
How to visualize architectural concepts in SketchUp using D5 Lite for faster design exploration.

How to visualize architectural concepts in SketchUp using D5 Lite for faster design exploration.



DigitalFUTURES is a global online platform aimed at democratizing access to education and promoting critical and reflective thinking in the fields of architecture and design. Through monthly free events, we explore the latest advancements in computational design, robotic fabrication, artificial intelligence, and related fields, including theoretical, environmental, and social aspects. In 2022, Digital FUTURES Spanish was established to offer discussion sessions and workshops. Since then, it has featured the participation of more than 90 prominent Spanish-speaking designers and architects. These sessions are available for free on their YouTube channel.


In his latest TED Talk, Thomas Heatherwick decries a condition affecting areas of the city defined by monotonous buildings, or what he calls “an epidemic of boringness.” While recognizing the functionality which drove these designs, he states that functionality alone cannot ensure that the structures become active parts of urban life, as they often fail to provoke an emotional response from passers-by. Heatherwick explains that, in his view, this emotional function, or the ability of buildings to mean something to their users and visitors, is essential. When it succeeds, architecture can positively contribute to the quality of life and well-being of its residents, promote social cohesion and contribute to a sense of identity. So how can architecture provoke a positive emotional connection and provide an enjoyable backdrop to the communities it serves?


The world-renowned A' Design Award & Competition has opened its Call for Early Submissions to all those who would like to submit their designs in advance for the 2023-2024 period. The annual award recognizes designs in over 100 competition categories which are voted on by an international grand jury panel of scholars, journalists and design professionals. With a mission to inspire and recognize good design around the world, the A' Design Award is an all-rounder competition that seeks to promote the best of the many design professions and practices.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the 30 winners of the 2023 RIBA National Awards for Architecture, providing an insight into the country’s architecture, design, and social trends. Among the key themes observed this year, the need to rebuild communities and to find sustainable ways of practicing stand out as the main concerns of the participant architects. The response to these themes is varied, ranging from buildings that aim to offer opportunities for collaboration for students to creating stimulating social spaces for the elderly or providing creative programs at a neighborhood scale. All the projects selected have been in use for at least one year and have provided data regarding their environmental performance. Examples of sustainable design include both new buildings, following the Passivhaus certification, and renovation of existing structures.

Atrium Ljungberg has just revealed Stockholm Wood City – the world's largest urban construction project in wood. Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2025, and the first buildings are expected to be completed in 2027. The initiative is a demonstration of Swedish sustainability.
The largest wood-building project in the world is now in progress, covering an impressive 250,000 square meters. The project sets a sustainable example for the real estate market, which is essential because built structures contribute a sizeable 40% of the world's CO2 emissions. Furthermore, Stockholm Wood City is set to become a turning point in sustainable architecture and urban planning. Situated in Sickla, southern Stockholm, this innovative neighborhood will offer an additional 2,000 houses and 7,000 business spaces. By merging workplaces, homes, neighborhoods, dining establishments, and retail spaces, it aims to create a vibrant and dynamic urban environment.

Colors directly influence space perception. Through them, it is possible to stimulate the user's mood - making the environment calmer or more dynamic - and also change our perception of space without changing a centimeter of any wall. Dealing with them is not always easy. In a time when we want rooms with more personality (or more "instagrammable"), learning to compose with different shades and textures is essential.

As true spatial orchestrators, architects’ expertise extends beyond the mere construction of buildings, often transcending the physical realm of design. They possess the unique ability to craft spaces that are not only visually appealing, but that also feel welcoming, harmonious, and, above all, functional. Embracing this vital role involves careful consideration of all the bits and pieces that make up a project; from a building’s foundations to a sofa, architects must ensure that all the elements, in every scale, tie together in a way that is cohesive and positively influences our everyday lives.

The UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 is an invitation for architects from around the world to meet in Copenhagen July 2 – 6 to explore and communicate how architecture influences all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more than two years, the Science Track and its international Scientific Committee have been analyzing the various ways in which architecture responds to the SDGs. The work has resulted in the formulation of six science panels: design for Climate Adaptation, design for Rethinking Resources, design for Resilient Communities, design for Health, design for Inclusivity, and design for Partnerships for Change. An international call for papers was sent out in 2022 and 296 of more than 750 submissions from 77 countries have been invited to present at the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 in Copenhagen. ArchDaily is collaborating with the UIA to share articles pertaining to the six themes to prepare for the opening of the Congress.
In this fourth feature, we met with co-chairs of design for Health architect Arif Hasan, former Visiting Professor NED University Karachi and member of UNs Advisory Group on Forced Evictions, and architect Christian Benimana, Senior Principal and Co-Executive Director at MASS Design Group



