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Sharjah, the captivating territory in the United Arab Emirates, is a cultural hub that blends tradition with contemporary modernity. Situated on the Arabian coastline, the city is known for its commitment to preserving its rich history, promoting the arts and culture, and providing a platform for creative and intellectual pursuits. In fact, the 2023 Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) will take place from November 11, 2023, to March 10, 2024, under the theme "The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability." The Triennial is curated by Tosin Oshinowo, exploring innovative design solutions emerging from conditions of scarcity in the Global South.

With a deep-rooted connection to its cultural heritage, the emirate is home to an array of museums that showcase a journey through multiple timelines, from Islamic civilization to traditional lifestyles. Now a hotspot for emerging designers, the city has taken a leading role as a patron of fine arts. In the contemporary city, attractions are designed by many architects, from Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, 51-1 Arquitectos, to Hopkins Architects. In addition to this emerging cultural scene, old Sharjah is a valuable embodiment of historical tradition, having been transformed into useable attractions and art facilities. The old Sharjah also flaunts landmarks such as the modernist King Faisal Mosque, the Museum of Islamic Civilization, and the Sharjah Art Museum.

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When considering building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), the potential is clear: making the building envelope an active part of a building's energy strategy. Yet specifying these systems can be difficult when the process is unfamiliar. How much electricity can a facade generate? What will the system cost? Which orientations and areas are suitable? And how should the photovoltaic panels be integrated with the building's structural, electrical, and fire-safety requirements? Without clear answers, assessing feasibility, establishing budgets, and involving consultants and contractors can become difficult.

This week's stories focus on cultural architecture and the ways museums, art institutions, and public venues are being designed, expanded, and adapted. Across different cities, new projects bring together exhibition spaces, educational programmes, and areas for public activity, while existing buildings take on new cultural uses. From Sydney and Sharjah to Miami and Dubai, the projects reflect a range of approaches to creating and extending spaces for art and culture, with attention to their programmes, audiences, and connections to the surrounding urban environment.

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An artistic intervention opens today, November 12, 2026, at the Barcelona Pavilion. A modernist icon, the building was designed by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona, Spain, to represent modern Germany after World War I. The building was originally designed to be temporary and is now managed by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, created in 1983 by the Barcelona City Council to reconstruct it. Since its rebuilding, the pavilion has been open to visitors as an architectural landmark and is occasionally used as a venue for interventions by visual artists and short-term exhibitions. From November 12 to 22, 2026, "Pavilion-Labyrinth" by Ciro Najle and Josep Ferrando will lead visitors into a labyrinth made entirely of glass, transforming the perceived boundaries between the interior and exterior of the historic building.

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The contemporary kitchen is no longer just a space for food preparation; it has become one of the most dynamic areas of the home. Design decisions can redefine both spatial configurations and the arrangement of individual elements as kitchens become integrated with social areas, incorporate new technologies, and adapt to changing domestic habits. In this way, balancing functionality, comfort, durability, and aesthetics is closely tied to the selection of finishing materials. From countertop surfaces to cabinet opening systems, each design choice contributes to creating kitchen environments that accommodate different activities and ways of living.

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern portion of Hispaniola, an island in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean that it shares with neighbouring Haiti. On the Dominican Republic's southern coast, at the mouth of the Ozama River, stands Santo Domingo, the country's capital and the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. This distinction has earned Santo Domingo the title of "Ciudad Primada", or First City, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage listing, for being one of the earliest records of how Europeans first approached the organization of urban settlements in the New World.

The story of this city actually begins with Christopher Columbus himself. During his second voyage to America in 1493, Columbus learned that "Fuerte de la Navidad" (Nativity Fort), founded a year earlier, had been destroyed following a conflict with the local Taíno population. This led to the settlement's relocation to La Isabela, on Hispaniola's northeastern coast, in 1494. However, following the discovery of gold deposits along the island's southern coast, a new settlement was established in 1496: Santo Domingo, on the eastern bank of the Ozama River, founded by Columbus's brother Bartholomew Columbus.

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