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Good evening, readers.

The Lead

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a cost-sharing agreement has been reached with the provinces and territories to provide lower-earning essential workers wage top-ups.

It will be up to provincial and territorial governments, some of whom have already introduced wage increases for some essential workers, to decide which workers qualify and how much they will receive.

Ottawa will provide up to $3 billion for the effort with the provinces and territories offering $1 billion.

Jolson Lim has the details.

In Canada

Greyhound Canada is temporarily cancelling all of its bus routes and services as ridership plummets amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting May 13, the bus company will halt all routes until passenger demand recovers.

The bus operator says ridership has dropped by 95 per cent, which has already led Greyhound to decrease services twice since March.

The Canadian Press has this story.

A large majority of Canadians that responded to a federal consultation on medical assistance in dying (MAiD) supported expanding access to patients suffering from dementia, according to new documents tabled in the House.

The Liberal government, however, did not heed that request and introduced less expansive changes to the MAiD framework earlier this year, in hopes of quickly passing court-mandated amendments to the existing law.

Documents provided to MPs in April contained the results of the more than 300,000 online submissions that were made to the Department of Justice as part of the consultation it conducted in January on how the MAiD eligibility should be revised.

Charlie Pinkerton has more.

The federal government is leaning on provincial and territorial governments to chip in to help cash-starved municipalities facing large financial shortfalls because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has asked the Trudeau government for at least $10 billion in aid to cover an estimated $10- to $15-billion loss in revenue for local governments in the near term.

The organization representing hundreds of municipalities across the country said Ottawa was in the strongest financial position to provide support.

Lim explains.

As Ontario faces calls from Toronto public health to consider new measures to combat overdose deaths including safe supply programs like one in British Columbia its top medical officer is drawing a contrast between the challenges faced in B.C. and Ontario.

They have big challenges there. We dont exactly have that, Ontarios chief medical officer of health, David Williams, said on Wednesday about British Columbia after labelling the overdose challenges experienced in Vancouver as one-of-a-kind.

We have a larger, wide-spread (challenge) in a number of different municipalities, and each one is a little bit different, Williams said.

Victoria Gibson reports.

Google affiliate Sidewalk Labs is walking away from an ambitious project for a high-tech neighbourhood on Torontos waterfront, citing unprecedented economic uncertainty.

The organization said Thursday that it is abandoning its controversial smart city plans that had envisioned a state-of-the-art neighbourhood on a derelict parcel of land that had drawn the ire of those concerned with the privacy implications of living or moving through an area that is under constant surveillance.

CP has this story, too.

Hill Movers: Staffing changes in the offices of ministers Hajdu, Garneau and Blair

The Sprout: Opposition MPs decry federal agriculture support as falling-short of the sectors needs

The Drilldown: May, Blanchet say Ottawa shouldnt prop up oil and gas industry

In Other Headlines

82% of Canadas COVID-19 deaths have been in long-term care (Toronto Star)

No federal intervention, but continued support for provinces: PM Trudeau on Cargill protests (CTV News)

Liberal health-committee chair sponsors petition that says cell towers can pose danger to children (Globe and Mail)

Canadian Forces still unsure how to raise helicopter that crashed (Canadian Press)

Internationally

The U.S. Justice Department is dropping charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador during Donald Trumps transition into the presidency. Flynns was one of the first and highest-ranking Trump aides to cooperate and be convicted in Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. (Washington Post)

There are almost four million confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported worldwide. More than one million people have recovered from the illness. More than 265,000 have died after getting sick. (The Guardian)

One week from Georgia becoming one of the first states to re-open parts of its economy including dine-in restaurants, hair salons and other businesses, there were more than 60,000 visitors to the state daily, according to smartphone location data. Its exactly the kind of effect weve been worried about, said Meagan Fitzpatrick, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, about the data which fellow researchers suggest that reopening state economies ahead of others could worsen and prolong the spread of COVID-19. (Washington Post)

Economists expect the monthly jobs report being published by the Labor Department tomorrow to show that unemployment has reached a Great Depression-like level in the U.S. (New York Times)

Lockdown measures being peeled back in France will remain in Paris and other north-eastern regions, French Prime Minister douard Philippe says. With almost 26,000 people succumbing to the disease in hospitals and care homes, France has suffered one of the highest COVID-19 death rates in Europe. (BBC News)

Madrids public health director quit in protest to the regional governments decision to peel back lockdown restrictions in the part of Spain thats been hit hardest by the coronavirus. (The Guardian)

At least 13 people were killed in a gas leak at a chemical plant in southern India. Around 800 others have been taken to the hospital with symptoms including difficulties breathing and a burning sensation in their eyes. (BBC News)

The Kicker

The outrage of a cohort of Democratic lawmakers has led to Frontier Airlines abandoning its plan to sell passengers a social distancing upgrade. For just $39 the company was guaranteeing passengers that they would sit next to an empty middle seat while flying during the pandemic. The Washington Post reports.

Have a nice night.

More from iPolitics

See more here:
Evening Brief: Deal reached to increase pay of essential workers - iPolitics.ca

Picture used for illustrative purposes only. Image Credit: Gulf News archives Highlights

Dubai: Jobs have been lost, people are facing serious pay cuts. The global coronavirus pandemic has triggered very difficult economic times. However, there is hope.

While some sectors have seen a high unemployment rate , there are other areas that have seen a rise in demand.

Job opportunities opening up

It might seem hard to believe, but even in the age of COVID-19, there are jobs that are not just available but in such high demand that companies are experiencing a shortage in staff.

So, here is how you can plan to get your next job during the coronavirus pandemic, if you have relevant experience or the necessary skill set.

Apply through the right portals

There are several online portals that you can use to set up a professional profile, including government job portals and industry specific ones. So, if you are looking for a job, here are some of the ways in which you can start your job hunt.

Government job portals:

Federal Government job portal - Federal Authority for Government Human Resources

Emirates Job Bank, for UAE nationals interested in applying for jobs offered by government entities and the private sector.

Tawteen Gate, Ministry of Human Resources snd Emiratisation (MOHRE) service for UAE nationals only

Dubai Careers - Dubai Government job portal

For hospitality industry:

http://www.catererglobal.com/UAE/Jobs

http://www.find-nanny-and-maid.com/

Reach out to companies directly

A more traditional approach could also help you go further in your job hunt. By doing an online search for jobs in your sector and reaching out to companies within industries that are experiencing a rise in employment opportunities, you can adopt a more focussed approach to your job hunt.

Which professions are in demand?

According to Abbas Ali, Senior Vice President of sales at TASC Outsourcing, a staffing firm based in the UAE, there are certain sectors that have seen a surge in job opportunities.

Demand in the industry sector is huge, particularly in e-commerce. We are getting a lot of enquiries for high-end technology professionals who can help companies through their digital transformation, as almost every company tries to brush up their online presence. This is also an area where we are able to recruit people working remotely, whether they are in India or in Romania. Whenever the borders open, these professionals will fly in but for the time being they are working remotely, he said.

- Abbas Ali, Senior Vice President of sales at TASC Outsourcing

Another sector experiencing a high demand is logistics and delivery.

Everybody needs a driverright now as well as warehouse helpers, and people who can support logistics, he added.

Bana Shomali, founder of servicemarket.com, a digital marketplace for home services, said that the home service industry also appeared to be resilient to the pandemic crisis.

Demand for home services like moving, maintenance, electrical, plumbing, pest control, and home cleaning is still strong despite the crisis. While we saw some initial slowdown in demand from customers at the start of the movement restrictions, demand for these essential servicesare now back to pre-coronavirus levels, Shomali said.

In terms of services that saw an increase in demand we have found that deep cleaning, disinfection and sanitisation services, across homes and offices have surged in demand. We are currently handling eight times the usual demand for these services. This is a precautionary disinfection service that homes and offices are requesting to ensure that their residences and workplaces are virus- and germ-free. We expect that this service will remain essential over the next six to 12 months, she added.

- Bana Shomali, founder of servicemarket.com

So, if you are wondering if you would be able to capitalise on any of these jobs that are in demand, here is a list of all the occupations:

Technology

1. Software engineering (Mobile Developers, DevOps, Full stack developer)

2. Cloud Infrastructure and Cyber Security

3. Business Intelligence and data analytics

4. Digital product development and management user interface and user experience (UI/UX) and product managers

What we have noticed is that businesses are currently asking how they can get the right technology in place to provide their products and services online. So, if you are a technology expert you should be sprucing up your online profile, adding details of what kind of work you have done and updating your LinkedIn profile, Ali said.

Finance

Credit controllers

Finance planning and analysis

In the current scenario because cash is tight, we are seeing a lot of companies hiring credit controllers who can manage the finances and make sense of the data to help companies make better financial decisions, Ali said.

Logistics/e-commerce

Riders/Drivers

Forklift operator

If you have a UAE motorcycle or driving licence, one sector that has seen a huge demand istransportation, with many establishments offering home delivery options. Also, if you have any experience in retail and promotion, you should reach out to online marketplaces, whether it is food delivery or general websites, to find out if they are hiring, according to Ali.

If you were working in a souq, and have experience with retail and promotion, try to make a shift to e-retailers, he said.

Insurance

Claim administrators

Administrative staff

Backend team of data coders

Many third-party insurance providers have requested for staff that can help them deal with the surge in claims they are experiencing. While having experience in insurance can help your chances of getting hired, any person with experience in processing transactions, whether having worked in banks or pharmacies, can also try to apply for such jobs, Ali said.

Medical service providers

- Nurses

- Doctors

- Consultants

We are seeing a rise in demand for medical professionals, not necessarily from hospitals and clinics but from corporates. Many corporates need nurses as they are going to do basic health checks for their employees each day. So, if you are currently a licensed nurse taking a break, there is a lot of demand in your sector, Ali said.

Home services

- Domestic workers

- Deep cleaning

- Disinfection services

Even if you do not have the necessary qualification for technical jobs like disinfection, the industry also requires support and business development staff, according to Shomali.

Technical jobs do require specific qualifications and certifications, within maintenance, especially. However, other jobs in the industry such as operations, business development and project management will only require expertise in that industry or a similar one. So, you would need relevant experience in any industry that is focused around manpower, operations or construction, she said.

For technicians or cleaners who are looking to enter or re-enter the home service industry, our recommendation would be to seek employment with licensed home services companies. The home services industry is regulated in the UAE and only companies with the correct licensing are allowed to perform these services. Furthermore, licensed companies can provide technicians and cleaners with financial security, workman insurance, and health insurance, which are critical for their security and safety as they perform these jobs, she added.

Shomali also cautioned residents against using third party websites for domestic workers, whether full-time or part-time.

Licensed companies are protecting their workers and customers by doing daily temperature checks, making sure their staff have the right PPE (personal protective equipment like masks and gloves), sanitising dormitories and vehicles multiple times a week, and giving their workers paid sick leave and health insurance to stay healthy and safe, she said.

Opportunity for stay-at-home mums

With remote work now being a norm, Ali said that stay-at-home mums who want to enter the job market should sharpen their CVs and apply for jobs that match their profile.

The pandemic has opened up a huge opportunity for them, if they had stopped working because they could not go to the office earlier. They are now also potential candidates to fill in any job vacancies as everyone is accepting working from home. If you have a good skill set, you can give the employer a cost advantage as you are working from home and anyone who can do that in this tough time is a good candidate, Ali added.

Global impact

The economic impact of the pandemic, quite like its impact on public health, has been global. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the preventive measures taken by governments globally have led to 2.7 billion workers being without a job, adding that an estimated 1.25 billion workers, representing almost 38 per cent of the global workforce, are employed in sectors that are now facing a severe decline in output and face a high risk of workforce displacement.

2.7billion number of workers estimated to lose their jobs globally due to the financial impact of COVID-19, according to ILO.

However, by adopting a more strategic approach to your job profile and taking the time out to work on any skills that may help you transition to a sector that is hiring, you can use the change in the workforce to your advantage.

More here:
These jobs are in high demand in the UAE during the Coronavirus pandemic - Gulf News

SINGAPORE - All traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical halls will be allowed to sell retail products from Tuesday (May 12), Health Minister Gan Kim Yong announced on Friday (May 8).

This is in addition to the 130 TCM medical halls attached to registered TCM practitioners that were previously allowed to open on May 5 to sell retail products, provide consultation and herbal dispensary services.

"This will provide more convenience, especially for our seniors," said Mr Gan.

The ministry had received feedback from seniors that it was too far to travel to these few medical halls to buy medicine, Mr Gan said, during a press conference held by members of the multi-ministry task force set up to combat the spread of the virus.

He added that he had promised Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah that he would look into the matter. Ms Lee (Nee Soon GRC) had asked in Parliament on Monday whether the reopening of TCM shops could be prioritised.

However, Mr Gan stressed that the medical halls must put in place the necessary safe management measures before commencing operations, particularly as they serve many seniors.

He added: "Let us work together to keep our seniors safe. Let us keep up our good habits, such as safe distancing, personal hygiene and wearing of masks.

"Avoid interacting with seniors if you are unwell. Together, we can protect them from the infection."

Customers rushed to receive acupuncture treatments at TCM clinics on Tuesday (May 5), the first day such treatments were allowed to resume since the start of circuit breaker measures on April 7.

Since the introduction of circuit breaker measures, TCM clinics had been allowed only to provide consultation and dispense herbal medicine to their patients.

Services like cupping, guasha and tui na are still not allowed.

Original post:
Coronavirus: All TCM shops allowed to sell retail products from May 12 - The Straits Times

Even as barbers, hairdressers and some other businesses prepare to reopen from Tuesday, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong has urged people not to rush.

"I know some people may not have had a haircut for some time, but there is no need to rush to go out to have a haircut on May 12," he stressed.

There will be lots of time to do what needs to be done, he said, adding that people should pace themselves.

"We should remain vigilant and not take any chances. (The easing of measures on May 12) should not be an opportunity for us to go out more frequently," Mr Wong stressed.

The multi-ministry task force, which the minister is co-chair of, had announced earlier that certain businesses would be allowed to resume operations on Tuesday.

These include all food outlets selling packaged snacks, cakes, confectionery and desserts as well as home-based food businesses and hairdressers, subject to some restrictions.

For example, hairdressers may offer basic haircuts, while dining in remains banned. Restaurants and other eateries have to ensure that they have delivery services.

"The circuit breaker is still in place and we should make the most of the next three weeks and more through the circuit breaker period to bring our community numbers down as much as possible," Mr Wong added.

At the community level, the number of Covid-19 infections being reported every day has been coming down. The average in the past week was about 10 a day, the minister said. The number of unlinked cases has also come down.

"Importantly, if you look at the surveillance programme which we have put in place to test cases in our clinics with prolonged respiratory illness, those cases have also been coming down, which suggests that the number of unlinked cases in our community is lower than it used to be in the recent weeks," Mr Wong said.

For businesses, the minister said that they should similarly be in no rush to reopen and neglect safe management practices which they must first put in place.

Even as some shops are eager to reopen, others are cautious.

Bak kwa brand Lim Chee Guan told The Straits Times that it will reopen its flagship store in New Bridge Road first and monitor the situation before deciding when to reopen the other three outlets.

Housewife Annie Tan, 42, said: "I'm definitely excited that some of the shops are resuming services but it's important to heed the call to not all rush out on the first day.

"My hairdresser has already messaged all her customers to say that even when her shop reopens, services will be by appointment only. If more businesses do the same, the situation should be under control."

View post:
Coronavirus: Public urged not to rush out when measures ease on May 12 - The Straits Times

italy has suffered one of the deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks in the world and has endured europes longest lockdown. may 4th marked the first day of phase 2, shedding a little light into a society in desperate need of it. to help with the transition, thecity of milan has launched a new campaign called a new start. one step at a time inviting citizens to respect the rules in the gradual reopening of the city. the northern italian city, which has announced an ambitious plans to reduce car use, will also launch a new initiative aimed at architects and designers, asking for ideas that envision a safe back to normal or new normal city.

the YESMILANO campaign is part of a creative initiative where italian singer ghali invites the milanese to face the end of the lockdown with caution, awareness and serenity

milan, the financial capital of italy, is also known for its forward-thinking and design-oriented attitude. since the crisis started, italian creatives and companies alike have changed their usual doings and transformed their efforts in order to help the country face the crisis. some examples include fashion giant prada producing medical overalls and masks for healthcare personnel and carlo ratti building emergency hospitals from shipping containers. engineers turned a decathlon snorkeling mask into a respirator while the maker community 3D-printed multipurpose tools designed to slow the spread of the virus.

we must be careful. but not afraid. we are masked, not blindfolded, says the singer

now that people are allowed to go out, the commune di milano is asking designers and architects to envision solutions to help citizens safely transition into phase 2 one that asks for the use of personal protection and social distancing. projects should include practical solutions that allow business to stay afloat with citizens being safe. that means spacers to ensure the social distance measurements, separators for restaurants and even new floor plan developments among others.

this is the phase in which we understand the value of freedom. together we are more human than ever before.

in recent weeks many professionals and companies have offered to make their skills available to the city to face the emergency together, wrote cristina tajini, milans councillor for commerce, on her tumblr page. during thursdays meeting, we decided to start a public consultation aimed at planners, designers, and architects to roll out of their ideas: from spacers to signs that manage access, passing through new furnishings and innovative solutions that optimize the outdoor space, to the layout of markets, shops, public businesses and covered public spaces, in order to guarantee distance, without sacrificing conviviality.

these final verses describe the spirit, the attention and care required for milans return to the new normality

there will be no time limit to submit proposals, the invitation will remain open for the duration of the emergency, she concludes. the projects will be periodically evaluated, discussed and inserted into a virtual catalog that can be consulted free of charge by traders and operators, through the institutional channels of the municipality of milan. in the next few days we will publish the notice, meanwhile start thinking about it!

stay tuned as we will share the news once more information is available.

anew start. one step at a time

project info:

name: a new start. one step at a time

directed by: davide gentile

with: ghali, ida marinelli, thora keita, giada lanzotti, marco mazzei

created by: TBWA italy group

chief creative officer: nicola lampugnanicreative director and copywriter: sara ermoli + ghaliart director: tommaso espinosacopywriter: manuel bonardi

production: a tapelessfilm

produced by: daniele gentiliexecutive producer: luca legnanidirector of photography: alessandro ubaldieditor: matteo motzocostumes: sara costantinimake up: silvia murciano

music by: a.carnevali, fm ruffert, m.pozzi, n.barozzi

with the special collaboration: SMEN

juliana neira I designboom

may 09, 2020

More here:
milan's initiative aimed at architects & designers to help develop social-distancing solutions - Designboom

Mother knows best, as the saying goes, and it holds true for the designers and architects who shared their memories with us for Mothers Day. From instilling an appreciation for craftsmanship to encouraging a rebellious streak, these designers mothers have had a profound impact on both their personal and professional outlooks. Heres how motherly wisdom has translated into excellent design advice.

George Yabu and his mom, Masako.

Be bold; be curious.

George Yabu recalls his moms fearlessness and moving to Canada from Japan. "This was in the 1930sshe grew up on a rice farm and took it upon herself to immigrate to Canada when she was 19. This was just not done in society back then," he explains. Once in Canada, she learned her stepmothers tailoring trade and assisted with the business. She took it upon herself to learn every aspect of Western fashionsgoing so far as to memorize the patterns for work. "She was always driven to learn how things worked and how to fix things through very clever, cost-effective means," says George.

Keep a problem-solving mindset.

"She looked at things through industrial design and engineering principles, a trait she has transferred onto me," George explains. As a result, he is always wondering about how things work and seeking solutions to challenges. "That is what design is all aboutsolving problems," he says.

Amagansett is George Yabu and Glenn Pushelbergs summertime home in the Hamptons. Note the color and texture of the rugs, which were influenced by Glenns mom, who was a talented weaver.

Glenn Pushelberg,co-founder of Yabu Pushelberg

Glenn Pushelberg and his mom, Shirley.

Create and craft.

Glenn Pushelberg comes from a family of crafters. "My mom had to work when she was young, but in her spare time, she enjoyed copper tooling," he says. Her mother, in turn, was a weaver. "I recall heading to her home which would be filled with looms, fabrics, and yarns," he says. "She would have old boxes of clothing, the contents of which she would rip up to make these beautifully colored rag rugs." Crafting for sheer pleasure and utility remains a large part of their family fabric to this day.

Nina Freudenberger and her mom, Marie.

Accent with color.

Nina Freudenberger says that her mom, an artist, was always careful with color, tending toward more neutral palettesbut with a bold accent. "For instance, my childhood living room carried mostly cream-colored furniture mixed with dark, antique furniture," says Nina, "but then she would find a burnt orange and sienna pillow (one of her favorite shades) and make that the vibe for the room shine!"

Choose foundational pieces that you can design around.

"I watched her change the accents over the years while keeping the primary, investment pieces the same, which I highly recommend for all of my clients now," says Nina. "It gives you much more flexibility and keeps foundational pieces timeless." For instance, her mother went through an animal print phase, and later an Indian textile phase, which created a harmonious, layered warmth around anchoring pieces.

Thanks to her mother, Nina has a passion for experimenting with different patterns. "They make any room pop!" she says.

Layer different styles.

"My mom could effortlessly mix antiques she found and layer them with modern pieces," says Nina, who warns that it is a lot harder than it looks. "It takes careful thought and confidence to do it rightits one of the many things I admire about my mother."

Mardi Doherty with her mom, Helen, and her daughters Chili (background) and Bonnie (foreground).

Challenge conventions.

"As a child, we lived in a modest 1950s home that had a very bold, all-red kitchen, and my bedroom had thick navy and white diagonal stripes splashed across all walls," says Mardi Doherty. These bold moves taught Mardi to think of design as an extension of personality. "I learned to cherish my individuality, reject conformity, and be proud of thinking differently from others."

Previously a church from the 1900s, this contemporary home repurposes the original stained-glass windows.

Keep a sense of humor.

Being able to mentally reframe a situation has helped Mardi immensely. "Its one of the greatest lessons Ive learned from my momnothing is ever as bad as it seems," she says. "In fact, her saying is, When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping, which always makes me smile!" She adds that her mother is very pragmatic, and that "she doesnt think anything is worth stressing too much about," which Doherty applies to her personal and professional life.

Pursue happiness.

"She taught me that its okay to let a great opportunity go if it doesnt make you happy," says Mardi. "This has been applied many times in my business."

Greg Faulkner with his mother, Mary.

Live thoughtfully on the land.

Making frequent trips from his hometown in Northern Indiana to visit his grandparents in Frankfort, Kentuckyagricultural, horse-and-bourbon countryhelped Greg Faulkner appreciate the relationship between people and nature. "In contrast to the intensely built, suburban environment of my hometown, the opportunistic and expedient way in which people inhabited farmhouses that were set upon open rolling hills, valleys, and verdant forestry did not go unnoticed," he says. "This was thanks to my mom, who gave me an appreciation for this natural landscape."

Faulkner Architects marries modernity and rural architecture with this barn-inspired home, which pays homage to the agricultural heritage of Glen Ellen, California.

Lead a project-driven life.

Gregs mother was a multi-hyphenate woman with numerous ongoing projects that included sewing dresses for herself and her daughters, tending to their home vegetable garden, oil painting, and keeping a clean and disciplined home environment. He adds that on the surface, it may not appear like these were architectural lessons, but "they are lessons about achieving a disciplined, ordered, and project-driven life." From his mothers example, Greg learned that any projectpersonal or professionalnecessitates "a consistent determination within a daily, iterative process that allows a constant return to the task with a fresh perspective." Overall, he says that engaging in such projects adds richness and realness to our lives, yielding "tangible results and effects that give us the satisfaction of accomplishing useful work, like the making of a good house."

Andrew Maynard with his mom, Patricia, at his childhood home in Tasmania.

Be wonderfully weird.

"Mom always let me be weird, which was perfect preparation for a life in design," Andrew Maynard says. The permission to be creative and think outside the box has resulted in projects with climbing walls, slides, nets, and secret rooms.

Tower House is a family residence in Victoria, Australia, whose playful plan includes an upper-level hanging net space for reading and relaxing.

Appreciate the outdoors.

During his childhood in rural Tasmanias mountainous landscape, Andrews mother helped cultivate an appreciation for the landscape, encouraging him "to consider it as an extension of our living space."

Build creative skills.

Andrews mother encouraged him and his siblings to build a skill they enjoyedcrafting, knitting, sewing, painting, building. "She pushed me to draw, which has been fundamentally important to my development as an architect, and a skill I feel should be picked up as early as possible," he says.

Place empathy over ego.

One of the most important things Andrew learned from his mother was the value of empathy: "It allows you to keep your ego in check and respond directly to client and community needs." Many of the delightful features he incorporates into homes are rooted in misunderstood subcultures. "Skateboarding, raves, anime, and street artall of which I lovedwere considered almost criminal activities by some, and a waste of time by most," he says.

Bonnie Bridgess mother, Janet, marks the location for a feature tree on the construction site of a BBA-designed residence in Cazadero, California.

Support the work of tradespeople.

"My mom was a general contractor and self-performed all of the work for her residential design-build projects," says Bonnie Bridges. "Demo, concrete, framing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, cabinets, tile, paint, roofingshe did it all." Bridges has since cultivated a deep respect for the skilled carpenters, general contractors, and tradespeople who bring a designers vision to life. "I often say that, after design, my role is to support the contractor as much as possible and be the resource they need to make their (hard) job easier."

The Southern Pacific Brewery in San Francisco is housed in a former machine shop at the termination of an old train line. The spacious shell considers all the functional needs of the client, which included running a bar, restaurant, and full production brewery.

Prioritize functionality.

"I was inspired by my mom to focus on holistic, systems-based design thinking," says Bonnie. Her mother taught her about the importance of emphasizing function and considering about all the systems that go into designing a spacefrom water and electricity, to gas and drainage.

Related Reading: The Best Bouquets to Buy for Mothers Day

See more here:
7 Designers and Architects Share the Best Advice Theyve Gotten From Mom - Dwell

The Times Architects Stepped Up in Crises

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For the past few months, the architecture community has been trying to bring its contribution to the fight against the pandemic. The global spread of this crisis might have triggered a coordinated, and thus a more visible effort, but this isnt the first time professionals step up in crises. Over the years, natural disasters and emergencies have determined several architects to get involved in disaster relief initiatives, as well as a wide range of humanitarian actions. In this article, we take a look at different occasions various architects and practices made a significant contribution to, helping affected communities overcome hardship.

+ 13

There are plenty of design proposals for post-disaster architecture out there, but it is quite seldom that architects get the chance to put their designs into practice, or help the affected communities in a tangible way. In light of recent global events, it is worth taking a look at how the architecture community can bring its contribution to critical situations.

If one were to name the professions leading figure in humanitarian architecture, it would probably be Shigeru Ban. The Pritzker-winning architect is notorious for his involvement and hands-on approach in emergency response, having undertaken disaster relief projects around the world. His work in this field has started with the design of paper-tube temporary homes for the refugees of the Kobe earthquake in 1995. Around the same time, Ban established the Voluntary Architects Network, to provide post-disaster aid. Among his numerous initiatives, he created temporary housing following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and developed a multi-storey housing complex made of shipping containers for the victims of the 2011 earthquake in Onagawa. Ban also designed a temporary cardboard cathedral to replace the one destroyed in Christchurch by the 2013 earthquake and created modular dwellings for the victims of the 2015 Nepal earthquake. In 2017, he signed an agreement with UN-Habitat to design 20,000 new homes for refugees in Kenya.

When an earthquake hit Pakistan in 2005, architect Yasmeen Lari decided to help, so she worked with the affected communities to rebuild homes using the materials at hand, such as bamboo and mud. Since then, she has helped build more than 36,000 homes for flood and earthquake victims in her home country, structures that withstood subsequent natural disasters. In 2007, Lari also built community kitchens in refugee camps. The architect co-founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, an organization which, among others, trains people from rural areas in making building components and products which they can later monetise, helping those communities rise above poverty. Yasmeen Lari was recently awarded the 2020 Jane Drew prize for her extensive humanitarian work over the last two decades.

After the 2016 earthquake devastated several towns in central Italy, the Genoa-based architect was called by the Italian prime minister at the time to lead reconstruction efforts and develop natural disaster prevention strategies. As part of this initiative, Renzo Piano established a research group and created ten prototypes for anti-seismic housing to be built along the Apennines. In 2018, another tragic event hit Italy, with the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa. In the aftermath of the disaster, Piano, a Genovese himself, offered to donate the design of a new bridge to replace the old one. The structure has recently been completed. Prior to these events, Renzo Piano had also accepted Emergency NGOs request to design a new healthcare facility, the Centre of Excellence in Paediatric Surgery, in Uganda, currently under construction.

The earthquake that struck central Italy in 2016 resulted in the loss of centuries-old architecture and the town of Amatrice was the most severely affected. Stefano Boeri joined architect Renzo Piano in the reconstruction process, designing a new school canteen for Amatrice. Supported with donations from all across Italy, as well as the architects themselves, the scheme was a first small step towards the reconstruction of the severely destroyed territory. The project then evolved to become Polo del Gusto Square, with the surrounding buildings accommodating eight restaurants. Encompassing a range of different services, the design was part of the attempt to recreate jobs, restart economic activities and revive local tourism.

The charity and design studio began their humanitarian work in 2004, providing educational spaces for the Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Their approach aims to foster community resilience by involving the users in the planning and construction phases. In partnership with different NGOs and humanitarian organizations, CatalyticAction has designed and built several playgrounds in refugee settlements in Lebanon. In 2016, the practice repurposed the donated materials used for a pavilion at the Expo in Milan to redevelop the Jarahieh Refugee School, formerly housed in a temporary tent.

The Pritzker-winning architect is well-known for his efforts to promote social development and overcome disparity. The half-finished house has become a signature for the studio ELEMENTAL, allowing governments to provide housing at a very low price, while still creating quality homes. This design strategy has been incorporated in the replacement of an illegal settlement in Iquique or the Monterrey Housing project in Mexico. The architect also played an essential role in the reconstruction of the Chilean city of Constitucin after the earthquake and tsunami of 2010, which resulted in creating a forest to attenuate the effects of future natural disasters, as well as Villa Verde Housing, a residential neighbourhood for 484 of the affected families. To help with the lack of affordable housing worldwide, as well as with the rapid urbanization, Aravena released four of the studios incremental housing designs to the public for open source use.

The list could be longer but still manages to prove that in times of dire need, there were architects who answered the call and helped. Whether this deserves praise or is simply a part of the profession's social responsibility is an open debate. These examples serve as a reminder that individual action can make an essential difference in crises when peoples livelihoods are disrupted.

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The Times Architects Stepped Up in Crises - ArchDaily

The bad news: In many cities, classrooms are officially shuttered for the rest of the school year due to the novel coronavirus crisisand the status of summer camps isnt looking too hot either.

The better news: While certainly no substitute for in-person experiences, many cultural institutions, museums, and even individual architecture firms are now offering architecture- and design-focused online educational opportunitiesfrom Zoom-based workshops to downloadable coloring e-books toamusing, family-friendly video seriesthat cater to stuck-at-home kids and the parents and caretakers. And because creativity (and coloring as a de-stressing tool) knows no age limit, many of these opportunities hold strong appeal to listless big kids, too.

Check out just a few of these online activities and workshops below. Many are free and some require advance registration.

The Chicago Architecture Center has retooled its upcoming calendar of family-and youth-oriented programming to accommodate for virtual learning while in-person events are on pause. Debuting in conjunction with each weekly edition of the CAC@Home newsletter, offerings include a remote iteration of the Girls Build! program, three new video series (Architecture Essentials, Neighborhood Strollers, and Storytime with CAC), and more. Schools may be out of session and museums are closed, but the CAC is working to keep children, parents and teachers learning about architecture and design, including the buildings around them, while practicing spatial distancing at home in their own neighborhoods, said Nicole Kowrach, the Centers vice president for education and audience engagement, in a statement.

In partnership with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, the Center for Architecture has launched #ArchitectureAtHome, a series of fun, family-oriented activities to engage, inspire, and pass the time. They include drawing activities, Google Map-based scavenger hunts, and tutorials on how to make pop-up buildings out of paper bags.

Sympathetic to frazzled parents in need of new distractions for restless broods, London-based mega-firm Fosters + Partners recently launched a robust at-home educational initiative dubbed #Architecturefromhome that includes drawing, making, playing, thinking, reading, watching, and other activities to keep them [out of school kids] entertainedfor at least a few hours! Templates for activities, including Paper skyscraper, Create your own city, and Drawing trees, are available to download through the #Architecturefromhome micro-site. The firm encourages participants young and old to share their completed creations on social media.

Through May 20, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundations education department is hosting a virtual classroom for K-12 students with new lessons and corresponding videos being introduced each week. Says the Foundation of the free educational initiative, which is based on a curriculum developed in collaboration with the Paradise Valley School District: The Virtual Classroom combines fun, real-world lessons with Wrights famed principles of organic architecture and solutions-based design, each STEAM-focused lesson will offer students its own variation of hands-on activities that encourage them to think critically and creatively. Although the six-week series is now in week three of lessons, its never too late to join in. Upcoming lessons include Circles and The Impact of Color.

Normally held at the Taliesin West campus in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Foundations popular Summer Art and Architecture Summer Camp is also going virtual, and for the first time, is also free. Virtual campers enrolled in the program will meet via Zoom for an hour every weekday during three two-week sessions kicking off on June 1.

The Texas-based offices of global architecture firm Gensler have banded together to release two coloring books, Amazing Cities and Amazing Cities Kids, geared toward housebound families looking for a fun, architecture-centric distraction. The free downloadable coloring books together span over 200 pages and feature a slew of Gensler-designed buildings across the Lone Star State including in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin. In the wake of recent COVID-19 events, weve been channeling our creative energy into finding a way to educate and inspire people of all ages during these challenging times, Gerardo Gandy, an associate at Gensler who conceived the series, told D magazine. We hope this series allows the public, especially young minds, to use their creativity and imagination, and that it extends the spirit of our firm and the passion that we share for our practice to our friends, clients, and community.

Every Wednesday and Saturday at 3 p.m. during the month of May, Jeff Hopkins, teaching artist at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, will tell stories about the history of the Guggenheims iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Manhattan home through a series of sketches. Each sketch is followed by a prompt meant to inspire young viewers to create their own sketches at home. Participants are encouraged to share their finished work on Instagram or on Twitter with the hashtag #SketchWithJeff.

On May 22, the Glass House, in participation with the New Canaan Library, is hosting an hour-long, hands-on color workshop led by Fritz Horstman, director of education at The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. Working from Josef Alberss book Interaction of Color, we will experiment with colors that you may already have around your home. We will try our hands at exercises that Albers invented in his time teaching at the Bauhaus, Black Mountain College, and Yale, such as One-Color-Becomes-Two, Reversed Grounds, and Afterimage, explains the event page. No prior artistic experience is required to participate although those registered must have a list of necessary materials on hand before the workshop begins. Self-directed, video-driven color workshops specifically for kids are also available through the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation.

MODAs calendar of upcoming online workshops for pint-sized design aficionados is impressive: A three-part series in skatepark design, an intro to using Minecraft as a CAD tool, and ongoing educational sessions for aspiring architects and designers ages eight through 15.

Although the National Building Museum has canceled all public programming through the end of September (and doesnt list any upcoming virtual events on its calendar), the museums website has a rich resource of at-home learning opportunities (Newspaper forts! Bell pepper architectural drawings! Building surveys!) for cooped-up families including the nifty, recently launched Neighborhood Exploration series.

While the New Museums First Saturdays For Families programming has been canceled, the New Museum Kids Menu series is continuing to provide families with activities to learn about contemporary art and ideas at home. Past family-friendly activities include At Home With Portraiture: Jordan Casteel and The Faces of Places: Jordan Casteel. Keep abreast of upcoming activities here.

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Keep architects- and designers-in-training busy with these online workshops and activities - The Architect's Newspaper

Kimberly Dowdell began her architecture career just as the Great Recession started to drag down the U.S. construction industry, leading developers to cancel many ambitious projects. A lot of architects were soon out of work, including many minorities, a setback to diversity in a profession that, much like commercial real estate, remained white-dominated.

With a pandemic now wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy and millions of young people losing jobsat the beginning of their careers, Dowdell worries that history may repeat itself. As head of the National Organization for Minority Architects, the Chicago-based director of business development at HOK is making plans to help firms hold onto new talent, rather than stand by and watch as economic pressures force them out, perhaps never to return to their chosen field.

Courtesy of Lauen Kirk

Lauren Kirk in Venice in 2019. Kirk lost her architecture job during the Great Recession and never returned to the industry.

We definitely saw many people who graduated with architecture degrees between 2005 and 2010 who had to find a different path, Dowdell said.

She graduated from Cornell University with an architecture degree in 2006, along with about 60 others.

Today, of the 60, maybe 20 are still practicing architecture in the traditional sense, and thats being generous, she said.

After having risen steadily for more than a decade, the number of African Americans securing an architectural license went into a steep decline in the recessions wake, according to the Directory of African American Architects, a project sponsored by the Center for the Study of Practice at the University of Cincinnati.

In 2009, 71 African Americans received a license, the most since 1995, the group found. That pace slowed in the next few years, falling to just 34 in 2014, the fewest since the 2001 recession.

Dowdell attributes some of the losses to the professions lack of financial rewards, at least for beginners, who typically serve long apprenticeships where they focus on mundane tasks such as researching fire codes or designing a buildings plumbing. The median salary for a newly minted graduate in the U.S. is about $53K, according to a 2019 compensation report by the American Institute of Architects.

The starting salaries in architecture are nowhere near where other professions start out, so strictly from an economic perspective, architecture doesnt make sense, she said.

Although she saw people of all ethnicities and backgrounds leave the profession, the economic downturn in 2009 cut deeper into minority communities, Dowdell added. She pointed out that according to a 2020 Brookings Institution study, a typical white family in the U.S. has 10times the net worth of a typical black family.

If you get let go, its probably harder for you to weather the storm if you dont come from a wealthy background, she said. There was a larger percentage of people of color who had to find a different path.

Courtesy of Directory of African American Architects

Lauren Kirk, another 2006 Cornell graduate, was one of the many architecture rookies pushed out by the 2009 economic downturn. It had been the career she always dreamed about.

My dad is an architect, so its in my blood, and I always knew I wanted to do it, she said. I never wavered, I never looked at anything else.

Kirk was three years into an internship at tvsdesign in Atlanta, doing all of the grind work commonly handled by beginners, when she was laid off and faced a decision.

Its a big hit to your ego, and young people who dont come from independently wealthy families cant sit around a whole year with no income, wait for something to come along and then compete against other out-of-work architects who may have 20 years of experience, she said.

Kirk decided to return to school, got an MBA in real estate management from Ohio State University and then spent nine years at Macys, eventually becoming responsible for a portfolio of around 200 stores.

The lateral career move brought some advantages, not all of them financial. Kirk was handed more responsibility than she would have had as an architect and led teams of architects and contractors reconstructing such iconic downtown stores as Chicagos State Street Macys.

Kirk recently started a new job as project director for Brixmor Property Group, a REIT that owns open-air shopping malls across the U.S.

I definitely miss the creativity of architecture, but from a relationship standpoint, I am no longer behind a desk, so I would not have the network I now have if I had stayed in architecture, Kirk said. Looking at my peers and judging myself against them, I think Im doing very well.

Her new profession also has a long way to go to achieve diversity.

I can count on my hands how often Ive attended meetings where there was another African American in the room, and only once was there a black woman," she said. "So one meeting in nine years.

Courtesy of Kimberly Dowdell

Kimberly Dowdell

Luck may have played a role in keeping Dowdell on the path of to an architecture career. As the economy cratered in 2008, she was at HOK in New York City. Much of the work was on a design for Doha International Airport in Qatar, and projects backed by such wealthy countries were immune from the economic pressure afflicting other development work, she said.

Dowdell later took a detour from architecture, getting a masters degree in public administration from Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government and going to work as a planner for the city of Detroit, her hometown. She returned to HOK last year.

For those without her kind of luck, Dowdell hopes architectures professional associations, along with its influential firms, will respond to this downturn by putting together plans to hold onto talent.

I would like to think that the profession has better infrastructure in place, but Im not sure we do, she said.

In 2015, black architects began a bit of a comeback when 73 secured licenses, according to the directory. But the total number of African Americans working as practicing architects remains low. The directory found 2,306 living African American licensed architects at the end of 2019, or around 2% of the approximately 115,316 total architects licensed in the U.S.

As head of NOMA, Dowdell leads its efforts to construct a pipeline for aspiring minority architects. The organization recently launched a minority fellowship program thatwill help 25 architecture students get their foot in the door. NOMA will match the fellows with firms, pay each a stipend and hopefully secure more funds for real salaries.

Wed love to offer this to more students, and we are encouraging other organizations, firms and companies to help us take the initiative and solve this problem head-on, she said.

Kirk said she is worried what will happen to architecture if it loses another generation of minorities.

We live in a diverse world, but if you only have one group of people designing buildings, there is no diversity of thought, and we will be missing out on many ideas," she said. "We dont want to live in a vanilla world. Thats no fun.

Excerpt from:
New Great Recession Threatens Loss Of Another Generation Of Minority Architects - Bisnow

The car is the star in each of these eight private residential projects, each designed for a client keen to show off their beloved automobiles.

Autohaus, USA, by Matt Fajkus Architecture

Built for a car collector in Austin, Texas, Autohaus' entire ground floor is given over to a garage and workshop.

Floor-to-ceiling glass walls frame the parking space, and the gabled living area cantilevers over an outdoor parking space to frame and shelter the car below.

Find out more about Autohaus

House in Takamatsu, Japan, by FujiwaraMuro Architects

FujiwaraMuro Architects designed a single opening in the bunker-style facade of this house in Takamatsu to draw attention to the owner's sports car.

The all-white home is otherwise highly private. Inside, a glass wall gives a full view of the car from a downstairs living room.

Find out more about House in Takamatsu

Smilgu House, Lithuania, by Plazma Architecture Studio

A glass-walled corner of the ground floor of this house in Vilnius puts the owner's car proudly on display.

Timber cladding helps the house blend with the trees, making the garage a focal point of the front facade. To the rear, the house has huge double height windows looking out over the garden.

Find out more about Smilgu House

Garage House, Portugal, by Fala Atelier

Fala Atelier converted a garage in Lisbon into a house for a young couple and kept its original purpose.

Their little car can be driven straight into the open-plan house, which can be divided into separate rooms using brightly-coloured curtains.

Find out more about Garage House

Pagoda House, Bulgaria, by I/O Architects

Pagoda House takes its name from the owner's beloved vintage Mercedes Pagoda, which has pride of place in a glass-walled garage.

The house is partially submerged into its sloping site, with the classic car located at the bottom of a timber staircase and framed against a raw concrete back wall.

Find out more about Pagoda House

Basic House, Thailand, by Brownhouses

This house in Bangkok for an avid car collector has space for six cars to be parked two abreast in a glass-walled garage on the ground floor.

A home office runs along the side of the car display area, and a playroom complete with a sand pit and toy cars for the owner's children sits at the end.

Find out more about Basic House

Family House, Czech Republic, by Stempel & Tesar

Czech architecture studio Stempel & Tesar built this house for a racing car driver with an open-air garage sheltered under a balcony.

Much of the ground floor of the house is given over to a workshop, where the owner has space to tinker with two more cars.

Find out more about Family House

Garage Loft, Netherlands, by Studio OxL

This single-storey house in Arnhem that was once a carpenter's workshop has doors that open up to allow the client to park their electric sports car in the middle of the shiny white living room.

Because it's electric, it can sit in the middle of the house without the risk of pollution or damage from its exhaust fumes.

Find out more about Garage Loft

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Eight houses designed to show off their owners' car collections - Dezeen