Applying ground cover in gardens is essential for several reasons. It helps conserve soil moisture, reducing the need for frequent irrigation, while controlling weed growth by blocking the sunlight necessary for germination. It also helps regulate soil temperature, keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and prevents erosion caused by wind and rain. In addition, it reduces soil compaction, facilitates root growth, improves water infiltration, and provides an aesthetic finish to the landscape.

In Renca, a municipality of Santiago characterized by an arid climate, finding ways to combat soil aridity is crucial for urban renovations aimed at improving thermal comfort in streets and public spaces. To address this, Cerámica Santiago, in collaboration with the Municipality of Renca, has developed a pioneering project to revitalize urban spaces using clay brick gravel. This material, called Princesa Brick Gravel, is a byproduct of brick manufacturing and has proven to be an effective solution for creating low-water gardens, transforming degraded sites into sustainable green spaces.

Nicolás Valencia speaks this week on the TERRAZA podcast with Chilean researcher Luis Darmendrail about his book ⁠Concepción 1930⁠, published by dostercios editorial in 2023.

Concepción 1930 is a compelling study of a pivotal decade in the architectural history of the Chilean city of Concepción: the 1930s are presented as a turbulent period of change and new beginnings, where culture, commerce, the media, and institutions serve as the pillars of an urban life that flows alongside the narrative, revealing a city at the turn of the century.

This week on the TERRAZA podcast, Nicolás Valencia talks with Chilean architect Andrea Ortega about her book “Rieles que unen. Patrimonio ferroviario entre Estación Central y San Bernardo” (Rails that Unite: Railway Heritage between Estación Central and San Bernardo), published by the National Cultural Heritage Service in 2022.

“Rieles que unen” is a critical account of the configuration and development of the heritage surrounding the initial urban stretch of the only active passenger and freight railway line currently operating in Santiago, Chile. The research approaches the understanding of railway heritage by integrating tangible and intangible elements, considering its urban-territorial scale and the valuation processes driven by organized communities at local levels.

This week on the podcast TERRAZA, Nicolás Valencia speaks with Chilean researcher Nicolás Valenzuela Levi, editor of the book “⁠Alimentando la ciudad. Diálogos sobre infraestructura alimentaria urbana⁠”, published by Editorial ARQ in 2024.

“⁠Alimentando la ciudad. Diálogos sobre infraestructura alimentaria urbana⁠” is a collection of research on a type of infrastructure that we often fail to notice until it breaks down. The pandemic, followed by food price inflation, has heightened food insecurity, which manifests on the ground through examples such as the price of cooking oil at a neighborhood store or community kitchens as a local response. This book brings together an international, multidisciplinary group of researchers addressing these issues.

This week on the TERRAZA podcast, Nicolás Valencia speaks with Chilean architect Sofía Montealegre, author of the book “Capas de memoria,” published by LOCAL ediciones in 2024.

Montealegre writes about a giant that has changed both its name and its appearance over the last 50 years. Inaugurated in 1972, the UNCTAD III building was an emblem of the Unidad Popular, only to be transformed into the Diego Portales building during the dictatorship, and later reopened as the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM)—standing as a testament to our complex history.

In the field of architecture, there is growing client interest in integrated solutions that offer comprehensive support across all stages of a project, simplifying and optimizing each phase of the construction lifecycle to deliver greater efficiency and precision. This spans stages such as budgeting, construction planning and management, resource and procurement management, materials purchasing, and ultimately, real estate sales. 

Based in Chongqing, We Live Architects is a pioneering, research-oriented design practice. The firm boasts a highly creative international design team whose principals are alumni of top-tier global and domestic institutions, including the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL), the School of Architecture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Goldsmiths, University of London, the University of Nottingham, and the University of New South Wales.

Blending humanistic and technological thinking, the practice centers its work on the tripartite relationship between humans and environment, society, and self. Using space as a medium, the studio approaches design through the three dimensions of form, morphology, and concept, aiming to generate distinctive spatial experiences for urban environments.

The firm's portfolio spans urban regeneration, public architecture, cultural tourism planning, and commercial spaces. Its notable projects include high-quality architectural designs and spatial transformations such as the Liziba Yellow Building, Jiangxiaobai's One-Acre-and-Three-Fifths Field (Yimusanfendi), the Luxe Lakes Curator District, and the Jialing Bridge East Village.

Design Philosophy
We Live Architects is both pioneering and pragmatic. Beginning with imagination and a commitment to originality, we seek a unique soul for every project. Guided by responsibility, we manage the entire process to guarantee high-quality execution. Grounded in our ecological and temporal contexts, we navigate the space between “the reasonable and the forbidden,” embrace challenging yet intriguing design constraints, and maintain an authentic, if sometimes unconventional, attitude. We focus on the threefold relationship between humanity and the environment, society, and self. Using space as our canvas, we engage with design through form, morphology, and concept to foster unique behaviors and experiences, encouraging people to embrace new ideas and perspectives.

How we perceive space is a crucial aspect of architecture and interior design, profoundly influencing our interaction with the environment. Consequently, spatial perception is shaped by elements such as furniture arrangement, lighting, color usage, and selected materials. The latter is particularly significant, as the same material can be employed in various ways, resulting in atmospheres with distinct characteristics.

An example of the potential variations in material use is fluted cladding. These are milled MDF surfaces with a linear pattern designed to decorate interior walls and ceilings. They can be applied to a variety of surfaces, though they should only be used in areas not exposed to humidity. The system is notable for its ability to accentuate space through different configurations. Depending on their arrangement and type of ripple, these configurations can modify the spatial experience by highlighting, directing, enveloping, and achieving visual balance in homes, offices, commercial spaces, and more.

This week on the TERRAZA podcast, Nicolás Valencia talks with José Luis Uribe, author of the book “Viaje a Paraguay,” published by Arquine in 2023.

In “Viaje a Paraguay,” Uribe approaches the work of Gabinete de Arquitectura, Lukas Fuster, Estudio Elgué, José Cubilla, and Javier Corvalán and the Laboratorio de Arquitectura, drawing from three expeditions conducted between 2017 and 2019 to reflect on Paraguay’s contribution to the contemporary state of architecture.

This week on the TERRAZA podcast, Nicolás Valencia speaks with Marie Combette and Daniel Moreno, the French-Ecuadorian duo behind La Cabina de la Curiosidad and the book “Los caminos del agua,” published by Arquine in 2023.

In “Los caminos del agua,” a series of journeys across different scales unfolds, providing objective, compelling, and detailed insights into the origins of water flows within Latin American geography. The slow, patient, and rigorous hand-drawing of watersheds proposes a conscious assimilation of the natural wealth of this territory.

This week on the TERRAZA podcast, Nicolás Valencia speaks with Peruvian architect Michelle Llona, co-author of the award-winning book “⁠Catálogo Arquitectura Movimiento Moderno Perú⁠”, published by the University of Lima in 2016.

“Catálogo de Arquitectura del Movimiento Moderno del Perú” (CAMMP) is the result of the research project of the same name, developed by Llona alongside Alejandra Acevedo between 2013 and 2015, under the auspices of the Scientific Research Institute of the University of Lima. It is the first initiative in Peru to inventory and document the most significant buildings of the country's modern architectural production.

Considered an essential activity for children and one that is constantly evolving, play has transitioned from a free, informal concept to a structured activity incorporating a variety of factors designed to foster physical, cognitive, creative, and socio-emotional development. Studied by educators such as Friedrich Fröbel, who became renowned for his pioneering theories on kindergarten, play was championed as a driver of spontaneous development through recreational activities. Over time, this laid the groundwork for a concept that spread across Europe during the 19th century and eventually reached the United States with the creation of the first playground in Chicago in 1892, marking a turning point in the relationship between physical space and recreation.

More than a century later, much has changed. Today, play structures are evolving alongside user habits, adapting to contexts where they were historically absent, such as indoor environments. This shift is largely driven by optimized dimensions, technical enhancements, and advanced technologies that enable the development of increasingly durable, versatile, and sustainable materials. Together, these advancements yield solutions that foster new ways of experiencing these spaces, offering an alternative approach where utility converges with leisure. Responding to this dynamic, Urbanplay has introduced a new indoor play concept utilizing modular solutions from Kompan, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality play equipment. This approach focuses on creating customized play areas to enhance the user experience and foster more welcoming, inclusive, and easily accessible recreational environments.

Architecture firms and real estate developers are constantly seeking industrialized construction solutions to optimize project timelines and costs. However, compromising on aesthetics and energy efficiency is not an option. A viable solution lies within the wide range of systems in the face brick ecosystem. 

Three recent projects developed in Spain exemplify how integrating face brick facades can yield unique designs. Furthermore, all three are finalists for the Hispalyt Brick Architecture Award 2021-2023 in the "Industrialization" category.

Videos

This week on the TERRAZA podcast, Nicolás Valencia speaks with Spanish architect Mauro Gil-Fournier, author of the book “Las casas que me habitan” (The Houses That Inhabit Me), published by Arquitecturas afectivas in 2022.

In “Las casas que me habitan,” Gil-Fournier suggests that as citizens we think we inhabit our houses, our squares, and our cities, but we only inhabit our everyday practices. The houses presented here are the affects that inhabit us on a daily basis.

“Affective architectures allow us to create a space where we can express ourselves honestly, without judgment, and safely,” Gil-Fournier notes in this interview.

This week on the TERRAZA podcast, Nicolás Valencia speaks with Chilean architect Blanca Zúñiga, author of the book “Espacio público rural,” published by Sa Cabaña in 2021.

In “Espacio público rural,” Zúñiga develops a photographic project that seeks to capture and value the diverse ways of inhabiting the Chilean countryside in the Maule region.

“In the rural towns of the region, you don't know if the living room of the house is a public or private space because the doors are always open,” Zúñiga explains in this interview.

Certain materials offer a wide range of applications, and wood is undoubtedly one of them. This noble material can assume various roles: structurally in tectonics, as floor cladding in finishes, or even as a functional and decorative element in furniture design. Depending on its application, wood tells a different narrative. In facade design, its integration imparts a distinct character; indeed, beyond contributing to the building's identity and aesthetics, it also plays a crucial role in its functionality.

When discussing wood facades, screens and timber batten patterns are recurring elements. Through this approach—in contrast to modular systems—customizable combinations can be created for each project, conveying a unique artisanal beauty tailored to the intended design. Furthermore, wood offers outstanding characteristics in terms of sustainability, solar control, weather resistance, and energy efficiency. Together, these qualities allow the facade to function as a dynamic interface between interior and exterior, mediating light, shadow, and views.

Located in Lauro de Freitas, a city in Bahia near Salvador, the Acalento School, designed by Carl von Hauenschild, is an example of architecture and pedagogy harmoniously intertwining. This reflects the influence of anthroposophical philosophy on both the architectural design and the Waldorf pedagogy practiced at the school.

Anthroposophy, established by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) in the early 20th century, is a philosophy that views the human being holistically, encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. This holistic approach found fertile ground across various fields of knowledge, such as anthroposophical medicine, biodynamic agriculture, Waldorf education, and architecture itself, significantly influencing the development of organic architecture.

+ 9

In recent years, the decarbonization of buildings and cities has gained increasing prominence both internationally and nationally. Among the key driving forces is the public sector, through various ministries such as the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI), the Ministry of Cities (MCID), and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA), which implement different policies, programs, and legislation. Financial institutions like development banks—such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)—and international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), have also played pivotal roles in mobilizing the resources needed to enable the increasingly urgent reduction of carbon emissions.

Negotiating height differences comfortably and using space efficiently is the primary function of stairs. Their invention is not attributed to a single individual or specific civilization; rather, they evolved independently across various cultures throughout history. The earliest evidence of staircases is found in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley Civilization, with notable examples including the Mesopotamian ziggurats and the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Greeks and Romans further refined the design, and during the medieval period, spiral staircases became common in castles for defensive purposes. The Renaissance introduced even more elaborate and decorative examples crafted from stone, marble, and, later, iron and steel. In modern times, innovations in concrete and precast components emerged, reflecting advancements in materials and engineering. Floating staircases, for example, have become a major trend by visually expanding spaces and enhancing natural light within an environment. They are characterized by an elegant, minimalist design where the treads appear to float in midair without visible support, anchored to a single wall.

The global commitment to net-zero emissions and climate change mitigation presents a monumental challenge for the construction sector—an industry that currently accounts for nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions, a figure projected to continue rising. Adopting sustainable practices is crucial to improving environmental conditions, with primary objectives including optimizing thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption in buildings. How can we achieve this if not through collective learning and knowledge sharing among different professionals and workers in the sector?

+ 1

Certain materials offer a wide range of uses, and wood is one of them. This noble material can take on various roles: structurally in tectonics, as flooring in finishes, or even as functional and decorative elements in furniture. Depending on its application, wood adopts a distinct narrative. In facade design, its integration lends a unique character, as it not only contributes to the building's identity and aesthetics but also plays a crucial role in its functionality.

When discussing facades and wood, screens and timber batten patterns are recurring elements. Through this concept—in contrast to modular systems—highly customizable combinations can be created for each project, conveying a unique, artisanal beauty tailored to the intended design. Furthermore, wood offers remarkable qualities in terms of sustainability, solar control, weather resistance, and energy efficiency. Together, these qualities allow the facade to function as a dynamic interface between interior and exterior, also mediating between light and shadow, as well as views.

Public lighting plays a fundamental role in modern cities and has evolved considerably throughout history. In Ancient Greece and Rome, rudimentary methods such as torches and oil lamps illuminated some streets. During the Middle Ages, castles and European city streets used oil lanterns and, later, candles. A significant breakthrough came with the invention of the gas lamp in the late 18th century, first used for public lighting in London in 1807, which improved street visibility and helped reduce crime. Thomas Edison’s invention of the electric lamp in 1879 revolutionized public lighting, and incandescent lamps began replacing gas, providing more efficient and safer illumination.

The Architectural Association Visiting School (AAVS) Rio de Janeiro workshop interrogated
tectonics within Rio's post-colonial, urban, and tropical context. Each year, the workshop questions, celebrates, and experiments with a characteristic element of local architecture.

+ 7

In an era where we spend most of our time indoors, contemporary architecture offers an innovative approach: dissolving the barriers between inside and outside. This fusion, now an iconic feature of many current projects, reflects a growing desire to live in harmony with nature, promoting a synergy that transcends walls and restores the human connection to the natural environment. Large windows framing landscapes and the use of biophilic design principles blur the boundaries between interior and exterior, creating flexible, light-filled spaces where nature is incorporated into the architectural design. This integration stems from meticulous design choices made possible by technological advances—such as high-performance glazing and smart systems—that enable this connection without sacrificing comfort or energy efficiency.