At the heart of it, architecture is an inter-disciplinary profession. Ranging from structural engineers to quantity surveyors, a design project thrives from the collaboration of individuals from various fields of work. An often-overlooked connection is the link between the fields of architecture and archaeology, which in more ways than one have a lot in common. In a time of increased awareness on issues of sustainability and heritage, the expertise present in the field of archaeology plays a vital part in the preservation of architectural landmarks of historical significance. This expertise can also play a significant part in creating sensitive architectural interventions suitable for their context, contemporary in their design while responding to historical precedents.

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Applications are open until June 30 for the 4th Tomie Ohtake Institute Leroy Merlin Design Award, aimed at college students and recent graduates from all fields. The award seeks to recognize proposals that highlight and conceptualize the relationship between design and other disciplines, such as communication, architecture, biology, engineering, fashion, technology, economics, physics, education, mathematics, and chemistry, among others. The theme of this fourth edition is the verb to welcome.

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From using linguistic theory as an analytical methodology in architecture to understanding buildings as mediums of communication, the intersections between language and architecture are closer than they might first appear. 

Understanding the building as a medium of communication can occur in various ways—such as integrating paintings, engravings, sculptures, and ornamentation into the architecture—but also through the literal incorporation of letters and symbols as architectural elements. 

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Portugal is a fascinating country when it comes to architecture. With a population of just over 10 million, its architectural output far exceeds what its population or territorial scale would suggest, and this art is not only a part of but deeply rooted in the national culture. With the aim of exploring the architects, projects, and stories behind landmark Portuguese architecture, Sara Nunes, from the architectural film production company Building Pictures, launched the podcast No País dos Arquitectos, where she talks with leading figures of contemporary Portuguese architecture.

These conversations offer a chance to discover the people, behind-the-scenes moments, processes, and references of prominent architects. For the first episode, Sara talks with none other than João Luís Carrilho da Graça about his design for the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, completed in 2018. Read the full interview or listen to the podcast below.

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Videos

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As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been much speculation and debate about whether we will return to our old habits of working in the office 5 days a week, or if working from home creates equal or greater productivity. However, many believe that the future of the workforce will largely be focused on a balance between in-person and in-office working, and a form of remote working, that summates into a new, hybrid model. But if you’re not at home, and you’re not working, then you must be somewhere else- exploring the true in-between of a public and a private space. Enter the concept of the “third” place, which is used to describe everything from coffee shops to banks, and even co-working spaces. If you’ve ever studied for an exam at a bookstore, or even dropped into an airport restaurant to catch up on some work, then you too, have visited a “third” place.

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Design projects rely heavily on visual tools that illustrate the project's features and overall atmosphere, and whether you are an architect, interior designer, furniture designer, or engineer, the term 'mood board' has definitely come up at some point during the early stages of the design process. Generally speaking, images have immense powers of influencing and inspiring their viewers, so putting together a powerful mood board can be a game changer for the architect, the visual artist, and the clients, and can amplify the project's story telling process. So what is a mood board and how can you create one?

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