Submitted by WA ContentsMecanoo designs Americas "only purpose-built new dance theater" in the Berkshires United States Architecture News - Dec 17, 2024 - 15:49 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Dutch architecture practice Mecanoo has unveiled design for a new theatre at at Massachusetts, which will be Americas "only purpose-built new dance theater" in the Berkshires, United States.Called Doris Duke Theatre, the new theatre is located on Jacobs Pillows beautiful destination campus in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Currently under construction at site, the new dance venue is set to open in 2025.The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre occupies the site of the former studio theater from 1990, destroyed by fire in November 2020.Aerial rendering of the Jacobs Pillow campus with the new Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and Marvel"One of the most technologically advanced dance venues"By providing a makerspace for artists looking to include robotics, extended reality, artificial intelligence, and immersive platforms into live performances, the new theater hopes to become "one of the most technologically advanced dance venues" in the world.A spatial audio system, infrared camera tracking of artists for interactive video content, and live performance interactions with recorded/projected dance content are just a few of the features that the Doris Duke Theatre will include.Rendering of the garden of the Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering Marvel; courtesy of Jacobs Pillow"At the heart of the new Doris Duke Theatre lies a celebration of movement, space, and connection. Inspired by Mecanoos core values of people, place, purpose, and poetry, the new theater captures the essence of dance, not only as an art form but as a deeply human experience intertwined with the landscape and community," said Francine Houben, Mecanoos Creative Director and Founding Partner."Rooted in the rolling hills of the Berkshires, the theater honors the rich heritage of Jacobs Pillow while pushing the frontiers of the performing arts.""The design draws on the rhythms of nature, mirroring the fluidity and grace of dancers," Houben added.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre Artist Quad. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelThe former Duke's footprint was about 8,500 square feet (790 square meters), whereas the renovated Doris Duke Theatre will be about 20,000 square feet (1,858 square meters).The building can accommodate performances, events, residencies, and more, often all at once, according to the design's versatility in terms of many uses. With a variety of seating and stage arrangements, the theater can accommodate up to 220400 people in the main performance area.Thermally treated wood, which is intended to age elegantly over time, covers the theater's mass timber construction. As the seasons change, the building's natural elements convey a tale of light and shadow, time and change, an organic record of nature's dance.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre performance space. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelIn a subtle gesture of balance between sustainability and design, rainwater is collected for later use, and the spacious veranda offers natural shade.The new Doris Duke Theatre is an enduring tribute to the force of dance, nature, and human creativity combined; it embraces the poetry of location through its form, purpose, and connection to the earth.Marvel's landscape design for the new Doris Duke Theatre, which was inspired by the area's natural beauty, blends in with its surroundings and reflects the Berkshires' rich local biodiversity. In addition to celebrating the region's Indigenous past, this design fosters a strong bond between the performing arts and the natural world.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre performance space. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelIn order to greet dancers and guests and to give areas for relaxation, practice, and celebration, the landscape design to the west of the theater forms a central quad that is framed by a sculpture known as a "scramble" formed of stone that is sourced locally.With a garden and a communal fire pit that honor the land's cultural traditions and acknowledge the original occupants who shape Jacob's Pillow and its vital identity, the landscapes created by Indigenous artists to the east showcase Indigenous knowledge.The principal architect of the project is Mecanoo, a Netherlands-based firm headed by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben.Rendering of the quad lobby at the Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelMarvel, a New York-based architecture practice, is working as the local architect and landscape architect for the project. For the project, Charcoalblue is theater and acoustics design consultant. Jeffrey Gibson, Choctaw/Cherokee, is serving as a consultant on the buildings relationship to the site and Indigenous values, a key element of the buildings design.Numerous communities and stories that have influenced and defined Jacob's Pillow will come on stage during the Doris Duke Theatre's inaugural celebration week, which will be marked by a ribbon-cutting and premiere performances on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.Mecanoo transformed and revitalized the Perth's former City Hallwith bronze and meticulously-designed details throughout the interior space. In addition, Mecanooand Meng Architects, together with Lola Landscape Architectswere selected as the winners of a highly competitive international design competition for theShenzhen Guangming Scientist Valleyin China.Top image in the article: Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre East Entrance. Rendering by Marvel; courtesy of Jacobs Pillow.All images courtesy of Mecanoo and Marvel.> via Mecanoo

The holidays can be a hotbed for arguments, whether its a squabble in the kitchen or a heated game of monopoly. Never discuss religion, sex, politics, or money might be sage advice when it comes to the festive period, but its more often than not ignored after a few drinks.Some opt to nod, smile, and quickly change the subject, all in the name of keeping the peace. But comedian Dan Donohue, known for his dishwashing monologues on TikTok, offers an alternative strategy when it comes to prickly family members.All right, this is how you deal with family members who have insane opinions that youre gonna see over the holidays, Donohue explains in one video. Now, a lot of people think you combat these people with facts and logic, but that has never worked once. Instead, he suggests fighting fire with an even bigger fire. What you should do is combat their crazy opinion by coming up with an even crazier opinion so they stop talking to you. @notbaddan How To Deal With Family Members #lol See Dan Live in Austin, TX12/6-7 San Diego, CA 12/19 Seattle, WA 12/20-21 in bio original sound Dan Donohue For example, if you say they should get rid of public schools, hit back with, Yeah, and we should get rid of public air while were at it, he says. And if they claim public schools are indoctrinating children, counter with, Yeah, by teaching them math. Ive proven all that stuff to be fake with a number of experiments Ive done with paint thinner in my garage. The idea, as Donohue sees it, is to meet crazy with crazier. If they take you aside after dessert and go hey, you know who controls the weather, you have to go yeah, I do with my mind.'Politics has become increasingly divisive in 2024, to say the least. In the comments section of Donohues video, people chimed in with their own tried-and-tested tactics for dealing with controversial family members. I just shift the conversation over to aliens and it works every time, one person wrote. Another suggested: just egg them on and observe while sipping your drink and enjoying the charcuterie board snacks.

OpenAI just launched a way to call ChatGPT over the phone as a means of introducing people to the generative AI service. Users in the U.S. and Canada can call 1-800-CHATGPT (1-800-242-8478) to chat with the service or ask questions for up to 15 minutes for free per month. The release is part of OpenAIs 12-day-release event that its playfully calling shipmas. (The most exciting announcement came on day three, when it rolled out its highly anticipated AI video-generation tool called Sora.)Its a clever marketing push for the tech company, which introduced the general public to generative AI with a bang in 2022 and has had to fight off stiff competition from rivals such as Anthropic and Google.As someone who regularly asks ChatGPT for help with things like putting together themed grocery lists and comparing ingredients in multivitamin brands, I figured Id try putting the audio version to the test.To start, I wanted to know how the whole thing worked. You ask questions or tell me what you need help with and Ill do my best to assist you. Whats on your mind today? the robotic womans voice says on the other end of the line. The system said it wants to come across as clear, friendly, and helpful when it speaks.Since this is a system to introduce people to AI, I wanted ChatGPT to explain how AI works. AI voice recognition works by converting spoken language into text, ChatGPT explains. It breaks down the audio into tiny fragments, analyzes them for patterns, and matches those patterns to phonemes, the basic units of sound in a language. Then it assembles them into words and sentences. Advanced models like GPT-4 can understand context and nuances making the recognition more accurate.Fair enough. But still, thats a lot of words. So I wanted to distill the definition into something easier. I asked how it would explain it to a kindergartner.It quickly dove into a sing-song tone. All right, imagine your voice is like a special song. AI listens to your song, figures out the words, and writes them down. It does this by breaking the song into little pieces, understanding the sounds, and then putting the words together like a puzzle. So its like having a friend who can understand and write down your favorite songs. Children probably arent calling OpenAI, though. So maybe it should explain the service to someone who is older. I asked how it would explain what it does to a 100-year-old. At that prompt, the robot voice switched back to its usual monotone.Id say, imagine a device that listens to you speak, then converts your words into text. Its a bit like a typist, but instead of using a typewriter, it uses advanced technology to understand and write down what youre saying. This technology has learned from lots of conversations so it understands different ways people speak.I got enough at that point, so I switched tactics to get into the holiday cheer. I asked for help picking a holiday gift for my mom and ChatGPT encouraged me to put some thought into it. Well, it said, think about what she enjoys.We went back and forth a bit on ideas, and I had my final, pressing holiday question: Is Santa Claus real?Reader, Im here to say that ChatGPT will softly break it to a curious child that the jolly man who flies across the world giving gifts doesnt actually exist. Santa Claus is a legendary figure who embodies the spirit of giving and joy during the Christmas season, ChatGPT says. While the stories about him are fictional, he represents the magic and generosity of the holiday. Did you have any particular questions about Santa?So . . . Santa is not real?Santa is a mythical character meaning hes not a real person you can meet, ChatGPT said, but hes very real in the sense of tradition, imagination, and the joy he brings to many people around the world.Prompt, measured, and accurateif not exactly festive.

India is preparing for possible trade talks with the United States, aiming for increased investments from U.S. companies and higher exports once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.While aiming to protect its manufacturers from potential U.S. tariff hikes on its exports, India is exploring ways to strengthen ties with Washington as Trump has threatened tariffs of 60% and other curbs on imports from China.Here are key commercial issues between the two countries:Trump policy on ChinaIndia seeks to leverage Trumps policy by capitalizing on U.S. trade tension with China, aiming to draw away from it investments and businesses diversifying supply chains.To align with Trumps America First policy, India is ready to offer more incentives such as tax cuts and land access in states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu in industries such as semiconductors, electronics, aircraft parts, and renewables.India also seeks to integrate into U.S. global supply chains by supplying low-end and intermediate products, from chips and solar panels to machinery and pharmaceuticals.Energy and securityTo tackle U.S. concerns on trade imbalances, India is open to increasing imports of energy products, such as LNG, and defence equipment while retaining its independent foreign and trade policies.Discussions on co-producing General Electrics, fighter jet engines by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics in India, have made little progress.But India hopes the two countries 2023 defence industrial co-operation roadmap will fast-track technology sharing and co-production initiatives.Broader trade-cum-investment pactThe government and industry groups favour a broader trade and investment pact with the United States to help Indian manufacturers integrate into global supply chains while retaining policy flexibility to safeguard national interests.Boost to exportsIn return, India seeks to increase exports in pharmaceuticals, garments, footwear, engineering goods, chemicals, areas where it has a growing comparative advantage over China.Aiming for U.S. investmentsIndia is targeting greater U.S. investments, inspired by Apple Inc starting production of iPhones in the country. India hopes to lure more companies into manufacturing by offering incentives, streamlined regulatory approvals, and affordable land.The United States is already Indias third-largest investor, with $65 billion in direct investments from 2000 to 2023.Selective tariff concessionsAdvisers have suggested considering selective tariff cuts on items such as pork and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which have limited domestic demand. Broader concessions could be negotiated in exchange for gains such as more visas for Indian professionals and export-boosting investments.Two-way tradeTwo-way trade between India and the United States, Indias largest trading partner, surpassed $118 billion in 2023-24, with India posting a trade surplus of $32 billion.Industry estimates suggest trade could grow by $50 billion within two to three years, highlighting the growth potential for stronger economic ties.Manoj Kumar, Reuters

Eindhoven studio Dutch Invertuals challenged 14 designers to rework one of its chairs for its Specimen exhibition, with the results including tree branches, copper fossils and LCD-style graphics.Kiki van Eijk, Joost van Bleiswijk, Daphna Laurens and Earnest Studio are among those that have put their own spin on the armchair originally designed by Dutch Invertuals for an office interior.Fourteen designers and studios created a version of Dutch Invertuals' chairEach designer or studio was asked to create a version of the chair that reflects their design expertise.Founder Wendy Plomp initiated the project to mark the 15th anniversary of Dutch Invertuals, a studio known for its research-based approach to interior and exhibition design.Chairs by Scheublin & Lindeman and Max Lipsey explore different use of textilesDutch Invertuals unveiled the 15 chairs the original and the 14 remixes in an exhibition at its studio during Dutch Design Week, which took place in October.The name, Specimen, gives the project a sense of a scientific experiment."The project showcases each designer's expertise, craftmanship and personal style," said the studio.The original chair featurescross-shaped corners and projecting T details"Like biologists collect specimens to understand evolution, Dutch Invertuals invited 15 designers, highlighting each designer's evolutionary process," the studio added.Plomp originally designed the armchair for an office interior at 5Tracks, a major new mixed-use development currently under construction in the Dutch city of Breda.Read: Kiki & Joost adds self-designed exhibition space to Eindhoven studioThe chair comprises four artificial-leather cushions set into an ash plywood frame.The interlocking details of this frame give the chair distinct details, including cross-shaped corners and projecting Ts at the points where the seat meets the sides.Onno Adriaanse crafted his chair from oakRachel Griffin of Rotterdam-based Earnest Studio translated these details into laser-cut aluminium, while Japanese designer Sho Ota created a version in solid hardwood.Eindhoven-based designers Onno Adriaanse and Willem van Hooff worked with tree branches, one with oak and the other with maple, while Copenhagen-based Elly Feldstein created a woven seat with hemp rope.Myeonga Seo experimented with hydro-dipped wood and metalDesign Academy Eindhoven graduate Myeonga Seo experimented with hydro-dipped wood and metal, while Dutch designer Jeroen Wand added his Re-veneer, a surface covering made from offcuts of wood veneer.The most unusual chairs came from German designer Anna Resei, whose design took cues from digital graphics, and Joost van Bleiswijk, who made his from neon-painted plywood shards.Jeroen Wand's chair features a surface covering made from offcuts of wood veneerA curved base turns the design by Eindhoven-based Edhv into a rocking chair, featuring copper buttons cast from fossils, while Kiki van Eijk used wax crayons to add colour to her design.The remaining three, by designers Scheublin & Lindeman, Max Lipsey and Daphna Laurens, all explore different relationships between form, colour and textile.Joost van Bleiswijk made his chair from neon-painted plywood shardsDutch Invertuals often stages exhibitions for Dutch Design Week, as well as in Milan.Past examples include Slow-motion Flow, a fountain for a single drop of water, and Fundamentals, an archive of 800 objects.For the Specimen exhibition, the studio also created an animation featuring all of their exhibitions from the past 15 years, as well as digital versions of all the chairs.The photography is by Ronald Smits.The post Dutch Invertuals chair remixed by Kiki van Eijk, Daphna Laurens and more appeared first on Dezeen.

Skyscrapers such as Porsche Design Tower, Faena Hotel and Trump Tower III are among 35 buildings in the barrier islands of Miami that have sunk as much as eight centimetres since 2016. Conducted by researchers at the University of Miami, the study looked at skyscrapers in the strip of coastal islands off mainland Florida in population centres including Miami Beach, Surfside, Bal Harbor and Sunny Isles Beach.It examined many large buildings built on the strip, half of which were built in 2014 and after, and found that 35 had been affected by sinking or "subsidence" of between two to eight-centimetres.Sinking related to construction activities"We document vertical displacements ranging from two to eight centimetres, affecting a total of 35 coastal buildings and their vicinity," said the study."About half of the subsiding structures are younger than 2014 and at the majority of them subsidence decays with time. This correlation suggests that the subsidence is related to construction activities."The Porsche Design Tower is one affected by the sinking. Image courtesy of Porsche Lifestyle GroupThe heights of buildings varied, but the study did find a correlation between height and sinking.The Sieger Suarez Architects-designed Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles had one of the greatest levels of subsistence at almost eight centimetres since it was completed in 2016.The research was conducted over a period of seven years using a monitoring device called Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) a sensitive device that can measure changes in geology as little as a millimetre that is often used for structural engineering.Geological deformationThe reasons given for the sinking were the inconsistent layers of limestone and natural groundwater movements, with the study suggesting that construction activity may be "instigating" the "deformation" of the geological layers that provide support for the buildings."We attribute the observed subsidence to load-induced, prolonged creep deformation of the sandy layers within the limestone, which is accelerated, if not instigated, by construction activities," it said.In terms of long-term structural damage, the main problem for buildings on the barrier islands is when parts of the ground underneath and around buildings sink at uneven rates."While South Florida high-rises are designed to undergo several tens of centimetres of settlement of the entire structure, differential settlement induces internal stresses that can lead to structural damage," said the study.Surfside collapse highlights the need for monitoringIt also noted that construction could trigger the sinking of a nearby structure, such as the documented sinking of the site of an in-progress Bentley skyscraperdue to the construction of the nearby Turnberry Ocean Club skyscraper.This study follows the 2021 collapse of the Champlain South Condominium Tower in Surfside, which killed 98 people.Though it states that deterioration of the tower's concrete structure was a primary cause, it warned that the collapse made clear the need for further monitoring of buildings in the area."[It] has highlighted the need for monitoring of building stability, especially in coastal areas with corrosive environmental conditions," said the study.Read: Eight upcoming skyscrapers set to change the Miami skylineThe study did not give insights into whether or not the sinking effect was a cause at the Champlain Tower, because of lack of radar data for that area.Last year, Zaha Hadid Architects released designs for a 12-storey luxury condominium on the Champlain Tower site.Architecture studio Kengo Kuma and Associates are among the firms currently working on projects in the areaSome of the structures recorded in the research where sinking was observed were only 18 meters tall.Rates of sinking were different across the different towers, from "slow exponential" to "fast exponential", and many experienced a "sudden onset" of sinking around 2018, even for some structures completed more than 30 years ago."There are no indications that subsidence will come to a stop," concluded the study.Despite the uncertainty in stability laid out in the study and concerns over rising sea levels due to climate change in the city, construction continues in the area on massive structures.Read: Report on collapsed Miami building warned of "abundant cracking" in its concreteRecently, architecture studio Arquitectonica completed the 48-storey Five Park skyscraper in Miami Beach, the tallest in the city. Kengo Kuma and Associates is currently working on the structure for an 18-storey Aman residential tower in Miami Beach.On mainland Miami, which was not covered in the study, there are plans for several massive skyscrapers including supertall skyscrapers by Carlos Ott and Sieger Suarez Architects and by Foster + Partners.Last year, a similar study found that Manhattan was sinking under the weight of its skyscrapers.The main image is by Paashuu via Pexels.The post Over 30 skyscrapers sinking into ground on Miami barrier islands appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: as 2024 comes to a close, we've selected 12 of the most intriguing design and architecture projects that have been published on Dezeen School Shows this year.These projects are from both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, ranging from textile design to architecture, covering topics which span social themes and concepts through material exploration and technical skills.Included in this roundup is a design for sustainable prayer mats, a proposal for a creative community centre and an electric vehicle charging port made from natural materials.The selection of projects comes from students on object design, architecture and industrial design courses from both UK-based and international institutions including University of Melbourne, University of the Arts London and Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art.Atlas of Extraction by Michaela PrunottoMichaela Prunotto produced Atlas of Extraction whilst studying on their Master of Architecture Design Thesis course at the University of Melbourne.Published on Dezeen School Shows in January, the project explores the concept of 'terrascapes' a scene of significant geological disturbance, caused by colonial extraction and expansion."As the beginning of an open project, this atlas explores four terrascapes: the Beech Forest Quarry (where sandstone was extracted), the Westgate Lakes (a former sand mine), the Birrarung River (subject to dredging) and a disused car factory (which has petrochemical soil contamination)," said Prunotto."Each corresponding proposition bares dirty histories for confrontation, while also proposing a programmatic ethic of care and renewal."Student: Michaela PrunottoSchool: University of MelbourneCourse: Master of Architecture Design ThesisView the full school show The Alternative Space by Amit ArbivIn Feburary, The Alternative Space by Interior and Furniture Design student Armit Arbiv was published on Dezeen School Shows.Designed to be a space to aid stress, Arbiv identified necessary guidelines for creating a relaxing environment, identifying four components that should be implementedin the design process."The project has no specific location and its principles can be implemented in various locations as long as the guidelines are applied," Arbiv said."In the process, I learned about the important things in interior design that can assure relaxation and de-stress people, such as colour, lighting and shapes."Student: Amit ArbivSchool: Istituto Europeo di DesignCourse: IED Firenze Three-Year Course in Interior and Furniture DesignView the full school show Upcycled Sajada by Tika Pratiwi SufyanDesign student Tika Pratiwi Sufyan produced Upcycled Sajada, which was published on Dezeen School Shows in March.The project explores the possibilities of creating eco-friendly prayer mats, through methods such as upcycling, aiming to reflect values of sustainability within Islamic beliefs."The Upcycled Sajada brand holds three core values to repurpose production, reflect on sustainability and Islamic values and reconnect with communities and individuals," said Sufyan.Sufyan also aimed to promote "awareness of sustainability values in young practising Muslims."Student: Tika Pratiwi SufyanSchool: University of the Arts LondonCourse: MA Design ManagementView the full school show Deconstructing Muqarnas by Yashraj Chauhan and Arefin ChistyIn April, Yashraj Chauhan and Arefin Chisty's project Deconstructing Muqarnas was published on Dezeen in New York Institute of Technology's School Show.Produced whilst studying Fabrication and Robotics, the project is a proposal for a lighting installation which explores utilising computational design for traditional craftsmanship techniques."The prototype proposes a lighting installation that combines both light and shadow interactions with folded aluminium sheets," Chauhan and Chisty explained."The Muqarnas in this case is treated as a deconstructed component that manifests in three different forms; the first form is the wooden component that acts as a structural column, the second form are translucent resin 3D pieces and the third form is the deconstructed unfolded metal components."Student: Yashraj Chauhan and Arefin ChistySchool: New York Institute of TechnologyCourse: Fabrication and RoboticsView the full school show Haeckel by Mo RamadanIn this School Show published in May, Industrial Design student Mo Ramadan created Haeckel, an electric vehicle charging point inspired by the illustrations of Ernst Haeckel.As Haeckel's style is inspired by details of the natural world, Ramadan ensured to use materials that "age gracefully", honing in on their maturing qualities that occur over time."Just as Haeckel found beauty in the complexity and order of biological forms, this design aims to capture the subtle yet profound transformation that materials undergo with age," Ramadan said."The intersection of Haeckel's artistic vision with the natural patina of ageing materials was a deep source of inspiration for this piece, guiding the creation of a design that honours nature's transient yet timeless aspects."Student: Mo RamadanSchool: University for the Creative ArtsCourse: Industrial DesignView the full school show The Loop Collective by Emily KajdiArchitecture student Emily Kajdi produced The Loop Collective, a creative community centre focused on furniture design, with workshops for woodworking and upcycling and a collection system for discarded furniture items.Published on Dezeen School Shows in June, the project aims to provide a space for like-minded designers to connect and collaborate."The design of the facility is focused on using sustainable local materials where possible and keeping furniture for as long as possible," said Kajdi."The project aims to reduce fly-tipping and educate local communities on the value of furniture-making and upcycled furniture."Student: Emily KajdiSchool: BA (Hons) Architecture (full-time)Course: London South Bank UniversityView the full school show Fibr by Mattia GaglianoMattia Gagliano's project Fibr was published on Dezeen School Shows in July, utilising the material of flax to show its versatility."The traditional material is being used more and more in various products and industries, albeit often in combination with composites that have a negative impact on their recyclability," Gagliano said."My goal is to demonstrate the versatility of flax as a plant, to abstain from combinations with non-compostable material and to retain flax's natural characteristics."Student: Mattia GaglianoSchool: Lucerne School of Design, Film and ArtCourse: Bachelor Object DesignView the full school show Flooding: The Anatomy of Propaganda by Aleksandra LemieszkaFlooding: The Anatomy of Propaganda by Engineering and Architecture student Aleksandra Lemieszka was published in The Bartlett's School Show in August.The project proposes repurposing an old meat market into a printing hall for unbiased, free media."The suspended printing machine, visible to museum visitors, symbolises transparency, as it rises above the flood of propaganda," said Lemieszka of the design."Journalists remain anonymous to prevent leaks and undue influence, with newspapers dispatched through secret canal passages, delivering on the project's goal of preserving truthful and independent media."Student: Aleksandra LemieszkaSchool: Engineering & Architectural Design MEng (ARB/RIBA Part 1 CIBSE JBM), Unit 4Course: The Bartlett School of ArchitectureView the full school show Mursell Council Estate by Charlie SmaleArchitecture student Charlie Smale produced Mursell Council Estate, which was published on Dezeen in the University of Brighton School Show in September.Proposing moveable market stalls to be used in a council estate in London, UK, the project intends to encourage community activities and events amongst locals."The market pods work independently as shops, food vendors and community facilities, but can also be attached to create larger social spaces that allow for larger community events," explained Smale."The pods can be easily changed by the residents to suit their needs facilitated by the bolted glulam structure which can be easily dismantled; this ensures that interventions can be adapted as required."Student: Charlie SmaleSchool: University of BrightonCourse: BA (Hons) Architecture L6View the full school show Concrete Need, Concrete Greed by Andrea VerdantIn October, Textile Design student Andrea Verdant's collection Concrete Need, Concrete Greed was featured on Dezeen School Shows.The collection explores post-war social housing, specifically focusing on tower blocks and council estates in East London."The work aims to amplify the voices of underrepresented people, highlighting their vital role in society and drawing attention to their overlooked experiences," Verdant said."Evidence of aggressive regeneration highlights the lack of upkeep in these spaces, capturing imagery of overlooked architectural features, hostile architecture and signs of deterioration as injustice has become further rooted into the UK housing system."Student: Andrea VerdantSchool: Loughborough UniversityCourse: BA (Hons) Textile DesignView the full school show Pequea Quebrada by Luis Fabricio Martnez SalinasFeatured in Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey's School Show in November, student Luis Fabricio Martnez Salinas produced Pequea Quebrada, a candleholder which honours the people of Acapulco."This set of candle holders is made from a biomaterial of sand and starch, which gives a rough look that simulates the rock formations of the famous Quebrada site in Acapulco," Salinas explained.Student: Luis Fabricio Martnez SalinasSchool: Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de MonterreyCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoView the full school show Utopia by Melinda DoktorIn this December School Show, design student Melina Doktor's project Utopia was featured, which focuses on utilising algae as a superfood via small-scale cultivation."The vision includes creating an algae biofarm designed for human-scale functionality, seamlessly integrating into both contemporary urban environments and speculative future scenarios," said Doktor."Through research and design, processing methods are examined, compatible materials and the overall usability of algae for food purposes, showcasing its versatility through innovative recipes."Student: Melinda DoktorSchool: Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest (MOME)Course: Designer-Maker MAView the full school show Partnership contentThese projects are presented in school shows from institutions that partner with Dezeen. Find out more about Dezeen partnership contenthere.The post Twelve design and architecture student projects featured on Dezeen School Shows in 2024 appeared first on Dezeen.

The amount of green belt land likely to be released as a result of the governments grey belt policy is likely to be lower than speculation has suggested, according to the housing minister.Appearing in front of the House of Lords built environment committee on Wednesday, Matthew Pennycook said he could not say exactly how much land would be released and refused to put a target on the level of delivery expected from the grey belt, although he said it would likely be less than 10% of overall green belt.Source: MHCLG / FlickrHousing and planning minister Matthew PennycookWere only talking about releases where local authorities are unable to meet assessed housing needs through brownfield development alone, but where it does need to be released, it will be based on a local figure, and that will differ in lots of different areas.So it is not, Im afraid, as easy as plucking a sort of single digit figure out of the air.Im quite happy to say we dont think it will be a significant quantity of land, but it will be a modest amount of land that does make a difference, he said, while challenging suggestions from peers that such a limited release would not be meaningful.He also said the level of release as a total proportion of the green belt would be lower than the double-digit estimates made by organisations such as Lichfields and LandTech.I think what we could say about those sorts of figures in those ranges is they are not overlaid with the policy requirements Im talking about, he said, noting that they did not take into account the governments golden rules and other requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework.What I would say is that Im confident that we will see green belt release through grey belt in single digits in terms of a total proportion of the green belt, and thats what I mean by not significant, he said.Pennycook stressed that the purpose of the grey belt policy was to make the release of green belt land more strategic.We thought there was a smarter, strategic way to release the right parts of the green belt, he said.Pennycooks appearance came at the end of the built environment committees short inquiry into the grey belt policy, which saw the original definition of the category called into question.> Also read:From green to grey: How the grey belt could steer development towards the wrong places> Also read:NPPF: Government drops 50% affordable housing requirement for grey belt sitesWitnesses suggested that the definition of grey belt lacked clarity and would lead to confusion among planners and a surge in legal challenges.Such concerns resulted in the government tightening up their definition of the term in the final version of the NPPF, published last week.Pennycook told the committee that the terms that the new definition are based on havecommon sense meaning in the courts.I dont think it introduces a level [] of ambiguity that is not present in other parts of the National Planning Policy Framework, I think its quite clear what the definition is, he said.The final version of the NPPF also saw the government drop its 50% affordability requirement, replacing it with a 15% premium on local requirements.Explaining the change, Pennycook said the previous approach would have made a huge swathe of sites in the Midlands and the North unviable.Quizzed on why the government had not set out interim targets for achieving its overall aim of building 1.5m homes across the parliament, Pennycook blamed the inheritance from the previous government.If we had inherited from the previous government a steady state of supply at a high level. We could have said we intend to continue with that steady state of supply or increase it by a margin amount, he said.>Also read:Lack of clarity over grey belt definition will lead to confusion and legal challenges, Lords told>Also read:Will Labours grey belt plans boost housebuilding or turn out to be an ill-defined gimmick?What we have instead inherited is a very sharp downturn in supply, I go so far as to say a collapse in affordable housing supply in many parts of the country. So we are in a real trough.He acknowledged that the 1.5m target was incredibly difficult, suggesting that a lower target of 1.1m would have been very easy to deliver given the scale of the governments planning reforms.We decided not to do that because I dont think it would have been commensurate with the scale of the housing crisis we see across the country, he said.Pennycook also spoke about the thoroughly depleted nature of local planning departments, which he blamed on historic cuts.Im slightly Im sort of straying outside my brief but when you sort of confront the challenges of the housing and planning system that weve inherited, you pretty much bump up against the fact that the state has been hollowed out in several areas that directly impact upon the functioning of that system, he said.

The government has published its proposals for changing compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers to allow councils to buy land for affordable housing development at a lower price.CPOs can be used by the public sector to procure land for development in the public interestIn a consultation paper today, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government set out plans aimed at making it easier for councils, combined authorities and other bodies, including Homes England, to buy vacant land from landowners.Under the proposals, public bodies will not have to pay hope value costs which include an estimate of what the land could be worth if developed on in the future if the development is in the public interest.The previous governments Levelling Up and Regeneration Act brought in a power for directions to be included in CPOs to remove hope value from calculations of compensation to the landowners.The Labour government is now proposing expanding this further to allow CPOs to be made on behalf of town and community councils by local authorities to remove hope value where they schemes are facilitating affordable or social housing.The paper said the governments engagement with town councils has indicated there is scope for an increased use of CPOs on their behalf to enable small schemes where back-to-back agreements could be arranged with registered providers of affordable housing.Matthew Pennycook, housing minister, said:In our manifesto, we committed ourselves to further compulsory purchase reform to deliver more housing, infrastructure, amenity, and transport benefits in the public interest.>>See also:Updated National Planning Policy Framework explainedThe consultation we are launching today is the next step in fulfilling that commitment proposing reforms that will make the process faster and more efficient, enabling more land value to be captured and then invested in schemes for public benefit.The consultation will run into 13 February.The government also announced in a separate consultation that it will remove the New Homes Bonus in its current format after 2025/26.The bonus is paid to councils as an incentive to ensure delivery of housing in their areas, however it has faced criticism for not being allocated according to need.A brief history of compulsory purchase and hope valueCompulsory purchase powers in the UK date back to the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act of 1845, which established a legal framework for acquiring private land for public infrastructure projects, such as railways and canals. These powers allowed authorities to override landowner objections in the interest of delivering essential public works. While the framework evolved over the years, the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act marked a turning point, embedding compulsory purchase within a modern planning system and enabling large-scale developments, such as new towns.Source: ShutterstockThe 1947 Town and Country Planning Act enabled public sector development corporations to purchase agricultural land without the uplift of hope value, facilitating the creation of new towns such as StevenageIn the UK, a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is a legal tool that allows public authorities, or bodies acting on their behalf, to acquire land or property without the consent of the owner when it is deemed necessary for a project that serves the public interest. CPOs are typically used for developments such as infrastructure projects, regeneration schemes, housing developments, or other initiatives that deliver clear public benefits.The process is governed by legislation, including the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and various acts specific to the type of development, such as the Highways Act 1980 or the Housing and Planning Act 2016. Before a CPO is granted, the acquiring authority must demonstrate that the acquisition is essential for the proposed scheme, that the scheme is viable, and that it balances the public benefit against the impact on affected landowners. Landowners are entitled to fair compensation, which typically reflects the market value of the property in a hypothetical no-scheme world, as well as additional costs and losses incurred due to the acquisition.The 1947 Act established a fundamental principle of the UK planning system: landowners were not entitled to compensation for potential development value if planning permission was refused. This no-compensation rule ensured that local authorities could exercise planning powers without the risk of crippling liabilities to landowners whose schemes were turned down. Crucially, it enabled post-war new town corporations to acquire agricultural land without significant value uplifts, facilitating large-scale development at manageable costs.Source: ShutterstockCPOs were extensively used to acquire land along the route of the HS2 rail projectIn 1959, this system was altered by a Conservative government responding to concerns from landowners. The Town and Country Planning Act 1959 reinstated compensation awards based on market value after a 12-year period during which public authorities had been able to acquire land at existing use value. The Act introduced the principle of the no-scheme world, ensuring that compensation excluded any increase in value arising from the proposed public scheme. At the same time, however, it enshrined landowners rights to compensation for the loss of prospective planning permissions that might have been granted in the absence of the public acquisition. This recognised the concept of hope value the additional worth of land based on its potential for future development and marked a significant shift in the balance between public benefit and private gain.In 1974, a Court of Appeal ruling reinforced landowners rights to hope value, requiring public authorities to compensate for potential future development value in compulsory purchases. This decision significantly increased acquisition costs for public sector projects, making large-scale developments, such as affordable housing, more expensive and less viable.In recent years, the application of hope value has come under scrutiny due to its impact on public sector land acquisitions. Critics argue that compensating for speculative future value inflated costs for public projects, hindering the delivery of affordable housing and infrastructure. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 introduced reforms to cap or remove hope value in specific cases, such as for affordable housing, enabling authorities to acquire land at lower costs. These changes, implemented in 2024, aimed to rebalance the system and make public land acquisitions more viable while addressing the long-standing tension between private gain and public benefit.

A complaint from the Enviroment Agency put scheme on back burner in January 2021South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved up to 4,500 homes for a new neighbourhood north of the village of Waterbeach.Source: South Cambridgeshire District CouncilWhat Waterbeach New Town East is expected to look likePlans for Waterbeach New Town East include 30% affordable housing, a 20-acre country park, one secondary school, two primary schools and a sixth-form centre.LDA Design has spearheaded the vision and masterplanning, coordinated the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and offered landscape and heritage advice as part of the strategic leadership team.Frazer Osment, chair of LDA Design said: Establishing a new town is a social endeavour. Waterbeach will be no isolated dormitory town, but rather a place for businesses to thrive, a place alive with play, and a place where it is easy for all residents to meet and get to know each other.An objection from the Environment Agency delayed planning permission when the application was first considered by the district council in January 2021. The government body cited water scarcity as a major issue but replaced its objection with a recommendation that conditions be imposed in November 2024.The Waterbeach Development Company, a joint venture between Aquila Investments, Royal London Asset Management and Turnstone Estates is behind the scheme and will contribute over 100m for local infrastructure.As part of the development, the existing Waterbeach Train Station will be relocated to the new town, due to reopen in 2027. The greater Cambridge Partnership, which is the local infrastructure improvement and housing delivery body for central government, will work with Homes England on the relocation.>> See also: Top 150 Contractors & Housebuilders 2024>> See also:Housebuilding targets to help grow economy next year, RSM saysTumi Hawkins, lead cabinet member for planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: Being able to issue the final permission for this site will help the Council to meet the growing pressure on local authorities to identify and bring forward sites for new housing.In Greater Cambridge our annual housing target has grown this month from 1,675 homes per year in the adopted 2018 Local Plan to 2,309 homes per year. Ensuring with our partners, such as the Greater Cambridge Partnership, that Waterbeach can fully contribute to meeting that annual target as soon as possible is therefore important.The upcoming neighbourhood forms part of the 560-hecatre site identified by the council in its 2018 local plan as suitable for up to 11,000 new dwellings.Urban and Civic secured planning consent in 2019 for 6,500 homes on the western portion of the site, located at the former RAF Waterbeach base