Architecture: Zaha Hadid: Chinese Gem That Elevates Its Setting by Nicolai Ouroussoff

Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid, photo by Iwan Baan

The outstanding architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff has written an inspired and inspiring article entitled “Chinese Gem That Elevates Its Setting” in the Art & Design section of The New York Times looking at the marvel that is Zaha Hadid‘s Guangzhou Opera House.  Ouroussoff’s fine eye, and gift for language, make his article a model for astute, yet accessible, architectural observation and critique.

Knowing that Ouroussoff will soon be leaving his post as primary architecture critic at The New York Times, to be replaced by art critic Michael Kimmelman, certainly saddens us here at Designalog, who have always appreciated, though not always agreed with, his keen observations (though we have always thought his writing was marvelous).  We hope that he will continue to offer us, in the future, the fruits of his many talents.

Any information on Ouroussoff’s next endeavors?  Any ideas about an art critic taking on the role of the primary architecture critic for such a widely read publication?  Do let us know.

Excellent slide show, with photos by Iwan Baan, accompanying Ouroussoff’s article, here.

Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid, interior view; photo by Iwan Baan

images: Iwan Baan/The New York Times

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A Chaos of Preservation – “Cronocaos” at the New Museum – Organized by Rem Koolhaas & Shohei Shigematsu of OMA

Cronocaos at the New Museum, organised by Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu of OMA

The ever-perceptive Nicolai Ouroussoff has written “An Architect’s Fear That Preservation Distorts” in the Art & Design section of The New York Times reviewing the exhibition, now at the New Museum in New York, entitled “Cronocaos”, organised by Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu, both of OMA, the Office of Metropolitan Architecture.  Ouroussoff’s interesting article looks at Koolhaas & Shigematsu’s provocative, and fascinating, exhibition which itself boldly suggests that, perhaps, preservation of so-called “landmark architecture” has become a dangerous epidemic and is destroying the true fabric of our cities.  Definitely worth your while reading Ouroussoff’s thoughtful article, visiting the exhibition at the New Museum, and thinking not only about what Koolhaas & Shigematsu have clearly elucidated as a problem but also their several proposed solutions to this problem.

A very nice slideshow, here.

image: Michael Falco/The New York Times

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Contemporary Architecture Offers Steel-Wrapped Nostalgia Near New York’s High Line

 

The bulging glass south facade of Neil Denari’s 14-story “HL23” condominium tower swells as it rises over the High Line in west Chelsea in New York City

image: Michael Falco/The New York Times

Nicolai Ouroussoff has written a very interesting, perceptive article entitled “Nostalgia Wrapped In Steel” in the Art & Design section of The New York Times, looking at American architect Neil Denari’s recently completed 14-storey “HL23” condominium tower located in New York City at 10th Avenue and 23rd Street, in west Chelsea, bordering, and overlooking, the marvelous High Line park.  Slow architecture?  Perhaps in more than one sense…

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Frank Gehry-designed Abu Dhabi Guggenheim Faces Boycott

Model of the Frank Gehry-designed Abu Dhabi Guggenheim, slated to open in 2015, faced with a boycott by more than 130 internationally renowned artists, curators and writers for its substandard working conditions for construction workers.

image: Gehry Partners/The New York Times

The Abu Dhabi Guggenheim, in construction on Saadiyat Island, and all Guggenheim branches (including the Guggenheim New York and the Guggenheim Bilbao), face a boycott by a group of more than 130 internationally renowned artists, curators and writers due to substandard working conditions, and indeed, human rights violations, with respect to the, largely foreign, workers building the site.  The violations, documented by the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, have been cited in a petition sent to Guggenheim Foundation and Guggenheim New York museum director, Richard Armstrong, demanding concrete action on the part of the Guggenheim and its Abu Dhabi partner, the TDIC (Tourism Development and Investment Company).

Read more in an article by Nicolai Ouroussoff entitled “Abu Dhabi Guggenheim Faces Protest” in the Art & Design section of The New York Times, here.

Read more in an article by Helen Stoilas entitled “Artists boycott Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project” in The Art Newspaper (online), here.

Read our coverage of the Saadiyat Island projects, here.

One of the organizers of the boycott is Lebanese-born New York artist Walid Raad, recently named winner of the Hasselblad Award 2011, has said, “Artists should not be asked to exhibit their work in buildings built on the backs of exploited workers,…Those working with bricks and mortar deserve the same kind of respect as those working with cameras and brushes.”

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Kevin Roche – Visionary Architecture on a Scale of Bridges & Freeways

The Ford Foundation headquarters in New York City, by Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates.

image: Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates/The New York Times

Nicolai Ouroussoff has written a very interesting article entitled “Turning a Rearview Mirror on Kevin Roche” in the Art & Design section of The New York Times looking at the loved and hated architecture of American architect, and 1982 Pritzker Prize winner, Kevin Roche, and the current exhibition “Kevin Roche: Architecture as Environment” at the Yale School of Architecture  (180 York Street, New Haven, through 6 May 2011; www.architecture.yale.edu).  Ouroussoff makes a very good, articulate, and passionate, case for the upward re-evaluation of Roche’s work, and his optimism.  We’re all for optimism, and appreciative of Ouroussoff’s enthusiasm.

Excellent slide show, here.

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