It's that time of year again! The time when we round-up what you, our dear readers, most enjoyed this year. The following ten articles - from fun lists (30 Architecture Docs to Watch in 2013) to thought-provoking looks into the state of the architecture profession (Are Renderings Bad for Architecture?) - caught your attentions and provoked some great comments. See them all - including our record-breaking #1 article - after the break.
10. Are Renderings Bad for Architecture?
This article, by ArchDaily editor Vanessa Quirk, explores the tricky question: why do we use such idealized images to represent architecture? And at what cost? The article struck quite a chord with our readers - with 115 comments and over 3,000 likes on Facebook. Add your voice to the conversation here.
9.The 10 Most Inspirational TED Talks for Architects
This post, by ArchDaily intern for Fall 2013 Nicky Rackard, rounded up "ten inspirational TED talks for architects (in no particular order) from people with broad and unique views on architecture. Some might enlighten, educate or even enrage you – at the very least they should get those creative juices flowing a little better." See all 10 here.
8. The 10 Most Overlooked Women in Architecture History
Another by intern Nicky, this post took an important look at female architects who have been forgotten (or just not as recognized as they should) by history - from Eileen Gray to Denise Scott Brown and many in between. Re-discover these forgotten female figures here.
7. Why I Left the Architecture Profession
This article, by architect-turned-smart-city-strategist Christine Outram, is an open letter to architects everywhere. It begins: "Dear architects: You’re outdated. I know this because I once was one of you. But now I’ve moved on. I moved on because despite your love of a great curve, and your experimentation with form, you don’t understand people. I correct myself. You don’t listen to people." The post generated an incredible response from our readers (116 comments; 6.6 THOUSAND Likes on Facebook), particularly from those who came to the profession's defense (including AD columnist Guy Horton). Add your voice here.
6. Searching for a Job in Architecture? 10 Things You Need to Know
This article came our way courtesy of ArchDaily friend Linda Bennett, the founder of Archi-Ninja. In it, Linda recounts her experiences job-searching and offers the 10 things that most helped her achieve a fulfilling job. See them all here.
Image of Job Satisfaction Napkin Doodle via Shutterstock.com
5. 30 Architecture Docs to Watch in 2013
Yet another by intern Nicky, this list rounds up the 30 Architecture Docs that you should have watched this year. Did you watch them all? See what you may have missed here.
Here's one from our contributing editor and UK correspondent James Taylor-Foster, who updated our 2012 list to round up the ten best Apps for architects. Check them out here.
3. Infographic: Life Inside the Kowloon Walled City
The final entry from intern Nicky was this post detailing the history of the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong, what was the most densely populated place on earth, with 3,250,000 people per square mile. Read the whole story, and see the fascinating infographic, here.
2. Can We Please Stop Drawing Trees on Skyscrapers?
This article by Tim De Chant, the senior digital editor at NOVA, riled up our readers to debate about a little-discussed architectural subject: trees. In the article, De Chant claims that it's scientifically not plausible to have trees on buildings, saying "It’s just not realistic. I get why architects draw them on their buildings. Really, I do. But can we please stop?" Judging by the 116 comments, however, it's seems the verdicts still out - to tree or not to tree? Let us know what you think here.
1. Why Japan Is Crazy About Housing
And our #1 article of 2013 comes to us via Tokyo architect and writer Alastair Townsend, who digs into the economic realities that explain the prevalence of Japan's radical residential designs. Learn more about why Japan is crazy about housing here.
That's it! Happy reading and happy holidays from all of us at ArchDaily!
