Joel’s Column Vol. IV, Number 1: President Obama announces architects to design his Presidential Library in Illinois, not “the land of Lincoln”; plus preparing for Zaha Hadid’s eulogy.

United States Architecture, Brasilia Buildings, New Cities and Communities in the USA Joel Solkoff’s Column Volume II, No. 5 Architectural Column by Joel Solkoff, PA, USA Joel’s Column Vol. II, Number 5 Building cities in the United States—special Wyoming focus. Plus… Profile of the President of the Wyoming American Institute of Architects Building a new … Read more

What Herzog & de Meuron’s completion of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) means to the revitalization of Downtown Miami.

The government of Miami approved a revitalization plan—a plan that includes the taxpayers of Miami paying costs to the Herzog & de Meuron’s firm. Miami taxpayers paid $100 million toward the cost of the museum.

Worthy of asking but not of discussion here: Are taxpayers getting what they paid for?

Where will I live? Plus…Writing on architects plus their role in the imminent global Baby Boom housing crisis, I have purchased two houses in my lifetime. The first was on Capitol Hill, in Downtown, Washington, D.C. which had a landmark plaque posted on the entrance. It was a beautiful house 100 years old where my former wife and I raised two children.

Zaha Hadid’s Miami compared to my life in rural “Rust Belt” Pennsylvania. “Miami has long been the economic and commercial capital of Latin America, both English and Spanish are commonly understood and it has been the place where many Latinos could be sure their money and their persons were safe from government takeover.”
–The Almanac of American Politics by Michael Barone and Chuck McCutcheon

If I were an architect eager to launch my career in the U.S., I would focus on three states: Texas, California, and Florida. Despite the incredibly exciting renewal taking place in New York City, the reality is that the wealth and power in the United States has shifted

Joel Solkoff – on disability issues relevant to architects

The new Renzo Piano Whitney overlooking the Hudson River, adjacent to a really fun public park, has brought to near completion, another magnificent new Piano. Within the Gallery is the original photograph Edward Steichen took of Marlene Dietrich in 1931. The Whitney will soon be launching a new Exhibition of Steichen’s work.