Posts

33rd annual Festival of the Trees

/in /by

Each year South Florida’s architecture and design community demonstrates its support for interior architecture education through their annual participation in Festival of the Trees, a fundraising event coordinated by Florida International University’s Interior Architecture Department.
Over the past 32 years, this annual holiday event has raised over $350,000 in funds that benefit FIU’s Interior Architecture Department and its students.
Sponsors underwrite designers who design and build unique holiday creations and donate them to the event. The “trees” are then displayed and auctioned at the gala opening. Winning bidders take these extraordinary creations home and get to show them off throughout the year.
Our President, Josh Oberhausen was selected as a judge at this year’s event, along with Hilda Altimari, Art Director of Dacra Miami Design District; Martin Amado, TV Personality; Massimo Casagrande, Director of Education at Marangoni Miami; and Liana Guilarte, Group Publisher for Modern Luxury. The event took place Thursday, November 21st, at The Moore Building in the Miami Design District.
Congratulations to the winners of the 33rd annual Festival of the Trees:
Most Colorful: “Candela” by AECOM
Most Animated: “It’s All Relative” by Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates, Inc.
Most Progressive: “Respirations” by FIU RDF Lab
Most Sustainable: “Cross-Cultural Headgear” by TSAO Design Group
Most Creative: “Layers Through Time” by G. Alvarez Studio, Inc.
Most Elegant: “Glitz” by HKS Architects, Inc.
Most Whimsical: “Hold My Memphis” by CallisonRTKL
Most Illuminating: “Depths of Deco” by Gresham, Smith, & Partners
Most Thematic: “Games Archiving Games” by OBM International
Honorable Mention (Creative): “Carousel Through Time” by Cube 3
Honorable Mention (Thematic): “Vessel” by Stantec
Honorable Mention (Colorful): “Copasetic” by Zyscovich Architects

BBA’s Claudia Busch Guides FIU Architecture Students in Designing a Mobile Art Pavilion

/in /by


Next summer, a futuristic Mobile Art Pavilion designed by Florida International University students, will bring a new way to showcase pop-up art exhibits and plays to our South Florida community.
Berenblum Busch Architects’ Founding Principal and Senior Instructor at FIU’s Department of Architecture Claudia Busch led seven student teams to build on ideas for this multi-use, mobile art pavilion. Of the seven designs proposed by 15 students, the plan of a 315-square-foot, dome-like structure was selected.
The FIU School of Architecture team proposed a waterproof pavilion that “will have three layers with the outer one made from a rigid metal frame to hold the fabric that encloses the pavilion. Display walls are designed to rotate to vary the enclosure and accommodate for art display and performance.”
The structure will use renewable energy resources and sustainable materials, and the fabric envelope features solar coating “to help reflect and diffuse direct solar radiation, optimizing temperature comfort inside.”
The project is part of a partnership between FIU and Grace Arts Florida. Senior Instructor Claudia Busch led the student teams from her Graduate Architecture Studio 9.
For more information, visit Miami Herald.

FIU Celebrates City of Miami Beach’s 100th Anniversary

/0 Comments/in , /by

MBUSAs part of an expansive partnership with the city that began last year, FIU is hosting numerous events in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary of Miami Beach.

Though the celebration runs all year, the major centennial events will be held March 22-26, including a performance by the FIU Symphony and Concert Choir at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on March 25.

According to John Stuart, associate dean of cultural and community engagement in the College of Architecture + the Arts (CARTA) and executive director of the Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS), FIU has had a significant presence on Miami Beach for years ­­­­­– so partnering with the city was a natural fit.

Beyond the centennial events, projects included in FIU’s partnership with the city range from sea level rise and transportation to dual enrollment and new courses at MBUS.

Located in the iconic 420 Lincoln Road building, FIU’s MBUS has worked with city leaders for months to help plan FIU’s collaboration with the centennial. In addition to MBUS, the Wolfsonian-FIU and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU will play a part in the festivities.

Oberhausen Marketing & PR (OBR) is not only a business of Miami Beach, but is also a vested party in the future of the community. South Beach local Josh Oberhausen, President of OBR and member of the Board of CARTA, is passionate about seeing these projects through to fruition.

Click here for more information:

http://news.fiu.edu/2015/02/fiu-partners-with-miami-beach-on-centennial-sea-level-rise-and-more/85084?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fiu-partners-with-miami-beach-on-centennial-sea-level-rise-and-more