The 15-minute city urban theory receives the 2021 Obel Prize in recognition of the concept's value for creating sustainable and people-centric urban environments. First coined in 2016 by Sorbonne professor Carlos Moreno, the term defines a highly flexible urban model that ensures all citizens can access daily needs within a 15-minute distance, thus breaking the hegemony of the car and reintroducing the qualities of historic cities within contemporary urban planning.
The Concept of 15-Minute City Wins 2021 Obel Award
Rediscovering the Andes Mountains: The Landscape Reconversion of the San Pedro Hot Springs
Within the Andes Mountains, the San Pedro Hot Springs is a place to press pause and contemplate, which interrupts a transnational highway between Chile and Argentina. Although these natural pools became a public landmark within the route, they eventually fell over time into a state of abandonment and deterioration as a result of the constant seismic movements in the region.
In response to this situation, Chilean architect Pia Montero sought to highlight the baths for her built-project thesis at the University of Talca in order to consolidate it as a landmark of tourist potential and symbol of the territorial identity of the Maule Region. Moreover, the project is a wake-up call to rediscover and rescue the value of the natural and cultural heritage of the area from the gradual abandonment into which it fell over the years.
Faktorenhaus Schönbach / Atelier ST | Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH
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Architects: Atelier ST | Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH
- Area: 780 m²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: Duravit, FSB Franz Schneider Brakel, Arteminde, Object Carpet
Sense of Self Bathhouse / Setsquare Studio + Chamberlain Architects + Hearth Studio
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Architects: Chamberlain Architects, Hearth Studio, Setsquare Studio
- Area: 275 m²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: Haymes Paint, Sussex Taps
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Professionals: MIC Projects, Plant Charmer, Striking Pools
Bridge Over the Donau River in Linz / Marc Mimram
Tree House / ST Design Studio
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Architects: ST Design Studio
- Area: 100 m²
- Year: 2021
Nanton Residence / BLA Design Group
Building 305 / Signal Architecture + Research
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Architects: Signal Architecture + Research
- Area: 15000 ft²
- Year: 2021
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Professionals: Lund Opsahl, TFWB, Blanca Lighting, MIG/SvR, Elm Environments, +1
Lapinha Studio / plano livre
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Architects: plano livre
- Area: 30 m²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: Allum & Vetro Vidraçaria, Arte Persa, Ateliê da Vila, Bellar Acabamentos, Coral, +17
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Professionals: Alven Consultoria e Obras Civis
Onda Atlántica Bridge / Onda Arquitectura
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Architects: Checa Arquitectura, Onda Arquitectura
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: Composan, PPG Paints
School Casa da Árvore / Contaminar Arquitetos
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Architects: Contaminar Arquitectos
- Area: 274 m²
- Year: 2020
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Professionals: Irmãos Couto e Coito Lda, Dimeng, Leiricanal Instalações Técnicas Lda, Socilux
Little Island Park and the Collaboration among Designers, Contractors and Fabricators: An Interview with Arup
Pier 54 in New York has a history that dates back to the city's first inhabitants. After being severely damaged in 2012 with the passage of Hurricane Sandy, Barry Diller and the Hudson River Park Trust institution worked to create solutions to reactivate it and return the space to the public.
The final resulting project, Little Island Park, became an urban oasis of almost 10,000 square meters, which is structured on 132 pillars and houses amphitheaters, and several species of trees and other vegetation, in addition to other attributes. With the architecture developed by Heatherwick Studio and landscaping by MNLA, the work presented numerous difficulties, which required great innovation and collaboration between many professionals. Arup, a global company that develops consulting and engineering projects, was involved in the project from the beginning. We spoke with David Farnsworth, Principal at Arup’s New York office & Project Director of Little Island, about the challenges and learning involved in this process:
Houses of Cards / Elastico Farm
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Architects: Elastico Farm
- Area: 200 m²
- Year: 2020
The Possibilities of Wire Mesh in Architectural Facades
From creating a new parking structure with an awe-inspiring aesthetic to retrofitting an existing building, architectural wire mesh provides versatility and durability which makes it unique from other design material options.
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners Unveils Bourbon Distillery in Honor of War Veterans in the United States
London-based architecture firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) has unveiled its design of a 227-acre distillery master plan in Somerset, Kentucky that aims to become a vibrant destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® with commercial and cultural facilities that honor the heroes of 9/11.
Denver Art Museum Design Galleries and Studio / OMA
Polish Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai References the Flight of Birds Through Kinetic Sculpture
Designed by Warsaw-based architecture practice WXCA and Swiss studio Bellprat Partner, the Polish Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai is a nod to the country's natural landscapes representing an essential part of Polish identity. Through a modular structure enveloped by a kinetic sculpture resembling a flock of birds, the project references the idea of mobility while showcasing the natural connection established by bird migration between Poland and UAE.