Michel Rojkind and Iker Gil have been appointed as the 2024 Morgenstern Visiting Chairs at the College of Architecture of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), a tenure enriching the institution’s discourse on contemporary architectural practices.

The appointment entails multifaceted engagement, where both Michel and Iker are tasked with facilitating an advanced studio during the Spring 2024 semester. Titled “Beyond Sustainability: A New Era of Reciprocity,” the studio serves as a platform for fostering critical dialogues and innovative explorations within the architectural domain.

This distinguished role is made possible through the generosity of the Victor A. Morgenstern Family Foundation, which has long been committed to advancing architectural education and discourse. The foundation’s support enables the Institute of Technology to host practitioners of the highest quality, offering students and faculty invaluable insights into contemporary architectural praxis.

The Morgenstern Visiting Chair in Architecture represents the pinnacle of achievement within the profession, reserved for individuals whose contributions have garnered widespread recognition and acclaim. Past incumbents of this prestigious position include luminaries such as Rozana Montiel, Gustavo Utrabo, and David Chipperfield, among other influential figures.

In addition to their instructional responsibilities, Michel and Iker’s presence at IIT serves as a catalyst for collaborative initiatives and interdisciplinary exchanges. Their diverse perspectives and extensive experience promise to revitalize the academic community, fostering a culture of innovation and intellectual inquiry.

Moreover, their appointment offers a unique opportunity to delve into the ethos and methodologies of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), known for its commitment to excellence in education and technological research. By integrating insights from diverse architectural practices with IIT’s rigorous academic framework, this collaboration fosters creativity, critical thinking, and progressive approaches to design and innovation.

Iker Gil and Michel Rojkind, S.R. Crown Hall, IIT, 2024. © Judith Rackow.

Throughout its history, the College of Architects of Tijuana, A.C. (CATAC), has contributed to the development of Tijuana through its specialization and social vision, a sentiment that was celebrated on its 54th Anniversary with the organization of the Healthy City forum.

The creation of healthy cities is a fundamental topic in places like Tijuana, where thousands of people converge, demanding infrastructure that promotes the health and well-being of its inhabitants.

“We are always thinking about what will happen in the future and in their communities, but the community is happening now, thanks to efforts like the one that transformed this abandoned cinema into a place that allows us to coexist and converse.” -Michel Rojkind

Feel free to read full article: www.aydblog.com

Launch of the Architectural Envelope Competition: Wooden Wraps for Existing Buildings. An invitation from WoodArch, sponsored by Aoa and the Chilean Architects Association.

⠀

The jury will be composed of Mauricio Léniz (Competition Director), Michel Rojkind (International Honorary Member), and Chilean judges Alex Brahm, Tania Gebauer, Martín Hurtado, Alberto Moletto, Carolina Portugueis, Andrea von Chrismar, and Matías Zegers.

⠀

The WoodArch 2023-2024 competition embraces these principles and aims to explore new forms of intervention in urban impact structures through wooden envelopes. These interventions should be located within the urban space, in existing buildings, and have an impact on the urban conditions of the context. The new envelopes should seek to preserve the physical and cultural memory of the pre-existing structures while providing a new interpretation of their use through programs or facilities that are enhanced by the material.

⠀

Download the guidelines at pielesarquitectonicas.cl

Michel Rojkind took part in the Wired Summit 2023 with the talk ‘Community Now: Reciprocity in the Era of AI.’ During his presentation, he emphasized the importance of adopting new generative technologies to reimagine the immediate futures for the benefit of contemporary communities.
.

.

“Communities are here. We have already taken too much from the Earth. It is time to understand the moment of reciprocity. We must remove the blindfold from our eyes and acknowledge the mistakes we have made. Technology is an ally.” -Michel Rojkind
.

.

Michel believes that programs like Midjourney and mastery of associated prompts can give back to people an ability that has gradually been lost: the capacity to envision and imagine. However, it is important to clarify that the generated images do not address fundamental architectural questions or suggest future projects. Instead, they are references and ways to play and have fun, he says. As with other professions, the focus is not on the tool itself but on how it is used and the resulting outcome.

As part of the National Interior Design Meeting, Expo Mueble Internacional in collaboration with Glocal Design invited attendees to the conference ‘Community is Now’, presented by Michel Rojkind, last Wednesday, August 16th, in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

.

.

“Designers, by nature, are optimists. We are always immersed in the quest to improve our daily lives in some way and to adapt to the constant changes in society.” -Michel Rojkind

.

El Colegio de Arquitectos del Mar de Cortés (CAMAC) invited to the Master Lecture ‘Creative Confluences: Dialogue between Michel Rojkind & Derek Dellekamp’ last Friday, August 11th, in Cabo San Lucas, B. C. S.
.

.

“Collaboration is fundamental in architecture; it’s not just about an individual, but about a team working together to achieve a shared vision.” – Michel Rojkind
.