Articles

SLT- STUDIOLITE is a design consulting firm specializing in the evolution of commercial spaces. Founded in the United States in 2013 by Chen Ling, it is currently headquartered in Shanghai, with branch offices in Hong Kong and Seattle. SLT’s services encompass commercial interior design, dynamic retail SI iteration, strategic commercial complex upgrades, and brand identity renewal. The firm is dedicated to championing avant-garde ideologies and innovative business thinking, while actively fostering integrated collaborations with avant-garde artists, cutting-edge technology providers, and innovative material R&D laboratories.

Archivo de Ideas Recibidas is an interdisciplinary research and dissemination project that seeks to record and connect the ideas of figures contributing to the contemporary creative ecosystem from the fields of art, design, and architecture. It is built upon conversations between the team and various creators, exploring themes related to memory, academia, cultural context, key influences, and working methodologies. On this occasion, they share their interview with architect and urbanist Manuel de Rivero, co-founder of 51-1 Arquitectos, an architecture studio based in Lima, Peru, and Supersudaca, an international urban research collective.

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This article by Hugo Mondragón and Manola Ogalde (both from the School of Architecture of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) was originally published in the 29th issue of Dearq journal on 01/01/2021 under the title "Consecration and Exclusion: The Disputed Canon of Colombian Architecture, 1951-1981" (https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq29.2021.08) and is part of a joint dissemination partnership.

Wang Hao (born 1978) is the co-founder of Atelier Anonymous. In 2013, he held the solo exhibition "Free Structure: New Chinese Dwellings" at the Shanghai Design Center, and was awarded the German *Bauwelt* First Work Award in the same year. He participated in the Shanghai Urban Space Art Season in 2015, and exhibited at the 15th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2016. In 2020, he co-organized the "Timber Structure Renaissance" exhibition with the K11 Art Foundation (KCG) in Shanghai, and received the Natural Build Award | Young Architect Discovery Award.

Qiu Zhefeng (born 1979) is the co-founder of Atelier Anonymous. In 2008, he published the book *The Forerunner: China's Future in a Small Town*. In 2012, he curated the "Society" project for the City Pavilions program at the 9th Shanghai Biennale. In 2013, he was invited to participate in the 55th Venice Biennale, curating the exhibition *Shanghai and Venice: City Center, Diankou, Lima, and Palermo*.

"Complete City: La Palomera, Acknowledgment and Celebration" is the installation by Enlace Arquitectura for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale 2021. The model is a representation of the paths, stairways, and gardens of the La Palomera barrio in Caracas, Venezuela. The message: to recognize the barrio as part of the city.

Dear readers, with your companionship, ArchDaily has journeyed through 2020. Throughout this past year, we have continued our daily mission to report on and share global architecture, growing along the way while earning the recognition of architects and the invaluable support of our readers. 2020 has been an extraordinary year. At a time when we cannot gather or meet in person, we rely on the digital realm to send holiday wishes, sharing warmth and connection through online greeting cards. We have compiled the holiday cards we received this year to share with you, our dear readers. Let’s take a look at these creative designs from architects worldwide as we welcome 2021 together.

This September marks the 4th edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial under the title The Available City. It is a perfect opportunity to open up the debate on the role of architecture in urban equity.

The acclaimed architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, who passed away on May 23, cementing his eternal legacy, granted an interview to Revista América #1, published just over two years ago. In this journal from the Escola da Cidade graduate program, the architect, whose reflections lie at the core of the publication's editorial vision, expands—as he did on many other occasions—the concept of architecture, linking it to geographic and political dimensions.

Currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2022, the Smart 22@ building by GCA Architects is a project that seeks to integrate past and future while reflecting the values of modernity, sustainability, and technology. Located in Barcelona's 22@ district, the building aims to become Spain's first Smart Building, targeted to achieve LEED Platinum V4 certification with the highest score, alongside a WELL Gold certification.

# Red Dot Award: Product Design 2020
# 2019 Archiproducts Longlist
# Selected for the 2020 ADI Design Index Exhibition

When Mies van der Rohe urged us to distill our walls to their bare essentials with his famous adage "less is more," he might not have anticipated that we would eventually grow weary of perfectly uniform boxes. While minimalism remains a dominant design style worldwide, there is a growing desire to inject clever details beyond mere simplicity, breaking its monotony to introduce aesthetic refinement and a warmer atmosphere. This is where Eclisse 40 comes in.

The door frame of the Eclisse 40 series is not only a technical innovation, but it also rethinks the frame as an aesthetic, design, and decorative element. The splayed profile defines the volume, playing with light to create a unique theatrical effect. What was once an invisible, purely structural element—the frame—now takes center stage, turning the door into a prominent feature in interior design with its own expressive power.

Throughout history, the bicycle has endured as a means of transportation, evolving in various ways. In recent years (and even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), however, its popularity has surged, specifically in major cities. In rural areas, by contrast, it has always been one of the primary modes of transportation due to the lack of other infrastructure. In Mexico, there are regions that have historically been highly bicycle-centric. While cycling is often associated with being a trendy mode of transportation, the reality is that its use is concentrated among low-income groups across towns, municipalities, and even entire states. Unfortunately, investment in cycling infrastructure in Mexico remains consistently low.

A new edition of the Latin American Architecture Biennial is set to begin on September 28 in Pamplona, Spain. Organized by the AREA association in collaboration with the City Council of Pamplona, the Basque-Navarrese Association of Architects, the University of Navarra, the Government of Navarra, and the Spanish Ministry of Development, this 7th edition will feature 13 emerging architectural practices representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

ArchDaily is working with CityMakers to publish a series of articles, conversations, and interviews with the various city co-production stakeholders behind the Barcelona CityMakers Lab 2021, taking place from November 8 to 12.

CityMakers is a global platform of experts in city co-production best practices, aiming to connect city co-producers and influential leaders from around the world to inspire one another and drive transformation in their cities.

For this installment, Velislava Simeonova presents her article "The Return to the Post-COVID City: Reflections Toward Sustainable Urban Tourism."

An active city is one that encourages its inhabitants to be physically active in their daily lives. This does not mean aiming to turn citizens into Olympic athletes, but rather providing safe spaces for cyclists and pedestrians to move around, as well as adequate infrastructure so that people of all ages can play sports, have fun, and relax outdoors. Consequently, physical activity, at varying levels of intensity, becomes a natural part of the population's daily routine. 

Anyone who enjoys growing food or cultivating plants knows that a greenhouse can be invaluable in many scenarios. Whether to protect plants from the cold, shelter wind-sensitive species, or nurture sprouts and seedlings before they are transplanted elsewhere.

Having your own greenhouse requires space. While there are plenty of ready-made options and professional builders available, you can also use your creativity, time, and dedication to construct your own greenhouse.

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As part of an investigation prompted by the September 19, 2017 earthquake in Mexico City, Mexican photographer Onnis Luque presents the book “Undercover,” published by the imprint The Velvet Cell (TVC) América Latina. The book features a series of photographs depicting damaged buildings shrouded in a kind of black veil, which was installed to prevent structural debris from collapsing. These images, in turn, are accompanied by texts that guide the reader, revealing diverse issues that extend beyond architecture to address social and political aspects from this unique vantage point.

Videos

Through its Seminar on Culture and Contemporary Reality course, Escola da Cidade hosted sociologist, professor, and researcher Jessé Souza to discuss social classes in contemporary Brazil, exploring the challenges of overcoming inequality and the impact of these issues on the city.

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The tension between architectural form and structural feasibility is long-standing; the bold, avant-garde visions of architects often remain on paper due to structural requirements and technical constraints. How can projects that break traditional architectural forms be realized? How do we translate these imaginative concepts into reality?

In this feature, ArchDaily introduces Eckersley O’Callaghan, a structural and facade engineering design firm. The practice has collaborated successfully with many of the world’s leading architects. Notably, their long-standing partnership with Foster + Partners has yielded several of Apple’s iconic, minimalist "all-glass" retail stores worldwide. They have also established strong collaborations with Zaha Hadid Architects, SOM, Gensler, KPF, Snøhetta, and Heatherwick Studio. Through numerous innovations and breakthroughs in glass manufacturing technology and structural design, Eckersley O’Callaghan has demonstrated world-leading capabilities in structural innovation and project execution.