The Netherlands, OMA, Rem Koolhaas, trying to catch the leading edge technology in NYC:: how do architecture and leading edge dbase management fit together?  See Business2 for the details. Bummer, Business2 requires you to pay to read followon pages of article. Visit the OMA WWW site for their description of the project.  Their lead architect suggested that the Prada New York project was too anticipatory in its use of technology.  Here is a free summary review and links to QuickTime walk throughs.  Below is my summary of the Business2 smack down.

Prada opens a $40mil flagship in Manhattan with Koolhaas, RFID fully kitted out with all high tech bells and whistles.  Place is jammed with architectural groupies and geeks--too many rubber neckers--store does not work with that crowd--employees rather walk to store room for inventory check than use RFID and PDA.  After 3 years not making 1/3 of what is needed to break even.  Re-think in progress.

But, for landscape architecture, I wait for trackable RFID, from plant propagation, through nursery growth, through shipment to site, through maintenance regimes.  Do you hear that?

Edward Flaherty 

11:29:38 AM    comment []