Under-construction architects

By: PechaKucha Prague

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Under-construction architects - Video

The Nigerian Institute of Architects on Tuesday urged the Lagos State Government to adequately fund its new Mortgage Scheme.

This is contained in a Communiqu issued at the end of the Lagos Architects Forum 5.0, signed by Mr. Ladipo Lewis, Chairman, NIA, Lagos Chapter, and its Secretary, Mr. Bayo Ogunmefun.

The forum with the theme Architecture and Real Estate Development, noted that funding the new mortgage scheme would enable the government take care of the housing deficit in the State.

There is a massive housing shortage in Lagos State for the low and medium Income classes.

This situation is caused by lack of an effective mortgage system, inadequate provision of finance and difficult access to land.

We believe that funding the new scheme will help the low and medium income earners in both the formal and the informal sectors of the economy, the communiqu said.

It also urged the State Government to make procurement of Certificates of Occupancy and Governors Consents easy.

The communiqu said that the State Government should either adopt the National Building Code or evolve its own State Code, to stem building failure and collapse.

It suggested that the state should put in place policies that would encourage continuous development of quality Hotels of various standards.

The communiqu said that this was necessary because of the mega-city status of Lagos and its economic importance in the country and the West African Sub-Region.

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Fund new mortgage scheme, architects urge Lagos

Regional News of Wednesday, 21 May 2014

Source: Graphic Online

The acting Registrar of the Architects Registration Council of Ghana, Mrs Stella Arthiabah, has cautioned the public to beware of unauthorised persons, who are illegally practising architecture in the country.

She said in a statement that certain individuals and firms, though not being architects or architectural firms, presented themselves to unsuspecting clients and submitted proposals for consideration for architectural design and consultancy services.

Such practices do not only affect the proper planning and adherence to building regulations in the country but also pose great danger to our society since these individuals lack the required coaching to do proper work.

Mrs Arthiabah cited part 3, paragraph 20 of the Architects Decree 1969 (NLCD 357); Part 1, Section 6 of the National Building Regulations 1996 (LI 1630); and related legislation which make clear reference to the practice and engagement of architects and the allied professionals.

The architect is the lead design professional and has the capacity and training in the art and science of building design and the design of spaces in general.

She urged the public to engage only registered architects and architectural firms for architectural services, ensure that Statement of Work (SOW) for consultancy services was clearly stated to avoid any ambiguities, request for proof of valid practice certificates from consultants and also seek assistance from the Council or the Ghana Institute of Architects when developing SOW for building projects.

Mrs Arthiabah noted that the authorised architects had the capacity to embark on core architectural services, including project feasibility/viability studies, concept ideas development, building design and detailing, construction supervision, contract administration, project management, rehabilitation and refurbishment, conservation, interior design, landscape design, building survey and facilitating planning approvals.

The Architects Registration Council of Ghana is mandated by the Architects Decree of 1969 (NLCD 357) to control the practice of Architecture in Ghana, and prescribe and uphold standards of professional conduct and ethics of the practice in the interest of the general public.

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Public cautioned against fake architects

County Commissioners Court will select either MNK Architects or Wiginton Hooker Jeffry to perform the study that will help determine whether the Downtown jail needs to be replaced or repaired.

MNK Architects is an El Paso company. Wiginton Hooker Jeffry's main office is in Plano, Texas. Both companies have formed teams for the study that include other local and out-of-town companies.

MNK Architects has associated with GSBS Architects, a firm with offices in Salt Lake City and Fort Worth, to compete for the project.

According to a presentation, MNK and GSBS together have worked on more than 115 jail projects. Their team includes companies such as Latta Tech, which specializes in security consulting, and AB&P Engineering from El Paso. MNK representatives said they are familiar with the Downtown jail and the city's building code.

Jim Wiginton, president of Wiginton Hooker Jeffry, said his company has built 40 jails more than 30 in Texas and five in New Mexico. The company has a long relationship with ASA Architects, which has had an office in El Paso for about 20 years. Together they built the Doa Ana County Jail. Another local company associated with this team is Walter P. Moore engineers, Wiginton said.

MNK Architects and Wiginton Hooker Jeffry were considered after the county's purchasing department issued the request for qualifications to 151 engineering firms throughout the country and received five consultant proposals back.

MNK Architects and Wiginton Hooker Jeffry were the top finalists as their proposals were rated as equal by the county's evaluation committee. The evaluation committee included members of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the public works department, the auditor's office and the purchasing department.

Commissioners Court is expected to make a decision in two weeks.

The purpose of the feasibility study is to determine "the best overall operating cost savings" for the Downtown jail over the next 15 years, said Kennie Downing, county's purchasing agent.

"We are looking for a long term cost savings goal," she said.

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Two firms vie for the right to study the Downtown jail

Badih and Kantar Architects Photoshoot by Emile Issa
Corporate Photo Shoot for BK Architects: Partners and Team Members Corporate Portrait Photo Shoot by Emile Issa. Video: Fouad Tadros.

By: BK Architects

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Badih and Kantar Architects Photoshoot by Emile Issa - Video

Architects - "Gravedigger" Live @ Pomona, The Glasshouse (5/16/14)

By: silvaahsdomain

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Architects - "Gravedigger" Live @ Pomona, The Glasshouse (5/16/14) - Video

The Architects - Naysayer (LIVE - SAN FRANCISCO)
May 17, 2014 at the Bottom of the Hill (shot with a Samsung Note 3) See pix of the whole show at http://absolute-chaos.com/pt/LETLIVE--THE-ARCHITECTS-w-special-guests-I-The-Mighty--Glass-Cloud-5.19...

By: Raven Wynd

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The Architects - Naysayer (LIVE - SAN FRANCISCO) - Video

Miami Worldcenter - Interview With Architects
Miami Worldcenter - Interview With Architects Elkus Manfredi.

By: partner56239248

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Miami Worldcenter - Interview With Architects - Video

From its inception, architect Zaha Hadids design for the 2020 Olympic Stadium in Tokyo was met with controversy. And now, Tokyo-based architect Toyo Ito and Pritzker Prize-winning Fumihiko Maki have organized an online petition to halt the construction of the new sports arena. Instead, they propose saving the citys existing Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium and neighboring gardens.

The architects are arguing that the proposed stadium, which will be as tall as a 20-story skyscraper when complete, will be totally out of scale to its location and will ruin the Meiji Shrine Outer Gardens, while forcing residents of the nearby Kasumigaoka Public Housing facility to relocate. The petition also states that the 130 billion yen price tag will divert resources from the relief efforts of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. Hence, the petition calls for a more greener and democratic alternative. Rather than spend taxpayer money on a new stadium, Ito and other architects propose renovating the existing one.

Its not everyday that architects petition against another architect's design in this way, (though feuding among architects is not entirely unheard of.) At the time of this writing, the petition had over 14,000 signatures. But Hadids design does have its supporters: architect Tadao Ando helped to select the design over 10 other finalists. The demolition of the Jingu Gaien National Stadium is slated to start in July.

For more information on the petition, visit Change.org

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Japanese Architects Petition Against Zaha Hadid's Olympic Stadium in Tokyo

Media release Tuesday 20 May, 2014

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Auckland design competition seeks exemplary models of medium density housing

Responding to Aucklands housing shortage and to concerns about the quality of medium-density housing in the ever-growing city, the New Zealand Institute of Architects is partnering with Ockham Residential to run a design competition for a multi-unit residential development in a mixed-use area in inner-city Eden Terrace.

Auckland urgently requires more medium-density housing, says Pip Cheshire, President of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, and Aucklanders have to be convinced that this type of housing can be produced to a good standard.

Cheshire notes that the Auckland Housing Accord agreed by the Council and the Government calls for more than 30,000 new dwellings in Special Housing Areas, and that many of these homes will be apartments and townhouses out of necessity.

A range of well-designed, infill residential projects are vital to promote community understanding and acceptance of higher density housing types in suburban locations.

Its important that we the Council, developers and architects dont just tell the public about the need for medium density housing, but that we show that this housing model can be successfully integrated into selected neighbourhoods.

We need to tap into the creativity of New Zealands architects to design smaller, well-designed homes that are more socially and environmentally sustainable.

For these reasons, Cheshire says, the New Zealand Institute of Architects is pleased to work with Ockham Residential, a company with a strong record in the development of innovative, high-quality medium density housing projects in Aucklands inner suburbs. The design competition is for a multi-unit development site in Akepiro Street, near the city end of Dominion Road.

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Auckland design competition for medium density housing