Michigan Central Station

Statement:

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the city of Detroit developed rapidly thanks to the automobile industry. Until the 50′s, its population rose to almost 2 million people. Detroit was the fourth most important city in the United States. It was the dazzling symbol of the American Dream City with its monumental skyscrapers and fancy neighborhoods. Increasing segregation and de-industrialization caused violent riots in 1967. The white middle-class exodus from the city accelerated and the suburbs grew. Firms and factories began to close or move to lower-wage states. Slowly, but inexorably downtown high-rise buildings emptied.

Since the 50′s, “Motor City” lost more than half of its population.

Untied Artists Theater

William Livingstone House

Fisher Body 21 Plant

See more photos from this project here

Look for The Ruins of Detroit book out sometime this August via Steidl

posted by: Harold Johns III

World’s Columbian Exposition: Ferris Wheel, Chicago, United States, 1893. (View through support wires from one gondola to the opposite gondola) Starks W. Lewis, Amateur, Brooklyn, N.Y. Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection

William Henry Goodyear (1846–1923), who put together the World’s Columbian Exposition photo archive, was the Brooklyn Museum’s first curator of fine arts (1899–1923) and a renowned art and architectural historian. In addition to being a vital force in the early years of the Museum’s fine arts department, Goodyear did extensive research in art history and architectural theory.

The entire Goodyear Archival Collection can also be found on the Brooklyn Museum Web site and on the Museum’s flickr.

posted by: Harold Johns III

Built in 1997 and located in Henderson, Nevada, this $126,000 replica of the Simpsons’ house was built for a contest held by Fox, Pepsi and the homebuilder to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the subversive cartoon.

Which as you might have guessed was no easy task given the challenges the architects faced in bringing an animated house to reality. Turns out the cartoon house didn’t have a single load bearing wall, while the dimensions of the garage could not fit a real car. On top of that, the land appropriated by Fox for the construction could only accommodate a 40 foot wide house – the TV version was estimated to be the equivalent of 50 feet. And there was also the issue of how to reconcile the many changes the Simpson house went through over the years.

In the end, the architects estimated they were able to incorporate 90% of the animated house into the real-life version, going so far as to include Bart’s treehouse, a swing set and Homer’s back yard barbecue.

Sadly, the winner of the contest chose the cash prize instead of the house. The people who eventually did move in painted the exterior a less cartoony color. Rumor has it a Bart Simpson drawing by the show’s creator Matt Groening can still be found on the sidewalk in front of the house.

source: Design Fetish
posted by: Brent Carter

Sometimes while researching a blog post you’ll find another site has already beat you to it. In this case, while gathering information on the most offensive architectural projects on hold due to the economic recession I came across Flavorwire’s list of  “Architectural Projects That Seemed Like a Great Idea at the Time.” Their list conveys many of my ideas in much simpler terms, so I’ve decided to abandon my effort and simply pass along the information from Flavorwire.

Included in the list are six projects, like the under water hotel known as Hydropolis (pictured above) in Dubai, that are so absurd in scope and cost you’ll wonder how anyone, even an international banker, could be convinced to build them.

Read the full list here

posted by: Brent Carter

Meet Dan Phillips of Huntsville, TX, changing the world one house at a time. His local building initiative Phoenix Commotion works with low income individuals to build their own homes using 80-85% recycled materials. Read the Phoenix Commotion mission statement below and watch the video to see some of Phillips’ unique and low-cost homes.

Mission Statement:
“The Phoenix Commotion is a local building initiative created to prove that constructing homes with recycled and salvaged materials has viable place in the building industry. This operation uses only apprentice labor and teaches marketable skills to anyone with a work ethic who is willing to swing a hammer. By keeping labor costs low and using donated or found materials, the homes created are truly affordable. No two are alike due to the myriad of materials used, so there is an artistic element that makes Phoenix Commotion homes truly unique. We target single parents, artists, and families with low incomes. We require the homeowner to be involved with the planning and construction of their own home. The result is a person who is empowered, not only by the use of knowledge and building skills, but by the opportunity to become part of a community as a vested participant.” (Continue reading here)

posted by: Tricia Rock

The fifth year architectural design studio of the University of Kansas in conjunction with El Dorado Inc. presents “Fill:Refill,” an exhibition of 50 projects for Jarboe Pool. The reception/exhibition is Wednesday, May13th at Pachamama’s in Lawrence, KS beginning at 7:30 pm. Stop by to see the end product of a semester’s worth of hard work by these emerging architects and soon to be graduates, including The Rathaus’ own s.a.johnson.

Learn more about Fill:Refill here.

posted by: Brent Carter