jonochshorn.com
Building Bad: Book talks

contact
cover of Building Bad book by Jonathan Ochshorn Book talks for "Building Bad: How Architectural Utility is Constrained by Politics and Damaged by Expression"

Jonathan Ochshorn





 

frontispiece of Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

"Building Bad, Part 1: How Architectural Utility is Constrained by Politics"

Planetizen online course posted June 2023

Discover the theory of "building bad": an examination of the costs and benefits that can limit the functionality of buildings in exchange for profits.

Gehry 80 Spruce St, NYC apartment building

"Building Bad, Part 2: How Architectural Utility is Damaged by Expression"

Planetizen online course posted June 2023

Join Jonathan Ochshorn on a captivating exploration of his theory "Building Bad" in Part Two of this course. Discover the fascinating interplay between artistic expression and the functionality of buildings, and how they can sometimes clash.



Archived book talks
 

Milstein auditorium with carpet highlighted

"Health, safety, and welfare: The role played by politics and architectural expression"

March 13, 2023 and March 15, 2023, Department of Architecture, Cornell University

In-person event

These lectures for second-year architecture students at Cornell University discuss health, safety, and welfare in buildings and, in particular, the role played by politics and architectural expression in constraining or even damaging various aspects of architectural utility that pertain to health, safety, and welfare. Because the two lectures are a bit long, I've divided them into 6 parts for this video series.

Thomas Hobbes frontispiece for Leviathan 1. Introductory comments on health, safety, and welfare
Rorschach test image 2. Introductory comments on expression
Fire protection handbook image 3. Fire safety: Politics and expression
Milstein Hall under construction (Cornell) and Hancock tower (Chicago) 4. Structure: Politics and expression
ADA Protruding object diagram 5. Accessibility: Politics and expression
Milstein Hall green roof at Cornell's Tang Welcome Center 6. Sustainability: Politics and expression


Woxsen University logo

"Expression of Structure"

Sept. 16, 2022, from 9 AM – 10 AM Eastern Standard Time
(6:30 PM – 7:30 PM India Standard Time).

Virtual event

In this free, live, virtual talk, Jonathan Ochshorn will outline the politics and economics of structure; most of the talk, however, will address the question of structural expression, examining what it is, what it isn't, and how it can sometimes damage the utility of works of architecture.

Part of the Woxsen International Lecture Series, the talk is followed by a live Q&A.


Cornell library and Chats in the Stacks logos

"Building Bad: How Architectural Utility is Constrained by Politics and Damaged by Expression"

April 14, 2022, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Virtual event

In a free, live, virtual "Chats in the Stacks" book talk, Jonathan Ochshorn discusses his latest book, Building Bad: How Architectural Utility is Constrained by Politics and Damaged by Expression (Lund Humphries, 2021), where he examines how utilitarian function in architecture can be thwarted by political and economic forces, and undermined by artistic expression. In considering several contemporary buildings and projects, Ochshorn avoids advocating for a specific style or practice but provides an objective framework for analyzing architecture through the lens of utility.

Sponsored by the Mui Ho Fine Arts Library, Cornell University, the talk is followed by a live Q&A.

Watch YouTube recording


CSI Syracuse logo

"Control Layers, Abstraction, and Utilitarian Dysfunction"

March 3, 2022, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Zoom meeting / Webinar

At this must-see Zoom presentation, Jonathan Ochshorn will outline a theory of "building bad"; that is, he will explain how architectural utility — the functionality of buildings — can be constrained by economics and politics, while also being damaged by forms of architectural expression.

This continuing education program is FREE for CSI members, and $20 for non-members (Notice: Any money raised will go towards the Edward Goldberg Memorial Scholarship Fund). This program has AIA Continuing Education Credits PENDING (1 LU/HSW Credit).

Sponsored by the Syracuse Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).

Watch YouTube recording