Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'architects'

Balancing Form, Function In Museum Architecture

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:19:00 EST

Two American museums designed by one world-famous architect have evoked two very different reactions from visitors and critics alike. Laura Sydell investigates the tensions between form and function in the latest installment of NPR's series on 21st-century museums.

Museum Of American History: A Gem Gets Polished

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:26:00 EST

Washington's National Mall will regain a star attraction Friday, when the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History reopens after a two-year renovation. It took $85 million and a horde of curators, builders, architects and advisers to reframe space for the museum's 3 million historic objects.

Wall Street Bailout Heavy On Paulson's Shoulders

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is more than just the man of the moment. He's likely the man who'll get the credit or the blame — depending on what happens with the economy. Paulson is the chief architect of the government's $700 billion bailout plan.

Sandbag House Wins Humanitarian Award

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT

This week, the Curry Stone Design Prize was awarded to a South African architecture firm that figured out how to make a cheap house with a timber frame and a whole lot of sandbags. The houses are energy efficient and easily assembled, and could replace more hazardous structures in the shantytowns around Cape Town. South African architect Luyanda Mphahlwa talks with Scott Simon about his prize-winning design.

Who Is Henry Paulson...

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:18:00 EDT

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is the architect of the $700 billion financial bailout. Who exactly is Paulson? Newsweek columnist Daniel Gross answers that question and talks about Paulson's time on Wall Street and in Washington.

Prefab: From Utilitarian Home To Design Icon

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:17:00 EDT

Architects' answer to efficient design is the prefab home, which has been both a design sensation and a cookie-cutter bore over the years. A current MoMA exhibit explores the history of that house and shows how technology could make innovative design more affordable.

Former Charlotte Mayor On Making History, American Politics

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Harvey Gantt made history in 1983 as the first African-American to be elected as mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. In this week's Wisdom Watch, Gantt, who is also a renowned architect, discusses his political and professional journey and shares thoughts on Sen. Barack Obama's quest to change history.

How Successful Was The Surge...

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The troop surge of 2007 was extremely controversial. Now that it's over, questions remain about how successful the tactic was. We speak with retired Gen. Jack Keane, one of the original architects of the surge.

French Architect Has Designs On Vegas Desert

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:52:00 EDT

One of France's most famous architects is making his mark in Paris and other cities, despite his talent for designing buildings that disappear into the landscape. Earlier this year, Jean Nouvel won the Pritzker Prize, architecture's top honor. His next project could take him to Las Vegas.

Architect Of Torture Policy Testifies

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:23:00 EDT

One of the architects of the Bush Administration's interrogation policies has testified before Congress. Former Pentagon official Douglas Feith said he was smeared in a recent book about the policy. The book's author defended his account.

China Turns To More Modern Architecture

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:43:00 EDT

New civic and commercial buildings in Beijing are shying away from the historic Chinese architectural style in favor of modern influences from a slate of architects from around the world, and not everyone is thrilled with the new look.

The Debate Over Torture

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:01:00 EDT

Critics and defenders of the use of torture, or harsh interrogation techniques, view the role it played in the interrogation of al Qaeda architect Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

Architects of McCain's and Obama's Economic Plans

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:38:00 EDT

Both presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, are acknowledging that Americans are suffering through this economy — and both have different theories on how to bring it back together, as a talk with the candidate's top economic advisers showed.

Female Workers Break Stereotypes in Karachi

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:52:00 EDT

Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep continues his reporting from one of the largest cities in the world as part of our series, "The Urban Frontier." In this segment, we meet two influential women in Karachi, Pakistan. Sabra Khadun supervises men digging a new sewer, and Purveen Rehman works as an architect and leader of a research center. Both women are breaking stereotypes in a male-dominated society.

Miami Arena May Regain Shine as Architectural Gem

Mon, 05 May 2008 15:30:00 EDT

A coalition including preservationists and architects are lobbying to get the Miami Marine Stadium, abandoned since Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992, restored to its former glory. The structure is a world-renowned example of Modernist architecture.

Spurred by Rising Seas, Dubai's Floating Ambition

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:32:00 EDT

Dubai will try just about anything; the bolder and more outlandish, the better. So two Dutch architects have opened a business there specializing in homes, offices and hotels that float. They hope their floating architecture will help coastal cities around the world survive climate change.

Iraq Policy Derailed by U.S. Infighting over Chalabi

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Plans for establishing a new Iraqi government were complicated by the role of Iraqi exile Ahmed Chalabi and his interaction with various U.S. agencies, says Douglas Feith, an architect of the war in Iraq.

Feith Regrets Not Pushing 'Law and Order' in Iraq

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:04:00 EDT

The U.S. government has been criticized for many aspects of its handling of the Iraq war. But Douglas Feith, an architect of the war, says one of his biggest regrets is not convincing top Pentagon officials to pay more attention to law and order immediately after the fall of Baghdad in 2003.

Architect Creates Estates for Wild Animals

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:20:00 EST

Artist Fritz Haeg builds homes for wild animals in urban areas with the hope of luring them back. This week his installation appears outside New York's Whitney Museum. What kind of creatures can we expect?

Dutch Architects Plan for a Floating Future

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:55:00 EST

Architects in Holland are showing the rest of the world a way of turning adversity into opportunity. Instead of building around rising waters, they ask, why not build on water? Floating houses, gardens, even villages are the future vision of some Dutch planners.

Gilligan Turns to Fictional Love Story in 'Kyra'

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:54:00 EST

Author Carol Gilligan, best known for her work in gender studies, has written her first work of fiction, Kyra. It's a love story between an architect and a theater director who have both lost their spouses to political violence in Europe.

Restoring a Campus-Full of Frank Lloyd Wright

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:00:00 EDT

Florida Southern College is home to the largest collection on a single site of buildings designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. But the 12 buildings and covered walkways are crumbling, and the college has embarked on a long and expensive project to save them.

Artists of Battlefield Deception: Soldiers of the 23rd

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:25:00 EDT

The soldiers of the secret 23rd Special Forces played a unique role in World War II: to deceive the enemy and draw their attention away from real combat troops. The unit was made up of artists, designers, architects and sound engineers.

General and 'Surge' Architect Discusses War

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:00:00 EDT

Retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane is a former vice chief of staff for the Army. Gen. Keane, an architect of the "surge," discusses the progress of the Iraq war.

Lawmakers Weigh Iraq Data, Upcoming Report

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EDT

Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will testify this week before Congress on the military and political landscape in Iraq. There are already questions about whether Petraeus has too much of an interest in defending the so-called "surge," as both its architect and chief administrator.