Jackie's Architecture Blog May 2008 Archive

The twisted building that Santiago Calatrava plans for Chicago will need to follow a twisted path to get past the drawing board. Like so many aspiring skyscrapers, Calatrava's proposed "Chicago ... Read More

Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, designer of the wacky, wonderful village of Portmeirion, Wales, was born in England on May 28, 1883. The flamboyant and largely self-taught architect was ahead of his ... Read More

Landmark houses don't go on the market often, and when they do they tend to sell faster than an a auctioneer can swing a gavel. But bidding has been lackluster ... Read More

The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City turns 125 this weekend. The bridge is a much-loved landmark today, but its beginnings were shrouded with tragedy. Designer John A. Roebling died ... Read More

Postmodernist architect Robert A. M. Stern was born on May 23, 1939. Stern served on The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors from 1992 to 2003, so you can thank ... Read More

The earthquake that killed thousands in China was an act of nature, but building experts are asking whether poor planning and shoddy construction contributed to the devastating losses. Cheaply made ... Read More

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones can devastate buildings, but much of the world's great architecture is lost through poor planning or sheer neglect. This week, the National Trust ... Read More

If you missed the 2008 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Boston, take heart. The American Institute of Architects has posted video highlights of the convention online. With a ... Read More

One of the most influential architects of the 20th century, Walter Gropius, was born on May 18 in 1883. Gropius believed that design should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. ... Read More

What a week. Earthquakes... cyclones... tornadoes... and now a fire. A raging blaze at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has destroyed one of the greatest architecture libraries in ... Read More

The earthquake in China has sent shock waves through the world. What, if anything, could have saved the children who died in the collapsed school buildings or many thousands killed ... Read More

Can any home withstand a storm as powerful as the cyclone that devastated Myanmar or the tornadoes that swept through the American Midwest? Some builders say that the world's strongest buildings ... Read More

What could be safer than designing a home for your own mother? No matter what you do, she's certain to sing your praises (even if the house seems radical for ... Read More

The devastating cyclone in Myanmar left up to one million people homeless. Damaged infrastructure and a despotic military rule have hampered relief efforts. Fortunately, some organizations are making inroads ... Read More

All the excitement over Cinco de Mayo reminded me how much I love Hispanic architecture and buildings inspired by Spain. From fanciful Churrigueresque churches to modest Spanish Revival bungalows, this ... Read More

All across Mexico and in many parts of the USA, today is a day of parades, festivals, and feasts. El Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May") commemorates Mexico's victory ... Read More

'Tis the month for historical questions as the National Trust honors National Preservation Month. Here are our top four queries, with problem-solving answers: How old is my house? Did it come ... Read More

Wanna win a weekend at an historic inn? A subscription to Arts & Crafts Homes? How about private tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Beth Sholom Synagogue in Pennsylvania? All this ... Read More

New York's most famous skyscraper celebrates another birthday today, and after 77 years, it's still the tallest building in the city. The Art Deco Empire State Building was the tallest building ... Read More