I am thrilled to share a very important milestone with all of you. Today, August 3, 2021, ArchDaily Mexico celebrates its 9th anniversary! Indeed, nine years ago, with great excitement and high expectations, we launched the Mexican edition of ArchDaily—already the most visited architecture website in the world. Our mission remained to deliver inspiration, knowledge, and tools, but with a dedicated focus on this country's architects, who over these years have enabled us to continue serving as their primary tool for international and Mexican architectural inspiration and knowledge.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, two highly important pottery centers, as neighbors, Guadalajara naturally became an epicenter for the promotion and commercialization of crafts. Consequently, in 1963, the government of Jalisco decided to develop a space to promote the work of artisans from all regions of the state.
In the face of an unprecedented climate crisis, green roofs are increasingly establishing themselves as a global architectural trend, providing multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits in urban areas. Following the example of pioneering models like Copenhagen's, cities around the world are replacing gray roofs with green ones in an effort to move toward a more sustainable and healthy future. As a result, integrating green roofs has become a recurring practice in projects aiming to address the inherent challenges of the contemporary city.
The climate crisis is driving architects to integrate solar energy as an essential component of architecture right from the start of the design process. Consequently, companies have been prompted to develop new products that go beyond conventional photovoltaic panels installed on roofs or additional support structures.
Mexican architect José Luis Cortés has been appointed President of the International Union of Architects (UIA) for the 2021-2023 term. José Luis Cortés graduated from the Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico and completed studies in Urban Planning in Copenhagen, Denmark, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. He previously served as president of the Federation of Colleges of Architects of the Mexican Republic (FCARM) (2017-2018) and is currently a member of the UIA Council for Region III.
As part of an initiative by KeObra—a platform providing reliable, free information through content, infographics, videos, and social media to support those building their own homes while fostering a network that empowers self-builders, master masons, material suppliers, and architects—the First KeObra University Competition was launched. The competition called for progressive housing proposals to be integrated into the KeObra Calculator, a tool that provides cost estimates, material lists, projected timelines, and the necessary construction blueprints.
One of the greatest challenges facing our cities today is reconciling two priority objectives that, at times, seem irreconcilable: reducing inequality and addressing the effects of climate change. On one hand, our planet is at a critical juncture where no action should be underestimated. Urban growth always comes at the expense of green spaces, which is why we must control our settlements. Yet, it is also a fact that certain environmental regulations, besides being ineffective at achieving their intended goals, have discriminatory effects on the most marginalized sectors. It is often these very groups that face the most rigorous enforcement of environmental administrative requirements, as well as penalties for non-compliance. Is there a way out of this apparent dichotomy?
Cortesía de María Camila Montes y Paula Tatiana Erazo
The phase in architects' careers when they can invest the most energy and time into a specific project is, without a doubt, during their university training. In this case, two students share how they—in collaboration with the local community of Fontibón in Bogotá, other students, and members of the SCA collective—revitalized Villemar Park through inclusive tactical urbanism.
As part of the activities of the 2019 Santa Lucía International Festival, organized by Las Artes Monterrey—a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts of Monterrey, Nuevo León, and its metropolitan area—Estudio Núñez Zapata (formerly Covachita Taller de Arquitectura) built the pavilion ¿Cómo podremos dormir juntos? (How Will We Be Able to Sleep Together?) on a private vacant lot adjacent to the Macroplaza. The project was subsequently selected to be exhibited at the Mexican Pavilion during the 2021 Venice Biennale.
"Acts of Patriarchal Domination and Violence from Architecture" is a campaign created by Mariana Ordoñez and Jesica Amescua through their Instagram and Twitter accounts, in collaboration with Ximena Ríos. It arises from the need for deep, self-critical reflection on the violence and acts of domination exercised within the architectural profession.
https://www.archdaily.com/1128260/acts-of-domination-and-patriarchal-violence-through-architectureMariana Ordoñez, Jesica Amescua y Ximena Ríos
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.
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.
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.
Sistema EKol® en Westin Los Cabos Resort. Image Cortesía de Westin Hotels & Resorts
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.
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Cabina de Sauna Infrarrojo. Image Cortesía de Artexa
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.
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.
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.jpg?1629390332 "© Carla Luisa Escoffié Duarte")
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