James S. Russell
@jamessrussell.bsky.social
New York City-based Independent journalist who writes about architecture and cities for several publications. | Climate Change | Urban Culture | Substack: Architecture and the City; Book: The Agile City.
Princeton University's new art museum, designed by David Adjaye, offers intensely tactile experiences entirely in synch with a highly eclectic collection. Worth a detour! open.substack.com/pub/james560...
Princeton's Art Museum Masterpiece
A richly tactile labyrinth begs to be explored.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Princeton University's new art museum, designed by David Adjaye, offers intensely tactile experiences entirely in synch with a highly eclectic collection. Worth a detour! open.substack.com/pub/james560...
in the Civil Rights era Harlem grew an art museum that's nurtured some of the biggest names in art. Now it has the new home it has long deserved thanks to architect David Adjaye. james560.substack.com/p/two-archit...
Triumphant Home for Black Art
The Studio Museum of Harlem is one of two extraordinary museums by David Adjaye. Can he be forgiven?
james560.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
in the Civil Rights era Harlem grew an art museum that's nurtured some of the biggest names in art. Now it has the new home it has long deserved thanks to architect David Adjaye. james560.substack.com/p/two-archit...
They had to build a new seawall, a new highway tunnel and take down and elevated highway--then they could build Seattle's transformative Waterfront Park. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Can a Waterfront Park Wake Up Downtown Seattle?
After demolishing an elevated highway and digging a $3 billion tunnel, the Pacific Northwest’s largest city is eager to show off its “new front door.”
www.bloomberg.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
They had to build a new seawall, a new highway tunnel and take down and elevated highway--then they could build Seattle's transformative Waterfront Park. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Food banks are fonts of ingenuity and adaptability; the link gives a peek at how architecture helped two of these great nonprofits do their jobs Better. The cutoff of SNAP benefits places new strains. Don't forget them! james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
Designing to Feed Millions
As hunger grows in the US, architects are scaling up the venerable soup kitchen.
james560.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Food banks are fonts of ingenuity and adaptability; the link gives a peek at how architecture helped two of these great nonprofits do their jobs Better. The cutoff of SNAP benefits places new strains. Don't forget them! james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
Steven Blier brings the alchemical artistic process of singing to witty and insightful life in his memoir “From Ear to Ear: A pianist's life in Song.” Stories of the brightest stars in music, mentoring young singers, adapting to decline imposed by muscular dystrophy. wwnorton.com/books/978132...
From Ear to Ear
“Witty, naughty, passionate, inspiring, brimming with insights, artistry, and love—that’s Steve Blier, and that’s this beautiful book. A miraculous musical life.” –...
wwnorton.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Steven Blier brings the alchemical artistic process of singing to witty and insightful life in his memoir “From Ear to Ear: A pianist's life in Song.” Stories of the brightest stars in music, mentoring young singers, adapting to decline imposed by muscular dystrophy. wwnorton.com/books/978132...
It looks like a Federal judge has forced the Trump administration to retain SNAP funding, but don't forget food banks--a vital resource! An architecture writer, I love writing about great organizations made even more effective by architecture. james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
Google Search
www.google.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It looks like a Federal judge has forced the Trump administration to retain SNAP funding, but don't forget food banks--a vital resource! An architecture writer, I love writing about great organizations made even more effective by architecture. james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
My profile of architects uniquely tuned to landscape and place. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/a...
Landscape or Architecture? They Boldly Blur Boundaries
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 10:42 PM
My profile of architects uniquely tuned to landscape and place. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/a...
Aristo palace or casino blackjack tables: james560.substack.com/p/ready-for-...
Ready for Ballroom Bombast?
How should we think about adding to the White House?
james560.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Aristo palace or casino blackjack tables: james560.substack.com/p/ready-for-...
The apocalyptic rhetoric on crime in cities damages their economies and denigrates good people. Cities have been the anti-crime innovators and have nothing to apologize for. james560.substack.com/p/troops-wre...
Troops Wreck Cities
Cities are the anti-crime innovators and must stand up to apocalyptic propaganda and misuse of the armed forces.
james560.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The apocalyptic rhetoric on crime in cities damages their economies and denigrates good people. Cities have been the anti-crime innovators and have nothing to apologize for. james560.substack.com/p/troops-wre...
A small architecture firm persisted with FEMA over years, I wrote in the New York Times. The factory-built houses they designed for survivors of Lahaina wildfire could be a post-disaster game changer but the program has no clear future. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/a...
In Lahaina, ‘Dignified’ Havens for Wildfire Survivors
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
A small architecture firm persisted with FEMA over years, I wrote in the New York Times. The factory-built houses they designed for survivors of Lahaina wildfire could be a post-disaster game changer but the program has no clear future. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/a...
After natural disasters, FEMA is supposed to provide housing for up to 18 months. If replacement housing is approved, HUD is supposed to build it, but that takes years. Here's housing that fills the gap for wildfire victims in Hawaii. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/a...
In Lahaina, ‘Dignified’ Havens for Wildfire Survivors
www.nytimes.com
August 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
After natural disasters, FEMA is supposed to provide housing for up to 18 months. If replacement housing is approved, HUD is supposed to build it, but that takes years. Here's housing that fills the gap for wildfire victims in Hawaii. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/a...
Most people missed coverage of the massive tax and spend bill Congress just passed. A few outcomes: more expensive housing, more dependence on dirty fuels, less education opportunity, and aspiration-killing rules. Pls have a look at my Substack column. james560.substack.com/p/a-win-for-...
A Win for the Superyacht Class
Congress's "big beautiful bill" is not so lovely to behold
james560.substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Most people missed coverage of the massive tax and spend bill Congress just passed. A few outcomes: more expensive housing, more dependence on dirty fuels, less education opportunity, and aspiration-killing rules. Pls have a look at my Substack column. james560.substack.com/p/a-win-for-...
DOGE can break things, it can't build. Some ways to think about that.
james560.substack.com/p/how-americ...
james560.substack.com/p/how-americ...
How America Can Build Great Again
People are turning against the DOGE bulldozer, which may undercut a desperately needed focus on making government--especially agencies that build--more effective.
james560.substack.com
June 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
DOGE can break things, it can't build. Some ways to think about that.
james560.substack.com/p/how-americ...
james560.substack.com/p/how-americ...
Purposeful, inspiring architecture helps essential anti-hunger groups scale up to meet frighteningly growing need--as Trump admin. pulls the rug out form under them.
james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
Designing to Feed Millions
As hunger grows in the US, architects are scaling up the venerable soup kitchen.
james560.substack.com
May 29, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Purposeful, inspiring architecture helps essential anti-hunger groups scale up to meet frighteningly growing need--as Trump admin. pulls the rug out form under them.
james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
james560.substack.com/p/designing-...
james560.substack.com/p/changing-t...
It's time for a fresh agenda for the big issues Trump and Congress are ignoring.
It's time for a fresh agenda for the big issues Trump and Congress are ignoring.
Changing the Conversation
Manning the barricades against Trump can't be the only political agenda. People need to know that leaders care about enhancing life chances and removing barriers to success.
james560.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 10:42 PM
james560.substack.com/p/changing-t...
It's time for a fresh agenda for the big issues Trump and Congress are ignoring.
It's time for a fresh agenda for the big issues Trump and Congress are ignoring.
the Frick Collection has got a major overhaul that reveals anew the crown-jewel collection of a notorious robber baron that's nevertheless beloved. Architect Annabelle Selldorf's balancing act: Respectfully assert the new; do no harm. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Inside the Quiet, Extravagant Expansion of the Frick Collection
Architect Annabelle Selldorf took a light touch to a $330 million renovation of the beloved New York art museum.
www.bloomberg.com
April 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
the Frick Collection has got a major overhaul that reveals anew the crown-jewel collection of a notorious robber baron that's nevertheless beloved. Architect Annabelle Selldorf's balancing act: Respectfully assert the new; do no harm. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
AI's big-tech boys, having purchased Trump, see the no-guardrails sky as the limit (with T cutting himself in...) but where is all the electricity coming from?
james560.substack.com/p/who-pays-f...
james560.substack.com/p/who-pays-f...
Who pays for the AI powered data center binge?
The AI/crypto boom, vacuuming up huge quantities of electricity, threatens the grid and worsens climate change.
james560.substack.com
February 19, 2025 at 5:11 PM
AI's big-tech boys, having purchased Trump, see the no-guardrails sky as the limit (with T cutting himself in...) but where is all the electricity coming from?
james560.substack.com/p/who-pays-f...
james560.substack.com/p/who-pays-f...
Federal foreign aid remains halted--a huge disaster in the making. So many NGOs save lives like Partners in Health that works in some of the world's poorest places or World Central Kitchen which has been heroically feeding Gazan's. (I don't know if either receives gov't $.) Pay attention, pls!
January 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Federal foreign aid remains halted--a huge disaster in the making. So many NGOs save lives like Partners in Health that works in some of the world's poorest places or World Central Kitchen which has been heroically feeding Gazan's. (I don't know if either receives gov't $.) Pay attention, pls!
On my Substack I link recent stories for publication just to give a sense of what's going on in architecture and design. OK, they are a little random but touch on cool things like great parks, an arts-driven tech building, amazing philanthropy, more. Have a look!
open.substack.com/pub/james560...
open.substack.com/pub/james560...
Random Writing for Publication
I thought you might enjoy a precís of recent articles I have written for several publications. There are through lines though they may not be obvious.
open.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
On my Substack I link recent stories for publication just to give a sense of what's going on in architecture and design. OK, they are a little random but touch on cool things like great parks, an arts-driven tech building, amazing philanthropy, more. Have a look!
open.substack.com/pub/james560...
open.substack.com/pub/james560...
As a journalist I know people won't trust what I write if they perceive it is paid for by someone with an agenda. Too many now think avoiding conflicts of interest doesn't matter. Read all about it in my new Substack column and subscribe! open.substack.com/pub/james560...
Do Conflicts of Interest Matter?
Public officials are supposed to be working for the people, not ideologues nor special interests. Today's emboldened right wing hopes the public doesn't care about conflicts of interest anymore.
open.substack.com
January 6, 2025 at 11:03 PM
As a journalist I know people won't trust what I write if they perceive it is paid for by someone with an agenda. Too many now think avoiding conflicts of interest doesn't matter. Read all about it in my new Substack column and subscribe! open.substack.com/pub/james560...
People think gas is expensive but US prices are the same as in the 1950s (Inflation adjusted)! It takes a lot to keep gas cheap and it may not be possible.... From my new Substack! james560.substack.com/p/living-in-...
Living in a time of cheap gas
Fuel may seem expensive but today’s 1950s prices may not survive global climate disasters and political unrest.
james560.substack.com
December 3, 2024 at 11:20 PM
People think gas is expensive but US prices are the same as in the 1950s (Inflation adjusted)! It takes a lot to keep gas cheap and it may not be possible.... From my new Substack! james560.substack.com/p/living-in-...
With storms becoming more severe, the just-completed Living Breakwaters project by the landscape architecture firm SCAPE shows how innovation can improve coastal protection and rebuild essential dune, reef, and beach habitat. #climate #Resiliency #sustainability www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
New York City’s ‘Living Breakwaters’ Brace for Stormier Seas
Landscape architect Kate Orff’s unique shoreline protection device off Staten Island is designed to both prevent flooding and provide a new reef habitat.
www.bloomberg.com
November 26, 2024 at 4:59 PM
With storms becoming more severe, the just-completed Living Breakwaters project by the landscape architecture firm SCAPE shows how innovation can improve coastal protection and rebuild essential dune, reef, and beach habitat. #climate #Resiliency #sustainability www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
An impressive philanthropic gesture. Young couple buys precious Long Island Sound Waterfront to restore its polluted lands and convert a mothballed power plant to an extraordinary attraction. Did this for the NYT. Lucky Norwalk, CT! www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/a...
Donors Say a Scarred Island Could Become a Park
Austin and Allison McChord have pledged to transform an abandoned industrial site into an ecological waterfront park as a gift to Norwalk, Conn., their hometown.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2024 at 9:00 PM
An impressive philanthropic gesture. Young couple buys precious Long Island Sound Waterfront to restore its polluted lands and convert a mothballed power plant to an extraordinary attraction. Did this for the NYT. Lucky Norwalk, CT! www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/a...
A new aquarium in Seattle embeds itself in a new park, telling global stories of ocean stewardship including indigenous actors who stay the course while everyone else gets distracted. www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/171...
Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion by LMN Helps Revitalize an Urban Waterfront
On Elliott Bay, the striking cedar-clad structure combines sustainable design, cultural storytelling, and immersive marine exhibits.
www.architecturalrecord.com
November 17, 2024 at 8:56 PM
A new aquarium in Seattle embeds itself in a new park, telling global stories of ocean stewardship including indigenous actors who stay the course while everyone else gets distracted. www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/171...
Housing costs were a key source of rage in the election. A story on some fixes not being discussed, but also important to focus on 3/5 of people not being served. james560.substack.com/p/feeble-nos...
Feeble Nostrums Won't Fix a Broken Housing Market
America not only needs a lot more housing, it needs to build for the three-fifths of the market no longer served.
james560.substack.com
November 17, 2024 at 8:53 PM
Housing costs were a key source of rage in the election. A story on some fixes not being discussed, but also important to focus on 3/5 of people not being served. james560.substack.com/p/feeble-nos...