1. ArchDaily
  2. Community Center

Community Center: The Latest Architecture and News

Snøhetta Opens the Beijing City Library, Containing the World’s Largest Climatized Reading Space

Snøhetta’s Beijing City Library has opened its doors to the public, introducing a unique space for learning and knowledge-sharing in Beijing’s cultural scene. As one of the most anticipated projects of 2024, the library features the world's largest climatized reading space, in addition to various facilities aimed at creating a vibrant cultural destination in the city. Snøhetta was awarded the Beijing City Library in 2018 through an international competition and the project was completed with local partner ECADI.

Snøhetta Opens the Beijing City Library, Containing the World’s Largest Climatized Reading Space - Image 1 of 4Snøhetta Opens the Beijing City Library, Containing the World’s Largest Climatized Reading Space - Image 2 of 4Snøhetta Opens the Beijing City Library, Containing the World’s Largest Climatized Reading Space - Image 3 of 4Snøhetta Opens the Beijing City Library, Containing the World’s Largest Climatized Reading Space - Image 4 of 4Snøhetta Opens the Beijing City Library, Containing the World’s Largest Climatized Reading Space - More Images+ 11

ArchDaily Curator's Picks 2023: Global Projects our Curators Highlighted Through the Year

The ArchDaily projects library is managed by our curators who constantly seek to populate our stream with the most interesting global works, showcasing evolving focuses and criteria. While we usually share our reader’s top 100 favorites, this year, we also decided to initiate our editor’s picks on the ArchDaily Instagram account, where our curators highlight some projects that include interesting themes and unique traits. 

ArchDaily Curator's Picks 2023: Global Projects  our Curators Highlighted Through the Year - Featured ImageArchDaily Curator's Picks 2023: Global Projects  our Curators Highlighted Through the Year - Image 1 of 4ArchDaily Curator's Picks 2023: Global Projects  our Curators Highlighted Through the Year - Image 2 of 4ArchDaily Curator's Picks 2023: Global Projects  our Curators Highlighted Through the Year - Image 3 of 4ArchDaily Curator's Picks 2023: Global Projects  our Curators Highlighted Through the Year - More Images+ 26

Studio Gang Breaks Ground on the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center in New York City

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, along with the New York City Department of Design and Construction, has announced the breaking ground on the construction of the Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center. Located at the Nostrand Playground in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, the center aims to bring new amenities to the residents of East Flatbush while honoring the history and heritage of the community. The new center is named after Brooklyn-born politician Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to serve in Congress and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States.

Construction Begins for Snøhetta’s Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg in North Carolina, USA

Construction has just begun on Snøhetta’s Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina, USA. The new project is designed to become a significant destination in Uptown Charlotte. Last week, the main library organized a commemoration to celebrate the beginning of the demolition phase on site in anticipation of the upcoming construction. It is set to open in the spring of 2026.

Construction Begins for Snøhetta’s Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg in North Carolina, USA - Image 1 of 4Construction Begins for Snøhetta’s Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg in North Carolina, USA - Image 2 of 4Construction Begins for Snøhetta’s Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg in North Carolina, USA - Image 3 of 4Construction Begins for Snøhetta’s Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg in North Carolina, USA - Image 4 of 4Construction Begins for Snøhetta’s Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg in North Carolina, USA - More Images+ 1

Heatherwick Studio Unveils the Design for a New Community Library in Columbia, United States

Heatherwick Studio has revealed their first public library design, planned for Howard County Libraries in Maryland, United States. The building will serve as a community center and was designed to reflect the changing and complex role of libraries within cities. The program expands beyond book lending services, providing spaces for cultural events, collective learning, workshops and lending of objects of use. Construction is expected to begin in 2024, and the library is scheduled to open to the public in 2027.

CHYBIK + KRISTOF Transforms Heritage Textile Factory Into Art Gallery in the Czech Republic

CHYBIK + KRISTOF architecture studio has been announced as the competition winners for a new cultural landmark that will transform and re-activate public space in Ústí nad Orlicí, Czech Republic. This former textile factory will be converted into a multifunctional cultural hub available to the public. The newly revitalized building will contribute to the existing cultural infrastructure, located near the main square of the city.

CHYBIK + KRISTOF Transforms Heritage Textile Factory Into Art Gallery in the Czech Republic - Image 1 of 4CHYBIK + KRISTOF Transforms Heritage Textile Factory Into Art Gallery in the Czech Republic - Image 2 of 4CHYBIK + KRISTOF Transforms Heritage Textile Factory Into Art Gallery in the Czech Republic - Image 3 of 4CHYBIK + KRISTOF Transforms Heritage Textile Factory Into Art Gallery in the Czech Republic - Image 4 of 4CHYBIK + KRISTOF Transforms Heritage Textile Factory Into Art Gallery in the Czech Republic - More Images+ 3

A School for Girls in India and a Vertical Community Farm in the US: 10 Unbuilt Socially Engaged Projects Submitted to ArchDaily

The year 2022 was marked by several socio-cultural and economic crises across the globe, from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the increasing cost of living worldwide, combined with a number of natural disasters such as the devastating floods in Pakistan and hurricane Ian in the US. In these difficult times, architects are stepping up and embracing their role in developing design-based solutions to humanitarian crises, ranging from temporary shelters and affordable housing schemes to centers for protecting at-risk groups such as homeless underage girls, children from low-income environments, or families in need of medical care.

This week's curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights projects submitted by the ArchDaily community that engage with their local communities, offering safe spaces for disadvantaged and at-risk groups. From a sanctuary for homeless girls in Iraq to an affordable housing project in Prague’s first skyscraper, this selection features projects centered around people, their needs, and desires. Many of the projects employ local materials such as clay bricks to lower the construction costs. They also reuse existing buildings and hope to engage the local community in building and appropriating the proposed spaces.

A School for Girls in India and a Vertical Community Farm in the US: 10 Unbuilt Socially Engaged Projects Submitted to ArchDaily - Image 5 of 4A School for Girls in India and a Vertical Community Farm in the US: 10 Unbuilt Socially Engaged Projects Submitted to ArchDaily - Image 12 of 4A School for Girls in India and a Vertical Community Farm in the US: 10 Unbuilt Socially Engaged Projects Submitted to ArchDaily - Image 37 of 4A School for Girls in India and a Vertical Community Farm in the US: 10 Unbuilt Socially Engaged Projects Submitted to ArchDaily - Image 50 of 4A School for Girls in India and a Vertical Community Farm in the US: 10 Unbuilt Socially Engaged Projects Submitted to ArchDaily - More Images+ 67

David Adjaye Reimagines the First Ever Community Development Institution in Central Brooklyn

Sir David Adjaye unveils new plans for the new Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation in Central Brooklyn. This center is the first-ever community development institution in the country, established in 1967. The scheme envisions a space that accelerates wealth creation and closes the racial wealth gap that has affected the United States.

Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter’s New Maritime Center in Esbjerg, Denmark, Opens to the Public

Developed by WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta, the new maritime center on the coast of Esbjerg, Denmark, opens to the public. The wooden structure is conceived as a gathering space for watersports clubs and other visitors to the harbor, providing the coastal town with a maritime social hub. The circular structure protects the visitors from harsh weather conditions, while the large windows and amphitheater stairs open up views of the sea. Dubbed “The Lantern,” the project represents the winning design of a competition organized in 2019.

Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter’s New Maritime Center in Esbjerg, Denmark, Opens to the Public - Image 1 of 4Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter’s New Maritime Center in Esbjerg, Denmark, Opens to the Public - Image 2 of 4Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter’s New Maritime Center in Esbjerg, Denmark, Opens to the Public - Image 3 of 4Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter’s New Maritime Center in Esbjerg, Denmark, Opens to the Public - Image 4 of 4Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter’s New Maritime Center in Esbjerg, Denmark, Opens to the Public - More Images+ 3

Community Facilities in Brazil That Make Room for People

Community facilities are spaces for social interaction where people find leisure and information. Whether a cultural or a community center, this type of equipment aims to bring people together, creating opportunities for interaction in an environment of care and neighborhood.

Community Facilities in Brazil That Make Room for People - Image 1 of 4Community Facilities in Brazil That Make Room for People - Image 2 of 4Community Facilities in Brazil That Make Room for People - Image 3 of 4Community Facilities in Brazil That Make Room for People - Image 4 of 4Community Facilities in Brazil That Make Room for People - More Images+ 4

In Times of Need: Architects Stepping Up in Humanitarian Crisis

Hard times bring people together. In recent years we have seen how collective work can be a driving force to help those affected by natural or man-made disasters. After a disaster or displacement, a safe physical environment is often essential. Therefore, the need for coordination becomes a key factor in assisting people in times of need.

Architects, as "Shelter Specialists", play an important role in creating safe and adequate environments, whether it is individual housing, public buildings, schools, or emergency tent camps. But as architect Diébédo Francis Kéré says, "When you have nothing and you want to convince your community to believe in an idea, it may happen that everybody starts working with you, but you need to keep fighting to convince them."

In Times of Need: Architects Stepping Up in Humanitarian Crisis - Image 1 of 4In Times of Need: Architects Stepping Up in Humanitarian Crisis - Image 2 of 4In Times of Need: Architects Stepping Up in Humanitarian Crisis - Image 3 of 4In Times of Need: Architects Stepping Up in Humanitarian Crisis - Image 4 of 4In Times of Need: Architects Stepping Up in Humanitarian Crisis - More Images+ 25

Architecture as a Transforming Agent: Urban Rehabilitation in Cape Verde

Architecture as a Transforming Agent: Urban Rehabilitation in Cape Verde - Featured Image
© Marcelo Londoño

Improving people's quality of life is one of the biggest goals of professionals in Architecture and Urbanism. When planning cities, creating housing or carrying out a simple refurbishment, we seek to improve the built space regardless of scale. The Urban Rehabilitation of Alto de Bomba, carried out in the city of Mindelo, Cape Verde, arose from the need to combat the precariousness found previously in the place. A project that required the immersion of the team in the daily life of the city and resulted in an inspiring proof of how much architecture can reveal better ways of living the city and acting directly in society. No wonder it received the Work of the Year Award in 2022, chosen by our readers as the winner among hundreds of competing projects.

Architecture as a Transforming Agent: Urban Rehabilitation in Cape Verde - Image 1 of 4Architecture as a Transforming Agent: Urban Rehabilitation in Cape Verde - Image 2 of 4Architecture as a Transforming Agent: Urban Rehabilitation in Cape Verde - Image 3 of 4Architecture as a Transforming Agent: Urban Rehabilitation in Cape Verde - Image 4 of 4Architecture as a Transforming Agent: Urban Rehabilitation in Cape Verde - More Images+ 9

OMA / Jason Long Transforms Former Warehouse into Mixed-Use Arts and Community Venue in Detroit

OMA / Jason Long Transforms Former Warehouse into Mixed-Use Arts and Community Venue in Detroit - Featured Image
Proposed, South Facade. Image © OMA and Luxigon

OMA /Jason Long revealed its latest adaptive reuse project in Detroit, transforming a former bakery and warehouse into mixed-use art, education and community space. Developed in collaboration with Library Street Collective, the project provides new headquarters for two local non-profits, PASC and Signal-Return, while creating a mix of artist studios, galleries, community-serving retail and gathering spaces. Dubbed “LANTERN”, the development is set to become an “activity condenser.”

OMA / Jason Long Transforms Former Warehouse into Mixed-Use Arts and Community Venue in Detroit - Image 1 of 4OMA / Jason Long Transforms Former Warehouse into Mixed-Use Arts and Community Venue in Detroit - Image 2 of 4OMA / Jason Long Transforms Former Warehouse into Mixed-Use Arts and Community Venue in Detroit - Image 3 of 4OMA / Jason Long Transforms Former Warehouse into Mixed-Use Arts and Community Venue in Detroit - Image 4 of 4OMA / Jason Long Transforms Former Warehouse into Mixed-Use Arts and Community Venue in Detroit - More Images+ 10

Farshid Moussavi Architecture Reveals Design for Houston Ismaili Centre

Farshid Moussavi Architecture Reveals Design for Houston Ismaili Centre - Featured Image
Courtesy of Farshid Moussavi Architects

Farshid Moussavi Architecture has recently revealed the design for the Ismaili Center in Houston, a project dedicated to cultural exchanges and civic outreach. An ambassadorial building for the largest Ismaili Muslim community in the United States, the new building will host educational, cultural and social events, while also providing a space for contemplation and prayer. The design showcases a contemporary image while reinterpreting traditional Persian elements, thus establishing a dialogue between tradition and modern architecture.

Farshid Moussavi Architecture Reveals Design for Houston Ismaili Centre - Image 1 of 4Farshid Moussavi Architecture Reveals Design for Houston Ismaili Centre - Image 2 of 4Farshid Moussavi Architecture Reveals Design for Houston Ismaili Centre - Image 3 of 4Farshid Moussavi Architecture Reveals Design for Houston Ismaili Centre - Image 4 of 4Farshid Moussavi Architecture Reveals Design for Houston Ismaili Centre - More Images

The Incredible Opportunity of Community Schoolyards

A new report from The Trust for Public Land (TPL) makes a compelling case for transforming underperforming, paved public schoolyards into green oases for the entire community. While the benefits for schools and their educational communities are clear, TPL sees an opportunity to open up these facilities to surrounding neighborhoods after school hours, on weekends, and when school is out. If all 90,000 public schools in the country had a “community schoolyard,” more communities could tackle the persistent park equity issue — in which too few communities, particularly undeserved ones, enjoy access to nearby high-quality public green spaces. TPL argues that opening up all schoolyards, essentially turning them into part-time all-access community hubs, would “put a park within a 10-minute walk of nearly 20 million people — solving the problem of outdoor access for one-fifth of the nation’s 100 million people who don’t currently have a park close to home.”