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More from Coffee with an Architect

Christmas Cards from the Architects 2024

It’s that time again. It is the time of year when the architects turn their attention from their Dec. 25th deadline to thoughts of Christmas. Here we are, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling glass storefronts in our offices, staring out at the rolling hills covered with snow, thinking of the innate hierarchy implied in the Santa/Elf relationship, and the pleasing use ... Read More

4 months ago 77 votes
If movies were about Architecture

“Apocalypse Now”: an architect goes grossly over budget. Another architect is sent out to find him and value-engineer the project, in the jungle, during a war. “It’s a wonderful life”: An architect mishandles his finances. Jumps off a bridge. Is saved by his guardian angel / building inspector and shown what the world would be like without his architecture. “The ... Read More

11 months ago 77 votes
A simple description

The structural exploration reflects the dichotomy of the diametrically opposed forces creating intrinsic tension within the interstitial forms which have been bifurcated and articulated throughout the design exploration phases resulting from the pedological rigor employed throughout the process and within the contextual visualizations of the urban fabric and the liminal spaces between which have been juxtaposed with while simultaneously creating ... Read More

11 months ago 95 votes
Design explained using venn diagrams

Design is hard. If only the process could be explained using simple venn diagrams. Unfortunately, this isn’t that: More Design in charts – HERE, and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE

a year ago 93 votes
Design explained using pie charts again

Design is hard. If only the process could be explained using simple pie charts again. Unfortunately, this still isn’t that: More Design in charts – HERE, and HERE and HERE and HERE

a year ago 92 votes

More in architecture

Episode 3: Our Buildings, Our Selves, With Guests Paul Goldberger and Zach Mortice

The state of design journalism in the internet age.

2 days ago 4 votes
One-Nil to the Arsenal

When Arsenal striker Kai Havertz stepped up to take a penalty against Bournemouth last season, it felt like his career was a crossroads. The German forward had joined Arsenal from their London rivals Chelsea for a hefty £60 million transfer fee, but he still hadn’t found the back of the net. And critics were questioning

2 days ago 2 votes
As Los Angeles Burned, Architects Stepped Up

To mark National Volunteer Week 2025, we reflect on the overwhelming response by the architectural community who volunteered time and resources during and after January’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. In particular, we speak with Jessica Orlando of AIA Pasadena & Foothill Chapter, whose Ask an Architect program continues to match architects with homeowners seeking guidance as they rebuild homes, communities, and livelihoods.

2 days ago 4 votes
Reports of his death were greatly exaggerated…

A friend and colleague turned me onto AI obituaries. Think of them as interesting and amusing rather than morbid or morose. This one is from AI Copilot. John Massengale AIA CNU Celebrating a Visionary Mind in Urban Design and Architecture … Continue reading → The post Reports of his death were greatly exaggerated… appeared first on There are two types of architecture—good architecture, and the other kind.

2 days ago 4 votes
Broken Plexus (1 of 3): Designing a Recovery Workbook to Work Out Optimal Routines

Severe brachial plexus injuries (BPI) are relatively rare, which can make it difficult for sufferers to find useful resources. Broken Plexus is a three-part micro-series on assistive design, centered on (but not limited to) people with serious BPIs facing long-haul recoveries. The brachial plexus is a critical network of nerve pathways running between the spinal

3 days ago 2 votes