With over 30,000 visitors, the GROHE SPAinstallation at the Pinacoteca di Brera during Milan Design Week 2023 left a lasting impression, eventually receiving the Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ award. Building on this success, GROHE is returning for Milan Design Week 2024 with an immersive experience in one of Milan’s most prestigious locations: the Palazzo Reale. The former royal palace near the Duomo serves as a cultural nexus and is home to international art exhibitions, making it the ideal scenery for its premium sub-brand GROHE SPA and the celebration of the revitalizing power of water.
From April 16-21, the courtyard of Milan’s historic Palazzo Reale will transform into an exhibition space. Conceived by the in-house LIXIL Global Design and Brand Identity team, the installation pays tribute to the history of the building by evoking its past and interweaving it with the contemporary GROHE SPA "Salus per aquam" (Latin for "Health through Water") concept.
No longer relegated to the domain of temporary structures or utilitarian living, modular housing is increasingly gaining traction. Prefabricated homes are disrupting the architecture industry with their efficient construction, predictable costs, and reduced environmental impact. Modular housing is rooted in the idea of quick replication and standardization. In a world that prioritizes customization, how might modular housing meet the needs of diverse individuals?
As humans, we’re under the comforting illusion that we’re masters of our own destiny, strong-willed and unaffected by influence. However, the crucial role played by interior design in the success of commercial spaces proves this not to be the case. Every aspect of these environments is carefully crafted to encourage customers to part with their cash—and be happy to do so—from the lighting and temperature to the acoustic and, perhaps most significantly, the visual landscape.
Whether by drawing consumers in with captivating individualism, relaxing them with luxury and hospitality, painting a stylish world where both consumer and product co-exist, or giving subtle prompts to diver deeper and discover more, the influence a commercial environment’s surfaces have on its success is huge.
Introspection, Elevation, Covering-Up. Image Courtesy of Enrique Tovar
The flexibility of architecture allows it to continuously change and adjust its form in response to technological progress, social and artistic trends, and the collective experiences we undergo. Large-scale global events, such as the transatlantic migrations of the 19th century, the impact of tuberculosis on design, and most recently, the effects of the last major global health crisis (COVID-19), have all played significant roles in shaping the evolution of architecture.
In the context of the climate crisis, the role of architecture and urbanism has been extensively debated, as it represents one of the greatest challenges of this century. It is undeniable that while there are active efforts through policies and innovation to prevent reaching a point of no return, architecture is already adapting to the changes and extreme conditions caused by it. Rather than thinking of a distant or dystopian future scenario, the gradual changes in climatic conditions have been drivers for modifying, through architectural operations, how we conceive contemporary buildings.
https://www.archdaily.com/1015368/introspection-elevation-covering-up-radical-architectural-operations-for-adverse-climatesEnrique Tovar
Driven by a forward-thinking spirit, AMDL CIRCLE, the team of Michele De Lucchi, has partnered with Mara to design a new chair, TYPO. Image Courtesy of Mara
Anyone who knows me knows that I love to ask questions. Probably too many. But when you meet with Italian architecture and design grandee Michele De Lucchi, you’re all ears, such is the caliber of his thought and the eloquence of his expression, built on the back of over half a century of experimental, and sometimes iconoclastic, creative practice. From his participation in such avant-garde design collectives as Studio Alchimia and Memphis to his authorship of the Compasso d’Oro-winning Tolomeo lamp and Pulcina coffee pot, he’s seen a lot and done a lot.
Milan Design Week stands as one of the most important events in the global design calendar, serving not only as a showcase of innovation but also as a catalyst for critical discourse and creative exchange. This year, the event unfolds with a multitude of exhibitions, installations, and talks happening throughout Milano during the week of April 15-21, 2024. By bringing together diverse voices, perspectives, and talents, Milan Design Week becomes relevant for architects and serves as a nexus for interdisciplinary dialogue. To help you better navigate the plethora of events, conferences, and installations, this article highlights the main venues hosting activities revenant for architects and designers, from the expansive trade fair Salone del Mobile in Rho Fiera to design districts across the city and unexpected locations hidden in Palazzo courtyards or reimagined industrial heritage sites.
As construction materials costs increase, builders and developers are seeking alternatives to traditional home construction methods to address housing shortages. In response, an expanding construction technology field is the 3D printing sector. This technology promises quicker, cheaper construction and the potential to extrude local and recycled materials. However, due to the slow-changing nature of the construction industry, a radical shift involving large-scale 3D-printing machines on-site and a complete overhaul of the construction process seems unlikely shortly.
Prefabricated 3D printing modular housing offers a compelling solution, providing the benefits of 3D printing advancements while leveraging standard construction machinery and labor. In off-site 3D-printed construction, there is no need to transport massive 3D-printing machines on-site. Instead, components are printed in a controlled environment and then assembled on-site. These types of 3D-printed residential modular kits of parts are already being manufactured and are attracting significant investment.
“The Mindfulness City will be a sustainable city. To be mindful is to be aware — to perform best,” said Giulia Frittoli, partner and head of landscape at BIG. The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked Buddhist country in the eastern Himalayas, nestled between China and India. It covers 14,000 square miles and has a population of nearly 800,000.
The Royal Office of Bhutan asked BIG, Arup, and Cistri to develop a plan for a new Mindfulness City in Gelephu in southern Bhutan, near the border with India. The city will span 386 square miles and include a new international airport, railway connections, hydroelectric dam, university, spiritual center, and public spaces.
Concrete blocks are prefabricated materials primarily used for constructing walls. Similar to bricks, these blocks are stacked together and bonded with mortar, typically composed of cement, sand, and water. They are hollow inside to accommodate steel bars and mortar filling.
These blocks are available in a variety of dimensions and textures, ranging from traditional smooth surfaces to fluted or rough finishes. Additionally, there are special units designed for corners or beams with longitudinal reinforcements. The dimensions vary, from the classic 8x8x16 inches (approximately 19x19x39 cm) intended for structural use, to a size of 8x3.5x39 inches (approximately 19x9x39 cm) for partitioning walls. How can we creatively incorporate them into our designs?
In the heart of Milan's green quarter, Portanuova, Electrolux is introducing an innovative initiative. From April 16th to 21st, the Electrolux EcoLine Hub at Fuorisalone 2024 emerges as a unique space where education meets inspiration.
More than a mere exhibition, the Electrolux EcoLine Hub offers a fully immersive experience designed to enlighten visitors on the simplicity and significance of practices that can help them live more sustainably at home. Through this initiative, Electrolux aims to stimulate a broader dialogue on the topic. The Electrolux EcoLine Hub also includes an exhibition of products that are part of the Electrolux EcoLine range, which is a selection of the brand's most energy-efficient kitchen and laundry appliances, designed to help users make better choices.
Modular homes are houses either partially or fully constructed in a factory. This process involves creating a series of three-dimensional 'modules' delivered to a site in a predetermined spatial pattern and assembled into a complete product. These homes have become popular solutions to housing crises as they can be produced 50% faster and emit half as much pollution.
However, the locality of the materials used is a significant factor that gives homes their character. It conveys a sense of place, culture, construction history, and local craftsmanship. This raises questions about its role in modular housing: Can local materials be used in the factory production of homes? Can they be combined with a modular framework and temporary connections? What are the limitations of building modular homes in the local contexts of the Global South?
Located in the municipality of Leogang in the Salzburgerland province, Austria, the Priesteregg Premium Eco Resort resides on a plateau at a height of 1100 meters. Opened in 2009, the resort comprises 15 chalets and three villas, and is surrounded by lush mountain pines, Alpine roses, and bilberry bushes. This setting offers relaxation and breathtaking views of the Leogang Steinberg Mountains, the Steinernes Meer with the Hochkönig, and Kitzbühl Schieferalpen.
The resort's development has been influenced by traditional agricultural land use, leading to a conservationist approach. This includes sustainable energy concepts, support for regional producers, and the use of natural materials in the entire resort. In the three villas, the W2 Manufaktur studio and architect Ulrich Stöckl have curated interiors that blend rustic Alpine style with modern luxury, featuring products from Dornbracht. Each villa uniquely combines natural materials, natural features, and a variety of the brand's fittings and fixtures.
Videos
Turning waste into beautiful flooring. Image Courtesy of Bolon
In contemporary architecture, recycling has evolved from a desirable to an unavoidable necessity. This change is mainly due to the growing climate crisis, accentuated by the constant presence of waste (for which no use has been found beyond the initial one).
This approach has stimulated the creation of innovative materials to reuse waste in various contexts. A notable example is the case of woven flooring and rugs, where Bolon took a step forward in 1949 by transforming textile waste into stylish products. Since then, they have continued to innovate in materials, fusing the traditional flooring branch with sustainable creative design.
https://www.archdaily.com/1014951/walk-on-waste-weaving-waste-into-stylish-floorings-and-rugsEnrique Tovar
Between now and 2050, worldwide installation of cooling appliances, like air conditioning, is projected to triple, resulting in a twofold increase in energy consumption. This reliance on such devices, often seen as exacerbating global warming, poses a paradox: how can we fightrising temperatures in cities while simultaneously contributing to them through our dependence on these solutions?
The Second Studio (formerly The Midnight Charette) is an explicit podcast about design, architecture, and the everyday. Hosted by Architects David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet, it features different creative professionals in unscripted conversations that allow for thoughtful takes and personal discussions.
A variety of subjects are covered with honesty and humor: some episodes are interviews, while others are tips for fellow designers, reviews of buildings and other projects, or casual explorations of everyday life and design. The Second Studio is also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.
This week David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design discuss architecture program. The two cover what program in architecture means, why it is important, how it is developed and implemented, and examples of leveraging program for creative design.
https://www.archdaily.com/1015372/the-second-studio-podcast-program-as-the-secret-to-great-architectureThe Second Studio Podcast
Alero Olympio (1959-2005) was an architect and builder known for an intimately ecological approach to architecture. Born in Ghana, she divided her practice between Ghana and Scotland. She focused on work that prioritized people and was sincerely committed to social and environmental sustainability, prioritizing using locally sourced materials.
Her work legacy includes physical buildings like the Kokrobitey Institute, her advocacy for earthen constructions, research on sustainable forestry products, and so much more. However, a gap exists in the institutionalized archives of her work, leading to the current ongoing efforts to build a comprehensive archive of her contributions. The 2024 Womxn in Design and Architecture (WDA) annual conference organized by Princeton University School of Architecture made a significant contribution. It featured exhibitions, seminars, and panel discussions that reflected on Alero Olympio's legacy and examined the architectural insights her work continues to offer.
A global and cosmopolitan city, Milan is an uncontested mainstream fashion and economic center, widely coveted by worldwide visitors. The second most populated city in Italy, it hosts some of the world's major fashion and design-related events. Milan also houses prestigious educational institutions, many of which are renowned for heritage and conservationist specialties. Its cultural and design relevance cannot be understated as more and more creators are relocating and setting up shop in this booming creative hub.
The city's most recognizable tourist attractions are the renowned gothic Duomo di Milano, Santa Maria delle Grazia, or the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, amongst other classical and baroque sites. Milan also houses some of the boldest and most experimental modern and contemporary buildings that highlight the marriage of the beautifully crafted and often ornamental heritage with the modern, post-modernist, and contemporary monuments that make up its unique style.
Almada Housing Plot C - Icaro / MASSLAB. Image Courtesy of MASSLAB
In every city, urban housing projects represent most of the built environments, reflecting an intricate weave of societal needs and architectural visions. This roundup of unbuilt projects submitted by the ArchDaily Community offers a lens into the dynamic interplay between design constraints and creative opportunities. From the revitalization of urban fragments to the exploration of innovative construction methods, architects navigate a terrain shaped by sustainability imperatives, community inclusivity, and evolving urban dynamics.
The diversity of unbuilt urban housing projects showcased here underscores the breadth of architectural interventions, featuring commitments to sustainability and inclusivity. From projects featuring new building materials such as wooden construction systems to those created to maximize sunlight or engage the larger community, this week’s curated selection showcases unbuilt collective housing projects from around the world.
For some, it may be terrifying to think that we inhabit a sphere orbiting the Sun, whose core has temperatures of up to 6,000°C and all human activities are located on the Earth's crust, the smallest layer in thickness, in the so-called tectonic plates. These plates float on the mantle, more precisely in the asthenosphere, and sometimes collide, causing earthquakes. As we can see in this interactive map, earthquakes are much more frequent than we imagine, with dozens occurring daily around the world, many of them unnoticed. But some are extremely potent, and when they occur near urban areas, they are one of the most destructive forces on Earth, causing death and damage to the built environment.
With the advancement of research, tests and experiments in engineering, countries and regions with tectonic activities already have the knowledge to reduce the danger of death and damage caused by these events. Some solutions and materials work better in the event of an earthquake. Wood is one of them.
Flexibility has become a distinctive feature of contemporary interiors, driven by factors like the evolution of architectural programs and the progressive reduction of interior spaces, among others. This transition has shifted interiors from static to dynamic, aiming to achieve a state-of-the-art balance in space configuration. This sentiment is well encapsulated by Ricardo Bofill's statement that "architecture is the art of structuring space."
Considering the intricacies of interiors, it is essential to foster versatile spaces, aided by elements such as multipurpose design and flexible furniture. However, a challenge arises: while these strategies redefine the boundaries and dynamic essence of interiors, aspects like acoustics are often overlooked, which has become crucial in environments such as offices, conference rooms, schools, auditoriums, etc. Therefore, improving acoustics becomes essential to create functional multipurpose interiors. In that sense, Skyfold’s operable walls are an interesting alternative, as their solutions can serve as both soundproofing barriers and design pieces.
https://www.archdaily.com/1014623/movable-walls-the-transformative-effect-of-retractable-and-folding-partitionsEnrique Tovar
Another year, another successful ArchDaily China Building of the Year Awards! With more than 50,000 votes gathered over the past weeks, the results of the 2024 edition are in! Once more, the award has proved to be the largest architecture prize centered around people’s opinion. Crowdsourced, the most relevant projects of the year were nominated and selected by our readers.
Sloped terrain offers a tantalizing prospect for developers. With breathtaking views over either natural or urban landscapes, often without the realistic possibility of being overlooked by future development, a parcel of land on a slope provides a high reward. However, whether it’s the extra excavation involved to cut and fill or cantilever out on a flat surface, the complications of water drainage, or the loss of light and difficulty of access at the front of the property, building on sloped terrains is not without its difficulties.
But it’s not necessarily the angle of the site that’s most at fault, it’s the shape of the building. By splitting up a multi-story structure and repositioning – possibly even disconnecting – each level, projects designed to comply with the existing topography by applying multiple ground levels can reduce the amount of excavation required. The split floor plan can also help to improve access and natural light and increase both interior and exterior space.
Formally, transparency usually takes the shape of a window, a door, a curtain wall, or a skylight. These are commonly created through rectangular punched openings or in the form of glass curtain wall systems or translucent screens. The following projects play with traditional notions of transparency and window-making in playful and unconventional ways. They create visually striking facades and dynamic relationships between their exterior and interior. They filter light and frame views through their glazing and opening articulation to craft memorable architectural experiences.
CityMakers, The Global Community of Architects Who Learn from Exemplary Cities and Their Makers, is working with Archdaily to publish a series of articles about Barcelona, Medellin, and Rotterdam. The authors are the architects, urban planners, and/or strategists behind the projects that have transformed these three cities and are studied in the "Schools of Cities" and "Documentary Courses" made by CityMakers. On this occasion, Victor Restrepo, Coordinator of CityMakers in Medellin, presents his article "Medellin: A Case Study".
Medellín stands as an inspiring example for many cities worldwide. It is a city that transitioned from deep collective fear to hopeful enthusiasm for urban and social life characterized by quality and coexistence. The city's crisis has always been associated with violence and drug trafficking. However, this crisis is more structural and profound, it responds to many more factors, some of which are associated with the accelerated growth of its population, as in many Latin American cities.
