Articles

This article was originally published on September 20, 2019.

At first glance, the outlook—both global and national—is not very encouraging; indeed, it seems as though the world is spinning out of control¹… simply turning on the news or checking social media brings us face-to-face daily with complex issues such as corruption, war, and violence. The truth is that the evidence is clear: among global afflictions, the consequences of natural disasters top the list. In this context, how society behaves as a whole in response to emergencies is well worth analyzing²…  this raises the question: how does the collective human consciousness respond when its survival is put to the test? Is it possible to find qualities like solidarity in this day and age? Let us examine two perspectives on this issue from globally renowned authors.

When developing an architectural project, regardless of scale or program, architects face a series of decisions regarding the construction method to adopt, considering various aspects—structural, economic, available labor, aesthetics, among others—in pursuit of the best solution.

To address the many questions that arise during design development regarding the choice of structural systems, we have prepared a practical guide to the main types of cast-in-place and precast concrete slabs that designers should know, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Learn more below:

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The news spread quickly that Wednesday afternoon. Chilean architect Eduardo Castillo, a partner of Smiljan Radic, was in critical condition following a car accident earlier that day in Santiago. The local architectural community barely had time to react before his unexpected passing at the age of 45 was confirmed the following morning, Thursday, October 5, 2017.

Over his thirty-nine-year career, Chilean architect and landscape architect Juan Grimm has distinguished himself by creating over 1,000 hectares of gardens and parks across Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, and Chile.

In partnership with publisher Hatje Cantz, Ediciones Puro Chile has compiled his South American works in the monograph "Juan Grimm." This art book offers insight into the development of his creations through interviews, essays, and an extensive inventory of his works, design processes, projects, and sources of inspiration.

Part of the Eixão Sul, in downtown Brasília, collapsed this morning. Two of the three northbound lanes gave way and plummeted near the Galeria dos Estados, about one kilometer from the Plano Piloto bus station.

According to a report by the news outlet G1, the collapse buried two cars reportedly parked under the overpass, as well as tables from a restaurant. While the Civil Defense reported no casualties so far, there is still a risk that other parts of the concrete slab could collapse.

In its third edition in Chile, Casa FOA invites architects and designers from the world of decoration and interior design to create innovative spaces for the home. On this occasion, we have compiled spaces with a common focus: the kitchen and the bar. Although both spaces are conceived for functional, everyday use, in these examples they combine different functions to bring people together.

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Paris is known for its efficient public transit network, which connects different modes—such as trains, subways, buses, and even bike-sharing programs—to facilitate urban mobility. Most of the population relies on public transit as their primary mode of transportation: nearly 60% of all trips in the city are made by train, subway, and bus. Yet, despite this diverse range of transit options, private vehicle use remains a persistent challenge, dominating the streets of the French capital.

When Clorindo Testa was asked how he felt upon learning that one of his works, the Casa Di Tella, was going to be demolished, he replied: “I believe that buildings are not made to last. One can say that the Roman Colosseum will endure. They are not going to tear down Notre-Dame Cathedral, nor the Duomo in Milan. But when you design a project, you don't go around thinking it will be memorable and last forever. Works of this nature have owners, and owners change their minds. People and society also change: what was valid twenty years ago is no longer valid today. It is inevitable. Personally, it doesn't bother me in the least if they demolish a work of mine; I don't design things to last forever. You make things to function when they are commissioned, and they last as long as they need to. The Casa Di Tella was built for Di Tella, and Di Tella died. In a sense, it is no longer his house... It became part of an institute that bought it. Therefore, the functions it needs are different.” [1]

Testa's words reveal a remarkable humility that seems rare in the DNA of architects who yearn for the eternity of their work. Indeed, this desire for permanence was imposed on us almost as a mandate, a necessity. Palladio knew this well when referencing Vitruvius: “utility, perpetuity, and beauty.”

Originally titled "FairBnB or how to prevent Amsterdam from becoming a hotel," in this article, City Makers co-founder and member of Amsterdam's Fair City platform, Sito Veracruz, delves into the urban dilemma facing the Dutch city due to tourist pressure driven by platforms like Airbnb and the subsequent rise in housing costs for actual residents.

Amsterdam is one of the few cities where renting apartments through Airbnb and similar platforms is legal and regulated. Here, it is possible to rent an entire apartment for up to 60 days a year without registration. It is also legal to rent out one or two rooms in a home with no time limit, which only requires meeting certain conditions and notifying City Hall.

Amsterdam ranks in the top ten cities with the most listings on Airbnb, with 17,000 apartments, and can boast of being one of the few cities in the world that derives a direct financial return from these rentals. The agreement signed between Amsterdam and Airbnb in 2014 obliges the company to collect a tourist tax (5% of the total booking amount), which generated 5.5 million euros in revenue for City Hall last year.

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The initiative is part of the citizen forum held in January 2018 in the city of Chillán, titled “Modern Landscape, Territory in Transformation,” organized by CCE Santiago, CECAL of the Universidad de Concepción (Chillán campus), and the Heritage Unit of the Municipality of Chillán (UPA).

Cities are critical to the functioning of many countries. With the rapid population growth of recent decades, urban centers have had to face a series of challenges, a primary one being mobility planning. In Brazil, with the enactment of the National Urban Mobility Policy (PNMU) in 2012, Brazilian cities received new guidelines to plan and guide policy actions toward establishing more sustainable mobility. To this end, the PNMU requires the development of Urban Mobility Plans for cities with over 20,000 inhabitants as a prerequisite for receiving federal budget allocations. Ultimately, this requirement aims to transform cities and the way Brazilians commute daily.

Various scholars link the sense of belonging to a population's social and cultural appropriation of territory. Along these lines, authors such as Spanish geographer Joan Nogué connect human societies to the places they inhabit—spaces with which they identify and bond, granting them significance as vital shapers and consolidators of identity.

In this regard, the Matta Viel Housing Complex in Santiago, designed by the architecture firm Bresciani Valdés Castillo Huidobro, is significant for several reasons. It stands out as a remarkable example of appropriation—a model of public social housing in Chile that not only seamlessly integrates into the urban fabric but has also been fully embraced and brought to life by its residents.

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The architects and photographers of studio FLAGRANTE have shared with ArchDaily a series of photographs capturing the recently completed Japan House São Paulo, designed by Kengo Kuma in collaboration with local office FGMF.

Part of a global initiative by the Japanese government to “create a vision of contemporary Japan,” Japan House opened in May 2018, combining art, technology, and business to offer an escape into modern-day Japan.

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The Civic Center in Boca Sur, designed by Smiljan Radic, functions as a framework for public programs. It houses the Fourth Fire Station of San Pedro de la Paz, multipurpose rooms, a strip of small commercial shops, a library, a footbridge that serves as bleachers over the sports court, an alarm tower with a clock, sand pits, and trees, among other elements.

Framed within the *‘Quiero Mi Barrio’* (2008) community development program, the project sought to revitalize degraded and highly vulnerable areas, addressing the relationship between the immediate context and the activities occurring within it. To this end, the design process was informed by working sessions and an ongoing dialogue with the community.

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Elsa Mäkiniemi – Elissa Aalto was a Finnish architect who worked alongside her husband, Alvar Aalto, from 1949 onward. Following Alvar's passing, she directed the firm Alvar Aalto & Co. until her own death in 1994. 

She completed Alvar Aalto's unfinished projects and defended his completed works against unwarranted alterations.

Equals (2015) is a futuristic film that depicts the utopian reality of a highly organized, productive society, free of feelings and governed by collectivity and impersonality. The population lives and works in monumental buildings, wears monochromatic unisex clothing, and is surrounded by technology and ethereal landscapes. Everything functions perfectly until the outbreak of a virus that awakens emotions in infected individuals, disrupting the stability of the community's organizational system.

Ágora 21 aims to create public urban spaces that are adaptable to people's needs and designed to host recreational and commercial activities. Through partnerships with institutions and engagement with the local community, these scalable projects utilize a flexible, modular construction solution to transform sites quickly and with a light footprint, driven by a continuous process of designing, developing, and managing new spaces for the city.

This is the introduction to Ágora 21, which, under the direction of Sebastián Salas, addresses how to systematically activate vacant urban spaces. One of its first interventions was Plaza de Bolsillo Santa Isabel 384, located at the intersection of Santa Isabel and Lira. This public-private initiative revitalized a site that had been abandoned for years, creating green spaces, dining options, playgrounds, workshops, and an ongoing cultural program.

Learn more about the project below, in the words of its organizers.

Instagram is an image-sharing application that is increasingly woven into our daily lexicon; currently, Instagram has around 800 million monthly active users. This speaks volumes about the exponential growth of this social network, of which we are big fans, and where we strive to bring you daily news and the most important architectural works from Mexico and the world. By the way, are you already following us on our @ArchdailyMx account?

Instagram is not a new tool for us, as we know that Instagram must be part of every architect's design process in the millennial era. Furthermore, we have organized various contests, such as the one for our fifth anniversary in Mexico. We are eager to maintain a much more direct relationship with our readers and to learn what inspires you, allowing us to continue creating content tailored to your interests. Therefore, starting today, we are launching several interactive activities to stay closer in touch with you.