The pandemic has undoubtedly redefined every aspect of daily life, from how we interact to how we live and work. Consequently, architecture has had to adapt to new paradigms and lifestyles. With travel and tourism coming to a standstill for over a year, the hospitality sector was one of the hardest hit, forcing hotels to quickly reinvent themselves in the face of changing needs. Today, the focus is on offering restful spaces that allow guests to disconnect and relax, creating unique, comfortable environments distinct from the home—where most people now spend the majority of their time.

+ 25

Throughout November, Diez Company will present the third edition of Maison Diez Company to both Mexican and international audiences. Dedicated to lighting design, the space serves as a gathering point for designers, creatives, architects, interior designers, commercial partners, lighting experts, and international brand representatives to celebrate light. Following the success of its 2018 and 2019 editions, Maison Diez Company showcases its latest designs within a historic mansion in the Escandón neighborhood, open to the public from November 6 through May 20, 2022.

+ 7

In October, within the framework of the XXI NL Biennial, the exhibition "Folio 2. LABNL | Geometries and Components" was inaugurated at the Exhibition Hall of the College of Architects of Nuevo León. Developed by the firm Taller Arquitectónico, led by architect Manuel Martínez, the LABNL project was awarded the Calli de Cristal in the Restoration category at the XXI Nuevo León Architecture Biennial. The project involves the restoration of the Old Federal Palace, located in Monterrey's Metropolitan Center, to house a cultural laboratory for civic innovation and development.

+ 23

Some administrative decisions affect populations to varying degrees. The signing of the agreement between the Colombian government—and guarantor countries—and the FARC-EP was one of the most anticipated events for over 40 million Colombians and multiple generations affected by the internal armed conflict. Yet, the path was not easy, and deep polarization surrounded an agreement that would bring an undeniable benefit to everyone, regardless of political affiliation: peace.

Today, there is a clear need for those who practice and think about architecture to focus on latent, realistic, and immediate issues that directly impact people's quality of life—rather than focusing on egocentric architectural landmarks spanning thousands of square meters. 

This is the case with the project by architect PhD Juan Pablo Aschner Rosselli: a series of activation artifacts for coexistence including the *Jugarmario*, the *Ciclaportivas*, and the *Carpamóvil*. These were designed for the Corpovisionarios Center for Thought and Action, which managed the project.

As part of the annual celebrations hosted by the CEMEX Awards, the recipient of the Arq. Marcelo Zambrano Scholarship has been announced, reaffirming the commitment to fostering the continued development of architecture in Mexico. CEMEX awards the Arq. Marcelo Zambrano Scholarship in honor of the exemplary career, professional dedication, and leadership of architect Marcelo Zambrano, aiming to support young Mexicans in pursuing postgraduate studies at prestigious international universities.

+ 20

As part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the award, Interceramic announced the winners of the Tenth Edition across its various categories and the "2021 Architecture Lifetime Achievement Award." The initiative aims to recognize and promote projects that best reflect contemporary design and express the current state of architecture and interior design, as well as reward creativity in the use of Interceramic ceramic materials.

+ 6

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 broken reach records, bringing our audience the very best of our website's content: projects, articles, interviews, and news from the architectural world, inspiring new ideas and tools for a better future for our cities.

HP DesignJet large-format printers are designed to simplify the printing needs of professionals across the construction ecosystem—including architects, engineers, builders, and subcontractors—while delivering fast, high-quality prints at a low cost.

During the pandemic, team communication, meetings, and work processes rapidly shifted from in-person to remote. Consequently, hybrid methods, work-from-home options, and remote collaboration solutions are increasingly studied and adopted across the labor market. While some believed this would spell the end of physical offices, many companies have chosen to strike a balance that meets employees' new needs while fostering teamwork, corporate culture, and identity. Ultimately, this has materialized in flexible workspaces that foster smart collaboration.

The earliest mosaics date back to the 8th century BCE. Indeed, they were already used as decorative elements and paving in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Yet, despite this long history, they remain as relevant as ever, continuing to set trends in contemporary design. Furthermore, in recent years, mosaic techniques have evolved alongside new technologies and advanced manufacturing methods, giving rise to various types of coverings with diverse formats, styles, colors, and properties adapted to a wide range of functions. Among these, glass systems stand out particularly for their beauty, versatility, and physical properties.

Videos

Reflecting the shifting preferences of each era, the design world has continuously adapted its goals to match contemporary lifestyles. A growing awareness of the benefits of comfort-focused daily design has guided the renovation of home design, evolving from a purely functional role toward incorporating wellness equipment innovations into the overall design strategy.

Amid emerging wellness trends, well-being has become a central pillar of interior design. By analyzing health benefits and offering a guide to selecting and integrating wellness equipment into the home, this article highlights how jacuzzis and saunas—combining advanced technology and ergonomic design—promote relaxation and rest in daily life.

+ 1

During the last decade we have witnessed how the profession has diversified to work from different trenches, yes out of curiosity, but mainly due to economic factors related to the economic and environmental crises that have hit in recent years. I think that one of the great myths that is lived in architecture universities is to think that, when they graduate, that entire generation will dedicate themselves to building great buildings. The reality is that it is not like that and over the years, it is very common that according to the specific interests of each person, the opportunities are diversified to make them participate in other areas that make up the architecture in an integral way.

In the 1920s, Art Deco emerged as a dominant architectural, industrial, and graphic design style inspired by elegance, luxury, and sophistication. Although it originated in France, it gained momentum in both Europe and the United States during the 1920s, expanding to encompass all elements of decorative art, including furniture, accessories, and interior lighting. Reflecting the Golden Age of Hollywood and epitomizing glamour, Art Deco was primarily characterized by a predominance of straight lines, symmetry, and bold geometric shapes, with a particular fondness for figures like the hexagon and the octagon.

Following the pandemic that began in 2019, many organizations have opted for a new remote working model to protect their workforce. Telecommuting or working from home has proven highly effective; employee productivity is estimated to have risen by up to 45%. Consequently, nearly 64% of companies worldwide consider it highly viable for a large portion of their staff to continue working remotely, while another 30% plan to implement this model in the short term.

As a result, people now require a new space within their homes entirely dedicated to professional activities, with the primary requirement being a distraction-free environment. At the same time, the time saved by working from home—by eliminating commutes—coupled with the rapid growth of digital business platforms, has motivated many to start new ventures or monetize their hobbies. This, in turn, requires dedicating additional space within the home to develop and manage these business projects.

+ 25

During this year's Art Week, which took place in Mexico City during the second week of February, there was a vibrant surge of cultural events drawing massive crowds, as extensively documented on social media. Evidence of this was the significant turnout prior to the opening of Zona Maco, as well as at Salón Acme, where guided groups of collectors and prospective buyers packed the rooms. To our surprise, after nearly two years of quarantine, the lineup was filled with new projects already planning their second editions. Here, we share a roundup of events we had the opportunity to attend, which will remain open for the rest of February and March. Read on for the full list.

Before transforming a space, the ability to envision its future aesthetic is essential. Visiting a showroom firsthand offers the opportunity to interact with products and materials, creating a space of visualization and inspiration for architects, designers, and visionary clients ready to explore design innovations.

Depending on user needs, showrooms are categorized into two main specialties: office furniture and storage systems.

Videos

The 1970s shaped many social landscapes that endure to this day. Avant-garde design, fashion, and music are cultural hallmarks that remain in the collective imagination, none more so than the disco scene. However, when speaking of a benchmark that combined these elements and elevated them to their ultimate expression, one must inevitably talk about Studio 54.

When designing a residential interior, it is common to overlook the importance of the floor. Often, priority is given to the walls, furniture, and lighting, overlooking how this large surface—with its texture and appearance—can define a room's perception, character, and style. Yet, beyond its aesthetic value, durability is essential: while furniture and decor can be changed frequently, the flooring must remain in good condition for years. This is especially true for the kitchen, which is one of the areas of the home that experiences the highest use, traffic, and wear and tear.

Named 'Le Grand Charles' in honor of Charles Geisen—great-grandfather of Pierre-Étienne Bindschedler, the current president of the Soprema Group—the company's new headquarters is scheduled to open in late fall 2022. Located in the Port du Rhin district of Strasbourg, France, directly opposite the group's current headquarters, the project aligns with the company's vision to provide an engaging, stimulating, and high-quality workplace for its employees.

The construction of the project serves multiple objectives. Chief among them is to create a model building complex in terms of environmental impact, utilizing the sustainable and eco-friendly solutions developed by the Group. 

While innovations like 3D printing and laser technology dominate the market, printing on paper—or rather, on a wide range of materials—remains indispensable for the daily workflows of architects, designers, and engineers. Commonly known as "plotters," large-format printers transfer drawings from a computer to a physical format using software that recognizes coordinates, calculating the most efficient path to permanently translate a digital language onto paper. Consequently, whether printing blueprints, advertisements, photographs, or signage, having a versatile, precise, and high-tech printer is essential within any creative discipline.

The relentless pursuit of innovation in today's fast-paced world has driven new trends that address challenges across various disciplines. Within architecture and design, new material solutions have been researched, created, and implemented to promote eco-sustainable production and minimize environmental impact. At the same time, architecture and interior design firms are seamlessly integrating these solutions into their designs, encouraging users to live more consciously and responsibly.

To demonstrate how material innovations are applied to interior design products, the 10 out of 10 Project showcases designs by ten architecture firms. These firms employ strategies rooted in reflection and dialogue with the environment, upholding a sustainable, impactful philosophy that simultaneously reflects societal values. Each proposal looks toward a future where architecture and interior design foster a lifestyle centered on well-being.

Staying at the forefront while renewing business lines and contacts is key to thriving in any industry. Building on its legacy of 32 in-person and two digital editions, Expo CIHAC returns to Centro Citibanamex, establishing itself in 2022 as a premier hub for the architecture, construction, and interior design sectors in Mexico and Latin America.

The Colegio de Arquitectos de Nuevo León presents "Folio 3" of the CANL Architecture Exhibitions, featuring the project awarded the Gold Medal at the XXI Architecture Biennial: "Maker Space," designed by architects Edna Garza and Darío Camisay of Garza Camisay Arquitectos.