 levels. More … http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Paperwork+easy+part+design/3961915/story.html.
December 11, 2010
By Bob Ransford, Vancouver Sun
December 11, 2010
Vancouver is one of only a few major cities in North America that does not have a physical master plan guiding change and growth. The Vancouver Town Planning Commission hired American urban planner Harland Bartholomew in the 1920s to draft the last city-wide plan. Bartholomew’s plan, completed in 1929, was never officially adopted, but did set the tone for much of Vancouver’s current urban structure. More … http://www.vancouversun.com/Architecture+students+term+project+first+Vancouver/3961914/story.html.
December 10, 2010
Dear Members and Associates,
As part of its budgeting process for the coming year, AIBC Council has approved increases to fees, fines and charges for all categories of registrant. This decision, supported by both the Financial Health Task Force and the Governance Task Force, is in keeping with council’s cautious and conservative approach to budgeting while allowing for the necessary capital planning…(continue reading)
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