Browsing: Discover More

Christopher Hawthorne argues that Brady Corbet’s film The Brutalist isn’t truly about architecture, despite its Bauhaus-inspired protagonist, László Tóth. Instead, the movie examines power, wealth, immigration, and American vanity, using Brutalist buildings as a cinematic lens rather than a subject. While Tóth’s work mirrors the style of Marcel Breuer—hulking concrete forms and minimalist ornamentation—the film focuses on his exploitation by industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren and the broader societal forces shaping postwar America. Architecture becomes a MacGuffin; the real story critiques capitalism, American exceptionalism, and immigrant struggles. Hawthorne notes that, though critics have lambasted the film’s architectural inaccuracies, its cinematic…

On August 21, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order launching “America by Design”, a national initiative aimed at enhancing the usability and aesthetics of federal services across digital and physical platforms. The order establishes a National Design Studio (NDS) within the White House, led by an Administrator, and creates the new position of Chief Design Officer. Their mandate includes recruiting top creative talent, advising agencies, standardizing design, and improving public interactions with government services. Agencies are required to collaborate with the Chief Design Officer to update websites and physical facilities, focusing on high-impact services. Initial results are…

This project examines Hyderabad’s six-century-old stormwater management system, increasingly threatened by rapid urbanization. Disruptions in the network disproportionately affect low-lying informal settlements, causing frequent flash floods. Researchers Ambwani Supriya and Saeb Ali Khan retrace the city’s ecological and urban history, employing memory mapping, onsite surveys, and oral histories to overcome gaps in archival records. Insights are synthesized with existing data to identify vulnerable areas and test targeted “acupuncture” interventions to reconnect and restore the fractured water network, preserving Hyderabad’s urban resilience and heritage.

Modern technology is helping architects and craftsmen revive traditional architecture in ways previously unimaginable. From AI-assisted restoration of medieval cathedrals to robotic tools enabling intricate wood carvings, both historical preservation and the creation of new buildings in classical styles are becoming easier and more precise. Public preference favors tradition: a 2020 National Civic Art Society poll found 72% of Americans across political lines prefer traditional designs for courthouses and federal buildings. Even political figures like Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson have championed architecture that preserves historical styles. Examples abound globally, from the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to…

Homeowners are increasingly drawn to Modern Heritage, a style coined by designers Barry and Jordan of The Brownstone Boys. It blends historical elements—like antique mirrors, vintage glassware, and restored woodwork—with contemporary furnishings and playful colors. The trend emphasizes spaces that feel personal, storied, and lived-in, honoring the past while embracing modern comfort.

Perkins Eastman’s Design Strategy team, in collaboration with One Workplace and Kansas State University, studied open-plan, free-address work environments. Funded by the 2024 ONEder Grant, their research highlights that comfort, privacy, and personal identity are key to creating “hominess.” Flexible spaces succeed when these elements balance inherent tensions. Read Full paper here

In the wake of the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January 2025, architects and design innovators are rethinking how resilient, sustainable housing can be developed in vulnerable communities. Spearheading this effort is Case Study: Adapt (CSA), a nonprofit initiative founded by Leo Seigal, CEO of interior design consultancy The Expert, and entrepreneur Dustin Bramell, whose own midcentury home in the Pacific Palisades was destroyed in the fires. CSA draws inspiration from the historic Case Study program, which revolutionized post-World War II modern housing by pairing visionary architects with experimental residential projects. The new program focuses on helping…

Baker Barrios Architects is expanding its service portfolio with the launch of BirdDog Development Partners, a development management firm designed to bridge the gap between the architecture firm’s expertise and its preferred clients. First Project: Student Housing Near Ole Miss BirdDog’s inaugural project is a 755-bed, 243-unit student housing complex within a 15-minute walk of the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Construction broke ground in August on the 370,000-sf development, with the first phase scheduled for completion in Fall 2027. The project involves multiple developers, including Christa Development, Development Ventures Group, Kayne Anderson Real Estate, and BirdDog itself, while Montgomery…