Pavlo Kryvozub, a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati, was just announced by the SOM Foundation as the winner of the 2012 SOM Prize. He will use the $50,000 award to facilitate travel in Europe and Asia pursuing research on his topic, “Synthesis of Art & Architecture.” Kryvozub says, “The synthesis of the arts within the field of architecture has a long tradition which spans throughout human history…I would like to look for the continuity of development and interaction of architecture with other arts in both historical and contemporary contexts.” More information on the awards after the break.

Architects: Bourne Blue Architecture Location: Seal Rocks, NSW Australia Project Year: 2009 Photographs: Brett Boardman, Richard Birch, Shane Blue

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Nowa Huta of The Future, designed by BudCud, Centrala, and ARUP, is aimed at being a brand new direction of touristic experiences and a recreational map of Krakow. Their strategy has a potential of engaging new groups of potential investors and the residents of whole region. Nowa Huta of The Future is what the city needs to become world class metropolis. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Architects: 01Arq Location: Colina, Chile Design Team: Cristian Winckler, Pablo Saric, Felipe Fritz Project Year: 2009 Photographs: Aryeh Kornfeld, Mauricio Fuertes

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The Social Economic Environmental Design® (SEED) Network, which just announced its 3rd annual Awards for Excellence in Public Interest Design, is offering yet another exciting opportunity for Public Interest Designers.

Architects: ARTEC Architekten Location: Vienna, Austria Architect In Charge: Bettina Götz, Richard Manahl Design Team: Björn Wilfinger, Ronald Mikolics, Michael Murauer, Anna-Maria Wolf, Aniko Horvathova, Kathrin Schelling, Wolf Deucker, Jun Wook Song Project Year: 2012 Photographs: Courtesy of ARTEC Architekten

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Social Media in Action: Comprehensive Guide for Architecture, Engineering, Planning, and Environmental Consulting Firms is, first and foremost, a how-to guide. Using facts, figures and a wide range of research to back up its claims, the book lays out exactly how Architecture firms can get the most bang out of their social media buck.

But the book also takes the time to establish the why of social media – particularly post-Recession – and offers a fascinating glimpse into its future relevance. As the authors explain in the very first chapter: “This new form of media is not a trend. It is the way businesses communicate.” As an Architectural Blog, we see the power and reach of social media strengthen everyday, and couldn’t agree more.

If you have wet feet about jumping on the social media bandwagon, whether out of intimidation or a lack of time, be aware that that many have already dived right in, and, as Walter and Berkley put it, are “riding that wave with some exciting results.” So, let us stress: if you haven’t jumped yet, you need too. Social Media in Action is a good way to start.

For more tips about improving your social media presence from Social Media in Action, read on after the break…

Designed by LAVA, the proposal for the Tehran Stock Exchange fuses visionary geometries and forms with traditional elements of Persian culture. The vision seeks to define a new typology for the next century, mixing virtual and human interaction. Inspired by the local morphology such as cave houses, the building is envisioned as an urban rock, with smartly carved ovoid shapes enhancing natural light, panoramic views, interior spaces and the relationship with the surroundings. An interior light void maximizes fresh air and sunlight, while roof terraces add to the amenity of workers. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Architects: D.I.G Architects Location: Nagoya City, Japan Design Team: Akinori Yoshimura, Maki Yoshimura Project Year: 2011 Photographs: Tomohiro Sakashita

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The American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) has selected 15 educational and cultural facilities for this year’s CAE Educational Facility Design Awards. The 15 winners represent the best of emerging trends and ideas, “honor excellence in planning and design, and disseminate knowledge about best practices in educational and community facilities,” according to the AIA’s press release.

See the complete list of winners, after the break…

Construction of the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea designed by high-rise architectural firm KPF is well underway. Won via an international design competition, this new tower will rise up to a pinnacle height of 555 meters. Organized around a mixed-use program including retail, office, hotel and an observation deck at the peak, the tower pulls inspiration from historical Korean arts of ceramics, porcelain, and calligraphy. More details after the break.

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A national landmark and one of the busiest multimodal transportation hubs in the country, Washington Union Station, designed by Daniel Burnham, is about to undergo some significant changes. The 1907 station is currently operating beyond capacity, serving 100,000 passenger trips per day on Amtrak and commuter trains, Metrorail and buses. Over the next 15 to 20 years, passengers are expected to triple and the number of trains will double, so change is necessary in order to accommodate this growth.

HOK, in collaboration with Amtrak and Parsons Brinckerhoff, have unveiled a plan to revitalize the station and bring it up to 21st century standards. Continue after the break for more.

Architects: Duch-Piza Arquitectos Location: Mexico City, Mexico Technical Architects: Oscar Menendez Vinent Partner Architect: C. Hernández Project Year: 2009 Photographs: Jaime Sicilia

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The relationship between social dynamics and architecture has always been intimate. It is a constant dialogue between social norms and politics, stylistic trends and aesthetic choices, individual preferences and the collective good. The Modernist Period was a time when architecture took on the challenge of many social problems. In all the arts – architecture, design, music and film – the period was highly politicized and the choices often gave way to a utilitarian ideal that was a hybrid of efficiency, simplicity and comfort. Jake Gorst’s new film Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture on Long Island, supported by Design Onscreen, is a message of preservation that takes us through the history of the modernist housing boom that took place on Long Island, NY in the period between the Great Depression and the 1970s.

On August 14th, Cook+Fox Architects hosted a private film screening at their office on 641 Ave of the Americas, presenting the treasures along the island’s shore that have fallen between the cracks of history. The film looks at works from Albert Frey, Wallace Harrison, Frank Lloyd Wright, Marcel Breuer, Philip Johnson, Charles Gwathmey, Barbara and Julian Neski and many others.

Follow us after the break to catch up on the history of the development of these houses on Long Island.

Founded 30 years’ ago by one of Taiwan’s most respected architects, J. J. Pan & Partners has been steadfastly pursuing its vision of creating lasting, beautiful architecture that is appropriate to its role, harmonious with its time and place, and that best expresses the cultural, social and technological environment. A must have companion to the original J.J. Pan and Partners title, this publication is fully illustrated with photographs and plans of J.J. Pan’s most interesting projects.

Design Corps, the Social Economic Environmental Design® (SEED) Network, and their 2013 partner, the University of Minnesota College of Design, are pleased to announce the Third Annual SEED Awards for Excellence in Public Interest Design.

Thanks to the courtesy of Cicada Books, we are giving you the chance to win this amazing and entertaining book: Draw Me a House (see our review here). We have 3 copies of the book and all you have to do to participate is become a registered user (if you’re not one already) and answer the following question in our comments:

Staten Island, arguably New York’s most often forgotten borough, may finally be getting its moment in the spotlight. Talks are in the works of creating a giant 600 ft Ferris wheel near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to generate activity for the waterfront. To put 600 feet in perspective, think bigger than the Singapore Flyer at 451 feet and the London Eye’s 450 ft marker, and much bigger than Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel at 150 feet. While millions enjoy the free trip across the harbor on the ferry every year, few venture far from the boat. The Ferris Wheel is intended to capitalize on the Island’s amazing views of Manhattan and build up the Island’s visitor flow. “It’s the greatest thing that has been proposed for Staten Island, especially on the waterfront. This could landmark us. We have 2 million tourists a year on the ferry, so we have a built-in audience to use it, and it’s a different audience every day. Once you can attract them off that boat, you got them here,” James Molinaro, the borough president, stated.

More after the break. 

A project funded by the city of Bat-Yam, the abandoned Riviera nightclub on the beach of Bat-Yam, south of Tel-Aviv, has been turned into a seaside art gallery and artist colony. Designed by Derman Verbakel Architecture, the 1,200 square meter grid of concrete columns and beams, which had been the décor for a lively night scene in 1950s and 60s, was reconverted within only a few weeks last summer. This project then became a space for artists to live and create on-site art inside and outside the gallery. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The Non-Linear Lab, a two-day workshop by modeLab September 8-9, will focus on growth systems, parametric detailing, and digital fabrication. This lab is the next installment in their coLAB series and is the result of collaborative research undertaken by Skylar Tibbits [SJET + Previous coLAB Instructor] and Ronnie Parsons + Gil Akos . In a fast-paced and hands-on learning environment, they will cover fundamental concepts of programming and parametric design as well as an introduction to laser cutting constraints and best practices. Emphasis will be placed on iterative prototyping, allowing for a thorough investigation of a series of growth, unit, and detailing scripts while working directly with their CNC equipment. For more information, please visit here.

Architects: ART & BUILD ARCHITECT Location: Strasbourg, France Project Area: 800 sqm Photographs: Courtesy of Art&Build

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Designed by ANMA to act as a natural machine, the new headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, located in southwestern Paris, includes a health center, restaurants, media and sport centers as well as a crèche. This complex structure, designed around the strictest security requirements, is the largest public building to be built in France for 20 years. The structure aims to present an image of the armed forces, not only as a protective force, but a strong and stately force as well. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Architects: Alejandro Beautell Location: La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain Project Year: 2012 Project Area: 207.46 sqm Photographs: Efraín Pintos

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