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.

History shows that when struck by crises and disasters, cities generally recover and emerge stronger and more resilient than before. The Great Chicago Fire famously gave rise to skyscrapers. Contagious disease outbreaks contributed to public health policies and modern sanitation practices. The devastation of World War II catalyzed unprecedented investments in housing and infrastructure.

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As another year comes to a close, the ArchDaily team gathers the highlights of architecture in a series of retrospectives reflecting on the content featured over the past twelve months. As part of this effort, our curation team turns its attention to one of the most popular categories among our readers, residential architecture, selecting the projects that represent the best of a vast global architectural production, as seen through the eyes of our audience.

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On August 28, the Inaugural Assembly of the Performing Arts Venue Design Branch of the China Association of Performing Arts Equipment Technology and the First China Performing Arts Venue Design Summit Forum were held in Beijing. Co-organized by the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University Co., Ltd. (THAD), the newly established branch is dedicated to fostering the integration of the cultural tourism, performing arts, and architectural design industries. By driving scientific planning, optimizing theater technology, and expanding multifunctional capabilities, the branch aims to enhance the design, construction, and operational quality of performing arts venues across China, contributing to the industry's advancement.

The decentralization process currently underway in Chile represents one of the major social and structural transformations of the political system in a country historically characterized by a highly centralized culture. In May 2021, with the democratic election of Regional Governors, Chile took a major step toward this goal; true decentralization, after all, occurs when decision-making capacity is transferred to local territories, redistributing power from the central government to the regions.

To support a successful decentralization process and strengthen regional governments, the Territorial Human Well-Being Matrix (MBHT) was developed. Designed by the Center for Territorial Intelligence at the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez Design Lab (CIT.UAI.CL), the initiative is part of the “National Program for Strengthening Regional Capacities” carried out by the Undersecretariat of Regional and Administrative Development (Subdere).

This tool equips decision-making bodies with enhanced capabilities, allowing them to compare different areas, identify patterns, challenges, and opportunities to effectively implement solutions, and pinpoint the gaps and imbalances that need to be addressed. 

It is well known that Australia's eucalyptus forests burn periodically. This is how the eucalyptus ensures its reproduction, as its woody fruits, known as gumnuts, feature an insulating layer that breaks open under the intense heat of a fire. Once opened, the seeds blanket the scorched soil, initiating the process of forest regeneration. Australian architect Glenn Murcutt has created a body of work deeply rooted in the country's landscape. He has designed houses engineered to withstand these frequent fires, incorporating elements that contain the flames and minimize damage. In short, these buildings are constructed from highly non-combustible materials and equipped with massive water reservoirs and a "soaking system" that allows the structure and its surroundings to survive a wildfire.

Videos

Escola da Cidade, through the Geography, City, and Architecture course of its Graduate Program, hosted architect Camilo Restrepo as a guest speaker to discuss how academic interests continue to drive professional development. During the lecture, in addressing the relationship between territory and design, Restrepo pointed to the Cordillera not as a border but as a compelling condition for architecture in the Tropics, where spatial relationships are almost never horizontal or limited to the floor plan.

Active design and speed reduction have been transforming cities that adopt this urban planning strategy into safer, higher-quality spaces for people to walk, cycle, practice outdoor sports, and enjoy themselves.

By designing infrastructure that encourages residents of all ages to lead healthier lives, changing how they move around and experience public spaces, active cities positively impact the physical and mental health of the population, increase the appeal of these places and their economic vitality, and reduce environmental and noise pollution.

The artistic work of the prominent Chilean architect Alberto Cruz (1917–2013), recipient of the National Architecture Prize in 1975, will be exhibited at the AA Gallery of the London-based Architectural Association. The exhibition will run from November 11 to December 10, 2022, and will showcase the graphic work of the architect and academic under the title “Observation, Act, and Form.”

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I remember clearly when I began to question the types of images and architecture we consumed and debated at university, contrasting them with the actual built environment of the city I live in (CDMX). This is a type of architecture that seeks to delineate certain biased, curated aesthetic principles, disseminated through academia, digital platforms, magazines, books, and real estate developers, among others.

Following nearly 50 years of rapid urbanization, urban renewal has transitioned from an era of incremental growth to one of existing stock. Urban planning has shifted from expansion toward the high-quality renovation of existing assets to reactivate spaces. Looking back at recent adaptive reuse projects by Pritzker Prize laureates, we examine how these masters respond to today's challenges of urban stock renewal.

In collaboration with the publisher gestalten, we have recently published our first book: The ArchDaily Guide to Good Architecture. This milestone was an opportunity to look back at the more than 40,000 projects curated over the last 15 years, drawing out their contributions to answer an ambitious question: What is good architecture?

We wanted you—our dear readers—to also confront this question through an open call for opinions. After reading through a vast number of responses from construction professionals, students, and architecture enthusiasts alike, it was surprising to find a widespread consensus: above all, good architecture does not forget why and for whom it exists. Read some of the key responses below.

Santander, Hábitat Futuro is a model made by the city for the city. Designed during 2022 based on a public citizen consultation conducted in 2020, "it is not a general urban development plan, but rather its preliminary draft, a necessary step prior to its preparation."

Bringing together citizens' aspirations and providing a technical response, this new model for Santander in northern Spain, projected toward the year 2055, was drafted by the architecture and planning offices Landlab and Paisaje Transversal after winning the 2021 ideas competition for the project.

Below, the authors present this new model in detail, grounded in regenerative urbanism and built on inclusion, connectivity, prosperity, and resilience.

The word "architect" can be deconstructed into three parts: "Arch," the architectural "arch" which etymologically denotes "the highest, strongest, and greatest"; "I" in the middle, representing the self; and "Tect," meaning "technical tool." Historically, the very origin of the architect's identity is rooted in this definition: "to execute the ultimate construction using technical tools guided by one's own subjective consciousness."

Throughout history, the architect's ultimate pursuit ("Arch"), subjective viewpoint ("I"), and technical means of realization ("Tect") have evolved alongside shifting eras and social landscapes. Yet, the core essence of these three elements and their symbiotic relationship have remained fundamentally unchanged.

Over the past two to three decades, accelerating technological breakthroughs have driven architects to invent and reconfigure new "tech" tools for architectural design and construction, striving to keep pace with the information age. Now, with a new wave of technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing driving us further into a digital and intelligent era, the definitions and relationships of "Arch," "I," and "Tect" must evolve. Only then can architects truly break free from the constraints of traditional production relations.

The architect's "I" is no longer the sole agent of design and construction. Instead, by integrating "I" with "Tect," a hybrid consciousness emerges from the fusion of human and machine intelligence, ultimately shaping our destination: "Arch." Architects' cognitive methods and workflows are shifting, as a paradigm of collective collaboration ushers in new professional models.

What is the difference in this shift of agency?
It is the difference between individual architectural decision-making and collaborative human-computer decision-making.

“Our cities are patriarchies written in stone, brick, glass, and concrete.” The words of British feminist geographer Jane Darke lay bare an undeniable fact: urban development across the globe has always been the work of men. In executive roles, “the majority makes choices ranging from economic policy to housing planning, from the location of schools to bus seats, without realizing how these decisions affect women, let alone worrying about it,” says Canadian Leslie Kern, a geographer with a PhD in women’s studies from York University.

As part of a new initiative led by Francesca Borgonovo and Luis Young in Mexico City, "Preludio"—the inaugural exhibition of BY Galería—was presented from August 25 to September 3 at Proyecto Público Prim. This space arises from the question: "Is it possible to materialize architectural thought?"

Converting the 18th-century Bodmin Jail into a modern hotel presented architects with significant design challenges, as the historic infrastructure imposed strict physical constraints. Listed buildings are subject to rigorous preservation guidelines regarding heritage protection, building character, thermal comfort, and the integration of natural light.

Such design challenges often complicate architectural planning, particularly in adaptive reuse projects. Common obstacles include sourcing materials that match or replicate the existing historic fabric. During the planning phase, spatial layout, occupant comfort, and the integration of modern technology must be carefully balanced with contemporary design principles. For the Bodmin Jail Hotel, a key requirement was integrating skylights into the existing, iconic pitched roof.

"Domingos Libro" is hosted by Carmelo from Enorme Studio, delving into forgotten architectural publications, books, and architecture magazines from the '60s, '70s, and '80s that hold some of the most fascinating backstories.

After a hiatus in 2022, the series returned with episode 19, titled “Siempre Joven” (Forever Young). It focuses on Ettore Sottsass Jr. and how, at 62—when mere mortals would be contemplating retirement—he founded a studio alongside four twenty-somethings that would change the history of design.

Within the framework of the project "Inclusive Preparation, Effective Response: Strengthening community preparedness and protection systems through an inclusive and gender-sensitive approach in the communities of the Cantagallo area in Lima," developed by the consortium of Plan International, COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale, and Humanity Inclusion, the studio Arquitectura del Medio, led by Alejandro Merino and Gianella Díaz, seeks to implement a demonstration project in the Shipibo-Konibo Community of Cantagallo in the district of Rímac, Lima, taking environmental considerations and replicability into account.

Arturo Arrieta

There are various ways to accentuate and breathe life into a space, from adding furniture or a decorative piece to painting a wall a bold color. Yet, when it comes to elevating an interior simply, quickly, and with added texture, depth, and warmth, a grooved wood-look finish emerges as a compelling, cutting-edge solution. Indeed, it has established itself as a major trend in contemporary furniture and interior wall design, even taking center stage at the renowned Salone del Mobile Milano 2022.

On September 23, LIGA celebrated 10 years of supporting and empowering young Latin American architects with a dinner held at its main space in Mexico City. LIGA is housed within a former textile factory (La Laguna) that originally opened in the first decade of the 19th century. Now transformed into a collaborative multi-use space designed by the architecture firm PRODUCTORA, the venue hosts independent Mexican initiatives ranging from a coffee shop and an architecture studio to a ceramics workshop.

While the construction industry has been advancing for years in emerging fields like nanotechnology and 3D printing, it remains one of the most lagging in terms of technology adoption. Many innovations never progress past the experimental stage, and while there is a constant push to reverse this trend, we are simultaneously faced with a troubling fact: the construction industry is one of the world's largest producers of pollutants and waste. 

"Domingos Libro" is presented by Carmelo of Enorme Studio, delving into forgotten architectural publications, books, and architecture magazines from the '60s, '70s, and '80s that harbor the most fascinating backstories.

Browsing ArchDaily's 3D printing tag reveals the incredible progress this technology has made over recent years. While once considered a distant, futuristic concept or a tool limited to small-scale objects, 3D printing has matured to produce increasingly complex spaces and even fully printed buildings. More recently, researchers have been experimenting with concrete and other construction materials, though developing a highly efficient 3D printing technology viable for widespread adoption remains a challenge. The 3D-printed pavilion by Huizenprinters serves as a compelling case study.