On Thursday, November 17, Mexico City hosted the tenth-anniversary celebration of ArchDaily México, the local edition of the world's most visited architecture website. The exclusive event was held at “Lago/Algo,” a project conceived to recover and redefine the iconic building known as "Restaurante Lago"—originally opened on October 24, 1964, designed by architect Alfonso Ramírez Ponce, renovated first by Javier Sordo Madaleno in 1998, and most recently by Naso in 2021—giving it a new purpose that challenges us to rethink our relationship with private space, public space, and the Chapultepec Forest.

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In architecture and design projects, specifying thermal insulation within the structure is essential. Why is thermal insulation necessary? Defined as a material's ability to resist heat or cold transfer via conduction, insulation plays a key role in building performance. According to the Official Mexican Standard, insulation requirements are fundamental to ensuring indoor thermal comfort.

In the search for new solutions to address temperature fluctuations, a new high-performance insulation formula has emerged: Foamular®. Adaptable to various construction applications, this new offering stands out for its durability, versatility, and strength.

Today more than ever, finding the right alternatives to promote sustainability is essential. Current and future architectural trends are increasingly global, ecological, and inclusive. Developing buildings based on sustainable practices is one of the key challenges for the architects of tomorrow to reduce conventional energy demand, mitigate environmental impact, and preserve the quality of life of their occupants. 

Sustainable building goes beyond the proper use of materials and strategies to construct a green property. It is about fostering the well-being of its occupants while reducing the environmental footprint of their daily activities within the space.

Whether for a facade, window, or door, choosing the most suitable glass for a building can be a complex decision. Driven by recent technological advancements, improvements in manufacturing have yielded a wide range of options, from glass in a broad spectrum of colors to low-emissivity (low-E) glass that enhances energy efficiency. With such variety on the market, how do you determine the best type of glass for a project? Essentially, the answer depends on two sets of needs: those of the space and those of the client. While the project type (and its spatial and climatic context) can determine the dimensions or the required amount of light, thermal insulation, and acoustic insulation, the user can influence factors like security or aesthetic preferences for color and transparency.

As an architectural element, screens have a long history. Used since antiquity in Egypt and Greece, as well as in traditional Hispano-Islamic art, they have enriched countless spaces with their repetitive patterns and intricate designs. To this day, they maintain their value through aesthetic qualities and excellent functional characteristics, playing a prominent role in the facades and partition walls of many contemporary architectural projects—especially in residential ones.

For 37 years, since 1985, the Faculty of Architecture at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has organized and hosted the Alberto J. Pani Architectural Composition Award, aiming to bring together the top students from member institutions of the Association of Architecture Education Institutions of the Mexican Republic (ASINEA). The event is organized in collaboration with an ASINEA member institution, which this year is the Faculty of Architecture at the Universidad DeLaSalle Bajío in León, Guanajuato.

Interior architecture is undoubtedly much more than the composition of aesthetically appealing environments. From building materials and thermal conditions to finishes and furniture, every design decision directly affects user comfort. However, this relationship between design and well-being is most evident at the residential scale, particularly as more than two years of the pandemic forced many to spend more time at home. This has positioned the home at the center of spatial renovation, transforming it into an environment dedicated to tranquility and health. Consequently, well-being is not a mere passing trend. While brought to the forefront by the pandemic, today it is a design movement that is here to stay—one to which every material and product must respond.

As part of the National Architect's Day celebrations and the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Colegio de Arquitectos del Norte de Sinaloa A.C., and with the support of the Colegio de Arquitectos del Norte de Sinaloa A.C. and the Colegio de Arquitectos de Guasave A.C., the second “Emprende Arquitectura” Congress took place on October 5, 6, and 7 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa.

Beyond its shape, size, and location, the process of building a swimming pool involves selecting various technologies, solutions, and materials to achieve proper waterproofing. While we often focus on the exterior aesthetics of a pool, are we aware of what lies beneath its finishes? Much like an "iceberg effect," pool design and construction companies such as CREST have developed a range of essential products that lie below ground level, applied through four specific steps: surface preparation, finish installation, grouting, and maintenance.

The digital age has always provided tools to design future products and designs. However, alongside technological advancements, new applications have emerged that are carving out a distinct niche in the design world, bringing the process increasingly closer to the end user. 

By quickly scanning a QR code with a smartphone or tablet, users can immerse themselves in a virtual reality experience. In doing so, Arauco’s new application allows users to explore the various collections available to transform their homes.

Developed with a clear focus on design innovation and material application, DYNAMax is a concrete characterized by high strength, extraordinary durability, and superior stiffness, combined with deep concrete expertise. Simply put, DYNAMax is a high-performance concrete designed to meet new design trends, environmental challenges, and technical requirements in the construction industry.

If we had to return to the beginning, which beginning would it be? The last two years have left a deep mark on all of us, like an incision on our skin. Yet at the same time, each of these marks is so unique and diverse that it would be impossible to say we have all gone through the same experience. At the UNAM Faculty of Architecture, these two years were defined by two key moments in our history: the COVID-19 pandemic itself, which introduced us to new ways of learning and teaching; and a student strike against gender-based violence—organized by female student collectives—which became the longest student strike on record at the school.

As the climate crisis intensifies and the lingering effects of the pandemic remain evident in daily life, topics like sustainability and health are more relevant than ever. This explains the rise of biophilic design, a trend characterized by connecting architecture—and, by extension, the user—with the inherent benefits of nature: comfort, calm, and well-being.

Consequently, demand has shifted toward objects and materials capable of bringing nature indoors, whether through decorative elements, vegetation, or wall and floor tiles. However, to ensure functionality within an interior space, these products must ideally combine a natural aesthetic with practical qualities such as durability and low maintenance.

A few months ago, we got on a call with MACIA Estudio. In discussing their work and our shared communication interests, we found a strong affinity, leading us to propose creating "something" together—something that would explore the experiences of childhood and cities, public space, and urban design from various angles. After several months of work, we are thrilled to present Paisajes de juego, a podcast and video podcast developed with the support of the Salzburg Global Seminar and the endorsement of the National Association of Parks and Recreation.

The history of Mexican photography has helped shape Mexico's global presence. Photographers like Elsa Medina, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Graciela Iturbide, Maya Goded, and Juan Rulfo have masterfully captured the life of buildings, homes, and streets in a rapidly developing nineteenth-century Mexico. As a result, the contemporary Mexican photography scene has become an essential tool for architecture, contributing to a deeper visual understanding of the works that rise day by day.

One of the most significant shifts in contemporary work culture has been the widespread adoption of remote work. Indeed, even more than two years after the onset of the pandemic, this remains the reality for many workers. While some predicted this would spell the end of the physical office, many companies have opted for a middle ground: a flexible, hybrid model designed to restore in-person collaboration while preserving the benefits of working from home. However, returning to the office in a pandemic context has raised several critical questions—chief among them, how to ensure a safe and healthy workplace?

On Friday, October 14, the jury announced its decision for the Long Stage of the 38th Alberto J. Pani Architectural Composition Award, organized by the Faculty of Architecture of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in collaboration with an institution of the Association of Architecture Teaching Institutions of the Mexican Republic (ASINEA)—which this year was the Faculty of Architecture of the Universidad De La Salle Bajío in León, Guanajuato.

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Servidor Local is a connection point, a forum where dialogue takes place; it is, in essence, a sanctuary for ideas, diversity, and exchange. As a platform, it drives cultural, art, and design projects that champion narratives with a social impact, aiming to benefit the immediate environment and spread along the paths of its visitors.

Once reserved for hospital environments or highly controlled laboratories, biosecurity has become a shared concern for many of us, especially considering that we spend most of our time indoors. With new outbreaks of the Covid-19 Delta variant detected in various states—driving a 9% increase in the epidemiological curve—families continue to seek the protection and resources needed to safeguard their spaces, ensuring sanitary safety against constant exposure to infections, viruses, and bacteria that pose potential health risks.

Offering productivity levels 50% higher than previous models, HP introduces its new range of large-format printing solutions, HP Latex. The series consists of four devices—the HP Latex 700 and 800, and the HP Latex 700W and 800W—bringing white ink printing capabilities to this category for the first time. Print jobs run on this new series will not only deliver brighter colors and finer details, but will also do so at even faster print speeds, reaching up to 36 m2 per hour.

LIGA, Espacio para arquitectura is a non-profit institution dedicated to promoting emerging Latin American architecture through a public program of exhibitions, lectures, and publications. On September 23, 2022, the institution celebrated 10 years of work at its headquarters on Calle Doctor Erazo 176, in Colonia Doctores, Mexico City. The anniversary also honored the work of three prominent women whose contributions have been crucial to Latin American architecture: Tatiana Bilbao (Mexico), Marta Moreira (Brazil), and Florencia Román (Argentina).

Tulum is a region located in southeastern Mexico, within the state of Quintana Roo, specifically on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, and is part of the Riviera Maya. Historically, Tulum was a walled city; its name, which means "wall" in Mayan, arose when the settlement was already in ruins.

A few weeks ago, Grupo Firme performed in Mexico’s Zócalo. According to the city government, this band broke an attendance record with over 280,000 people. According to my own data—without proof but also without a doubt—another record was set: the highest volume of racist and classist comments directed at the attendees of an event.

The rainfall that hit São Paulo's North Coast during this year's Carnival was the heaviest ever recorded in Brazil within a 24-hour period. The result is an environmental tragedy that triggered a series of floods and landslides—leaving thousands homeless and confirming 48 deaths.

Federal, state, and local authorities are working together to restore services and access to the region. As some roads reopen, officials are urging tourists to leave the North Coast as quickly as possible. Over the Carnival holiday, São Sebastião hosts more than 500,000 people—a figure five times larger than the city's local population of approximately 91,600. This influx of visitors further strains emergency services and supplies.