Architecture Week in NYC

A six-day architecture extravaganza in New York City begins October 6 with a stellar line-up that will include exhibitions, parties, films, games, and tours of buildings usually closed to the public. This is the third year that New York's Center for Architecture has thrown this lavish festival, and each year it gets bigger. This year's theme is architecture: bringing cultures together. The highlight of the festival will be a major international exhibition...

Field Experiments in art-architecture-landscape: Hombroich spaceplacelab. The exhibition brings together designs by leading architects and artists for a 650-acre experimental community in Germany.

Press Release:
Kicking off the festivities on Thursday, October 6 will be the exhibition opening for Two Columbus Circle (plus): Museum of Arts & Design and Allied Works Architecture (3 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Center for Architecture) with architect Brad Cloepfil. Offering the public its first look at one of the most closely-watched building projects in New York City, the exhibition will present models and plans for the transformation and renewal of the long-derelict building into a state-of-the-art, light-filled museum. Later in the week on Monday, October 10, a related program – Exploring Columbus Circle – will offer a behind-the-scenes perspective of the making of one of New York City’s most exciting intersections (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.).

Thursday, October 6 will be Heritage Ball, the annual gala of the AIA New York Chapter and the Center for Architecture Foundation. Held at Chelsea Piers’ Pier 60, the Ball draws more than 1,000 leaders in architecture, design, construction, real estate and public service. This year’s honorees include: J. Max Bond, Jr., FAIA, Partner, Davis Brody Bond; Amanda M. Burden, Hon. AIA NY, Chair of the City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning; Frank J. Sciame, Jr., Hon. AIA NY, CEO of F.J. Sciame Construction; and the New York Restoration Project, recognizing Bette Midler.

After the Ball, the celebrating accelerates with the annual Party@theCenter, from 9:30 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. (at the Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place).

On Friday, October 7, a special exhibition reception will begin at 6:30 pm for Field Experiments in art-architecture-landscape: Hombroich spaceplacelab (on view September 23 – December 31, 2005). The evening will offer visitors a special opportunity to view projects integrating art, architecture and landscape, designed for an abandoned military base near Cologne, Germany, by such internationally-renowned architects and artists as Tadao Ando, Shigeru Ban, and Alvaro Siza.

On Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, the Center for Architecture will be the official welcome center for the popular openhousenewyork tours. The free tours open the doors to more than over 150 fascinating sites in all five boroughs. Programs at the sites include conversations with designers, exhibits, performances, and children’s activities. Information on the sites, and on the not-for-profit organization openhousenewyork, is available at www.ohny.org.

As part of the openhousenewyork weekend, the Center will host the “Building Green” Family Day, from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 8. Organized by the Center for Architecture Foundation in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this free, fun workshop invites family members of all ages to learn about green design through interactive, hands-on activities. The workshop also features tours of the Center’s cost-effective and eco-friendly geothermal system, the only one publicly accessible in the region

Following the Family Day workshop, design enthusiasts from all backgrounds are invited to attend the Center for Architecture’s third annual Design-In Marathon, also on Saturday, October 8.

This free event, running uninterrupted from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., will bring together more than 25 leading figures and emerging voices from around the world. This year’s marathon will investigate experimental communities that integrate art, architecture and landscape, using the Center’s current exhibition – Hombroich spaceplacelab – as a springboard for discussion. Participants will present existing projects in Europe and Asia, with a concluding dialogue about opportunities for innovative redevelopment of sites in New York City.

Other events during Architecture Week 2005 include Films! Films! Films!, an afternoon of films about architecture (Sunday, October 9, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), co-sponsored by the Center for Architecture with Artists Space.

Architecture Week 2005 will conclude with an exhibition reception for the AIA New York Chapter Design Awards, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11. Guests will have a special opportunity to view the award-winning projects, announced September 19th, in an exhibition on view at the Center for Architecture from October 6 – December 3, 2005. The competition, organized by the AIA New York Chapter Design Awards Committee, recognizes excellence in three categories: Architecture, Projects and Interior Architecture. Winning projects are chosen from hundreds of international, national and local submissions.

Also on view at the Center for Architecture during Architecture Week will be the annual exhibition of the 2005 AIA New York Chapter Housing Design Awards (October 6 – December 3, 2005), featuring the winners of the AIA New York Chapter Housing Design Awards Program, which has been established to recognize excellence and innovation in housing design.

The Center for Architecture is located at 536 LaGuardia Place and is open 9 am to 8 pm, Monday - Friday, and 11 am to 5 pm, Saturdays. Admission is free. For information, contact the AIA New York Chapter at 212-683-0023 or info@aiany.org.