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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
7 months ago

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More from Coffee with an Architect

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

a year ago 94 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

a year ago 112 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 112 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 111 votes

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How the Architectural Model Maker Behind the Chinese Pavilion at the Venice Biennale Impressed Architects Around the World

MAD’s exhibition in Rotterdam, to the China Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, to KPF’s renovated Manhattan studio, and to the groundbreaking ceremony for Changi Airport Terminal 5 in Singapore, QZY Models has made frequent appearances in these remarkable architectural projects. Based in Shenzhen, China, this model-making team has established collaborations with architects around the world.  How do they work together to realize the ideal expression of each project? Archinect takes a closer look at the team and the stories behind their models.

4 days ago 8 votes
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a week ago 11 votes
Archinect Meets: The Daily Splice

Cutting up, piecing together, remixing, and collaging have been essential and time-tested elements of the creative process, including architecture. British graphic designer and animator Adam Hale, however, takes the medium to another level with a steady stream of often humorous — and always fascinating — animated collages on his popular Instagram account The Daily Splice. In today's Archinect Meets, we chat with him about his introduction to making collages, his connection to the built environment, and his preferred digital tools.

a week ago 13 votes