This guide covers a workflow that moves from project parameters to generated floor plans, 3D perspective views, exterior design exploration, and site context visualization, using AI tools in place of preliminary CAD and rendering work.

Sloping terrains, hillsides, and mountains present challenges for architects and engineers alike, but they also offer the potential to create unique homes that embrace their context. Following a careful study of the topography, soil, drainage, and access to power and water systems, designing how to integrate the house with the landscape, establishing its aesthetic, and, above all, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment is the responsibility of the architects.

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The release of the first data from the 2022 Census caught many by surprise. According to the IBGE, Brazil now has around 203 million inhabitants, a figure below the Institute's projection of 215 million. Another striking data point was the growth of midsize cities (100,000 to 499,000 inhabitants), which gained 8.3 million residents. Given that the country's population grew by 12 million since the 2010 Census, these cities account for more than two-thirds of that increase. 

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“Looking for a unique place to spend this Christmas and have a fun story to tell family and friends? Join us on our third Christmas visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea! What better place to spend Christmas than in the heart of Pyongyang?”

To this day, I do not know if I should have taken the advertisement seriously. In any case, on December 24, 2018, I embarked on the “ultra-budget Christmas tour” promoted by Young Pioneer, one of the few travel agencies authorized to bring foreign visitors to North Korea.

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While studying and traveling through cities around the world, one of the most striking urban scenes I witnessed was a square in Tokyo filled with uniformed children playing during their school recess. The square had only a low fence, yet a diverse range of people (like myself) could mingle and interact among the children. Childhood independence in Japan is world-renowned and was recently depicted in the Netflix series "Old Enough," where children under six run errands outside the home alone, without their parents. While these might be ordinary scenes for a Tokyo resident, for someone with a different urban reference point, the question "how is this possible?" immediately arises, so far removed is it from the reality of most of our large cities.

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A technique used for centuries, particularly in hot, dry climates, limewashing can be applied to both interior and exterior walls. Beyond its affordability, this rustic finish offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond aesthetics: its light tone and striking texture create a compelling contrast between the building and its surroundings. Learn more about its advantages and how to apply this finish below.

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The contemporary understanding of neuroarchitecture has sparked a renewed focus on inclusive design, emphasizing the creation of environments that respect and respond to people's specific needs. Against this backdrop, the architectural design approach for individuals on the autism spectrum has gained prominence.

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Color is fundamental to the dynamics and daily rhythm of urban life, but its impact goes far beyond appearance and aesthetics, especially for people with visual impairments. For this segment of the population, color plays an even more significant, yet often underestimated, role in shaping and improving the accessibility of public spaces. Architecture plays an important role in this inclusion, which involves the conscious choice of colors that have the power to improve urban accessibility and create a more welcoming environment for people of all abilities.

Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, stained glass, finials, rose windows, and intricate decorative details. These are some of the elements that define Gothic architecture, a movement that emerged and flourished in Europe from the 10th to the 15th centuries. In Brazil, these features were adopted much later, within a revivalist context known as Neo-Gothic. This historical revival is primarily reflected in grand churches and select historic buildings. While the tropical nation does not boast as many works as the European continent, architecture expressing these ideals can be found from north to south. 

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Fertile Futures is the title of Portugal's official representation at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia 2023. Curated by Andreia Garcia alongside deputy curators Ana Neiva and Diogo Aguiar, the project aims to address water resource issues in seven Portuguese hydrogeographies and encourage reflection on building a sustainable, equitable, and fertile future. To this end, seven design teams — Corpo Atelier, Dulcineia Santos Studio, Guida Marques, Ilhéu Atelier, Pedrêz, Ponto Atelier, and Space Transcribers — were invited to reimagine distinct possibilities for these territories.

In an effort to expand access to the content exhibited in Venice, we present here the texts and images from the Portuguese pavilion, as well as photographs of the exhibition space. ArchDaily would like to thank the curatorial and communication team of Fertile Futures, who generously provided the material for this publication.

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One of the things that catches my attention most when I visit major cities in other countries, whether they are European capitals or our neighbors here in South America, is how people occupy public spaces.

And I don't just mean parks or squares. Whether in Buenos Aires, Santiago, Paris, or Amsterdam, for instance, at least on sunny days, almost any patch of grass is occupied by people—children running and playing, friends having picnics, young people reading stretched out in the sun.

The city of Vienna has a highly praised housing policy. While it certainly has many merits, it is not necessarily perfect. In fact, Vienna's housing policy has taken a different path than other European cities, sparking interest among those who study the subject. In this episode of the Housing Voice podcast, produced by UCLA, Justin Kadi presents several features that make the Austrian capital a unique case. The episode also provides a series of academic articles for anyone wishing to delve deeper into the subject.

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The current summer in the Northern Hemisphere has been so hot, with temperatures reaching record highs—including in the sea—that discussions are already revolving around the limits of human survival. Even in Antarctica, sea ice has failed to reform, a drastic departure from normal winter patterns. It is not just an impression that extreme heat events are occurring more frequently. As a result of climate change, the frequency of these events has increased—and is expected to worsen.

In fact, in most years, heat is the most lethal weather phenomenon, killing an average of 490,000 people worldwide and causing serious health problems for many others. According to the World Health Organization, heat-related deaths are projected to increase by 50% by 2050. However, this impact is not distributed equally, either globally or within communities: populations already living in more vulnerable conditions face the greatest risks.

With studies estimating that by 2050 nearly 70% of the global population will live in cities, planning for more sustainable and balanced urban development has become imperative for the coming decades. This discussion invariably hinges on a more assertive choice of construction materials that yield greater urban and environmental benefits. In this context, a material re-emerging as a more sustainable choice for urban infrastructure is wood, particularly when paired with new technological advancements, which is being reintroduced into cityscapes due to its versatile characteristics and its ability to align with the construction of tomorrow.

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Atrium Ljungberg unveiled Stockholm Wood City, the world's largest timber urban development project, serving as a major showcase of Swedish sustainability. At around the same time, on the other side of the world, Tallwood Architects' 'Tamango Project' exemplified both the challenges and opportunities of timber construction in Chile, as it is poised to become Latin America's first 12-story building with a prefabricated timber structure.

Atrium Ljungberg recently unveiled Stockholm Wood City, the world's largest timber urban development project—an effort to showcase Sweden's commitment to sustainability. On the other side of the world, Tallwood Architects' Tamango Project exemplifies the challenges and opportunities of timber construction in Chile and could become Latin America's first 12-story building featuring a prefabricated mass timber structure.

Wulff Castle in Viña del Mar is a renowned landmark, celebrated for its appearance and architectural style inspired by Liechtenstein Castle in Germany. The structure features German and French design elements, along with medieval characteristics—qualities that captivate both locals and the thousands of tourists who visit it.

Every day, governments, financial institutions, and corporations face a critical decision: continue investing in physical assets that emit greenhouse gases and degrade nature, or prioritize developing green solutions that foster a stable, resilient, and equitable economy. As communities bear the brunt of severe climate impacts, the imperative to build a sustainable future becomes increasingly clear.

The city of Federación, located in the northeast of the province of Entre Ríos, was structured, like most Argentine cities, around “the classic block-by-block grid layout bequeathed by the Laws of the Indies,” taking shape alongside the development of its various economic roles. The evolution of economic functions and the actions of different social forces gradually shaped a unique organization of urban space, in which distinct “neighborhoods” or urban districts clearly reflected the inequalities of the local socioeconomic structure.

The capacity of trees to naturally cool cities is one of the key benefits of promoting urban planting. In the Federal District, urban afforestation has been studied to guide public policies toward the sustainable use of natural resources. Architecture and Urbanism student Júlia Almeida, from the University Center of Brasília (CEUB), measured the microclimatic influences of vegetation at the residential scale in Brasília, proving the power of greenery to improve quality of life.

Many cities around the world face severe housing affordability issues. One of the primary reasons is highly restrictive zoning regulations. Zoning—the rules that dictate what can be built on any given lot—was originally designed to manage urban issues such as congestion, pollution, and shadow impacts.

Over time, however, planners aligned with property owners to tighten these rules. Planners disliked urban density and were more than happy to reduce it. Homeowners realized that stricter codes could preserve their property values and exclude low-income residents and minorities from their neighborhoods.

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As part of a project led by Dutch artist Thomas Kole, a website titled "Portrait of Tenochtitlan: A 3D reconstruction of the Mexica capital" has been launched, presenting a variety of images of what Tenochtitlan once was. This reconstruction is based on historical and archaeological sources, as well as the collective knowledge that yields these images today to continue studying our history. The site offers navigation in three languages: Nahuatlahtolli, Spanish, and English, featuring an overlay of contemporary images where users can compare before and after simply by sliding the cursor across the screen. It was created using open-source software: Blender, Gimp, and Darktable.

The Time Portal, designed by Longhi Architects, is an architectural project commissioned by the company "Los Portales" to create an identity landmark in the plaza of a modern residential development in the city of Juliaca, Peru.

The project merges fundamental characteristics of Inca culture and landscape design with elements of contemporary globalization, represented by the recognizable QR code icon.

Paola Jirón is the newly appointed president of Chile's new National Council for Territorial Development (CNDT), a recently established entity that merges the National Council for Urban Development (CNDU) and the National Council for Rural Development (CNDR). She takes on the challenge of promoting planning that accounts for the specific characteristics of each region, while facilitating dialogue to develop solutions for pressing spatial issues, such as the growing population in informal settlements, urban development in disaster-prone areas, and the increasing subdivision of rural land.

For five days, we ventured into the Turbio River of Barquisimeto, its valley, and its banks to experience fieldwork that culminated in the construction of landscape interventions. We were 70 students and 30 professors, guests, and collaborators, taking part in a Summer School organized by Dislocal alongside the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the Universidad Central de Venezuela and its Extramural Teaching Unit in the city of Barquisimeto.