Joel

Joel Solkoff, USA, was a regular Guest Editor at e-architect, posting unique content - architectural articles on disability access design issues + mobility in buildings. He created a series of posts on key American built environment issues.

Is Detroit Dying? Michigan Urban Planning

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Is Detroit Dying? A special report. Last autumn, a group of Chinese real estate developers arrived in downtown Detroit for a city tour – they were impressed by what they saw

Joel Solkoff’s Column, Vol.II, No. 7: Urban Planning

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Civics as an art has to do, not with imagining an impossible [utopia] where all is well, but with making the most and best of each and every place, and especially of the city in which we live

Joel Solkoff’s Column Volume II Number 5, Brasilia

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Joel Solkoff Column Vol 2.5

United States Architecture, Brasilia Buildings, New Cities and Communities in the USA Joel Solkoff’s Column Volume II, No. 5 Architectural Column by Joel Solkoff, PA, USA Joel’s Column Vol. II, Number 5 Building cities in the United States—special Wyoming focus. Plus… Profile of the President of the Wyoming American Institute of Architects Building a new … Read more

Joel Solkoff’s Column, Vol.II, Number 4

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Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

What Herzog & de Meuron’s completion of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) means to the revitalization of Downtown Miami.

The government of Miami approved a revitalization plan—a plan that includes the taxpayers of Miami paying costs to the Herzog & de Meuron’s firm. Miami taxpayers paid $100 million toward the cost of the museum.

Worthy of asking but not of discussion here: Are taxpayers getting what they paid for?

Joel Solkoff’s Column, Vol.II, Number 3

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Zaha Hadid Yacht 1

Where will I live? Plus…Writing on architects plus their role in the imminent global Baby Boom housing crisis, I have purchased two houses in my lifetime. The first was on Capitol Hill, in Downtown, Washington, D.C. which had a landmark plaque posted on the entrance. It was a beautiful house 100 years old where my former wife and I raised two children.

Joel Solkoff’s Column, Vol.II, Number 2

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One Thousand Museum - Joel Solkoff's Column, Vol.II, Number 2

Zaha Hadid’s Miami compared to my life in rural “Rust Belt” Pennsylvania. “Miami has long been the economic and commercial capital of Latin America, both English and Spanish are commonly understood and it has been the place where many Latinos could be sure their money and their persons were safe from government takeover.”
–The Almanac of American Politics by Michael Barone and Chuck McCutcheon

Joel Solkoff’s Column, Vol.II, Number 1

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Crescent Hotel

If I were an architect eager to launch my career in the U.S., I would focus on three states: Texas, California, and Florida. Despite the incredibly exciting renewal taking place in New York City, the reality is that the wealth and power in the United States has shifted

Frank Gehry and my New York: Joel Solkoff

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Renzo Piano building at the Menil Collection

Frank Gehry and my New York. “What is the most important piece of architecture built since 1980? Vanity Fair’s survey of 52 experts, including 11 Pritzker Prize winners, has provided a clear answer: “Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.”

This article covers a few buildings by Frank Gehry, but also Renzo Piano’s Menil Collection buildings in Texas including the Cy Twombly Gallery.

Rebuilding The World Trade Center: Libeskind

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Kimbell Art Museum, Piano Pavilion - Joel Solkoff’s Column, Vol.I, Number 3

Joel Solkoff – on disability issues relevant to architects. Daniel Libeskind, master architect to rebuild Ground Zero, watched the original World Trade Center being built in the 1960s. Libeskind’s father worked in the neighborhood.

Joel Solkoff’s Column, Vol.I, Number 2

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Marlene Dietrich in 1931

Joel Solkoff – on disability issues relevant to architects

The new Renzo Piano Whitney overlooking the Hudson River, adjacent to a really fun public park, has brought to near completion, another magnificent new Piano. Within the Gallery is the original photograph Edward Steichen took of Marlene Dietrich in 1931. The Whitney will soon be launching a new Exhibition of Steichen’s work.

Joel Solkoff Column: Renzo Piano owns New York

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Morgan Library and Museum.

On disability issues relevant to architects. ‘Renzo Piano Owns New York’. When Renzo Piano’s fourth architectural project in New York City is completed, he will have surrounded the Island of Manhattan dominating neighborhoods on the North, South, West and East sides. The project on the north is Columbia University’s Manhattanville expansion. For an alumnus of Columbia College Class of 1969, the Piano project is literally a mind blower.