Feature Article

2009 Year in Review
By Christopher Kelley, AIA, LEED AP

2009 will be remembered by many as the nadir of what is called the Great Recession. It was a year in which many young architects were laid off as clients stopped projects due to the drastic decline of the market, the inability to get financing or bankruptcy. Although the Young Architects Forum was not immune to the challenges of the economy, we were steadfast in representing and advocating for young architects and emerging professionals during this year of uncertainty.

Article of Interest

Would You Like to Leave Room for Cream?
By Raymond Tse, AIA, NCARB

What size of firm would you choose as a final resting place? Or, in other terms, would that be a tall, grande or venti? Non-fat, extra foam, please.

Leadership

Leadership Profile: Alexander Lungerhausen, AIA, Dipl.-Ing.

After spending his childhood between Lima, Santiago and Lausanne, Lungerhausen attended school near Munich, Germany. One of the greatest gifts his parents were able to give him was a lingual and cultural fluency, which would eventually allow him to feel at home in Europe, South America and now the United States.

Book Reviews

Ingo Maurer: Designing With Light
Edited by Bernhard Dessecker
Review by Vincent Medugno



If you were to look up Ingo Maurer in the dictionary you might find a picture of a light bulb within a light bulb. Or maybe a light bulb with wings. And it would be nicknamed Lucellino.












Space, Time and Architecture: the Growth of a New Tradition
by Sigfried Giedion
Review by Dianne Gordon, AIA, NCARB

Space, Time and Architecture is a living book as this is the fifth edition with additions included; the first edition was released in 1941, and Professor Giedion is still teaching the next generation of emerging architects and planners. Major architects of our time have their projects within this wonderful resource of information. Giedion analyzes Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Alvar Aalto, and Le Corbusier to determine the impact their designs have made.

Announcements

AIA’s Premier Knowledge Resource is Here!
The Architect's Knowledge Resource (AKR) is ready for you to sign in and use daily. AKR connects you to the most current and emerging information on architecture that can serve your practice and career. Through AKR, you’re linked to a continuous flow of information that gives you insight on important trends, solutions, products, and strategies related to architecture. Sign in to http://www.aia.org/akr/index.htm  to experience this new online resource from AIA.

Share your thoughts!
On the new AIA Archiblog at www.blog.aia.org/yaf. Current postings include the sharing of crazy work stories, a debate over architects in the movies, and a discussion of work/life balance. Other topics are definitely invited! Click here to join the discussion.

Know Someone Who’s Not Getting The Connection?
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The YAF Connection is e-mailed to AIA members six times a year - definitely a benefit of membership!

Call for Articles
Do you have an interesting program or idea of interest to young architects that you would like to see featured in the Connection? Contact Jennifer Workman, AIA, 2009 YAF Communications Advisor at yaf@aia.org.