Breaking news from architecture and design magazine Dezeen

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"The London River Park: place for the people or a private playground?"- The Observer

Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Rowan Moore claims that corporate facilities integrated into the plans for the controversial London River Park would turn it into a "gigantic hospitality suite with a fairly nice walkway threaded through it" – The Observer

Moore describes architects Gensler's proposal as "the latest example of a widespread type of the 21st century, the pseudo-public space." He criticises the design for the walkway and rentable pods, describing them as "offensively indifferent" to their historical surroundings and says the project organisers should learn from New York's High Line park in order to turn a good idea into a popular public space.

See our previous story on the 35-metre model of the London River Park.
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Alyn Griffiths | 15 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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"Keyed to Detail, No Matter How Crazy" - The New York Times

Dezeen Wire: in her latest article for The New York Times, design critic Alice Rawsthorn explains how Dutch designer Aldo Bakker's expressive process and relentless attention to detail make him "one of the new wave of designers who could be called design-auteurs" – The New York Times

Bakker's products and furniture perform simple functions in ways that Rawsthorn says demonstrate "a quiet confidence, as if every element has been resolved with nothing left to chance." Bakker says of his creative methods, which can lead to each product taking years to develop: “I love having the freedom to pay attention to every detail in my work, no matter how crazy."

See designs by Aldo Bakker on Dezeen and read more articles by Alice Rawsthorn here.
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Alyn Griffiths | 14 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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Design Museum move will "help nurture a new generation of creative talent"- Deyan Sudjic

Dezeen Wire: the director of London's Design Museum Deyan Sudjic claims the museum's new home at the former Commonwealth Institute will offer a platform for future designers and that Britain can regain its reputation as creative power, "provided we go on investing in design" – The Guardian

Sudjic describes the Design Museum's original incarnation at the Victoria & Albert museum as "a little like an upmarket squatter in the V&A basement," but suggests that "contemporary design is now firmly on the cultural agenda." He claims that Britain must support design education in order to stay ahead of emerging economies, adding that "design is a way to create or safeguard jobs."

James Dyson also recently wrote an article on the importance of design to the British economy and we previously reported on the Design Museum's current building being up for sale.
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Alyn Griffiths | 14 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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Sebastian Wrong launches new limited edition design platform

Dezeen Wire: designer and co-founder of British brand Established & Sons Sebastian Wrong has launched The Wrong Shop, his own retail venture focusing on limited edition products by leading designers. More about Sebastian Wrong launches new limited edition design platform

Alyn Griffiths | 14 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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"Maggie's Centre: the jolly green giant"- The Guardian

Dezeen Wire: in a review for The Guardian, architecture critic Jonathan Glancey says that the new Maggie's centre in Nottingham is like something out of a fairytale and "is clearly designed to make visitors smile" – The Guardian

Glancey claims that architect Piers Gough of CZWG and fashion designer Paul Smith, who was responsible for the interior, have triumphed in their attempt at creating a homely environment for those affected by cancer, adding: "From a purely architectural and design point of view, few hospital buildings – this side of the other eight Maggie's Centres built in Britain since the 1990s – are as welcoming."

See our original story on Maggie's Nottingham and subsequent story with more images as well as all our stories on Maggie's centres.
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Alyn Griffiths | 14 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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Campaigners petition to save design and technology in UK schools

Dezeen Wire: the Design and Technology Association is urging people to complete an online petition to retain design and technology as a compulsory part of the UK's National Curriculum.

Design and technology is one of the subjects that could become optional in schools following the government's announcement in January that it intends to slim down the curriculum. The petition is supported by key members of the creative and manufacturing industries, who believe the subject to be vital to the UK's economic development.

Anyone wishing to support the campaign should visit the the Design and Technology Campaign website to sign the online petition or contact their local MP.
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Alyn Griffiths | 11 November 2011 | 1 comment
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Plastic bottles filled with sand used to build houses in Nigeria

Discarded bottles sourced from hotels, restaurants, homes and foreign embassies are being filled with sand and used as bricks to create curved-walled houses in a Nigerian village. More about Plastic bottles filled with sand used to build houses in Nigeria

Alyn Griffiths | 10 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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£100,000 awarded to companies helping the elderly to live more independently

Dezeen Wire: a meals-on-wheels service that brings home cooked food to elderly residents is one of three projects that will share £100,000 awarded by the UK government's Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) to the winners of a competition that called for innovative ideas to help elderly citizens live more independent lives. More about £100,000 awarded to companies helping the elderly to live more independently

Alyn Griffiths | 10 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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"David Chipperfield to curate 2012 Venice Biennale"- The Guardian

Dezeen Wire: David Chipperfield is to curate the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale, becoming the first British architect to take on the role - The Guardian

The official announcement has been delayed because of Chipperfield's reservations over working with Giulio Malgara, who was expected to become the director of the biennale and is a friend of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Following Berlusconi's decision to stand down it is expected that current director Paolo Baratta will retain the role as biennale director.

See more stories about David Chipperfield on Dezeen.
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Alyn Griffiths | 10 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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Populous scraps plans for air conditioned stadium at 2022 Qatar World Cup

Dezeen Wire: sports architecture firm Populous claims that original plans to air condition a stadium they are designing for the 2022 Football World Cup are too expensive and "notoriously unsustainable" when used in desert environments - The Independent

Populous director John Barrow says they are now considering other options for creating a comfortable climate inside the Sports City stadium and is encouraging the Qatari government to alter its building schedule to give new technologies time to develop.

You can see our previous story on the 2012 London Olympic stadium, also by Populous, and all our stadium stories here.
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Alyn Griffiths | 9 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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Kieran Long says Heathrow's plastic transport pods are "not just a whizzy novelty"

Dezeen Wire: in his latest article for the Evening Standard architecture and design critic Kieran Long describes a network of noiseless transport pods launched in September to carry passengers from Heathrow airport's business car park to Terminal 5 as "the future we were supposed to have."

Long says the £30 million Rapid Personal Transit system, created by transport specialists Ultra PRT and engineers Arup, offers a "brief but safe moment of isolation" and "is an expression of the minor psychological irritations of business travellers" but adds that the concept has potential to be applied in larger urban scenarios.

See all of our transport stories including a self-driving electric passenger vehicle and more articles by Kieran Long.
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Alyn Griffiths | 9 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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"Design and invention can power us out of recession"- James Dyson

Dezeen Wire: industrial designer James Dyson has called on engineers and designers to develop the new ideas needed to revitalise the UK economy - The Guardian

Dyson says that only tangible engineering can address issues such as global warming and population growth, stating: "The allure of digital should not distract us from the bigger challenges." He adds that the government must "focus on investment in ideas," urging them to support design education and creative businesses.

We published the winner of the 2011 James Dyson Award for innovative student engineering projects on Monday and you can see more stories about James Dyson here.
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Alyn Griffiths | 9 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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ACID seeks evidence of copying in design

Dezeen Wire: UK industry body Anti Copying in Design (ACID) is calling on designers to share their experiences of intellectual property infringement to help support its submission to the government's review of design law. More about ACID seeks evidence of copying in design

Alyn Griffiths | 9 November 2011 | 2 comments
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Government seeks designers' views on copyright

Dezeen Wire: UK designers have two more days to take part in a government survey aimed at improving intellectual property laws. More about Government seeks designers' views on copyright

Alyn Griffiths | 9 November 2011 | 1 comment
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Philippe Starck: 'I'd rather save lives than be a designer'- The Independent

Dezeen Wire: designer Philippe Starck says that not being able to save lives and tackle key global issues in his work leaves him feeling "impotent"- The Independent

The designer has created a new photobooth that meets his aims of designing democratic and affordable products. Starck claims they offer a solution for those who can't afford a camera, adding that photos help us to "exist." He also laments the modern propensity for vandalism that threatens the booths, saying: "Twenty years ago it was possible to design something pretty and people to respect it. Not now."
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Alyn Griffiths | 8 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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Alice Rawsthorn on Saul Bass: "The man who made the title sequence into a film star"

Dezeen Wire: in her latest article for The New York Times, design critic Alice Rawsthorn analyses the career of influential graphic designer and filmmaker Saul Bass.

Rawsthorn explains that the designer's bold style "reflected his fascination with constructivism, modernism and surrealism," adding that his work with some of the most important directors in history "transformed what were once cursory lists of the cast and crew into thrilling complements to the movies."

See more articles by Alice Rawsthorn here.
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Alyn Griffiths | 8 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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James Dyson 2011 Award winner announced

Dezeen Wire: a system that extracts moisture from air like a desert-dwelling beetle has won this year's James Dyson Award for students working on innovative engineering solutions. More about James Dyson 2011 Award winner announced

Alyn Griffiths | 8 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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"Post-modernism comes of age" says Charles Jencks

Dezeen Wire: architectural theorist Charles Jencks has written a new article for Blueprint magazine about the resurgence of postmodern architecture over the past twenty years, during which time other commentators claim it has become defunct.

Jencks points to projects from the likes of Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Herzog & de Meuron and Santiago Calatrava as demonstrative of the continuing influence of postmodern ideas, which he claims have led to "the explosive growth in iconic buildings and landmark sculptures."

The V&A is currently hosting an exhibition of postmodern architecture and design and you can see all of our stories on postmodernism here.
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Alyn Griffiths | 7 November 2011 | Leave a comment
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Critics' reactions to the London 2012 Olympic posters

Dezeen Wire: art and design critics have questioned whether the posters unveiled on Friday to celebrate next year's London Olympics truly represent the best of British creativity. More about Critics' reactions to the London 2012 Olympic posters

Alyn Griffiths | 7 November 2011 | 1 comment
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Conran's designs "don't quite communicate the fun he has got out of life"- The Guardian

Dezeen Wire: in his latest article for The Guardian, architecture and design critic Rowan Moore interviews Terence Conran ahead of an exhibition dedicated to his career at the Design Museum, which opens on 16 November.

In the article Moore suggest that Conran's greatest successes have been the businesses he's founded rather than the products or interiors he's designed, which Moore adds are "a little too managed, manipulated, packaged and don't quite communicate the fun he has got out of life, as if constrained by some invisible boundary."
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Alyn Griffiths | 7 November 2011 | Leave a comment