As part of the cultural program of the Centro Cultural España en México, the exhibition "Copias del abandono" is presented as a collaboration between Mexican artist Sandra Calvo and migrant communities from Tlaxcala. It is an investigation that began in 2016 comprising a film, archives, architectural plans, and testimonials. This research—which was presented at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2021—reflects on an architecture born from migratory processes between Mexico and the United States, focusing on the architectural parallels between the houses where migrants work in the US and the homes they build with remittances in their hometowns.
Despite apparent progress and setbacks, migration in North America continues to unfold under conditions of inequality and violence. To this day, the Mexican population continues to make up the largest percentage of migrants residing in the United States, and the cultural bridges between communities are increasingly evident.
The year was 1969. Lina Bo Bardi wandered through the São Paulo neighborhood of Bixiga, which at the time resembled a war zone. The clearings and piles of rubble were the result of a violent urbanization cutting through the region in the shape of São Paulo's East-West expressway complex.
Against this backdrop, Lina collected personal objects found in the debris, picking up "the most sordid items," as Zé Celso, director and creator of Teatro Oficina, stated in an interview. There was a clear reason for this undertaking: to compose the set for the play In the Jungle of Cities (Na selva das cidades), designed by the architect herself. In it, a stage shaped like a boxing ring was fashioned from the rubble of the demolitions taking place around the theater. The play was divided into 11 rounds, in each of which an institution is destroyed until the ring itself is demolished. At the end, the actors remove even the theater floor to reach the bare earth.
Environmental issues have been the defining theme in architecture for several years now. The imminent scarcity of natural resources and growing awareness of the environmental damage caused by the construction industry have forced the profession to take a stand and develop solutions that mitigate its impact on the planet. While developing new technologies that enable more sustainable materials is essential, this impetus can—and must—originate at the very beginning of architectural practice: the design phase.
Have you ever considered the possibility of a world with no more people experiencing homelessness? The United States did, and countries like Canada, Spain, Portugal, France, and Denmark followed suit, incorporating the Housing First methodology into their national strategies to address the issue.
The formula consists of providing exactly what they lack: housing and connection. The results are consistent and, moreover, beneficial to public coffers. In Brazil, Projeto RUAS is testing the model and seeking resources to expand it. The NGO's goal is to understand how it adapts to our reality and, in the future, propose it to public authorities.
Municipal Theater rebuilt after the 1870 fire. Photograph by unknown author. Source: Photographic Archive of the National Historical Museum. Image via Ediciones ARQ
This article by Germán Hidalgo Hermosilla was originally published in issue 113 of ARQ magazine. Discussing the renovations to the Santiago Municipal Theater building, from its inauguration in 1857 until nearly a century later, Germán Hidalgo recounts the forces driving change: natural disasters, stylistic debates, and urban modernization, among others. The foyer occupies a central role in this narrative as a space of presentation and representation: where the technical demands of the theater meet the aspirations of an institution, a city, and the building's successive architects.
What is the city? It is the opposite of the forest. The opposite of nature. The city is an artificialized, humanized territory. The city is a territory designed exclusively for humans. Humans have excluded all possibilities of other life forms in the city. Any other life that attempts to exist in the city is destroyed. If it does exist, it is thanks to the force of the organic, not because humans want it to.
I was raised in a house with a dirt floor, where I walked barefoot. Chickens and other animals lived with us inside the house. When a chicken left its droppings on the dirt floor, the wet part of the waste was absorbed by the earth. We would pick up the solid part and throw it in the backyard to use as fertilizer. To city people, this is horrifying. Step on chicken droppings? Impossible! There must be perfectly smooth ceramic tile to spot any other life, any other living being that might be there, to disinfect it and kill every microorganism. To kill even what cannot be seen. To walk barefoot, the floor must be disinfected: ceramic tiles were created because humans cannot step on the earth. Shoes were created because humans cannot step on the earth. Because the earth is the original yearning.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136351/cities-and-cosmophobiaAntônio Bispo dos Santos
The "Construye para Crecer" (Build to Grow) project by Susana Biondi Antunez de Mayolo and René Poggione Gonzáles (Poggione+Biondi Arquitectos) was named the winner of the XIX National Architecture Biennial of Peru 2022. The jury highlighted its "comprehensive sustainability proposal linked to efficient water management, energy, and the life cycle of the proposed materials." Remarkably, the design not only incorporates an artificial wetland to support the local ecology but is also structured to be built primarily of timber.
This would make the residential complex one of the tallest timber-built developments in South America, directly addressing material use and energy efficiency in the country. It promotes sustainable forest management while offering an environmentally conscious alternative that minimizes energy consumption and boasts a low life-cycle impact.
As part of the cultural programming of LIGA, Espacio para arquitectura in Mexico City, the exhibition "Architecture for Gods" ("Arquitectura para dioses") opened in late June. It offers a contemporary record of the Heroico Colegio Militar building, designed by Agustín Hernández Navarro and Manuel González Rul in 1976—an iconic work of Mexican architecture of its era.
In recent years, we have experienced the rapid growth of Digital Age data, which is deeply affecting the physical environment and whose unchecked proliferation will continue to reshape and alter the landscape. However, these impacts may not be immediately apparent. As our dependence on digital technologies increases, it becomes critical to consider the consequences associated with data generation.
To transcend the idea of progressive, linear, Western time. To create strategies for bypassing, crossing boundaries, and escaping the impossibilities imposed by the world. Attentive to the "politics of movement and political movements intertwined in artistic expressions," the 35th Bienal de São Paulo - choreographies of the impossible presents, through spatial intervention and its list of participants, ways of relating that expand the cultural and social aspects defining the seemingly insurmountable crisis we face as a society.
To delve deeper into how spatial, territorial, and architectural issues unfold in this upcoming edition of one of the world's largest and most important art exhibitions, we spoke with the curatorial collective* comprising Diane Lima, Grada Kilomba, Hélio Menezes, and Manuel Borja-Villel.
Neuroarchitecture and environmental psychology are two fields based on the relationship between the physical environment and human behavior, yet they employ distinct approaches and practical applications. Learn about the differences between these fields and their practical applications in architectural and design projects.
There is a growing public perception that the number of people experiencing homelessness has been rising in Brazil. To better understand this issue, the Brazilian Observatory of Public Policies on the Homeless Population, established under the Polos de Cidadania Program at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, compiled data from thousands of municipalities in a historical series spanning from 2012 to 2021. Unfortunately, the data indicates that this crisis is indeed worsening across the country.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136354/what-does-the-data-say-about-the-homeless-population-in-brazilAndré Sette e Anthony Ling
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.
To date, more than 90 countries have set net-zero emissions targets, committing to help prevent the worst impacts of climate change. However, doubts remain regarding the credibility of many of these commitments and whether these targets will actually be met.
Together, the countries that have established net-zero emissions targets—a group that includes China, the United States, and India—account for nearly 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside them, thousands of other regions, cities, and companies have also set their own targets. Never before has there been such ambition and momentum for such deep emissions cuts.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136356/five-countries-on-track-to-reach-net-zero-emissionsClea Schumer, Cynthia Elliott e Rebecca Gasper
Based in Barcelona, Puente Editores is an independent architecture and art publisher directed by Moisés Puente that seeks to serve as a platform for independent projects.
ArchDaily presented its monthly topic for July (Design Process) and wanted to open the discussion on how technology is being integrated into architectural practice. Although the discipline has been advancing for years in new fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), parametric modeling, and BIM, alongside other cutting-edge tools, its implementation and systematization in everyday design processes remain slow.
Throughout the month, we held an open call to hear about our readers' experiences and learn from them—exploring together how the latest innovations transforming the profession are being applied. After reviewing a vast number of comments and opinions, it was surprising to find common ground regarding how we filter and update the technologies we use in our design processes. Read the main perspectives below.
For many architects, the most instinctive way to put an idea onto paper is through drawing. From quick napkin sketches during a coffee break to elaborate diagrams systematizing architectural solutions, drawings are essential, recurring tools in the design process. Yet, lines alone cannot always convey a concept with the desired clarity.
Sounds, smells, feelings, and sensations are rarely captured through drawing alone. Human figures cannot always convey the scale of certain elements, requiring the aid of more precise numerical dimensions. Annotations and labels are commonly used to define spaces and specify architectural elements, and when a phone or calculator is out of reach, drawings may also share paper space with quick calculations. There are many situations where writing is combined with lines to create a hybrid communication tool, where the subjectivity or abstraction of drawing is grounded by the assertiveness of words and numbers.
Residential projects are among the most complex challenges to design, given the diverse uses and stylistic preferences that can converge within a single space. Yet, this variety also presents an opportunity, opening up a wide range of possibilities and variations for each project. The paradigm of home design is so significant that Luis Barragán once said: “My house is my refuge, an emotional piece of architecture, not a cold piece of convenience.” Consequently, the design process in residential projects requires careful consideration to satisfy both the emotional and functional needs of those who will inhabit these spaces.
Combining functions, styles, and materials makes it possible to create spaces that transcend the purely functional, transforming them into emotional sanctuaries that reflect their residents' identity and character. With this in mind, Lamosa coverings offer a wide selection for residential environments. Available in a variety of sizes and styles, they help realize diverse creative visions, providing solutions for specific technical requirements and aesthetic preferences. Below, through curated moodboards, we explore how different types of coverings can be combined within the various areas that make up a residential project.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136044/combining-textures-and-styles-9-cladding-moodboards-for-residential-projectsEnrique Tovar
Indeed, in the face of climate change, it seems entirely reasonable to return to prioritizing features such as natural ventilation and lighting in building design, just as we did in the past—and, in doing so, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136366/sustainable-urbanism-back-to-the-futureVitor Meira França
Ribeirão Preto, SP. Image: Governo do Estado de São Paulo
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.
From Le Corbusier's color theory to the aesthetic proposals of the Bauhaus, color has played an essential role throughout architectural history. Today, however, we stand on the threshold of a new era of innovation, where the meaning, application, and impact of color in architecture are also undergoing a transformation. This shift raises new questions: could new materials and finishes revolutionize the color palette? What are the possibilities for color in virtual spaces? What will be the next color trends in the world of interior design?
Color hues play an important role in the thermal comfort of buildings, influencing the absorption, reflection, and emission of thermal energy. Alongside the analysis of the local climate, solar orientation, and the qualities of construction materials, it is possible to design an integrated approach based on surface coatings that even helps save on utility bills. Learn how these variables can be combined to leverage color for the thermal performance of your project.
It is no secret that gender issues permeate our entire social and systemic organization, directly reflecting the duality of "feminine and masculine roles" and their mechanisms of gender oppression. Architecture and urbanism are no exception. Over the centuries, cities and their buildings have been maintained and transformed to prioritize the demands of a very specific user profile. This structure obviously overlooks other identities and forms of appropriation—namely, actual demand in all its diversity of social class, gender, race, age, and sexual orientation. These plans and designs are disguised under a "neutral" conception, yet they actually reproduce the perspective of a middle-class white man.
Architecture is generally understood as a positive construction—that is, tectonics, volume, an object in the world. And indeed it is. However, shifting the observer's perspective—from the distant, aerial view to the interior experience of the occupant—transforms the notion of the object in the world into a "world" in itself. Furthermore, it can also act as a frame, capturing and directing the gaze. Indeed, the view is a key element of architectural value, highlighting a specific angle of the outdoors and inviting the occupant to contemplate. The projects of TETRO Arquitetura highlight this interplay between form and frame.
