Born out of an initiative to provide a space dedicated to studying Mexican design, 'Clásicos Mexicanos' is a Mexico City-based gallery run by art historian Aldo Solano Rojas—a specialist in modern Mexican furniture, curator of the exhibitions, and head of historical research—and Mónica Landa, a communications professional interested in promoting Mexican culture who carefully directs the gallery.
As part of a new exhibition, the Brooklyn-based gallery The Chimney, located at 200 Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, is pleased to present "Small landscapes from near and far" by Mexican artist Perla Krauze. For her first exhibition at The Chimney, Krauze has documented two geographies: Mexican land and the urban terrain of New York. In both locations, the artist gathered, altered, and reproduced fragments of the earth, recording the effects of time on local street surfaces. Intertwined in a complex dialogue, these two combined sites represent a personal topography and an emotional map that questions the notion of territorial belonging.
As part of the activities for Design Week, which took place from February 4 to 10 in Stockholm, architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu were the guests of honor at this edition of Scandinavia's most important design fair. Neri&Hu Design and Research Office created an exhibition addressing and highlighting social issues unique to China. The Unfolding Village is the name of the installation representing the traditional Chinese village, which is disappearing at an alarming rate. The installation utilizes six kilometers of sawn pine timber and 150 square meters of laminated pine boards. The timber, stained black, is sourced from Swedish forests.
As part of its annual awards program, Tamayouz Excellence Award announced the winners of the Rifat Chadirji Prize, organized in partnership with the Barjeel Art Foundation for its 2019 cycle. This year, the award sought proposals for a modern Arab art museum in Sharjah, UAE, to house Barjeel's extensive collection of art from across the Middle East.
Based on the photogrammetric analysis of the City of Buenos Aires, the General Directorate of Data, Statistics, and Urban Projection produced a "Vegetation Cover Report." This document offers a detailed survey of the city's entire vegetation surface, classified by neighborhood, using zenithal aerial imagery. An infrared sensor was used to capture images that highlight any type of vegetation in red—whether on absorbent or non-absorbent ground—with 100% accuracy.
The Federal Urban Observatory (OFU) of the Ministry of the Interior, Public Works, and Housing of Argentina surveyed and mapped urban data for 16 cities across the country, which are home to 50% of Argentina's total population. Based on data collected over 28 years—between 1991 and 2019—this series of maps and graphs illustrates how each city's urban footprint expanded over time. Overall trends show a sharp increase in urbanized land area (77%) compared to moderate population growth (35%), resulting in a general 23% decline in population density. In other words, city growth has predominantly followed a pattern where land expansion far outpaces population growth.
As part of the annual CEMEX Awards, the recipient of the Arq. Marcelo Zambrano Scholarship has been announced, reaffirming the commitment to supporting the development of architecture in Mexico. CEMEX awards the Arq. Marcelo Zambrano Scholarship in honor of the exemplary professional dedication and leadership of architect Marcelo Zambrano, aiming to support young Mexicans in pursuing postgraduate studies at prestigious international universities.
The book is simply another design tool—indispensable to many, but of limited use to others. When I speak of books, I am not referring to the common association with literature (novels, poetry, fiction, …), which are also useful within the abstract and diffuse design process. Enric Miralles, for instance, used to turn to verses by Lorca or the creative world of Queneau to anchor those early design intuitions. Yet I am not referring to this kind of reading, which is equally recommended, but rather to what is specific to our profession—to our unique and sharp gaze. Architects look for inspiration in books, but it is only when they reflect their thoughts on paper that they reveal their true, intangible nature.
Architects are fortunate to have access to a wide variety of print subgenres. These range from deep written reflections on the discipline to illustrative volumes of architectural images, construction details, plans, and drawings. We are shaped by what we see; that is undeniable. Consequently, this entire wealth of knowledge stays with us throughout the design process, surfacing unpredictably as we address the challenges that arise. Simply turning to a book can open doors along this design path, just as it can close others. We navigate by intuition, but we are always guided by parameters established from the very beginning. Looking for external references in books and magazines is a difficult exercise at first, as the siren song of countless sources can lead us astray. Knowing how to choose these references and initial guidelines will outline a clear, feasible path where the design becomes more manageable, accessible, and adaptable to future changes.
Since late December of last year, TransMiCable has served as a vital transit system for more than 700,000 residents of Ciudad Bolívar, transporting passengers from the El Tunal TransMilenio portal—adjacent to the CeFe El Tunal—to the Mirador del Paraíso station, passing through intermediate stations such as SuperCade Manitas. To support the elevated transit system, the cable lines rest on 24 pylons (pillars), which will feature surrounding public spaces, creating a functional footprint for the community.
Have you ever been curious about how architects work in their studios? Usually off-limits to the public, these spaces hold stories and dreams within their walls—completed projects, upcoming buildings, proudly won competitions, and unrealized ideas. Fortunately, the new book “Ambientes de Arquitectura” (Architectural Environments) by Bisman Ediciones opens the doors to 50 architecture studios, allowing us to explore their spaces. Ping-pong tables, mate, and scale models: discover how architects really work!
In Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, nearly 800 students from Latin America kicked off the 27th edition of the 2019 Latin American Encounter of Architecture Students. This event provides a platform for collective participation, integration, and learning, organized by the Latin American Coordinator of Architecture Students (Co.L.E.A - Cono Sur)—currently comprising Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, and Paraguay—with local support from the Paraguayan Union of Architecture Students (UPEA).
As is custom, connections were established with architects and workshop leaders to reflect under the theme "Designing a Sustainable Culture," focusing on three main axes: environmental and urban; sociocultural and political; and technological.
In this edition, official activities began on Saturday, October 28, with the Jaguata urban recognition walk, followed by the first lecture, 'Ecosystemic Urbanism,' by Salvador Rueda, Director of the Urban Ecology Agency of Barcelona. Rueda reflected on the importance of taking immediate action against the climate emergency, presenting examples of new urban models in cities.
In 1979, CHC opened its doors as a toilet seat manufacturer in Chile. The company took its first steps manufacturing these under the Europa brand, later adding Delfin Coatings industrial paints, followed by bathroom fixtures from the Spanish brand Roca. During the 1980s, public restrooms in Chile used products designed for residential use, leading to frequent failures and a poor reputation. This unmet need opened the door to importing specialized products from the US and Italy to improve the country's public restrooms. Years later, CHC innovated by designing products specifically for the Chilean market. It developed the Wasser brand, introducing new fixtures to homes and buildings, such as whirlpool tubs, prefabricated furniture, bathroom partitions, shower trays, laminated glass screens, and cabins, among others.
During the 2000s, aiming to offer comprehensive solutions, the company added ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, vinyl and laminate flooring, sports surfaces, and ventilated facades to its portfolio, incorporating more than 20 renowned brands based in Spain, Italy, and Brazil.
Today, the awards of the French Academy of Architecture were presented at the House of Architecture, Paris 10th. During the ceremony, around forty laureates representing the world of architecture were recognized with various awards. Each year, these awards honor professionals from the fields of architecture, education, and research, the newest generation of architecture graduates, and the vast world of construction. This is an opportunity for the Academy to recognize those who stand out in the architectural field.
"The French Institute for Andean Studies (IFEA) has chosen a winner for the expansion and renovation of its headquarters in Lima. The proposal by ESARQUITECTURA + Román Bauer Arquitectos emerged victorious in the competition... with a project that highlights the inner courtyard of the historic house." The IFEA has selected a winner for the expansion and renovation of its Lima headquarters. The proposal by ESARQUITECTURA + Román Bauer Arquitectos has emerged victorious in the competition.
On May 11 and 12, Rosario will host the second consecutive edition of "Open House," an open-door architecture festival for anyone interested in discovering the city's architecture and urban design.
On September 13, the awards ceremony for the XI Chiapas Architecture Biennial 2019: Architecture + Society took place. The Chiapas Association of Architects (Colegio de Arquitectos Chiapanecos) invited all architects to participate this year. The event sought to identify the state's best architectural works, publications, research, and theses, recognizing their authors and promoting the most relevant projects to foster reflection on contemporary Chiapas architecture through analysis and criticism. A total of 55 works and 5 theses were submitted, resulting in 1 Grand Prize and Gold Medal, 5 Silver Medals, and 7 Honorable Mentions across 23 categories. The winners were selected by a jury comprising architects Joel Olivarez, Óscar Martínez, Julio Gaeta, Luby Springall, and María Emiliana Oredáin.
After eight days of intense work in Santiago, architecture students from 12 universities across Chile developed urban activation prototypes to facilitate mobility and public use in various areas of the Franklin neighborhood. The projects were created for the XXI Chilean Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism.
Known as Latin America's leading art fair, ZONAMACO held its 2019 edition from February 6 to 10 at Mexico City's Centro Citibanamex. The event showcased everything from historical modern art masterpieces to contemporary works by global artists, collectible design pieces, and special editions.
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This month we presented a grim future for the world's urban centers: the temperature increase of 520 cities by 2050. The warning that "Madrid's climate will resemble Marrakech's today" highlights not only a major concern but an urgent call to action, especially for designers of the built environment.
In a timely response, the Higher Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE) issued an institutional declaration of climate and environmental emergency, committing to establish and reinforce measures to halt global warming and transition the country to a low-environmental-impact economy.
The following is an overview of the declaration issued by the CSCAE.
Ahead of the Bicentennial of Peru's Independence, the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Lima, and Grupo Centenario launched an international architecture and landscaping competition for the design of a metropolitan park surrounding the Pachacamac Sanctuary in Lima. The call sought ideas to create a new public space featuring cultural programming and public services, aimed at protecting the sanctuary and connecting it more closely to surrounding communities. The brief proposed a circuit connecting the area's most important cultural projects: the National Museum, the Pachacamac Sanctuary Site Museum, and the Urpi Wachaq wetland restoration initiative. Discover all the winning projects below.
In January, more than 10,000 citizens in Chile voted to select the first, second, and third places of the Paseo del Mar ideas competition in Valparaíso, a new public space at the Barón Pier that will transform the coastal city's waterfront. "This area was the engine of the country's railway industry during a significant part of the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, however, these grounds lack the vitality of yesteryear and have been abandoned over time," the competition guidelines state.
Contemporary educational architecture has moved away from replicating closed buildings that resemble prisons or hospitals more than environments designed to foster the academic development of younger generations. Whether a university, high school, elementary school, or preschool, educational infrastructure must encourage free and creative thinking, moving past the obsolete notion that students should be trained like soldiers who cannot question authority. This is where the architecture of these spaces plays a leading role, serving as the setting where students spend a significant portion of their lives.
In the heart of the southern Ecuadorian Andes, near the city of Cuenca—a UNESCO World Cultural Capital—PPAG Architects is building the Stiehle German School, having won the invited competition.
Founded in 2013 and based in Mexico City, David Pompa is a studio made up of designers, engineers, and makers established in Mexico and Austria. David Pompa grew up in both countries and studied product design in London. Over time, the studio has shown a strong interest in traditional materials and techniques. Since its founding, it has remained committed to Mexican culture, which is reflected in the creation of aesthetic and accessible design objects.
In November of this year, the latest edition of the Minsk International Biennale of Young Architects was held in Belarus. The event featured the Leonardo Awards, which recognize completed projects from around the world across six categories: urban planning, public buildings, multi-family housing, single-family homes, landscaping, and interior design.
Among the award-winning projects, the prestigious "Great Grand Prix Leonardo" was awarded to the Municipal Toy Library of Dólar in Spain, designed by Carquero Arquitectura.
.jpg?1556847358 "Pueyrredón 1101 Building / Estudio Pablo Gagliardo. Image © Ramiro Sosa")
.jpg?1556847671 "Pueyrredón 1101 Building / Estudio Pablo Gagliardo. Image © Ramiro Sosa")
