This guide shows how to use a D5 Render a free live-sync plugin to improve SketchUp workflow.

The recent completion of the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC), a collaboration between REX, Davis Brody Bond, and the Rockwell Group, is a milestone in the cultural transformation of Lower Manhattan. The PAC site is part of the World Trade Center complex, owned by the Port Authority of NY and NJ, an autonomous agency responsible for managing bridges, ports, tunnels, and airports. Since the 2001 attacks, the site has undergone significant changes, including the construction of the four WTC complex towers and the Oculus. More than nine years passed between the launch of the PAC competition and the project's completion, and I participated in the last five years as an architect on the Davis Brody Bond team.

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The practice of building with straw has existed since the dawn of civilization. Given the devastating impacts of contemporary construction methods, could straw be a viable, biogenic alternative to today's building materials?

Evidence suggests that straw and reed have been used in construction for over 10,000 years. Since then, the Industrial Revolution has completely transformed building practices, introducing the mass production of steel, glass, and, not least, concrete.

At the close of the first day of the 38th National Architecture Congress SCA in Pereira, the winners of the 3rd Vidrio Andino Award for Excellence in Sustainable Architecture were announced. This recognition aims to promote sustainable architecture by highlighting the collaborative efforts of designers, developers, and builders on projects that combine construction quality with architectural design, innovation, materials, and environmental and social impact.

The relationships between the waters and the diverse lives that inhabit the Amazon. This is the starting point for the first Bienal das Amazônias, which brings together 120 artists from all the countries spanning the territory of the world's largest rainforest. Under the title “Bubuia: Waters as a Source of Imaginations and Desires,” the exhibition is curated by Keyna Eleison and Vânia Leal, with the collaboration of Sandra Benites and Flávia Mutran in the project's conceptualization, and is currently on view in Belém. The exhibition took shape in a building remodeled specifically to host it, and its exhibition design maintains a constant dialogue with the materials and cultures of the region. We spoke with architect Juliana Godoy, who was responsible for the exhibition design, to understand how Amazonian subjectivities were translated and conceptualized within the spatial realm.

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Reflecting on landscape, typology, and technology, the architecture firm Balsa Crosetto Piazzi designed this shared bathroom module for dairy farmers living a few kilometers outside the town of Ausonia in the province of Córdoba, Argentina.

Through talks, anecdotes, gatherings, and visits, the 28th edition of the Latin American Encounter of Students of Architecture (ELEA), held in San Juan, Argentina, set out to address diverse themes surrounding resilience, new technologies, the circular economy, and sustainability, aiming to foster a shared community of ideas, knowledge, and experiences through collaborative, participatory work.

Throughout her career as an architect, Fernanda Canales has shown a specific interest in studying the housing phenomenon in Mexico. This focus is reflected in her various research projects and publications, which aim to address this issue on a global scale. As she explains regarding this project: "With millions of vacant homes in the world and millions of people without housing, architecture has the potential to offer alternatives to segregation: it can undoubtedly offer more, for more people." In this vein, Canales presents "A HOUSE FOR MORE," a workshop and installation at the VDL House designed to question underutilized residential spaces and integrate diverse collective programs into the places we inhabit.

The 2023 Guatemala Architecture Biennial brings to the forefront the need to build a city without walls, integrating public spaces that foster a sense of belonging, unity, and identity. In this interview, the Biennial's general coordinator, Esteban Borjes Castillo, discusses the significance of this year's edition.

Videos

Bricklayers, foremen, steel fixers, carpenters, plumbers, painters, electricians, and welders. A wide range of professionals is required to erect a building and bring the designs of architects and engineers to life. Essential to ensuring the quality of every project, these roles are honored today, October 26th, on Construction Worker Day. To mark the occasion, we highlight the wisdom of these professionals and how they share their expertise with the public—both professionals and laypeople—through video tutorials that offer a deeper understanding of the construction site, the materials and equipment used, the various techniques available, and how to approach building. 

The Netherlands, colloquially referred to as Holland, is synonymous with its bicycles, an iconic element of the country's urban landscape. The integration of cyclists and motor vehicles often surprises visitors.

The Dutch connection to bicycles is clear in the statistics: in 2021, 84% of the Dutch population used bicycles daily. In Amsterdam, this figure reaches around 63%, demonstrating a strong preference for the vehicle. In contrast, only 7% of Brazilians choose the bicycle as their primary mode of transportation.

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No País dos Arquitectos is a podcast created by Sara Nunes, who also runs the architectural film production company Building Pictures. The podcast aims to profile the professionals, projects, and stories behind landmark contemporary Portuguese architecture. With just over 10 million inhabitants, Portugal is a highly compelling country within this professional field, and its architectural output far exceeds what its population and territorial scale would suggest.

In this episode of the sixth season, Sara talks with architect and curator Pedro Gadanho about the exhibition Generation Proxima: Emerging Environmental Practices in Portuguese Architecture. Listen to the conversation and read part of the interview below.

After at least five years of countless sketches, drawings, models, readings, and calculations, the time comes for Architecture and Urbanism students to present their final graduation projects—often referred to as TCC, TFG, or Final Graduation Projects. In choosing their topics, students highlight architectural, urban, or theoretical projects. Beyond demonstrating readiness for graduation, these works play a crucial role in sparking debate about the future of our cities, the built environment, urban infrastructure, mobility, and many other fundamental topics regarding how we inhabit space.

UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is tasked with addressing housing and sustainable urban development issues worldwide. It plays a key role in tackling global urban challenges, working to improve quality of life, confront issues like rapid urbanization and housing shortages, and promote urban planning practices that are more socially inclusive and environmentally responsible. In 2022, it launched the project "Urban Connections - Public Space Planning for Inclusive Communities," a major initiative of the organization aimed at strengthening local governments through participatory urban planning and public space design.

As part of an initiative by a group of young people who make up Patio Efímero, early in 2023 the open call was launched for the "Patio 4 Competition: Meeting of Ephemeral Interventions" in collaboration with the National System of Art Creators of the Federal Ministry of Culture, CREST EVOCA, El Parral Departamentos, and the Management of the Historic Center and Cultural Heritage of the Municipality of Puebla. The invitation was extended to plastic, graphic, visual, and multidisciplinary artists, as well as established and emerging architects, to participate in the fourth edition of Patio Efímero.

Although construction is primarily based on technical principles, which at first glance seem to follow only pre-established designs and specifications, there is a deeper dimension related to the nature and essence of the materials used. These materials do not only perform a utilitarian function; they also transcend their mere purpose, evoking the notion put forward by Pablo Neruda: "There is a rigor in materials that limits excessive whim and the struggle to infuse them with humanity."

Among the range of existing materials, there is perhaps none as universal as brick. Its versatility and aesthetic honesty have made it a widely used resource in the construction of diverse spaces worldwide. Within Chilean architecture, the broad possibilities this material offers have been highlighted, having been exceptionally utilized by numerous architects. Furthermore, it has gained renewed relevance in architectural discourse, as exemplified by the book "Arcilla. Materia y Obra en Arquitectura." This is reflected throughout the history of Cerámica Santiago and its joint collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture and Art at UDD to promote the Brick Architecture Prize.

Designing and constructing homes is a complex process involving a variety of factors. Within this process, considering the various design elements is essential—including underlayments, ceilings, partitions, claddings, structures, and facades—alongside selecting the right materials for each. This choice must align with user preferences as well as indoor and outdoor conditions, prioritizing durability, energy efficiency, and aesthetics.

To simplify the design process, Volcan develops Volcanboard fiber cement building solutions for different construction elements. Available in a variety of thicknesses to adapt to various applications, these fiber cement boards stand out for their fire and moisture resistance, as well as their long-term durability and versatility. Below, we explore various applications of Volcanboard in residential design.

As part of an initiative by the ISAD School of Architecture and Design in Chihuahua, the Taller del Desierto (Desert Workshop) has been running for several years, fostering various projects to stimulate student learning. For this edition, a pavilion was built, conceived as an assembly of pieces with a theatrical narrative. This pavilion was created as a collaboration between ISAD and Teatro Bárbaro, a local independent cultural forum led by Luis Bizarro. Consequently, the pavilion was designed to serve as a traveling venue for performances created or adapted specifically for this space, which consists of pieces designed during the four-week summer workshop in 2023.

Amid the bustle and majesty of Mexico City, the iconic buildings that adorn its skyline boast not only imposing architecture, but also stories and secrets that spark curiosity. During this month dedicated to architecture, we bring you some of the curiosities and myths surrounding CDMX's buildings, which serve as the pillars of multiple narratives.

Through the incorporation of various elements, interior design creates comprehensive spaces that blend functionality and aesthetics. Among these components, suspended ceilings are a solution that integrates finishes suspended from the main structure. While adapting to a wide range of styles through a diversity of materials, colors, and textures, suspended ceilings also address acoustic needs, contribute to thermal insulation, and integrate lighting systems.

Among its solutions for interior applications, Hunter Douglas combines aesthetics, comfort, and sustainability to develop the WoodLines suspended ceiling line. Integrating innovation with natural materials, the manufacturing process continuously bonds a natural wood veneer to a roll-formed metal profile. As a result, linear ceilings composed of continuous slats are obtained, combining the functionality of a metal ceiling with the warmth and aesthetic appeal of natural wood.

Curitiba has implemented several initiatives to strengthen biodiversity and enhance the quality of vegetation in its urban landscape. Consequently, the capital of Paraná, alongside 18 other cities worldwide, has been selected to participate in UNEP's (United Nations Environment Programme) Generation Restoration project.

When it comes to climate change, the headlines can sometimes seem contradictory. One day, we read about catastrophic wildfires wreaking havoc across the globe; the next, we see an optimistic article about the rapid rise of solar and wind energy. Taken together, these narratives can make it difficult to grasp the big picture of climate action. Are countries actually implementing effective solutions if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to rise? In which areas has the world made enough progress to overcome the climate crisis, and where are the gaps? What specific measures are needed to get us on the right track?

With its sights set on the future, in 2024, the Universidad Católica del Uruguay is adding the Architecture, Design, and Environment program to its academic offerings. Felipe Reyno, PhD in Architecture and director of this new degree program, reflects on the need to train architects with a contemporary, contextual, diverse, critical, and collaborative perspective.   

Far beyond the technical knowledge of his engineering background, Eladio Dieste (1917-2000) developed a rare architectural sensibility. He was a pioneer and master of reinforced masonry—essentially a relatively thin "shell" system in which ceramic blocks are compressed, steel bars are tensioned, and concrete binds the assembly together. Structural strength is enhanced through the design of complex spatial geometries that respond precisely to applied loads, thereby minimizing material use. This allows large spans and cantilevers to be achieved, while elegantly transferring loads to the ground.

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When heavy rains are forecast for their areas, 64% of Brazilians feel afraid. For 76% of those surveyed, cities are unprepared to face heavy rains, storms, or flooding. The data comes from a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by the Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection, in cooperation with UNESCO in Brazil, and with support from the National Association of Municipalities and the Environment (ANAMMA) and the Urban Bioconnection Alliance. The full results of the study will be presented on December 2 during the 28th UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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