Posted by Rowland on October 13 at 8:11 PM
Wallpaper just released their
2007 Architects Directory.
What is interesting to me, however, is that this type of information architecture found on Wallpaper's Director seems to pop-up more from the brick and mortar architectural world. Whether it is a print magazine or traditional architectural firm going online, the architectural community tends to ignore standards in web design. The A&D community ignores their namesakes in information architecture, not spending much time researching and knowing the innovations in user experience and structured content. I would say its time to change that.
Let's get back to some of the more interesting architects featured in Wallpaper's Directory. Here are some of my favorite picks:
Tony Owen NDM
Antipodal architecture and design is one of the most interesting on the world stage right now. "The office concentrates on taking a new, pragmatic approach to managing development in cities by smoothing links between the social, spatial, temporal and cultural forces that come into play as urban density increases pressure on a site," Wallpaper notes. Inspired from a level of usability and context in a urban environment, but not without creating a distinct form.
ARX Portugal Arquitectos
Architecture that doesn't follow a "standard language", is how they talk of their innovation built from "zero". However, much is taken from cultural cues, and basic approaches to the space.
Stoos Architekten
Maybe not entirely surprisingly seven of the firms featured are
from Switzerland. I liked the "scenical spaces" of a contemporary take on bringing the outside in. Yet, the form in nature--seen here--isn't exactly entirely blending. Its more about the experience of the space, rather than necessarily its form alone.
Okay, now back to how this information is presented online.
Certainly progressive architecture challenges form and our traditional ways of perceiving structures. It is probably for this reason that online these architectural directories, firm websites (terrible use of Flash from circa 2000) and even large suppliers to the A&D world have struggled with creating a compelling web presence. The publications servicing this industry are only recently
getting it with respect to how to create an information resource and connect colleagues, suppliers and clients online. Still, though, the A&D industry lacks basic online design skills.
I don't mean to pick on Wallpaper, they have a very compelling directory and I actually like this creative way of finding their top 101 for the year. I don't think, though, it will be useful content for me in three months, let alone a year. Simply because of layout. It will not be tagged, shared and referenced in the community.
I believe that architects and interior designers will benefit, create more opportunities, and speed the pace of innovation globally once it turns to the incredible work being done in user experience online and takes note.
Topics: architecture and design, design, interactive SHARE: 
Antipodal architecture and design is one of the most interesting on the world stage right now. "The office concentrates on taking a new, pragmatic approach to managing development in cities by smoothing links between the social, spatial, temporal and cultural forces that come into play as urban density increases pressure on a site," Wallpaper notes. Inspired from a level of usability and context in a urban environment, but not without creating a distinct form.
Architecture that doesn't follow a "standard language", is how they talk of their innovation built from "zero". However, much is taken from cultural cues, and basic approaches to the space.
from Switzerland. I liked the "scenical spaces" of a contemporary take on bringing the outside in. Yet, the form in nature--seen here--isn't exactly entirely blending. Its more about the experience of the space, rather than necessarily its form alone.
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