Student
The Student section of this site is not just for our readers who are students, but for those of you that wish to sharpen your graphic skills, learn about the latest and greatest software, or just find out why your interns are always on the Critique This website.
Augmenting Aerial Earth Maps: Are Architects Ready For An Augmented Reality?
Augmenting aerial earth maps, or Augearth as it is called by its creators, is the resultant of a research effort at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Augmented Environmental Laboratory. I discovered the results of the research while visiting the Google Earth Blog, which is a must bookmark for architectural 3d modelers and illustrators. I am writing about this, not because I don’t feel like finishing the dozen or so articles I have sitting in the queue, but because the researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have brought to the forefront a new type of visualization that will not only change the way we view architecture and the world, but our process. … continue reading Augmenting Aerial Earth Maps: Are Architects Ready For An Augmented Reality?
Cheap Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008
I have always said that everybody loves the work of Renzo Piano, even his bad buildings. Until now, monographs and texts depicting the work of Piano were both expensive and outdated, highlighting popular older works of the RPBW. Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008 is 528 pages of Renzo Piano eye candy, complete with high quality color prints of nearly every building that he has designed over the last 42 years. This text could be yours for the low cost of $26.39, … continue reading Cheap Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008
Download: 3D Apple Power Mac G5, Cinema Display & Keyboard
Today’s download resource is a 3D Apple Power Mac g5 & Cinema Display combo complete with keyboard and textures. The model has a low polygon count and makes use of textures for most of the detail. I have had 30 or so of these computers in a model and render times and Open GL performance has not diminished. The model is supplied in dwg and fmz file formats. The FormZ file is completely textured, and materials are set up in the model, requiring only minor tweaks. This is the only computer I use in my renderings, because it is dead sexy and instantly makes any space cool. … continue reading Download: 3D Apple Power Mac G5, Cinema Display & Keyboard
Book Reviews:
damn GOOD
For those of you who have never heard of Paul Arden, he was an executive creative director for Saatchi & Satchi a powerhouse advertisement agency which handled many large accounts such as British Airways and Toyota. The image he developed for these companies is still a part of our popular . . .continue reading: damn GOOD
Graphics:
Video Tutorial: Create Your Own Sky In Photoshop (part 1)
This is the first of what is hopefully many video tutorials that focus on techniques associated with architectural rendering. This particular video tutorial is a two part video that shows you how to take raw digital photographs, and Photoshop them to be high resolution background images for your renderings. . . .continue reading: Video Tutorial: Create Your Own Sky In Photoshop (part 1)
Random Academia Webness:
Home of the rural studio and legend Samuel Mockbee. This school offers perhaps the best design/build studio in the country. Dean: Dan Bennett, Auburn, Alabama.
UC’s School of Architecture and Interior Design is continually ranked one of the top Architecture and Interior Design schools in the country. The school’s unique CO-OP program is the greatest strength. Dean: Jay Chatterjee Cincinnati, OH.
i.M.A.D.E or the Institute for Digital Fabrication is leading the way in the use of ditial design and fabrication techniques as related to architecture. Part of Ball State University, their focus is fabrication. Mucnie, IN.
GSAPP has positioned itself to be THE architecture school to go to if you want to learn how to create sexy images and architectural forms, but is that enough? Dean: Mark Wigley, New York, NY.
Software:
Imagenomic Noiseware: Quiet Your Images
While cleaning up the images for the previous article Download: Sky, one of the things that bothered me was that my digital SLR camera produced a small amount of noise and grain in the image. Although the Florida skies are beautiful, the sun is also very bright, which can make . . .continue reading: Imagenomic Noiseware: Quiet Your Images
Critique This! Tweets by James- I am a genius, got it working better than ever!
- I broke the image gallery on critique this, you'll have to use the slide show that I integrated, until I fix it, doh!
- Check out Squire and Partners, fun original architecture flash site, plus their work is actually good! http://su.pr/1FWuFY
- I love code, especially when it is beautifully simple.a:focus {outline-style: none;}
- Working on a new site, and new design for Critique This. Look for an update this weekend.
Newest Links:
- The ARCH
[specialty] Jon Brouchoud is founder of the ARCH a unique blog that examines not just new visualization technology but the use of the virtual world and its impact on archtitecture. Brouchoud’s goal is to bring realtime, multi-user, virtual worlds to mainstream AEC-industry adoption by providing resources, consultation, collaboration tools, training, community organization, and virtual project spaces. - Squire and Partners
Squire and Partners is a gem of a firm, and so is their website. A beautifully original flash site allows you to easily navigate the firm’s impressive portfolio, and play a few video games while your at it. Although their site is cool, so is their architecture, particularly the Reiss HQ. Office located in London. 
Hernon Diaz Alonso is principal and founder of Xefirotarch and is widely known for his free formed designs. His work rarely gets built, but its influence on Columbia and other academic institutions can be felt. Office located in Los Angeles California.- Marble Fairbanks Architects
Marble Fairbanks was established in 1990 and is lead by Scot Marble and Karen Fairbanks. Their projects have a distinct focus on patterning and texture. Office located in New York City. - Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Diller Scofidio + Renfro have been setting the architectural world on fire with a series of iconic commisions like the ICA in Boston, the Blur Building, and now the High Line in New York City. Office located in New York City. - Lyn Rice Architects
Lyn Rice formerly of Open Office and Diller & Scoffidio is principal of one of the most promising young firms in New York City. Their work is explicityl graphic design, sometimes their diagrams and drawings are better than the built architecture. Office located in New York City. 
dxb.Lab is lead by Khalid Alnajjar. Their portfolio of built work is limited to a collection of modern residences in Dubai and a series of interesting conceptual projects. Office located in Dubai UAE.
Matthew Trzebiatowski established Blank Studio in 2001 and has received much acclaim for his Social Condenser house. Office located in Phoenix Arizona.- Ayers Saint Gross
Ayers Saint Gross is a leader in the field of college master planning. Their site contains an amazing database of college institution information, including figure-ground diagrams, student population, and demographic data all free in their Research and Resources section of their site. Offices located in Tempe, Baltimore and Washington D.C. - Alfonso Architects
Relatively unknown, Albert Alfonso has produced an impressive portfolio of modern edifices composed of clean lines and white forms. Offices located in Milan Italy and Tampa Florida.
Critiquing this & that since August 3rd, 2009.
