Arguably the most important part of an architectural education is the regular practice of design critique, or a “crit.” Sometimes one-on-one with a professor and sometimes pinning up in front of your peers, the crit revolves around presenting your ideas for critical feedback for the purpose of learning and making the design better.  More broadly speaking, there is a big difference between complaining and critiquing. Complaining is indiscriminately whining about what one thinks is wrong without providing any real perspective or potential solutions. Critiquing is engaging with constructive feedback and alternative options with the goal of a better outcome.   No one needs more complainers.

So aside from being an architectural monstrosity, it also not-so-subtly seems that its underlying purpose is for crowd control? Congress has to sink this thing already. apple.news/AXeAwKMZFSYSyX5PD…

The rear bar area in a completed SoHo project. The addition of a bar to the back of the restaurant and the better delineation of a private room was a game changer for the clients.

The Trump promise de jour. Vote his way and there’s a $5,000 check that the country can’t afford to pay. A sad state of our government and for Republicans—the supposed party of fiscal responsibility.

Bedroom millwork shot from our recently completed apartment combination.

Well Justice Robert’s doesn’t through the nonsense in his dissent: “Construction of the ballroom has proceeded apace for the better part of a year. That construction is likely unlawful.” Great. So we’ve established that this architectural mistake is likely illegal. Now what? apple.news/A1peh3Q6mQTihKA8K…

Anyone who isn’t running on balancing the budget doesn’t deserve to be in office #doyourjob “US debt crosses $40 trillion threshold after doubling under Trump and Biden” apple.news/ATaawM687RZmYQiCc…

To try and view this administration through the lens of architecture, it looks something like this:

What the actual fack? This is so blatantly damaged and broken. Who actually believes it’s okay for a President to say that?

What can one say other than: “What in the actual fack?” Any member of Congress what stands by this is complicit in blatant corruption. “Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit” apple.news/AsY9M1h7gRDe72SQZ…

See, there is some good news that manages to peek out these days: “Coal's century at the top of the world's power mix is over.” apple.news/Ab6fQxtujQMSJuPrZ…

What a surprise, the U.S. can’t play a role in a conference about reduction of dependency on fossil fuels. Once the U.S. government stops being dragged around by corporate interests, the path forward would be clear and we would dodge energy spikes like the one we’re currently in (and the bogus oil-driven wars that cause them) “Colombia hosts talks on exiting fossil fuels as global energy crisis deepens” apple.news/AKLjrmaAjS5u6ZRou…

Just one more example of what is either ineptitude or blatant corruption from administration that is willing to put corporate profit over the health of Americans. Coal ash is an unquestionably toxic waste stream that is directly linked to a number of health issues. There is no good reason to allow the industry to be less careful with its disposal. Coal is only cheap when it’s allowed to be dirty. If you price in the externalities and harm that it causes Americans, it’s an antiquated industry that should be phased out. “Trump administration proposes gutting rules targeting coal plant ash that threatens groundwater” msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-…

Now @MarvelStudios this is what I’m talking about! There’s no point building the canon if it’s not used. Great to see the NYC crew being reassembled. Best Marvel news I’ve heard in a while apple.news/APQ9PcUbHQ0Kd59JE…

Always great to see a project lived in. This apartment combination project in the West Village has been a slow burn, but the light at the end of the tunnel has arrived. This den sits off of a brand new kitchen that share a backdrop of lower Manhattan.

RIP Chuck Norris (Never knew his birth name was Carlos btw)

While I think this is positive, I also think it avoids the underlying issue when it comes to housing in America. Corporations buying up homes makes things worse, but the real problem is that single family homes are a luxury item. We have spent at least two generations trying to tell Americans that the the picket fence and lawn is attainable to everyone, but it really isn’t. Beyond the fact that a $400k median price is outside of what many can ever afford, all too often that’s not buying you great construction that will last 75-100 years. It’s buying some value-engineered contractor special. If affordability is the goal, multi-family housing is the way to achieve that. “Senate passes bipartisan housing bill targeting large investors and easing regulations” apple.news/AjJ440YSRRc-tulc0…

Garden roof terrace facing south on the UWS.