The edicts prompted a furious backlash by an architecture world that was already primed for a fight. The preferred-style rule was the handiwork of a traditionalist Washington nonprofit called the National Civic Art Society, which fights for “the classical tradition” and has condemned modern architecture as “dehumanizing.” The organization had long criticized the American Institute of Architects, the professional association that voiced outrage against Trump’s new rule.
Trump had earlier named the Civic Art Society’s president, a conservative architecture critic named Justin Shubow, to the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, which oversees new buildings in the capital. In January of 2021, as Trump left office, Shubow — who, professionals sniffed, was not even an architect — was elevated to the commission’s chairship.
Soon after taking office, President Joe Biden rescinded the executive orders and removed all but one of Trump’s appointees from the Fine Arts Commission, replacing Shubow with the celebrated contemporary architect Billie Tsien.
But as with so many other disruptions of the Trump years, things didn’t simply go back to normal — in part because Shubow is a determined advocate, and in part because the traditionalists have a point, or at least half a point.
And that half a point is: There are a lot of hideous federal buildings out there!
The growth of government in the decades after World War II happened to take place during one of the most maligned periods in public architecture. Like college campuses, government properties have been among the modernist era’s most conspicuous offenders, perhaps because the people commissioning the buildings were not the ones who would have to live or work in them. When it’s their own private home or business, people tend to be much less deferential to the artistes drawing up the blueprints.
In Shubow’s telling, that deference is the problem — baked right into the 1962 Moynihan document his rivals want to enshrine in law. “Design must flow from the architectural profession to the Government,” it declares, “and not vice versa.” Rather than a gesture of support for creativity, he says, the language essentially orders public servants to abandon their duty of keeping an eye on the contractors. (He notes that the AIA, which has blasted the GOP bill in the name of free expression, isn’t quite a dispassionate academic group: It’s a trade association for architects, ie those very same contractors.)
Shubow’s organization has commissioned a poll demonstrating that, by a significant percentage, Americans favor more traditionalist forms of architecture. Shouldn’t a democratically elected government make sure that its buildings don’t alienate the citizens who pay for them?
Well, sure. But the new bills do more than that. In elevating the stature of the Greek- and Roman-inflected buildings favored by Thomas Jefferson and his cohort, it adopts a grimly backward-looking posture in a country that has always been about dynamism and change.
So while it’s true that the capital was launched by people who obsessed about (small-r) “republican” style as they set about creating a fledgling republic in an age of monarchies, it’s also true that said obsession extended well beyond architecture to things like clothing — which, thankfully, no one is trying to legislate in the year 2023.
The idea of writing one particular style into law also ignores the tendency of tastes to change and perspectives to vary. Plenty of people — including me — adore the look of D.C.’s Federal Triangle, the massive 1930s constellation of Neoclassical government buildings including the Justice Department, the National Archives and the Department of Commerce. Others think its sweep of columned edifices looks kind of fascist, an association that no one could have imagined when the project was first envisioned in the 1920s.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
I allowed myself to be encouraged by my father that the talent I have has no market in India. He was convinced that it is the USA where my talents would bloom. My younger brother was already settled. That is the only open society where you will find good bearing, he had advised. I took off from India with a blind stroke of a straight bat, hoping to continue after one stop in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, putting my USA dream on hold.
Being a master’s scholarship student of Urban Planning in the New Delhi’s prestigious ‘School of Planning and Architecture’ SPA with Housing as specialization I was confident of doing something worthwhile. The SPA Director’s vision was to make everyone in the class of 35 the best after two years of the master’s programme completion. Prior to my departure I had my own office with a colleague of SPA and a teaching job in Jawaharlal Technological University in Hyderabad. But I found myself on a blind date.
Before I proceed, a brief SPA experience would add value to my sojourn.
In SPA I got embroiled with a senior student from my own state, Andhra Pradesh. After my admission in SPA in an all-India competition, I arrived on time and was ushered into a good room in the SPA hostel on the top floor on a first come first serve basis.
However, it was not liked by our state’s favored senior student who had come late. He kept harassing me to vacate the room for him. Since I was young and new, I felt restive and wanted to see the Director for my problem. Before I could meet the Director, the registrar briefed him about my case and gave me only 5 to 10 minutes to explain him and move out of his room.
The Director was very kind and explained to me that since I come from a ‘Hyderabadi type’ of soft background, I need to get adjusted in whatever way I could to continue my studies. He was aware that I was among the top five candidates from all over India. He narrated his experience of London School of RIBA regarding his own roommate who incidentally also was a Hyderabadi but shy and self-composed.
The major lesson he gave me was to be the best. He made me stand for more than an hour to listen to his doctrine of making the SPA students the best. I returned to my room and moved over to the ground floor.
After that episode my approach to life became thoroughly professional which helped me to be assertive up-front and result oriented. I was someone that did not look back. I always succeeded.
My foreign journey predicament
I landed in the coastal city of Jeddah for Hajj with only 2.5-pound sterling which the travel agent gave me before boarding. He had taken all documents signed in return of my travel documents that included my foreign exchange. I took a taxi to a handwritten address of a relative after cajoling the taxi man for one pound and eating a sandwich for another one. I was left with 50 shillings (5X10) coins, which is still with me among my heritage travel bags.
The initial first week I fulfilled all the sacred rituals and got dropped in the night near a Hajjis travel lodging. In the scramble of all that I misplaced the location paper of my relative. There was no place to stay. At the same time I had fallen sick. I took refuge in the travel lodge’s basement parking area. I visited the nearby government clinic where I was given a handful of multi-coloured tablets to take with meals. For food, I would walk by any group eating together to be invited. They were nice religious people. They would often ask me to join them for food. After a couple of days, I became weaker but as luck would have it, I manage to locate the residence of my relatives who lived around the corner.
I was sick for a couple of more days. Still I enquired about the address of the downtown where I had been told that numerous offices are located. Suffering with fever and weakness, I decided to look for the downtown. I took to the street with my meager projects’ portfolios. I had to find a job to survive. I entered a newly built office mall called the “Queen’s Building” and went through the ‘Building Office Inventory’. There were many engineering and construction offices in the list. That gave me hopes of finding some job. My desperation was such that I was ready to take up even the job of a typist if it was available. I entered one office that reflected its cosmopolitan image. There some men and women working together.
At the reception I enquired about an architect’s job opening. The young woman receptionist looked at me from top (shaven head) to bottom (very lean thin person). Surprisingly, she dared to say that I did not look like an architect. I was flustered. I rebutted in English that ‘I am not here for a beauty contest.’ She was not expecting such an answer from a walk-in job seeker.
She said sheepishly that the architect-owner of ‘IDEA Center’ would come in a few minutes and that I can be seated. Soon after a young, tall and handsome Saudi gentleman walked in his traditional attire and asked the receptionist in an American accent to clear the entrance as he was expecting an important client soon. He looked at me and asked, ‘Who is this’?
She told him that I was a job seeker. He advised her to clear the place and make me sit somewhere inside with the staff. I went inside and took an empty seat near the drafting board with a person working on it.
A picture containing text, outdoor, linedrawing
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SV Reservation Center, RDQ Sketch Perspective Concept sketch designed on the flight to Saudi Arabia.
It took a good amount of time. The Saudi gentleman barged in again to ask the person working on the drafting board to hurry up. He made three more visits every time making more noise. I stood up gently to see what exactly that person was doing and read the nicely drawn presentation. While sitting next to the drafting board, I took my pad and started sketching as it was my habit.
The owner came again and this time he snatched the drawing off the drafting board. For the next few seconds he saw the sketch I had worked on and asked directly, “What is this?’
I said, “It is my version of the assignment he had given to that gentleman.” He suddenly said it was fantastic and went on to ask me whether I could give him that sketch. I handed him over the sketch.”
He vanished again inside his office.
A few minutes later the same receptionist who had doubts about my looks came hurriedly towards me. She had a pad and pencil in hand. She asked for my needs to design the sketch as a project. She also asked in what time I can finish the design.
With my responses, I found something which I had not expected at all. I was immediately appointed to the job. I was told to start working from the next day. With the speed of turn of events, I was in a shock.
Was this real or a dream? I asked myself.
The answer was no it was not. It was the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia running with lightening speed to become one of the most happening countries in the world.
I also ended up asking myself. Was it the way Saudi Arabia worked? Or was it my sheer luck?
Perhaps I was at that place at the right time.
I took it as a great opportunity and called my beginning there as ‘Instant Architecture’. My professional climb thereafter was based on the brand I subconsciously created as ‘Instant Architecture’, like instant tea which was getting marketed at that time. Ready to share and give architectural designs at any given situation. On hearing the requirements in any form my hand will start sketching the design as required.
SV HQ Bldg Jeddah KSA My Concept hand sketch design – Winning entry SV HQ Model
I owe appreciation of my work to my father who was the real super-visionary. He understood my potential and advised me to pursue my talents outside of India.
With a quirk of fate my architectural designs now grace great metropolises of India, the Middle East, Europe, and USA.
The self-belief helped me to design great architectures by traveling around the world in search of my identity.
In recent days I have given up active architectural design passion on persuasion of my children who proclaimed, “Enough is enough. You are not getting any younger.” They demanded that I spend more time with them. And that is what I am doing now.
My Dream HouseVilla Design – kept me in KSA SV Flight Trg Center, Jeddah Villa Design – kept me in KSA SV Flight Trg Center, Jeddah SV Jamia CTO Bldg, Jeddah SV Medical Center, Jeddah SV Medical Center, Jeddah
The article is a biographical narrative of Zahyr Siddiqi, a Hyderabad- born architect and urban planner who made his fortune in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia. He now lives in Chicago, IL, USA.
An old nationally romantic art nouveau gem came up for sale in the center of Helsinki on Eteläesplanadi. The bank building was designed by architect Lars Sonck.
State owned by Senaatti kinteistöt has put up for sale the culturally-historically valuable Pankkitalo along the Eteläesplanadi.
The Art Nouveau building completed in 1908 was designed by Lars Sonckwho is considered one of the most significant architects of the national romantic period.
The Bank building, whose architecture differs from the other buildings on the Eteläesplanadi, was once built by the Suomen Hypoteekkiyhdistys.
State took ownership of the building in 1939, after which the National Pension Institute, the school board and the Ministry of Transport and Communications have operated in it.
In 1976, a fire broke out in the building, which almost completely destroyed the historically valuable main staircase.
Protected the building has seven floors and a floor area of just under 5,000 square meters. The property has impressive interiors, such as Sonckin Sali, which is a former bank hall.
HS told about the plans to sell Pankkitalo last fall.
Read more:The Pankkitalo designed by Lars Sonck will be sold
Correction 27.2. at 9:57 am: The wrong picture that showed Nordea’s banking hall has been removed from the news.
Bengaluru: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Saturday said there is an urgent need to strengthen the international financial architecture, especially in the area of debt resolution and Global Financial Safety Net at a time when global growth is set to slow in 2023.
Terming India a relative bright spot, she said, it is an important engine of growth for the world economy, representing about 15 per cent of global growth in 2023.
India’s remarkable progress on Digital Public Infrastructure provides a strong basis to secure robust and inclusive growth over the medium term, she said at the first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under India Presidency here.
“With global growth set to slow in 2023 and remain below its historical average, too many people in too many countries are struggling to make ends meet a point that I highlighted in my recent blog on policy priorities for G20. The international community, therefore, has a responsibility to come together to find solutions for the most vulnerable members of our global family,” she said.
This calls for urgent action to strengthen the international financial architecture, especially in the area of debt resolution and strengthening Global Financial Safety Net, she added.
Global Financial Safety Net is a set of institutions and mechanisms that provide insurance against crises and financing to mitigate their impact.
In light of rising debt vulnerabilities in many countries, she said, there is a need to strengthen the debt architecture and improve the speed and effectiveness of debt resolution.
Sovereign debt vulnerabilities, already elevated before the pandemic, have been exacerbated by the shocks stemming from Covid-19 and Russia’s war against Ukraine, she said, adding, this is particularly the case for developing and low-income countries with very limited policy space and huge development needs.
It is therefore imperative for G20 to strengthen the debt architecture and G20 did so in 2020 with Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) and by establishing Common Framework (CF) for debt resolution, she said.
“Since then, the CF delivered a debt operation for Chad. It is now critical to complete Zambia’s debt restructuring, establish a Creditor Committee for Ghana, and advance work with Ethiopia. Nonetheless, more predictable, timely, and orderly processes are needed both for countries under the CF and for those not covered by it, including Sri Lanka and Suriname,” she said.
“This means that we must enhance dialogue and collaboration on debt issues. This is the goal of the new Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR): to bring together creditors official, old and new, and private and debtor countries to discuss key issues that can facilitate the debt resolution process.
“We launched the GSDR under the auspices of India’s G20 Presidency last week at the deputies’ level, followed by an engaged and constructive principals meeting earlier today. We will further build on this discussion during the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in April,” she said.
Being the centre of Global Financial Safety Net, she said IMF has been scaling up lending as members confront the significant economic challenges that the past few years have brought.
In a world of great uncertainty and repeated turbulence, it is critical to further bolster IMF’s capacity to support its members, she said.
“This applies most urgently to our concessional financing for low-income countries through our Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGT). Demand for PRGT support has reached unprecedented levels and can only be met if matched by an increase in PRGT loan and subsidy resources,” she said.
In addition, she said, a successful quota review which IMF’s membership has committed to complete by December 2023 is critical for a strong Global Financial Safety Net.
“The latter has always been important for global stability and is even more important in today’s challenging global environment, especially for the most vulnerable countries and people. Our common interest is to secure a well-functioning and integrated global economy, for the sake of a more secure and prosperous world,” she said.
Chandigarh: A two-day meeting of the G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group concluded here on Tuesday with participants discussing issues pertaining to strengthening multilateral development banks and how to address challenges associated with the debt.
Around 100 delegates from the G20 countries, invitee countries and international organisations participated in the meeting, Anu P Mathai, adviser, the Ministry of Finance, said while addressing the media here.
The discussions during the two-day meeting was jointly steered by the ministry of finance and the Reserve Bank of India along with France and Korea who are the co-chairs of the International Financial Architecture Working Group.
Matahi said the meeting was conducted over two days and the aim was to seek views of the G20 member countries and the invitee countries on the agenda of this group under the Indian presidency.
“The subjects that were discussed over the last two days were how to strengthen multilateral development banks and how to address challenges associated with this the G20 common framework for debt treatments which is a previous achievement of G20 for helping the very poor countries with the debt.
“The focus of this group in 2023 is to support a global action for enhancing financing for development while at the same time, strengthening international financial institutions to support vulnerable countries,” she said.
There will be more meetings of this group, she further said.
India assumed the G20 presidency for one year on December 1, 2022. The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies.
It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).
Chandigarh: A two-day meeting of the G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group concluded here on Tuesday with participants discussing issues pertaining to strengthening multilateral development banks and how to address challenges associated with the debt.
Around 100 delegates from the G20 countries, invitee countries and international organisations participated in the meeting, Anu P Mathai, adviser, the Ministry of Finance, said while addressing the media here.
The discussions during the two-day meeting was jointly steered by the ministry of finance and the Reserve Bank of India along with France and Korea who are the co-chairs of the International Financial Architecture Working Group.
Matahi said the meeting was conducted over two days and the aim was to seek views of the G20 member countries and the invitee countries on the agenda of this group under the Indian presidency.
“The subjects that were discussed over the last two days were how to strengthen multilateral development banks and how to address challenges associated with this the G20 common framework for debt treatments which is a previous achievement of G20 for helping the very poor countries with the debt.
“The focus of this group in 2023 is to support a global action for enhancing financing for development while at the same time, strengthening international financial institutions to support vulnerable countries,” she said.
There will be more meetings of this group, she further said.
India assumed the G20 presidency for one year on December 1, 2022. The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies.
It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).
Chandigarh: A G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting will start on Monday, where participants will discuss ways to enhance the stability and cohesion of the global financial architecture and how to make it fit to address global challenges of the 21st century.
The two-day meeting will also focus on exploring ways to provide maximum support to poor and vulnerable countries, Anu P Mathai, economic advisor, department of economic affairs, told the media here on Sunday.
Around 100 delegates from G20 countries, invitee countries and international organisations will participate in the meeting.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar and Minister of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras will inaugurate it, she said.
The discussions during the meeting will be jointly steered by the ministry of finance and the Reserve Bank of India along with France and Korea who are the co-chairs of the International Financial Architecture Working Group.
“The meeting will discuss ways how to increase the stability and cohesion of the international financial architecture and how to make it fit to address the global challenges of the 21st century,” she said.
Sharing details about the working group, she said it plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global financial architecture on major international economic issues.
“This group originated in response to the Asian financial crisis. Initially, it was a grouping of the finance ministers and the central bank governors of these countries.
“In 2008, when there was a global financial crisis, it was elevated to a summit level and it means that the heads of the states of these countries also begin to meet every year,” she said.
This working group particularly deals with how to strengthen the crisis response at the times of crisis, she said.
Replying to a question, she said the debt is a major item on the agenda of the International Financial Architecture Working Group.
“Then how multilateral development banks and international financial institutions can be made stronger to meet the funding needs of the challenges of the 21st century like pandemic and climate change.
“Then the global financial safety net which is a term used for the network of institutions and lending arrangements and regional financial arrangements for increasing liquidity and for providing resources both as preventive measures and in times of crisis. So how can this be made stronger and that is another area which is going to be discussed.
“There is an issue like what are the implications, macroeconomic implications of the central bank digital currency that is another issue. Then the issue related to capital flows, volatility of the capital flows. So there are the broad areas of the International Financial Architecture Working Group,” she said.
Under the Indian Presidency, there will be a comprehensive look at the global debt situation, she said in a response to a question.
On the sidelines of the meeting on Monday, a G20 side event titled ‘Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs): Opportunities and Challenges’ will also be held.
The event is aimed at sharing countries’ experiences and developing a deeper understanding of the macro prudential implications of CBDCs, she further said.
This working group will meet again in March, June, and September at other places to continue discussions on the priorities set under the Indian Presidency.
Discussions from the International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting will further inform the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) on the key deliberations on related priorities under India’s G20 Finance Track, said an official release.
The first meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors is scheduled to be held on 24-25 February 2023 in Bengaluru.
Baldeo Purushartha, joint secretary, department of economic affairs, said the foreign delegates will be apprised of the art and culture of North India through a cultural event.
They will also be taken to famous sites like Sukhna Lake and Rock Garden in Chandigarh and on February 1, the delegates will be taken to Virasat-e-Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, he said.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh city has been decked up with national flags of the G20 countries at various roundabouts.
Guides well-versed in multiple languages will also accompany the delegates when they visit famous places in Chandigarh.
India assumed the G20 presidency for one year on December 1, 2022. The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies.
It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).
The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) is the National body of Architects in the country. Established in 1917, the institute today has more than 25,000 members and plays a major role in promoting the profession of architecture by organizing and uniting the Architects of India to promote aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession both in Practice and in Education.
In light of the fact that the construction sector contributes 36% of carbon dioxide emissions, an optimistic outlook would be to build more judiciously and mindfully keeping the environment and nature at its core, thereby minimizing this damage.
A significant step towards this cause is the event – ‘Latitude’ – the IIA Southern Regional Conference 2022, which is bringing together architects, academicians, and students from all over India to meet, deliberate, and learn from each other’s best practices and collectively address these issues which are both global & regional.
The Southern Regional Conference (SRC) 2022 is a two-day premier event showcasing acclaimed international and national (southern regional) architects. The SRC is a curated confluence of architects and their expressions across latitudes. The IIA SRC 2022 offers an opportunity for architects to Explore, Express, and Experience regionalism and cherish and celebrate regional diversity in a globalized world.
The key speakers for the event are :- (a)Elisabeth Belpaire, Belgium, (b) Farid Esmaeil, X Architects, Dubai, UAE, (c)Gouthama, Mud Hands, Bengaluru, India, (d) Henri Comrie, URBA, South Africa, (e) Javier Munoz Menendez, Munoz Arquitectos Asociados, Mexico, (f)Krishnan Varma, Meister Varma Architects, Kerala, India (g) Neelam Manjunath, Manasaram Architects, Bengaluru, India, (h) Pavithra Sriram, Design Co:Lab, Chennai, India, (i) Peter Rich, Peter Rich Architects, South Africa, (j)Richard Witt, BDP Quadrangle, Toronto, (k) Sandeep Mukherjee, Quercuspace, Bengaluru, India, (l) Dr. Srinivas Daketi, SPA, Vijayawada, India, (m) Sudhir Reddy, Kruthica, Hyderabad, India, (n) Waro Kishi, K. Associates, Tokyo, Japan.
While the South Regional Conference 2022 will raise pertinent discussions, it also is a celebration of architecture & design. Nearly a thousand practicing architects, academicians, and students from all over India are expected to participate in this two-day event. The SRC 2022 will feature seven highly acclaimed international architects and seven reputed Indian architects and designers. These invited speakers have been deliberately chosen from a wide range of latitudes across the globe and will expound their ideas about architecture and design based on their location and cultural heritage.
In addition to these speaker presentations and panel discussions, the learnings during the conference will be extended to the workshop on Bamboo Construction by Ar. Neelam Manjunath and workshop on paper engineering by Arun Desai. Books with a wealth of knowledge and experience will be launched to facilitate knowledge dissemination to the gathered Architecture fraternity. Four eminent architects – Peter Rich, Neelam Manjunath, JK Gupta, and Appanna Deshpande will launch their books during this conference.
Awards to the built works by architects and student thesis awards will also be conferred along with Lifetime Achievement Awards where the contributions to the architecture domain will be recognized and honored. Product exhibitions and presentations will extend the know-how of the industry offering more information and collaboration opportunities. An architecture quiz and sketching competition will keep the interests of the architects and students abuzz with lively conversations.
In its overall essence, ‘LATITUDE’ – the IIA Southern Regional Conference (SRC) 2022 hosted by the IIA Karnataka Chapter, will initiate and expand opportunities for constructive conversations on key issues that the architectural community in India can collectively contribute towards while celebrating their regional diversity across the globe.
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