Practice

As the partners of most major firms across the globe will tell you, the business of architecture can often be a very slow moving vehicle. During the economic downturn of 2008, the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel was barely visible for many studios. There were few projects on the drawing board, let…

Delightful dots and diamonds are among some of the motifs one encounters in this sophisticated cemen t-tile collection from Bisazza. While the Italian company may be best known for its glass mosaics, its foray into cement tiles is proving successful thanks to smart collaborations, such as this one with French architect and designer India Mahdavi. The…

Façade glazing that diffuses light, such as textured and translucent channel glass, is traditionally sought for functional attributes, from providing ample-yet-glare-free natural light to reducing solar heat gain, both of which contribute to desirable energy savings for the client or occupants. But aesthetic appeal is yet another good reason to use it. Take one look…

For the detail-oriented set, handsome bathroom fittings and hardware are like jewelry for the bath s pace. But even the oblivious occupant can get the sense that a bath is special or more luxurious from minute touches. One such detail that can make an impact is often found right under one’s bare foot: the utilitarian drain…

It is considered by many to be the most important architectural work of the late 20th century. Upon completion in 1997, Frank O. Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao formed the fulcrum of a pivotal moment in architectural history, demonstrating the power of a single building to alter the urban landscape — not just spatially, but…

When psychologist Barry Schwartz gave his TED Talk about “The Paradox of Choice,” exploring how bein g bombarded with too many options can cause anxiety and take up too much of our time, he may have been onto something. Case in point: paint centers can overwhelm some patrons with entire color libraries presented right off the…

For the last 50 years, designs for company headquarters have been dominated by thick slices of moder nism in steel and glass, from SOM’s iconic Lever House in Manhattan to Kohn Pedersen Fox’s glittering Samsung HQ in Seoul. The brief for such projects remains the same today — to formulate a structure that can come to…

Dear Mayor de Blasio, A week has passed since New York’s Police Commissioner William J. Bratton sugg ested ripping up the plazas of Times Square in an effort to curb the proliferation of “desnudas” and street performers panhandling in the area. By now, I trust that you have taken the time to consider the terrible effect…

We’re living in a time where it’s becoming more commonplace to have (and demand) multipurpose spaces and multifunctional devices and furnishings. So it’s no stretch that lighting manufacturers would conceptualize products serving a purpose other than just illuminating. While some of them take advantage of the fact that the luminaire is electricity-powered (think: charging ports…