Happy Fourth!
In keeping with the spirit of our nation's Independence Day celebration, please enjoy this early edition of AIArchitect. We will resume our regular Friday publication schedule on July 12.

A Mingling of Cultures on the National Mall
If you conjure up the feeling that you're in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as you ease on down the ancient Silk Road, you've captured the spirit created by the 36th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, "The Silk Road: Connecting Cultures, Creating Trust." Although the U.S. Capitol in the background is a dead giveaway that you're really on the National Mall, the exotic food aromas, the crowds, and especially the lively music and dancing might whisk you away from bureaucratic cares for awhile. The Silk Road, which is open free to the public July 3 through July 7, is the brainchild of virtuoso cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who played at the event's opening last week. The sponsors hope that the privately funded festival—like the Silk Road itself—will foster a flow of ideas among different cultures. For more information about the Silk Road project, visit www.silkroadproject.org.

Nation's Capital Plays Host to Party Animals
In the spirit of the Fourth of July, we'd like to introduce you to some of our 200 new friends who are gracing the grounds of famous buildings throughout the nation's capital. Full Story

THE STATE OF THE NATION'S HOUSING
Housing Central to Avoiding More Serious Downturn During Past Recession
As the economy emerges from its first recession in nearly a decade, the housing sector continues to display remarkable resilience. Even after the events of September 11 threatened to deepen the downturn, rock-solid home prices and historically low mortgage interest rates helped consumers keep faith in housing as an investment. Full Story

Design Concepts Selected for African American Burial Grounds at Jefferson Home
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc., selected two design concepts rich in symbolism and cultural reference to mark the site of an African American burial ground at Monticello. Full Story

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
Connecting the Dots
For the first time in months, I recently found myself at home on a Sunday morning rather than traveling to an AIA event. I celebrated by pouring myself a latte and settling into a comfortable chair for a quiet read of The San Francisco Chronicle. It took only a few minutes for three lead articles to catch my eye, and I spent the rest of the morning reflecting on the larger picture that began to emerge. Full Story

Need to catch up on recent editions of AIArchitect This Week?

June 10 | June 17 | June 24 | July 1

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Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects

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