Steven Holl on Raimund Abraham · 5 March, 03:58 PM by Archlog
Steven Holl sent this appreciation of Raimund Abraham, on hearing of his death in L.A. on Wednesday:
I sit here in New York in shock of Raimund Abraham’s death…after the email arrived from Eric Moss…a call from Leb Woods….I call Mark Mack and tell him, he is struck silent with shock…he had planned to attend the lecture but….I think back to 1976 at the Architecture Association where I first encountered Raimund. It was a lecture moderated by Alvin Boyarsky. I think Elia and Rem were in the audience as was all of their studio,Unit 9, which included the then unknown Zaha. Raimund had a big fedora on his head,he was smoking a cigar (in those days you could smoke in a lecture) After the presentation, he got into a nasty argument…if I recall correctly it was with Peter Eisenman—-I thought he was an egotistical fool—until I saw his mesmerizing drawings. The poetry of architecture was alive in his drawings. Much later at Cooper Union in New York, I encountered him in reviews with students sitting on the edges of their chairs. It was always very tense with John Hejduk and Raimund at Cooper. There was no sense of humor. It was all emotional dedication to architecture. John Hedjuk was the Pope, Raimund the Bishop…Cooper was a monastery. In those days New York architecture culture was poisoned by Robert Stern and Philip Johnson…they were so very fickle, changing styles with any commercial wind. The AT&T building by Philip Johnson was completed on Madison Avenue. Then Philip changed his style again to build the “lipstick “building at 885 Third Ave. Philip could be very funny in public speaking….sort of making me sick. I would go down to Cooper Union to survive. Cooper Union was like no other place on earth…it had an intensity that you could taste and smell…the serious dedication to Architecture was obsessive with John and Raimund….With their passionate teaching and argumentative presence they forged a unique moment in the history of architectural education. It was hard to love Raimund…he was so very severe. …but when you encountered him,you knew you were in the presence of someone vary rare…you were in the presence of a soul …with conviction. He certainly will be missed.
—- Steven Holl 3/4/10
(Reproduced here with permission of S. Holl.)
I'll take the steak (to save money) · 22 February, 12:40 PM by Archlog
Interesting piece in salon.com today on how the design and layout of restaurant menus influences our decisions about what to order.
Birdwatching opening March 3 · 17 February, 10:03 AM by Archlog
Klompching Gallery is hosting an opening party to celebrate the publication of Paula McCartney’s Birdwatching on Wednesday, March 3, from 6-8PM, as well as an exhibition of the same name, her first solo show at the Brooklyn gallery. Klompching describes McCartney’s enigmatic photographs of stuffed birds perched in natural settings this way: “Paula McCartney’s Bird Watching series are exemplary, flawlessly composed photographs of a wide variety of perching birds. The diverse species are perfectly posed in a range of picturesque habitats across the United States, in settings that are pure wilderness. However, a closer inspection reveals stiff wire protrusions, over-dyed faux feathers and splashes of paint for eyes and beaks. In her amalgamation of natural settings with craft store songbirds, she has created a carefully enhanced landscape—a bird watcher’s dream.”
Andrea Cochran signing tonight, Peter Miller Books in Seattle · 3 February, 02:54 PM by Archlog
Andrea Cochran will be signing copies of her book Andrea Cochran: Landscapes tonight at Peter Miller Books in Seattle, WA from 5:30-7:30PM PST.
Another one bites the dust... · 16 December, 10:32 AM by Archlog
Mediabistro announces that I.D. Magazine is closing down
Professions to avoid · 15 December, 02:00 PM by Archlog
Happy not to see book publishing on the government’s list of the top 10 industries with the largest wage and salary declines, 2008-18, but both newspaper publishing and printing are there, so the barbarians at the gate.
Metropolitan Home shut down · 10 November, 11:17 AM by Archlog
Hachette today announced that they are closing down Metropolitan Home magazine to focus their energies on Elle Décor, leaving the once-crowded shelter mag rack at the grocery stop with a bit more breathing room.
Steven Holl's Linked Hybrid awarded Best Tall Building of 2009 · 29 October, 11:53 AM by Archlog
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats last week named Steven Holl’s Linked Hybrid Building the best building of 2009. Linked Hybrid is also featured in Holl’s latest monograph, Urbanisms, Working with Doubt, just published.
Blair Kamin covers the story in the Chicago Tribune
Two book parties for Lettering and Type · 28 October, 02:09 PM by Archlog
To celebrate the release of the latest book in the acclaimed Design Brief series, Lettering and Type, there are two parties: One at MICA in Baltimore tomorrow, Thursday October 29, and the other in New York City at the Cooper Union on November 17. Full details at the Lettering and Type website
Terrence Riley stepping down as director of Miami Art Museum · 26 October, 05:19 PM by Archlog
Plans to focus his energies on his pratice, Keenen/Riley. Would-be museum directors, polish up your resumés!