CCTV Headquarters in Beijing. Image courtesy of Caos Planejado
Hundreds of towers repeat across a hazy horizon. Traditional buildings crumble, while others have been rebuilt into tourist shops. Colorful Lamborghinis share sluggish traffic with old taxis, laborers' tricycles, and executives riding yellow bikes from Ofo, the world's largest dockless bike-sharing company. Some pedestrians wear masks to filter the polluted air, others carry shopping bags, others spit on the ground or walk the streets in pajamas. Street vendors are extremely rare, in contrast to the police and military personnel seen on almost every corner.
The city belongs to everyone; it is a reflection of who we are as a society. That is why we must care for it—because it is ours! We have a civic commitment. (Civic, from the Latin civis / City, citizen, from the Latin civitas)
Team 10 and the 3 Pioneers: First Generation –Housing cooperatives in Uruguay are currently the country's most prominent form of cooperativism, though by no means the only one. This model transcends housing, having gained significant momentum in the first half of the twentieth century. For instance, Montevideo's transit company (CUTCSA) began operating as a cooperative in 1937. Specifically, while 843 cooperatives were registered in 1989, by 2017 this number had risen to 3,665 cooperatives across various sectors.
When we were still nomads, we fought our first battles with sticks and stones. The reasons for aggression against members of our own species can vary, ranging from securing resources and territory to seeking revenge or even power. Battles between different tribes have accompanied human evolution on Earth. Ever since the creation of cities, warfare and the combat equipment of each era have been important factors to consider in the planning of urban centers.
https://www.archdaily.com/1124208/how-wars-shaped-our-citiesPaulo Sa Vale
July 20th marks the date when Colombia celebrates its independence from Spanish rule. Two centuries later, the very idea of independence remains debatable. Although the Colombian republic is constitutionally independent, colonial legacies continue to structurally dominate society today.
Aerial view. Plastic Arts Schools Ricardo Porro. Havana, 1961-65. Source: Office of the City Historian. Image via Revista rita_
This article by María José Pizarro and Óscar Rueda was originally published in the 3rd issue of rita journal under the title "Ernesto N. Rogers y la 'Preesistenza Ambientale' en las Escuelas Nacionales de Arte de La Habana" and is part of a joint collaborative dissemination effort. The present text seeks to delve into the influence of Rogers' theoretical corpus on three of his outstanding students: Ricardo Porro, Vittorio Garatti, and Roberto Gottardi, and how this thinking informed the design of their first and most significant work: the National Art Schools of Havana.
https://www.archdaily.com/1124203/ernesto-n-rogers-and-the-preesistenza-ambientale-at-the-national-art-schools-of-havanaMaría José Pizarro y Óscar Rueda
Periferia: Ecatepec de Morelos is a project by emerging photographer Zaickz Moz created to document the transformation of Mexico City's edges, while drawing attention to the aesthetics emerging in areas like Chalco, Nezahualcóyotl, and Naucalpan. Projects such as Soy de Azteca have focused on these forgotten territories, seeking to redefine the expressions of community and identity within Mexico City's periphery—a region that is increasingly blurred and constantly spilling over its geographic boundaries.
On Friday, September 25, the first Digital Event organized by ArchDaily took place, sponsored by Crest and Panel Rey for the Mérida-based architectural community. During the event, David Basulto (founder of ArchDaily) and Vanessa Vielma (Director of ArchDaily Mexico) gave a talk on the platform's history and shared relevant data specific to this context.
In a year defined by physical distancing, social media has taken on an even greater role in how we connect and stay informed. Our Instagram accounts have surpassed all previous reach records, bringing our audience the very best of what we publish on our website: projects, articles, interviews, and news from the architectural world, inspiring new ideas and tools for a better future for our cities.
Carátula tesis. Image Cortesía de Eleázar Gómez Fernández
Every architecture school has its canonical local landmarks. For students in Colombia, one of the most easily recognized is the Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín by Elías Zapata Sierra, an undeniable yet understudied icon. Architect Eleázar Gómez Fernández (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) presents this master's thesis, published in the Digital Library of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
PECA design studio—led by Mexican architect Caterina Moretti—launches its new collection titled "Loto," crafted from beech wood, fused glass, and wool. It features two side tables with tops made of recycled glass fused in Tlaquepaque—providing the transparency needed to appreciate the interior of the pieces—and a pouf upholstered in sheep's wool woven on a backstrap loom in San Juan Chamula, in the Chiapas Highlands, which leaves a minimal portion of its wooden base exposed to highlight the contrast between the two textures.
As part of an initiative by architects and urban planners to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Cancun in Quintana Roo, Mexico, two comics have been released to portray the history of Cancun's Foundational Zone. Created by Pablo Landa of Landa + Martínez and David 'El Dee' Espinosa, this work explains the origins of the city's urban layout, as well as the history behind Cancun's Foundational Zone, to help understand its sustainable, pedestrian-friendly origins that promote community life.
The moniker of having “built half the city” is often an exaggeration when discussing architects with a large volume of work. However, in the case of Julio de la Peña, the claim is not so far-fetched. This is true not only because of the sheer number of his projects, but also due to how iconic they are for Guadalajara.
With the emergence of COVID-19, we have had to adapt to living differently than we were used to, which has been directly reflected in our working style. Where and how do we work today? A large portion of the workforce has transitioned to working from home, where feasible. While comfortable for many, for others it has meant a radical shift, bringing new spatial and resource requirements. For architects, engineers, builders, and contractors, this challenge has been particularly complex, as much of their work involves handling large, high-cost devices.
In this article, we present 3 innovative solutions that replace the traditional, bulky plotter, allowing us to print in large formats from our own homes.
COVID-19 will likely change the way we live and work for an extended period. In this landscape, organizations have been seeking short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to guarantee their staff a safe return to work. Protecting the health of employees exposed to contact in the workplace requires implementing biosecurity strategies, social distancing, occupancy limits, cleaning, and disinfection. This article explores preventive measures recommended by HID Global, based on the application of identification technologies.
Water is one of the non-architectural elements most frequently used to complement design, harmonizing atmospheres and the overall experience of living. This can be achieved through reflecting pools, basins, fountains, or swimming pools. In tropical climates, it becomes a key tool that consolidates the architectural program, gathering spaces together and inviting residents to socialize around the pool.
Suba- Nuestro Jardín-NerioGuevara. Image Cortesía de Bicistema
In large Latin American cities, marked by deep class polarization, insecurity becomes one of the direct outcomes of a lack of inclusive planning. In Bogotá, socioeconomic classes are divided into strata from 1 to 6—with 1 representing the most vulnerable population and 6 the most privileged. Bicistema has carried out four interventions in the localities of Kennedy, Suba, Teusaquillo, and Tunjuelito at public space points critical to women's safety.
Five years after our first encounter with the hidden substructure of Viaduct #2 in Albarregas Park, in the city of Mérida, Venezuela—and more than ten years since its reclamation by a growing community of skateboarders and street artists—this cultural hub continues to endure, an endogenous space driven by the momentum of its own effervescence.
While brick is one of the preferred construction methods within the architectural culture of several Latin American countries, Uruguay's unique history with this material has been deeply shaped by the contributions of the renowned engineer Eladio Dieste. His work pushed brick to its ultimate lightness, creating curved surfaces through a pioneering technology he termed reinforced ceramics. In doing so, Dieste offered the country—and the world—a new perspective on the structural possibilities of brick, strengthening its role in local identity and inspiring further exploration and design with the material.
With an average of 12 square meters of green space per inhabitant, the city of Rosario was declared Argentina's "greenest" urban enclave in a recent report published by the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative. This figure aligns with the standards set by the WHO, which recommends between 10 and 15 square meters of green space per person to ensure a decent quality of life for all citizens. The creation of new parks in recent years, combined with the upgrading of over 70 existing ones through the addition of amenities and technology, highlights the significance of green spaces for the people of Rosario.
Last week we announced the 15 finalist projects for the Building of the Year 2020 award (Obra del Año), which since 2008 has celebrated the best built architecture in Latin America and Spain, calling on our expert jury—that is, you, the readers—to choose your favorite completed buildings.
Today, the day has come to announce the winners of ODA2020.
The state of Michoacán is located in western Mexico, bordered by the states of Jalisco, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Estado de México, Colima, and Guerrero. Covering an area of 58,598.7 km², it faces the Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Morelia, and it is the country's ninth most populous state. Furthermore, it boasts three UNESCO designations: 1) World Cultural Heritage for the Historic Center of Morelia, 2) World Natural Heritage for the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, and 3) Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity for the Day of the Dead celebration.
The state of New Mexico is located in the western region of the United States, bordering Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas (in the US) and Chihuahua (in Mexico). It has the highest percentage of Spanish-speaking population in the United States. As part of Aridoamerica, its landscape is predominantly shaped by cacti and desert species.