ArchPlan has helped MTA to implement the Quickbus Line 40. The TIGER "stimulus" funds for the Washington Rapid Bus system take this bus service concept to new levels in our region (see article below). The Langley Park Transit Center (mentioned in the article)was also included in the TIGER funds and was designed by ArchPlan with Wilson T. Ballard as the lead Engineer. We hope that the additional funding will allow us to complete the design and construction documents in the near future.
Washington’s Investment in Faster Bus Service Should be a National Model « The Transport Politic
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Death of an Architect
The entire architectural community was assembled on the top floor of the new Legg Mason building in trendy Harbor East and waited for the Grand Design award to be announced by the President of the local AIA.
It was Mike Murphy, partner and CEO of Murphy Dittenhafer who was called on the stage once more to receive the grand design award for a whimsy pool house design. That was a few months ago.
Mike, with a full head of gray hair, a wry smile and omnipresent at all events architectural. One that would raise his hand and register disagreement, discontent and at times make blunt statements. One, who wasn't afraid. It was easy to see that his big head was not afraid of a possible wall to run into.
Mike was designer and entrepreneur and he built a lot of stuff. Modern at times, preserving historic structures at others. He fought for the preservation of the Baltimore Masonic Temple when it was slated to give way to a mundane parking garage. He found a way to preserve the Temple AND have the garage.
Tomorrow the architectural community will assemble in the beautifully restored Masonic Temple to celebrate Mike's life and his work as an architect. Mike is dead. Abruptly taken from our midst, way too early and while we all still need everyone who can dream, everyone who dares and everyone who has the ability and the will to imagine and then realize a better city and a better world. When we still need Mike.
It was Mike Murphy, partner and CEO of Murphy Dittenhafer who was called on the stage once more to receive the grand design award for a whimsy pool house design. That was a few months ago.
Mike, with a full head of gray hair, a wry smile and omnipresent at all events architectural. One that would raise his hand and register disagreement, discontent and at times make blunt statements. One, who wasn't afraid. It was easy to see that his big head was not afraid of a possible wall to run into.
Mike was designer and entrepreneur and he built a lot of stuff. Modern at times, preserving historic structures at others. He fought for the preservation of the Baltimore Masonic Temple when it was slated to give way to a mundane parking garage. He found a way to preserve the Temple AND have the garage.
Tomorrow the architectural community will assemble in the beautifully restored Masonic Temple to celebrate Mike's life and his work as an architect. Mike is dead. Abruptly taken from our midst, way too early and while we all still need everyone who can dream, everyone who dares and everyone who has the ability and the will to imagine and then realize a better city and a better world. When we still need Mike.
In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits | Magazine
I have recommended this article of the Wired Magazine for a while now because it matches nicely up with my growing conviction that our societal models are changing from top down structures to emergent structures, i.e bottom up structures. One of the last strong vestiges of absolute top down autocracy is the private economy, especially the one of the old industrial giants with their armies of workers swarming into noisy factory halls where individual freedom is a foreign word. Who would think it could be otherwise? Along comes crowd manufacturing and, if Wired is right, access for production by the masses. This neatly matches other trends of bottom up trends we have already seen taking place in software creation, publishing and news media. And interestingly, concurrent with these societal trends we re-discover nature and notice that there, all along, emergence is a strong force. Ants and bees are really not commandeered by a queen but are rather emergent structures with many bottom up feedback loops.
The Wired predicted industrial revolution would change our outlook drastically. Gone would be the concept of the post-industrial service and entertainment society (in which members import all "real" products). A former industrial city might see its future not only in the arts and health services but also in making real stuff. Truly inspiring, isn't it?
In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits | Magazine
The Wired predicted industrial revolution would change our outlook drastically. Gone would be the concept of the post-industrial service and entertainment society (in which members import all "real" products). A former industrial city might see its future not only in the arts and health services but also in making real stuff. Truly inspiring, isn't it?
In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits | Magazine
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