The Republic of China (Taiwan) is hosting the 2011 International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress at the Taipei World Design Expo through the month of October. Out of 19 international candidate cities, Taipei Taiwan was selected by IDA in 2007 to host the 2011 Congress, aptly titled, “Design at the Edges” for its promotion of state-of-the-art and cutting-edge design.

This year the Republic of China is celebrating its centennial and national day which is celebrated on October 10th, also popularly known as Ten-ten. The Executive Yuan of Taiwan has officially designated 2011 as “Taiwan Design Year”. Throughout the year various activities are being held in celebration of the 100 years since the founding of Asia’s first republic.

Various themes of the Expo include: Taiwan’s Design Advantages, Taiwan as a Rising Force in Design, Interior Design Enhancement and the Promotion of Gender Equality in the Design Industry. Besides these, the Expo covers a wide variety of topics and interests from high-technology design to high-fashion design, from modern furniture to stylish watch design. Most every category of consumables requiring design is fair game this October in Taiwan.

The main program during October 24-26th at the Taipei international Convention Center (TICC) will host more than 100 renowned speakers form wide-ranging disciplines, such as economics, technology, social service and cultural studies. There is an anticipated 3,000 elite participants from around the world who will enjoy this event along with other events such as welcoming parties and cultural nights. In addition to the TICC, there are 3 main venues for the event” Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall and the TWTC Exhibition Hall.

For more information, please visit the official website for the Taipei World Design Expo at www.2011designexpo.com.tw.

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Don’t miss the upcoming exhibition of ten years of winning projects from the Initiatives for Houston grant program. The exhibition will run January 14 – February 26, 2010 at the Architecture Center Houston (ArCH). The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Thursday, January 14, 2010 from 6 – 8 p.m. at ArCH.

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From September 3 – October 30, an exhibition of 66 selected entries to the competition was held at the Architecture Center Houston. Local builders and Community Development Corporations were encouraged to view the selected designs, and exchange contact information with the architects and designers responsible for the projects and ideas showcased.

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Thomas M. Colbert (Initiatives for Houston winner, 2006), Associate Professor at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, received a grant for his proposal, Documentation and Analysis of Prison Architecture In and Around Houston.

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The Rice Design Alliance (RDA), in collaboration with Lawndale Art Center, invited Houston design professionals to Snapshot: Houston Design on View 2007. This open-call exhibition ran at Lawndale from May 18 to June 16 and provided an opportunity for the public to view the wide variety of projects in Houston. This is the fifth architecture exhibition co-sponsored by RDA and Lawndale Art Center.

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Donna Kacmar (Initiatives for Houston winner, 2006) and her team of students visited more than 25 taco stands, burger joints, and beer houses to research these unique establishments. The culmination of their findings was viewed at the University of Houston College of Architecture on Dec 6. The reception included a taco truck parked outside the building and ice cold beer inside.

Donna Kacmar, Assistant Professor at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, received a grant of $3,000 for her proposal, “Accommodation in Houston: beer, burgers, and barbacoa.” Kacmar observed that Houston typically looks sparsely inhabited and unwelcoming when viewed from too far a distance. However, up close, the city offers hospitality to its citizens and guests through unique urban ritual sites. Kacmar studied Houston’s version of public accommodation through several non-traditional ritual sites – such as ice houses, burger joints, and taco stands – that are specific to Houston. 

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The Rice Design Alliance (RDA), in collaboration with Lawndale Art Center, invited Houston design professionals to participate in Snapshot: Houston Design on View 2004. This open-call exhibition, which ran at Lawndale from April 8 to May 1, 2004. It provided an opportunity for the public to view the wide variety of realized and unrealized projects being designed in Houston. It was the fourth architecture exhibition co-sponsored by RDA and Lawndale Art Center.

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From Above: Photographs of Houston by Alex S. MacLean
An Exhibition Co-sponsored by the Rice Design Alliance and the Menil Collection, September 8, 2000 through January 7, 2001 at the Menil Collection, 1511 Branard, Houston.

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Snapshot: Current Houston Design on View
A Rice Design Alliance Exhibition

The Rice Design Alliance (RDA), in collaboration with Lawndale Art Center, announces Snapshot: Current Houston Design on View, an open call exhibition of work by 97 design professionals at Lawndale from May 4 though June 9, 2001. The exhibition provideed an opportunity for the public to view the wide variety of realized and unrealized projects being designed in Houston. This was the third architecture exhibition co-sponsored by RDA and Lawndale Art Center.

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The Elusive City: Photographs of Houston by Paul Hester
An Exhibition Co-sponsored by the Rice Design Alliance and the Menil Collection, October 16, 1999 through January 3, 2000 at the Menil Collection, 1511 Branard, Houston.

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