Architecture News

The Institute of Architects of Brazil, São Paulo Department, has made the complete archive of the IABsp Awards, one of the most prestigious Brazilian architecture accolades, available for online consultation.

Since its first edition in 1967, the IABsp Awards have established themselves as an important platform for promoting architectural criticism and dissemination on a national scale. The award aims to recognize benchmark architectural projects and built works, identifying the advancements and challenges faced in contemporary production, as well as ingenious and significant proposals—especially those contributing to the development of technique, knowledge, and the built environment in dialogue with nature, society, economics, and culture throughout the country.

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On Thursday, November 5, Mexico City saw the inauguration of a new section of Plaza Satélite—a shopping center originally opened in 1971, where renovation and expansion work began two years ago to adapt to new ways of using and experiencing space. Designed by the Mexican firm Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the Parque Plaza Satélite project continues this expansion, establishing a new vision for retail where commerce serves as a vehicle to create green, open-air spaces for the community.

The archive of more than 40 years of professional activity by architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça will be integrated into Casa da Arquitectura, reinforcing the national scope of the institution's collection. The signing ceremony will take place this Saturday, February 15, at 3:30 p.m., at the CA Archive premises.

The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) that began in December 2019 and was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in March has affected, to date, more than 212 countries and territories worldwide, with the number of infections exceeding 4 million. The severity of the health crisis lies in the high transmission rate of the disease, which means that, without adequate containment, a large number of people require medical attention at the same time, depleting healthcare resources in the hardest-hit areas.

The first confirmed case of the coronavirus pandemic in Argentina was reported on March 3, 2020. Since then, by studying the methodologies adopted by countries where the disease had spread earlier (such as in Europe), governments began taking proactive measures, not only to maximize containment but also to prepare for hypothetical future scenarios where the number of cases exceeds healthcare system capacities.

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As part of an initiative by various creatives, Anything Else, But Change? emerges as a collective virtual exhibition that seeks to foster creative production and showcase content that triggers new ways of contemplating the current historical moment. In this project, the current state of affairs is not conceived as a struggle or a war; instead, it is understood as an invisible force pushing for a rapid shift in socioeconomic, political, and cultural logic, with no time for preparation.

During this period of remote work and quarantine, we can make the most of the time we save on commutes by honing our skills to improve our architectural practice. Below is a selection of free online courses that can help us better adapt to our new work environment.

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Since 1996, JSa has operated as a design studio focused on "reconverting, rehabilitating, restoring, compensating, reinserting, reoccupying, and reinhabiting" sites specifically located in the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods of Mexico City. Founded by Javier Sánchez, the studio aims for "architecture to link everyday life from the intimate space, adapting to urbanity and transforming it by weaving cities from their communal areas and the home, the epicenter and reason for existence of metropolises."

The Latin American Architecture Biennale (BAL) has opened submissions for its 2025 edition, aiming to highlight young talent in Latin American architecture. Held in Pamplona, Spain, the event seeks to provide international visibility to emerging professionals and promote cultural and technical exchange between Latin American architects and the European public.

Videos

Curated by Alcova Milano under the theme "Future Continuous," Heimtextil Trends 25/26 offers an exciting new perspective on the textile industry. This trend showcase will be presented in the Trend Arena at Heimtextil from January 14 to 17, 2025.

The Edifica 2024 International Construction Exhibition, an essential event for the sector in Latin America, will take place from October 15 to 17 at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile. In this edition, the fair will not only showcase the latest advances in construction but will also serve as a platform to highlight how innovation and sustainability are transforming the industry landscape through concrete case studies and outstanding solutions.

As the world rapidly urbanizes, cities are becoming home to a new generation of leaders and changemakers. Youth are at the center of this transformation, especially in regions like Africa, Asia, and the Americas. On Monday, October 7, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) invites everyone interested in sustainable urban development to celebrate World Habitat Day, which this year centers on the theme "Engaging youth to create a more inclusive urban future."

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Forty-seven years after construction began on the El Rosario housing complex—the largest housing development in Mexico at 350 hectares—the Azcapotzalco borough of Mexico City, in coordination with the city's Social Prosecutor's Office and the ICA Foundation, inaugurated the photographic exhibition “The City within the City: El Rosario” on March 25 at Plaza El Parián. The exhibition aims to show residents and visitors the evolution this complex has undergone over time.

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The TEMA Competition was established to give young architects and students from the University of Guadalajara the opportunity to develop projects that express ideas beyond the standard academic requirements of an architecture or design school. This year's theme, “Utopia of an Ideal,” stems from a reflection on how students navigate their university careers through academic projects, encouraging them to propose designs that address a utopian concept or a scenario detached from everyday reality. 

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MASA Gallery presents the exhibition "Vital Elements" in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico, as part of a tribute to the work of Cuban artist Ana Mendieta, returning the after-effects of an encounter—its documentation and subsequent influence—to its place of origin. For the first time, five of the artist's celebrated films are being shown in the city where they were made, including the first film from Mendieta's 'Silueta' series, filmed at the Yagul archaeological site in 1974.

Barranquilla is one of the few Colombian cities whose urban grid was not shaped by a foundational central plaza. Instead, the city grew along the Magdalena River, a bustling trade hub where narrow alleys were formed to distribute goods. Today, the condition of these alleys is a far cry from the peak of the urban landscape recorded in history. Discover the winning proposal of the university competition: Recovering the Alleys of Downtown Barranquilla.

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As part of the cultural programming of the Mexico City-based art gallery, MASA presents its fourth exhibition, The Last Tenant, curated by artist Mario García Torres and featuring works by artists such as Carlos Amorales, Leticia Arroyo, Geles Cabrera, Jose Dávila, Héctor Esrawe, EWE, Marie Lund, Theo Michael, Adeline de Monseignat, Rubén Ortiz Torres, Ana Pellicer, Rooms, Josef Strau, Brian Thoreen, and Jorge Yázpik.

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As part of an initiative by the new Mexico Design Fair platform, the "Designer of the Year" award was presented today, May 22, at Casa Naila in Puerto Escondido to industrial designer Liliana Ovalle, whose work demonstrates an extensive exploration of materials and processes that incorporate narratives and observations of her surroundings.

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Built in collaboration with the architecture firm Colette Studio, the showroom for Verdi, a textile studio from Colombia, Bogotá, invites visitors to immerse themselves in a phenomenological experience that bridges textile tradition and contemporary industry. The exhibition space is not only designed with the studio's moving family and cultural legacy in mind, but also reflects the company's belief that exceptional, sustainable craftsmanship is one of today's ultimate luxuries.