THE HOUSE THAT MCINTURFF BUILT

House additions and other small projects are considered, in the world of architecture, to be the kinds of jobs that young architects must inevitably pass through on their way to something grander. What we as architects often forget, or never realize, is that there is architectural greatness to be had in the simple commission, and it is at this scale, in fact, where most architects fall in love. Talk to Maryland architect Mark McInturff about his work and you will immediately recognize a man still in love with architecture. ArchitectureWeek contributing editor Michael J. Crosbie talked to him and next week will show us the greatness in his houses.

SOFTWARE FOR SCHEMATIC DESIGN

One of the greatest challenges facing architecture professors who want their students to work with digital technology is to find software suitable for schematic design. One new system trying to fill that niche is Autodesk Architectural Studio. Moreno Piccolotto, of the Program of Computer Graphics at Cornell University had his students work with this software to design a residential high rise in lower Manhattan. They exploited the software's support for long-distance collaborations by working in consultation with New York City professionals. Next week ArchitectureWeek's managing editor B.J. Novitski will explore the students' process and results.

TO SPRAWL OR NOT TO SPRAWL?

The Congress for the New Urbanism aims to change the way America builds its cities and towns. They envision thriving neighborhoods, connected by efficient, effective transit, where people from all walks of life cross paths and meet their needs. The policies that support this are called "Smart Growth" and are epitomized in the city of Portland, Oregon. Despite Portland's successes, there remain "sprawl apologists" who argue in favor of landscapes dominated by the private car. Next week John Fregonese, principal of Fregonese Calthorpe Associates, debunks the pro-sprawl arguments and shows why Portland is a good model for other mid-size American cities.