This guide covers a workflow that moves from project parameters to generated floor plans, 3D perspective views, exterior design exploration, and site context visualization, using AI tools in place of preliminary CAD and rendering work.

The Shing Mun River in Sha Tin, a residential town in Hong Kong, has struggled with plastic waste pollution for years. Household waste that is not properly recycled will either end up in landfills or floating in the river. In 2018 almost 17 million plastic items, or 40,000 items daily, were found to be drained into the ocean via the Shing Mun River, mostly being food packaging, cutleries, and household plastic bottles. This quantity of plastic pollution in the river and surrounding environment could eventually jeopardize the natural ecosystem irreversibly.

This article was originally published on Common Edge.

My mother is a psychologist, so our family talks a lot about emotion. More specifically, we discuss the experience of emotion, because, as she  likes to remind me and my sisters, “We don’t think our feelings—we feel them, in our bodies.” According to my mother, it’s this experience of emotion that gives our lives a sense of meaning and vitality; as a result, her work isn’t about intellectual insight or abstract theories, but rather about giving her patients a new experience of themselves in the world.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the iconic Jean Mermoz House—a precursor of sorts to the ideas of the Open City in Ritoque—architect Igor Fracalossi proposes a reconstruction of its wooden formwork system.

For the architects and designers at Perkins&Will, the profession is full of women who deserve to be celebrated. While gender inequity in architecture remains a serious problem, in March 2019 the firm set out to shift the narrative. For the last three years over the course of Women’s History Month, they have highlighted the amazing designers, researchers, managers and professionals who are building a move inclusive world.

+ 25

"The Value of Medialab-Prado as an Original Work on Urban Heritage and Institutional Good Practice." This is the title of the open letter written by the movement defending a cultural center with nearly 20 years of history in Madrid—housed in the historic Serrería Belga building in the Barrio de las Letras.

The height of the ceiling of a space heavily influences our perception of it. Generally, local building codes regulate the minimum dimensions for ceiling height, which are calculated to ensure adequate quality of life in the environment. But the exact height of the ceilings is often defined by the dimensions of other materials that make up the building, the height of the constitutive slabs, or even by rounding the dimensions of the stair steps. It is common, with the densification of cities aimed at increasing profitability, for entrepreneurs to design with minimum ceiling heights in houses and offices, reducing construction costs. On the other hand, in older structures, more generous ceilings can be observed, which generally enable a greater degree of design freedom. But how can architects make the most of these spaces?

Today marks the start of the registration phase for the international ICONIC AWARDS 2021: Innovative Architecture. The awards recognise the best achievements in architecture, innovative interior and product design, as well as outstanding communication concepts and singularly innovative materials. The winners will be honoured at the awards ceremony on 11 October 2021 at the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, where they will have ample opportunity to network with other players on both the national and international scene.

Videos

HerCity is a platform that involves women in urban development, in order to make better cities for everyone. Turning the tables and putting girls in the expert position, the digital toolbox aims to create more inclusive, equal, and sustainable cities and communities. The initiative makes methods and tools available to urban actors globally, in order to support cities in integrating girls’ participation in their long-term strategies.

Launched on Women’s day 2021, the guide for urban planning and design is a collaborative effort between UN-Habitat and Global Utmaning, the Swedish independent think tank. ArchDaily had the chance to talk with the team behind this digital toolbox, discussing the narratives, the process, and inclusive planning on a worldwide level.

+ 13

The climate crisis has revealed the poor planning of our cities and the spaces we inhabit. Both construction and projects contribute to high carbon gas emissions. Fortunately, there are several ways to intervene to bring change into this scenario, either through materials and techniques adopted in each initiative or through geographical and social impact. In this scenario, the only certainty is that: to think about the future we cannot ignore the "green" in all its recent meanings from nature to sustainability, and ecology.

The Indigenous Peoples Memorial was conceived as an integral part of the revitalization project for Parque das Hortênsias, a former zoo in Taboão da Serra. The timber-structured pavilion pays homage to the indigenous architectures and cultures of Brazil through their organic ways of settling, caring, being, and existing.

In 2016, by mayoral decree, the park ceased to function as a zoo, and its animals were carefully relocated. The Municipal Government then designated that in 2019 this 48,000-square-meter public facility—featuring lush forest, natural springs, and water bodies—would undergo a meticulous revitalization process. 

Because of their aesthetic forms, robust materials, and the nostalgic memories to which they refer, old objects often please many people and, from time to time, end up returning to fashion. In the construction industry this is no different. One object that has remained popular forever is the shed light, more specifically the Gooseneck Lamp. Its combination of a traditional look with newer technologies creates an extremely attractive product.

Videos

Many architects and designers have highlighted the importance of taking into account all five senses during the design process, in order to create a successful user experience. Fortunately, many strategies have been implemented to facilitate the experience of those who are physically impaired, however, little is being done to aid those who feel helpless and restricted due to mental illnesses and traumatic experiences.

Healing from these experiences is a journey that requires a lot of effort from both the individual and everything and everyone around him/her. Oftentimes, victims of trauma are advised to spend more time in the outdoors, embracing the restorative qualities of nature. But what about interiors? Since people are now spending almost 90% of their time indoors, it is only natural that these spaces contribute to the healing process as well. And while these spaces can look beautiful with an abundance of natural light and neutral color palettes, are they truly beneficial to their mental health?

"Successful, vibrant, happy cities arise out of the visions of many, not the powerful few." - Jane Jacobs.

While we've seen progress in female representation over the last century, women's perspectives and voices are still significantly marginalized. This year, the UN reported that women serve as Heads of State or Government in only 22 countries and that 119 countries have never had a female leader, despite the strong case that their leadership makes for more inclusive decision-making and more representative governance. Moreover, women occupy just 10 percent of the highest-ranking jobs at the world's leading architecture firms.

+ 1

The comprehensive new GEBERIT ONE system means you no longer have to compromise when it comes to bathroom design and bathroom function. How so? Watch the video to find out...

Videos

In 1968, the small town of Gibellina in Sicily was flattened by the colossal Belice earthquake, a magnitude 5.5 quake that killed hundreds and left 100,000 homeless. Planners were unable to rebuild Gibellina at its original site, so the new city—Gibellina Nuova—was constructed 11 kilometers (7 miles) away instead. In anticipation of the design and construction of Gibellina Nuova, and in the wake of the Belice earthquake tragedy, the mayor of Gibellina called on several artists to submit proposals for projects to decorate the new city. One of the artists was the prolific “polymaterialist” Italian painter and sculptor Alberto Burri (1915-1995).

According to architect Alejandro Echeverri, Medellín has successfully promoted the idea that it has undergone a process of profound inclusion and urban transformation. Every year, the city receives countless visitors who, according to the Colombian architect, seem more convinced than the residents themselves that the city has found answers to its socio-spatial challenges. Working with the National University of Colombia and families affected by the armed conflict between late 2014 and early 2016, I observed the nuances between the progress the city achieved through direct intervention in vulnerable territories and the challenges that persist alongside rising socioeconomic inequality.

+ 1

In architecture, split-level houses are typically in response to a plot's uneven or sloping topography. In the case of the houses featured here, their split level interiors are a matter of function, allowing spaces to be virtually separated by dividing them between raised and semi-subterranean floor layouts. For example, adjoining two spaces with a 50cm step up or drop off allows for separation without the use of walls or other physical barriers. 

Videos

Case Study: Grand Hyatt Vail

Nestled at the base of Vail Mountain, along the banks of Gore Creek, Grand Hyatt Vail is located in the heart of Vail Valley within the Cascade Village neighborhood. The hotel features bold, vibrant architecture inspired by its scenic locale, as well as welcoming service with exclusive amenities ideal for both leisure travelers and conference attendees alike. When they were due for repairs to their current water heating system, Grand Hyatt Vail knew they needed a solution that could be implemented quickly, plus handle the hotel’s demand for years to come. Grand Hyatt Vail turned to Intellihot for tankless water heating reliability, cost savings, and cutting OPEX, and ended up saving on both upfront and installation costs.

Every March 8 at a global level, the struggle for equal rights and universal suffrage is commemorated as part of a date set by the UN in 1975. This commemoration brings together the efforts of women who demanded their right to vote, to work, to vocational training, to hold public office and to combat labor discrimination. This fight is the result of the work of women who sacrificed for the cause. Various events that we experience every day show that the social situation has changed. However, it is essential that both men and women, commit to progress and justice to make things happen.

Another year and another International Women’s Day. Although recently, the gender debate has taken considerable attention, the battle for equality is far from over. Even in the 21st century, architecture can still be a challenging profession for women. Progress is happening though, and in 2020, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara became the 4th and 5th women to receive the Pritzker prize, ever since its inception in 1979.

Not limiting our coverage to the 8th of March, ArchDaily recognizes every day the female force that is shaping the built environment around the world. In fact, Women in Architecture is one of the main pillars of our content strategy. This year, for International Women’s Day, ArchDaily has decided to feature a week of curated content, with exclusive interviews and thought-provoking editorials. Join us as we highlight women that deserve a seat at the table, and share tools to achieve an inclusive world.

+ 20

The construction industry is traditionally one of the most resource-intensive sectors, but with rigorous planning and digital tools, the construction process can instead make an active contribution to environmental protection. Energy, resources, and materials can be intentionally saved during the construction process to widen the conversation from simply sustainable buildings as an end product, but sustainable construction as a process. Digital solutions can play a decisive role, yet the industry has so far made too little use of the numerous possibilities that are available. Below, the experts from the Nemetschek Group present some of the opportunities they provide.

In theory and practice, in the modern era, the idea of spatial separation between home and work was related to the traditional sexual division of men and women, and of their role in life. Going back to the earliest feminist thinking in architecture, in western industrialized communities, we are elaborating in this article on women’s changing role in the 20^th century and its impact on the space we experience today. 

To showcase the valuable academic production of Latin American and Spanish universities, we launched an open call this year, inviting architecture students to submit their thesis projects completed in 2020.

Following a thorough review of 305 submissions, our editorial team selected and highlighted 10 projects that demonstrate rigorous critical thinking in response to their chosen issues. The selection process not only valued projects that delivered the best possible architecture through efficient design suited to their context, program, and users, but also those demonstrating significant attention to human scale, experimentation, and novel ways of approaching architecture in cities. Additionally, we recognize 10 honorable mentions whose immense dedication and academic quality made them impossible to overlook.

Liminal spaces are everywhere, both literally, and as a popular topic of intrigue on Reddit and other image-sharing platforms. Posting photographs of empty dilapidated spaces followed by collective reminiscing of childhood experiences is proving to be a popular activity these days. At one time or another, the spaces depicted in these eerie photos seemed like a good idea, a useful solution to the problem of providing shelter for crowds in the act of movement or commerce. Architecture had specific terms for these spaces too and defined them through theories that explained their role in our culture. In this video, architectural professor Stewart Hicks presents how architects think about liminal spaces, what goes into them, why they exist, and why some architects and artists still work to produce their effect.