Observations

This platform features articles, essays, interviews, reviews, and photo essays about the built environment and the people and conditions that shape it. Since 2022, Observations has also included a monthly column by architectural historian Elizabeth Blasius.

Mas observations 2024 urban archaeology lost buildings of st louis 01

Monthly Column

Urban Archaeology: Lost Buildings of St. Louis

Monthly column by Elizabeth Blasius

Mas context observations 2023 hanover and over again 01

Essay

Hanover and Over Again!

Essay by Jason Griffiths

Mas observations 2023 sarasota school of architecture 01

Monthly Column

Past, Present, and Future of the Sarasota School of Architecture

Monthly column by Elizabeth Blasius

Mas observations 2023 the passion tax is history 01

Monthly Column

The “Passion Tax” is History

Monthly column by Elizabeth Blasius

Mas observations 2023 lavadoiro ana amado 01

Photo Essay

Lavadoiro

Text and photos by Ana Amado

Mas observations 2023 outside the box 01a

Exhibition

Outside the Box: Modern and Contemporary Houses in Riverside

Text by Michelangelo Sabatino with photographs by Will Quam

Mas observations 2023 the englewood nature trail 01

Monthly Column

The Englewood Nature Trail: Urban Morphology and Community

Monthly column by Elizabeth Blasius

Mas observations 2023 mundo mendo 01

Interview

Mundo Mendo Goes to Seoul: The World of Luis Mendo on Display

Iker Gil interviews Luis Mendo about his exhibition Mundo Mendo

Mas observations 2023 art at the james r thompson center 01

Monthly Column

Art at the James R. Thompson Center

Monthly column by Elizabeth Blasius

Mas observations 2023 beyond the landmarks 01

Photo Essay

Beyond the Landmarks: A Personal Look at Columbus, Indiana

Text and photographs by David Schalliol

Mas observations 2023 griot germane barnes venice biennale 01

Interview

Griot, Storytelling, and the Manipulation of History

Iker Gil interviews Germane Barnes

Mas context observations 2023 cesar sans house santa maria getxo 01

Essay

House of the Architect

Text by Iker Gil

Mas observations 2023 seeking zohn zara pfeifer 01

Exhibition

Seeking Zohn

Text by curators Mimi Zeiger and Tony Macarena (Lorena Canales and Alejandro Olávarri) as well as Alejandro Hernández Gálvez

Mas observations 2023 chicago school closures 10 years later anthony overton incubator 01

Monthly Column

Chicago School Closures: Ten Years Later

Monthly column by Elizabeth Blasius

Mas observations 2023 1 1 2 01

Essay

1 + 1 > 2: Letter to Biljana, Notes to Frida

Essay by Denise Scott Brown

Mas observations 2022 betty blum 01

Remembrance

Betty Blum (1931–2022)

Architects and colleagues remember Betty Blum

Mas observations 2022 exact dutch yellow 01

Exhibition

What, Exactly, is Exact Dutch Yellow?

Text by Marin R. Sullivan