L: ZHA’s original (unrevised) proposal for the Tokyo Stadium, image via Designboom; The Stirling Prize-shortlisted Burntwood School by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, photo by Timothy Soar via the Guardian.
Stadium Standstill: Zaha’s testudinate albatross has reportedly been scrapped for good — to the chagrin of seemingly everyone involved. Given the protracted dramasurrounding the British architect’s proposal for the Meiji Park stadium, the Guardian’s Olly Wainwright takes stock of the situation, which is compounded by the recent demolition of the (refurbishable) 1964 stadium. (For its part, ZHA has issued a statement; Curbed is running a poll about who should replace Dame Hadid.)
The Britlist: View the Stirling Prize 2015 shortlist, cast your vote for the design of Preston Bus Station in Lancashire and sign the petition against the Bishopsgate Goodyard proposals.
Reaping What You Bau: With the listing of key buildings in Alexanderplatz, the city has scuppered a long-debated redevelopment plan. The polarizing 1960s-era housing blocks are regarded, for better or for worse, as symbols of Berlin’s recent past, but the decision itself is a sure sign that current and future generations are looking to understand the sociopolitical legacy of the 20th century. (More here.)
L: The Vanna Venturi House by Robert Venturi, photo by Matt Wargo via Princeton Alumni Weekly; R: Luchtsingel by ZUS, photo via Dezeen.
Care to Venturi Guess? Actually, you don’t need to: the Vanna Venturi House is on the market for $1.75 million. On paper, it’s a modest three-bedroom/two-bathroom private house in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, but 1964 gem’s 2,000 square footage and 30-foot-tall chimney belie its status as canonical postmodern residence.
Covering the Overhead: We first reported on Rotterdam’s Luchtsingel when ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles) launched a crowdfunding campaign back in 2012; lo and behold, 1,300-foot pedestrian bridge opened last week, thanks to the support of some 5,000 backers.
L: Illustration by Son of Alan for the Guardian; R: Photos by Calvin Seibert, via Citylab.
Castles in the Sand: On the heels of Renzo Piano’s temporary-turret tutorial in the Guardian, Citylab has a profile of New York City’s own sandcastle maestro. But Calvin Seibert isn’t thinking “Mayan” and “Gehry” when he works: “I’m just doing it from the weird, unconscious place I’m at.”
Hit It and Sit (on) It: A Kickstarted kit for a three-legged stool offers a brute-force alternative to IKEA, but it’s the video that really sells it … (Hat-tip to Fastco. Design).
Image at top via Calvin Seibert on Flickr.