Oculus

Oculus magazine, AIA New York’s quarterly print publication, is an important means of asserting the identity and advocacy of architects in New York.
Oculus Summer 2024 magazine cover
Summer 2024: Future of the Profession

A Publication of AIA New York, Volume 86, Issue 3

On the Cover: Clockwise from top left: Tesseract, by Sandra Manninger’s New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) School of Architecture & Design students Yashraj Singh Chauhan, Arefin Chisty, and Meraj Nasir; Ugly Beauties, a public artwork by artist Curry Hackett; Grids + Griots by Sekou Cooke Studio was installed at the fourth edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennale; Architensions’ steel-framed Playground was installed at the 2022 California music festival Coachella; Soft Fits in Toronto by WIP Collaborative (Sera Ghadaki, Abby Coover, Lindsay Harkema, Elsa Ponce); another floor plan drawing from Tesseract; UrbanBots, a project by NYIT students Karan Patel, Mike Saad, and Jacob Sam.

Table of Contents
Features
Soft Fits, a site-specific installation by Brooklyn's WIP Collaborative, creates a playful lounge-scape for people of all ages to hang out, explore, and connect in the heart of downtown Toronto. A red and yellow knit structure.
Introduction
Future of the Profession
by the Editors
01 F1F1 IntroIllustration 1500
Schools of Thought
Is on-the-job experience without an accredited college degree a legitimate alternative for emerging architects?
by Stephen Zacks
Ugly Beauties, public artwork by artist Curry Hackett, was installed this spring at The Plaza at 300 Ashland in Downtown Brooklyn. The panoramic display of AIgenerated images of Black people was juxtaposed with the various native and invasive plant species— so-called “weeds”—that flourish in New York City, prompting viewers to consider society’s perception of beauty and belonging.
The New Frontier
What an AI-infused education looks like today, and what it could mean for architects tomorrow.
by Beth Broome
Soft Fits in Toronto by WIP Collaborative is a playful outdoor lounge, designed with teenagers in mind.
Models for Improvement
A look at some of the ways—and reasons—the practice of architecture is taking new forms.
by Anthony Paletta
News & Articles
Headshot of Greg Switzer
Letter from the President
Belonging Together: AIANY's Journey Through Midterm
by 2024 AIANY President Greg Switzer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB
Sara Jazayeri, AIA; President, AIA Bronx. Photo: Courtesy of Sara Jazayeri.
Letter from the Borough Chapters
Cultivating Belonging: Creating a Supportive NYC AIA Environment
by AIA Borough Presidents
Headshot of Oculus Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Krichels
Letter from the Editor
New Systems, Perennial Questions
by Oculus Editor-In-Chief Jennifer Krichels
A view of the exhibition, featuring, at left, "Away, at Home" by Chi Chi Wakabayashi, a student at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The project proposes a clinic offering temporary housing and social support services to provide comfort for those who have to travel to access care. From the studio Reproductive Justice Network, taught by Bryony Roberts, 2022.
At the Center
Spacializing Reproductive Justice
by the Editors
Carmen Herrera's four acrylic structures stand in the Parrish Museum's field of grass.
Beyond the Center
Day Trips
by the Editors
A photo of Shigeru Ban's Paper Log House amongst the woodsy landscape at The Glass House.
Street Level
Shigeru Ban's Paper Log House at The Glass House
by Jennifer Krichels
Cover of A Rage in Harlem book
Lit Review
A Rage in Harlem: June Jordan and Architecture
by Marc Norman, Larry & Klara Silverstein Chair and Associate Dean, New York University, Schack Institute of Real Estate
AIANY logo
Op-Ed
Building Resilience Against Extreme Weather Events
by Randy Fernando, Assoc. AIA
AIANY logo
Op-Ed
Why There Should Be City/Country/State Architects
by Andrew Thompson, NOMA, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Three Oculus covers in a composite image
Call for Fall 2024 Op-Eds
Living in the City
Headshot of Jesse Lazar
Last Word
Two Missions, One Shared Vision
by Jesse Lazar, Assoc. AIA, Executive Director, AIANY/Center for Architecture
Oculus at US Modernist Library
 
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