Opinion

Can blogs change the way we understand and produce Architecture?

Plan magazine is an architecture and interior design magazine straight out of Ireland and the UK.. In this month’s issue, they put a question out to design bloggers asking why they think blogs could change the way we understand and produce Architecture.

The following design bloggers were featured in the article:

‘The Pro’ – John Hill

Blogs: A Daily Dose of Architecture & A Weekly Dose of Architecture
Short Bio: John started his blog in 2004 as an outlet for discovering new Architecture.
Quote from the Article: “Blogs impact design in terms of how it is presented and disseminated rather than how buildings, spaces, objects, etc are actually designed. Computer software and economic and social changes have more of an impact on design than web pages presenting architects and buildings. If it does have a (positive) change it will stem from increased criticism about architectural production on blogs, not from the promotion of projects that are photogenic and therefore suitable for the www.”
Recent post: Monday, Monday – you should totally read these each week – John always packs them with really interesting reads!

‘The Ninja’ – Linda Bennett

Blogs: Archi-Ninja
Short Bio: Sydney based architecture student Linda Bennett is the author of Archi-Ninja, a discussion and critique of current architectural projects and ideas
Quote from the Article: “Unlike traditional media, blogs provide architects with an almost instant feedback loop that they can choose to use to their advantage (or disregard altogether). Design has become more immediate, more responsive, more public and more criticised than ever before. Blogs recognise ideas and respond to current concerns, therefore redefining the way we present and communicate architecture. I’d like to think that design and architecture will move forward more receptively as a result.”
Recent post: This post : )

‘The Rebel’ – George Agnew

Blogs: The Architecture of Fear
Short Bio: George started his blog three years ago originally as an extension of an independent study he was working on, and it continued to have it’s own life after he graduated. “The Architecture of Fear” publishes articles on architecture, war, art, terror, media, communication, design and destruction to create a relevant architectural theory on how we live our lives under the unconscious umbrella of fear and danger
Quote from the Article: “the profession of architecture has not traditionally been known for its transparency and I wonder with some of the more popular architecture blogs if they really give any insight to the actual process of architecture. It seems to me that most architecture blogs still focus on the end product and act as catalogues for some great work. That being said, more and more firms are using the blog as an extension of their practice in which case there is a real possibility to uncover how they work.”
Recent post: The Architecture of Authority

‘The Non-Architect’ – Régine Debatty

Blogs: we  make money not art
Short Bio: “we make money not art”, a blog that focuses on the intersection between culture, science and social issues.
Quote from the Article: “I find blogs to be a great platform for mixing emerging art with activism, mainstream art and architecture. Art and design magazines tend to put the usual suspects on their cover. If you want to discover the emerging scene you have to get your hands on indie magazines. If you are into activism then you really have to do loads of research till you find some paper or website that corresponds to your interest. I mix all that on my blog and I don’t care about the resulting chaos.”
Recent post: Synthetic Aesthetics, exploring the territory between art, design and synthetic biology

‘The Futurist’ – Geoff Manaugh

Blogs: BLDGBLOG
Short Bio: Los Angeles-based writer Geoff Manaugh provides architectural news and conjecture, heavily illustrated.
Quote from the Article: “There’s a real enthusiasm out there for Architectural ideas as well as a keen interest in expanding the available field of references. Architecture’s students today didn’t necessarily grow up on Le Corbusier; they grew up on Ghostbusters and Half-Life 2”
Recent post: Open (Landscapes of Quarantine) – a group exhibition exploring the spaces of quarantine, from Level 4 biocontainment labs to underground nuclear waste repositories.

So what do you think – Can blogs change the way we understand and produce Architecture? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!