abandominium n. But two years after construction began, the 41 promised condos still haven’t come. Instead, side-by-side cinderblock shells became a squatters’ camp for up to half a dozen people, a shooting gallery for heroin addicts and a haven for prostitution.…Many refer to it as the “abandominium,” and it’s a constant source of anger and frustration for its neighbors. [EnglishArchitecture] [full cite] (Aug. 1, 2004)
aerotropolis n. This phenomenon is not new, Bender and others say. It even has a name, which was coined by University of North Carolina professor John Kasarda: the aerotropolis. The idea is that major business centers have always occurred along major transportation routes. Rivers to railroads to highways. Air travel is now such a critical mode of transportation, the theory posits, that airports have become a major hub of the community. [EnglishArchitecture] [full cite] (Mar. 20, 2005)
aparthotel n. Also known as condotels or aparthotels, condo hotels have been growing in popularity as an approach to owning a luxurious second home in a great vacation destination. [EnglishArchitectureHouses & Housing] [full cite] (Jun. 19, 2006)
archaearium n. Historic Jamestowne took a major step Friday evening when the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and the National Park Service broke ground for an “archaearium.” It’s a unique facility to showcase artifacts and the findings of the dig at the original fort of 1607. [EnglishArchitecture] [full cite] (May. 4, 2004)
archaearium n. One answer is what he calls an archaearium, a “non-building” with copper roofing and glass walls over interactive exhibits and an open floor showing the excavation of a house that was probably burned during Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676. [EnglishArchitectureNew or Nonce] [full cite] (May. 6, 2004)
archi-babble n. They are very self conscious about inviting what they see as a design critic into their home. They also worry that we’ll talk what I call “archi-babble.” [EnglishArchitecture] [full cite] (Sep. 5, 2005)
beater n. “We really wanted to be in Clinton Hill,” said his wife, a writer, describing their house hunt. “Unfortunately, we were two years too late to really find a beater.” [ LanguageEnglish SubjectArchitecture] [full cite] (Jan. 5, 2006)
Bilbao effect n. Indeed, that breakthrough structure even spawned what is known as the “Bilbao effect,” the transformation of unknown or little-known places through architecture—something Denver hopes to capitalize on. [EnglishArchitecture] [full cite] (Oct. 9, 2006)
blobitecture n. About 5 years ago, Columbia was infamous for churning out a specific style referred to in the common parlance as “blobitecture.” Well, Penn has taken over the cutting-edge reins, and they’re all about what might be termed “lizardtecture’”puzzletecture,” or perhaps “borgitecture.” Some call it algorithmic design, generative components, scripting, etc. [EnglishArchitectureSlang] [full cite] (Nov. 15, 2006)