TALKING WITH TANIGUCHI Some Westerners, when faced with Oriental creativity, have a tendency to get a little carried away. Instead of a balanced, rational approach, a tendency emerges to ascribe the aesthetic effect of what they see to some mysterious, spiritual force that is absent from their own culture, whether it be called Zen, Tao, wabi-sabi, or yin and yang. — Published 2008.0116
	AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 2007 Projects recognized in the Royal Australian Institute of Architects national architecture awards for 2007 range from a small house to a grand state library and a mixed-use tower over 80 stories. Most of the two-dozen buildings stand in the populous eastern states, with a few farther-flung exceptions. — Published 2008.0109
	CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM OF CASTILLA AND LEÓN The Contemporary Art Museum of Castilla and León (MUSAC) by Spanish architects Mansilla + Tuñón, located in León, Spain, reflects van der Rohe's philosophy in its minimalist architectural language — and the museum won the 2007 Mies van der Rohe Award, the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. At the same time, its design works to redefine both the role of a museum with respect to its cultural context and the way people experience museums. — Published 2008.0102
	THE SUSTAINABILITY OF NINA MARITZ Architects practicing in wealthy countries are becoming increasingly aware that our resources are finite and that if climate change goes unchecked, we could face a much warmer, harsher environment. Scientists present us with images of expanding deserts, sinking water tables, and material scarcity. For Namibian architect Nina Maritz, the challenges of working in a harsh environment with limited means are already an everyday reality. Her work presents a model for making compelling buildings despite "a poverty of resources." — Published 2007.0613
	POLSHEK'S KAHN YALE GALLERY RESTORATION The Yale University Art Gallery, designed by Louis Kahn, reopened a few months ago after a three-year restoration and rejuvenation by Polshek Partnership Architects, working with a team of experts in restoration, exhibit design, and other specialties. The result brings the building back very close to the way Kahn envisioned it when it was completed in 1953. — Published 2007.0613
	ART DEPOT Museum franchising seems to be a growing trend. The Guggenheim is a well established worldwide franchise, and The Louvre is on its way. The New York-based Museum of Modern Art and Dia Art Foundation each have two sites, while the London-based Tate has four. — Published 2007.0530
	NORTHERN STAR Creating dramatic architecture can be challenging in an icy climate where people prioritize function over flamboyance and where the natural environment can satisfy their desire for beauty. The state of Alaska has breathtaking vistas of mountains, snow flats, and the dancing aurora borealis, but its urban landscapes have tended to remain resilient and simple. — Published 2007.0502
	KUROKAWA ART CENTER According to architect Kisho Kurokawa, the new National Art Center Tokyo is a perfect expression of his philosophy of symbiosis. Rather than trying to iron out irregularities and resolve contradictions into what he calls a "dull, flat harmony," his distinctly non-Western idea seeks to apply conflicts and tensions in positive ways to achieve interesting and energizing effects. — Published 2007.0404
	TOYO ITO INTERVIEW Japanese architect Toyo Ito is credited with influencing a generation of younger architects with his ideas about contemporary urban forms. While presenting some of his recent work at an exhibition at the Tokyo Opera City Gallery in 2006, he spoke with journalist Colin Liddell about his designs, his theories, and their origin. — Editor Colin Liddell: In all your buildings, you seem to be trying to get away from straight lines. Do you hate straight lines? — Published 2007.0110
	POSTCARD FROM NEW HAVEN Dear ArchitectureWeek, On December 10, 2006, the Yale University Art Gallery, designed by Louis Kahn, will reopen after a $44 million restoration/ renovation. Completed in 1953, the building is considered Kahn's first major work of architecture. Just across the street, to the south, it faces his last building, the Yale British Art Center, which he did not live to see completed. — Published 2006.1115

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