Art, history, and religion
Brutalism and the AIA’s headquarters
Brutalism is an architectural style characterized by rigid geometry, heavy massing, and its chief material, poured concrete. It is an expression of Modern architecture in the 20th century that privileges function and form equally, and Brutalism has also become an expression—or perhaps a symptom—of post-World War II urban renewal in England, France, Belgium, Japan, and the United States. As a term, it was coined by the architects Alison and Peter Smithson as what they called a design "ethic" (rather than an aesthetic) to functional and inexpensive housing in the 1950s, but it was popularized by the architecture critic Reyner Banham as "New Brutalism." Semantics aside, Banham identified three characteristics of what he saw as an architectural movement: a clearly articulated structure, a preference for raw and unfinished concrete with evidence of its wooden formwork, and a memorable and recognizable overall form of the building. The name Brutalism, itself, is an anglicization of béton brut, or raw concrete, used by Le Corbusier to describe his own 1952 apartment project Unité d'Habitation in Marseilles, France.
Handbook
Architect’s Guide to Business Continuity
An all new and timely resource that provides guidance for reducing vulnerability so firms can remain open despite disruptions.
Resilience
Crunch time for infrastructure legislation
Groundbreaking infrastructure legislation is not over the finish line yet. It’s critical that architects keep up our campaign to remind policymakers that buildings are infrastructure.
U.S. building infrastructure needs 21st century upgrades
It’s critical to prioritize buildings: homes, schools, hospitals, offices, and civic centers. Tell Congress to include “buildings” in the infrastructure package.
Act nowResilience
What architects need to know about hazard and climate risk
Getting a handle on climate and hazard risk will help you help your clients. How can you build the most resilient, adaptive projects?
How To
AIA Resilience and Adaptation Certificate Series
Do you want to integrate resilience into the design services your firm offers? The Resilience and Adaptation series is your answer. This exclusive multi-course series covers hazard mitigation, community resilience, and adaptation. Take all courses to learn best practices for mitigating risk for hazards, shocks, and stresses and adapting to changing conditions. Perfect for mid-career professionals.
Webinar
Business Continuity Planning for Architects
AIAU
This 60-minute course will help you leverage AIA’s newly-updated Architect’s Guide to Business Continuity, a free online resource. Take action and build a plan to ensure your firm is prepared. At the end of the course, you’ll know how to inventory the resources that enable your firm to run, perform a business impact analysis, determine possible strategies and solutions you might deploy to ensure you stay in business. Further, you’ll understand how to identify potential risks and develop a response to a resulting disruption.
AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
AIA members are dedicated to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and competence. The AIA Code of Ethics guides members’ conduct in fulfilling those obligations. The Code applies to the professional activities of all AIA members, regardless of their membership category. The Code is arranged in three tiers: Canons (broad principles of conduct); Ethical standards (more specific goals toward which each should aspire); Rules of conduct (mandatory requirements). Read the AIA Code of Ethics.
AIA headquarters renewal aims to model sustainability, equity, and innovation
AIA headquarters renewal aims to model sustainability, equity, and innovation
Career and the profession
A’21: Staying open for business during uncertain times
David Haresign, FAIA, and Barbara Campagna, FAIA, share reports from the trenches on surviving and thriving during the pandemic.