Committee on Design

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on Design and Committee on Architecture for Education .
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You are all invited to attend the Committee on Design Conference in Japan this November.  If Japan has been on your bucket list, this is a great way to see the best-of-the-best architecture in a short time.  The conference has been planned by our colleagues in the Pacific Northwest along with their extensive contacts in Japan.

The conference registration is open and the information for the event can be accessed through www.aia.org/craftingthefuture.  

Specific highlights of the conference you might be interested in include:

1. 10.5 AIA CES (10.5HSW)NWPR Portion,  21.5 AIA CES (9.5HSW, 3SD) COD Portion
2. A keynote talk by 2011 AIA Gold Medal recipient, Fumihiko Maki, Hon. FAIA.
3. A banquet at Kengo Kuma's recently opened Capitol Hotel Tokyu.
4. An all-day tour of educational facilities -- including a tour of Fuji Kindergarten led by Tezuka-san of Tezuka Architects-- highlighting how  Japanese architects' innovative designs are influencing teaching environments. 

Speaking from experience, these conferences are extremely well-organized and full of constant inspiration.  Your batteries will be recharged and you'll come home with some extraordinary memories.

(One way to help limit the cost of travel is to make use of direct flights from cities on the West Coast to Tokyo. Check for more travel tips on the Registration page.)

Jim Childress, FAIA   Committee on Design

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James Childress FAIA
Partner
Centerbrook Architects & Planners
Centerbrook CT
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I commented earlier regarding the trip to Copenhagen that some more notice of these things would be helpful.  There was talk much earlier this  year about this trip to Japan, and I made a note to myself to try and make this happen.  Then no discussion at all that I'm aware of for probably six months, I assumed it  had died because of the logistics issues of traveling to an earthquake ravaged country.  I've made other plans and committed my professional development resources to other  events.  IT WOULD BE REALLY  NICE TO BE KEPT ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING  IN YOUR LITTLE DESIGN WORLD.
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Eugene Ely AIA
HMC Architects
San Jose CA
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Eugene,

I am replying on the forum, because I understand it is possible other members might not be receiving email. The issue is not so much sending email, but ensuring recipients get it. The Japan has been featured in AIArchitect and other AIA publications. It has been mentioned in email sent to all COD members in the last six months 5 times.

Checking our the email system's log, I see that emails have failed to be delivered to your email box starting in May. This reason given is that mail is being block by your local server. (It appears the sender address was marked as spam by "Barracuda Networks.")

I suggest whitelisting addresses from aia.org. However I am aware foreign users can spoof known email address like cod@aia.org and send spam. (In fact, I have even received email "from kathleensimpson@aia.org" to my account that is spam.) If you are uncomfortable whitelisting the address (which you can always remove), please feel free to contact me offline and I will see if there are any other options our IT staff can share.

The AIA Committee on Design leaders work hard to outline dates far in advance for scheduling issues you indicated. The details on conference itinerary, continuing education, and registration opening are release as they are known. Obviously this has been a difficult year for Japan and that has been a lot of effort and sensativity in the development of the conference. 

I appreciate your understanding. Any member should feel free to contact me, if they are concerned they are not recieving email from the AIA (or if you would like to unsubscribe.)

Sincerely,

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Kathleen Simpson
Manager, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-26-2011 11:06
From: Eugene Ely
Subject: An Invitation To Japan


I commented earlier regarding the trip to Copenhagen that some more notice of these things would be helpful.  There was talk much earlier this  year about this trip to Japan, and I made a note to myself to try and make this happen.  Then no discussion at all that I'm aware of for probably six months, I assumed it  had died because of the logistics issues of traveling to an earthquake ravaged country.  I've made other plans and committed my professional development resources to other  events.  IT WOULD BE REALLY  NICE TO BE KEPT ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING  IN YOUR LITTLE DESIGN WORLD.
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Eugene Ely AIA
HMC Architects
San Jose CA
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Mr Ely and anyone else interested in the AIA Committee on Design

We have long realized that our activities are not as well publicized as we would like them to be and we have been trying hard to improve upon that.
I apologize for those of you who already know the following:

Step one is to make sure you sign up for the Committee on Design when you renew your AIA membership.
It's easy, just click COD as one of your Knowledge Communities.

Step two is to somewhat regularly visit the AIA Committee on Design Website.  Go to www.AIA.org, and click on Knowledge Communities at the top, then click on Committee on Design, probably just off the bottom of your first screen.

Step three, at least for this year, if all else is not working.  Send me an email.

I have included here a statement of intent for COD in 2012.  In two subsequent emails, I will send information about our two proposed conferences this year.  Both will happen.  You can all count on it.

A Happy, Thought-Provoking and Prosperous New Year to all.

 

 

Searching for Definitions of Architectural

Design Excellence in a Measuring World

 

Why, after so many years of excellent public and commercial architecture in Columbus, Indiana, are there almost no modern houses?

 

Why, when you drive north from Florida's South Beach passing miles and miles of waterfront houses, less than one percent are anything we would call architecture?

 

Why do Americans drive designer cars and drink designer coffee but live, most all of them, in a house or apartment that is pretending to be the home of some wealthy ancestors long deceased?

 

Are we determined as a profession to continue to define ourselves in ways that isolate us from the greater part of the society in which we practice?

 

Can we find some definitions of architectural excellence upon which we can agree and that we can explain successfully to the silent majority? Is it even something we want to do?

 

 

 

April 12-15, we will visit Columbus, Indiana, and ask the architects of some of the landmarks there to explain their understanding of the excellences their work embodies.

 

In May in Washington, DC,

Susan Szenasy, Jane Weinzapfel,, Ed Feiner, Thomas Fisher and Will Bruder, having spent the year grappling with these questions, will help us all to discover our own answers.

 

And, finally, in Seville, in November, we will visit a place where two cultures collide and coexist. Architecture of two distinct traditions intermingle seemingly equally loved by all. And there is much new work we can use to hone our arguments and understandings.

 

 

 

Committee on Design

2012

Columbus Indiana + Washington DC + Seville Spain
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Mike Mense FAIA
mmenseArchitects
Anchorage AK
Chair 2012 AIA Committee on Design