In recent years, sustainability has been at the forefront of debates across all disciplines due to the ongoing environmental crisis. One concept that design, architecture, and urbanism have embraced is the "Circular Economy," as experience has shown the profession that efforts must go beyond simply incorporating recycling into our strategies. Instead, it is necessary to focus on sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible to prevent waste.
“The golden rule of our times is to adapt; one shouldn't fight against reality,” said Mathias Goeritz. More than sixty years later, TIEMPO CERO arrives at the Museo Experimental El Eco to prompt a reflection on the Anthropocene and tangential resistance. Based on Gabriela Carrillo’s curatorial proposal, the pavilion's open call targeted urgent futures in the face of time and the environmental crisis, alongside a playful dimension to reflect on “how we spend time” or “how time passes.”
https://www.archdaily.com/1136442/environmental-observatory-reflections-on-the-winning-proposal-for-the-eco-pavilion-2023Juan José Kochen
Perhaps the aphorism that holds the greatest truth in both architecture and other areas of life is the following: “those who know the past can control their future.” This is reflected in architecture schools, where texts and works of traditional Mexican architecture are still taught, though 20th and 21st-century architecture is featured in a much greater proportion. Yet, an analysis of current architectural production suggests that recent graduates and professionals are unfamiliar with their own history. This is problematic as our identity, expressed through the architecture of our cities, is fading. At least, this is the view of the founders of the new multidisciplinary association “INTBAU México.”
“Bienvenidas las flores y los polinizadores” | Puerta de Leones del Bosque de Chapultepec | Primer Festival Flores y Jardines | 10 abril al 1 mayo 2017. Image Cortesía de coolhuntermx
If there is one defining characteristic of Mexican flora, it is its beauty and unique, vivid, and emblematic colors. Mexican culture and its indigenous peoples are known worldwide for their mastery and the outstanding talent of artists and artisanal communities.
Saarbrücker Schloss – Place of the Invisible Monument. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
The counter-monument 2146 Stones – Monument Against Racism / The Invisible Monument is an intervention carried out in 1993 on the square in Saarbrücken by Jochen Gerz and students from his class at the Hochschule der Künste Saar, in Saarbrücken, Germany. Executed in accordance with Gerz's constant practice of vigilance [1], the work is the result of a period of unrest in German artistic production that questioned the representational art of a post-war generation, as well as the search of those who lived through the events of World War II and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, amidst a national effort to evade the memories of the Holocaust.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136424/negative-past-the-construction-process-of-the-monument-against-racismFabiana Costa
December 2019 marked the first COVID-19 case. By December 2022, the era of strict "Class A control for Category B infectious diseases" officially drew to a close.
Over the past year, stripping away our professional titles, we were simply individuals in endless PCR testing lines, participants in digital group-buying threads, and residents confined behind barricades and seals. We endured scorching heatwaves, grappled with political depression and existential dread, relied on ibuprofen to get by, and ultimately stood as witnesses to a turbulent, fast-shifting chapter of history.
In the world of architecture, this past year was defined by adversity: a generation of pioneering elders passed away during the harsh winter; outstanding design fees went uncollected; architects faced widespread unemployment; firms went bankrupt and dissolved; and university architecture programs struggled to fill their enrollment quotas. Day after day, we oscillated between burning out and checking out, caught in a perpetual cycle of anxiety.
Though some wounds remain unhealed, no one ever promised us an easy era. At this chaotic threshold, all we can do is persist in doing what we believe is right. Every architect is striving to address the challenges of our time through design—pioneering more open spatial concepts, mitigating climate change through sustainable architecture, and leveraging professional expertise to instill spaces with a sense of hope.
Over the past year, ArchDaily has published 4,669 built projects, 2,160 thematic articles, 323 competition announcements, and 258 exhibition listings. Focusing on platform expansion and fresh content, we also embarked on a series of historic firsts:
Thus, ArchDaily’s keywords for 2023 are: Embarking on a Grand Journey, Scaling New Heights
We aim to foster more dialogue, gathering the insights and collective strength of global designers to make our voices heard!
01 Designing Better Architecture, Telling the Stories Behind the Scenes
For too long, the focus has lingered solely on the spectacular “moments” of completed buildings, overlooking the countless days and nights poured into them by architects, contractors, and material suppliers. From the initial conceptual sketches to the final working drawings, and from selecting the perfect materials to the meticulous coordination on-site to ensure flawless execution—ArchDaily takes you behind the scenes of today's most successful architectural projects.
As a responsible design medium, we strive to be more than a mere showcase of projects. Through deliberate curation and thoughtful editorial planning, we voice our stance, prompting architects, industry practitioners, and society at large to reflect on systemic challenges in order to foster a healthier, more progressive industry.
As the world adapts to living alongside COVID-19 and combating urban heatwaves, our dwelling patterns are undergoing a profound evolution. Today's homes must seamlessly balance living, working, and leisure. Consequently, designing greener, healthier, and more human-centric residences and lifestyles remains our enduring focus.
Adhering to an Eastern philosophy of sustainable construction and the creative ethos of "renewing the ancient," Civil-Nova is dedicated to deconstructing and reconstructing traditional timber structures. Building on traditional Chinese craftsmanship, we employ contemporary thought and design methodologies to transform these structures into "new timber systems" integrated with modern aesthetics, production technologies, and functional demands—thereby rebuilding the connection between humanity and nature while advocating for a new way of living in the digital era.
More Than a Design Firm: Producers of Landscape and Cultural Spaces Civil-Nova’s projects are situated across China's diverse landscapes, spanning tropical and subtropical climate zones. Our practice encompasses the entire architectural life cycle: from R&D and design to intelligent manufacturing, construction, curation, operation, and recycling. We strive to leave a meaningful mark on the landscape and the earth.
More Than an Architectural Practice: A Diverse and Dynamic Ecosystem Initiated and led by architects, Civil-Nova brings together craftsmen, engineers, artists, and other creative minds. Through collaborative synergy and rapid iteration, we co-create and operate unique landscape and cultural space products.
Digital Nomadism & Creation: Supporting an Inspiring Lifestyle In addition to our main office on Wukang Road in Shanghai, Civil-Nova has established satellite workspaces in scenic destinations like Hainan and Anhui, offering creators a highly flexible working environment. We advocate for a digital lifestyle and site-specific creation, encouraging team members to immerse themselves in local cultures for inspiration. Here, you will hone your skills through hands-on, multi-dimensional experience across all project phases, and unleash your talent through frequent, high-caliber collaborations with like-minded peers.
If you share our vision of shaping the land with our ideals, we welcome you to join us!
The Integrated Permanent Site Construction Project of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART) and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) is located in the northeastern sector of the Science and Education Integration Cluster in Guangming Science City, Guangming District, Shenzhen. Tasked with the core mission of establishing a comprehensive national science center in the Greater Bay Area, the project will establish a strategic scientific and technological institution integrating basic research, clinical research, full-chain industrial translation, and technical innovation in the biomedical field, supporting Shenzhen's development into a pioneering demonstration hub for medical and life sciences innovation.
The Integrated Permanent Site Construction Project of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART) & Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) is located in the northeastern sector of the Science and Education Integration Cluster within Guangming Science City, Guangming District, Shenzhen. Carrying the core mission of establishing a comprehensive national science center in the Greater Bay Area, the project aims to develop strategic scientific and technological institutions that integrate basic research, clinical research, full-chain industrial translation, and technical innovation in the biomedical and life sciences fields, supporting Shenzhen's development into a pioneering demonstration hub for medical and life sciences innovation.
The tender for the schematic design and preliminary architectural design of Bid Section II of the Integrated Permanent Site Construction Project of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory is about to commence, with the official tender announcement to be released shortly. The tenderee is the Engineering Design Management Center of the Bureau of Public Works of Shenzhen Municipality. Pre-registration and expressions of interest are now open to design teams worldwide.
Tenders for the schematic design and preliminary architectural design of the Integrated Permanent Site Construction Project of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation & Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (Bid Section II) will launch soon, with the official tender announcements to be released shortly. The tenderee is the Engineering Design Management Center of the Bureau of Public Works of Shenzhen Municipality. Pre-registration is now open to design teams from around the globe.
Tender Project: Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Integrated Permanent Site Construction Project Design Bid Section II Project Name: Design for the Integrated Permanent Site Construction of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation & Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (Bid Section II) Project Location: Northeastern sector of the Science and Education Integration Cluster in Guangming Science City; situated at the northeastern gateway of Shenzhen, adjacent to Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen Campus) and Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology. Project Location: Northeastern sector of the Science and Education Integration Cluster in Guangming Science City; at the northeastern gateway of Shenzhen; adjacent to Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen Campus) and Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Pre-registration Deadline: June 4, 2023, 17:00 (Beijing Time) Pre-registration Deadline: 17:00, June 4, 2023
Framlab creates modular vertical urban farms on the streets of Brooklyn. Image courtesy of Framlab
We are living in a state of emergency. Since the dawn of industrialization, we have rushed through our planet's finite resources as if they were limitless, depleting and destabilizing the very ecosystems we depend on for our sustenance, economy, food, health, and quality of life.
In just 50 years, we have lost more than half of the world's wildlife. Currently, the Earth is on track to warm beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, which scientists warn is a hard planetary boundary for existing ecosystems. This is a “code red for humanity,” as described in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Continuing on our current path will mean irreversibly damaging the very conditions that sustain life on this planet.
Today, the kitchen has evolved into an architectural hub for gathering and socializing, displacing the living or dining room as the home's primary social center. Similarly, in contemporary design, the bathroom has taken on a central role. Design concepts now reflect the user's personality, whether in small or spacious layouts, by combining wall and floor coverings, materials, and decorative elements.
Bathroom and kitchen renovation has become a booming sector within architecture, driven by a vast range of product options and projects that are increasingly accessible to execute. These spaces are no longer merely utilitarian; they can also be designed to reflect the overall character of the home.
Casa Batlló, located on the iconic Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, Spain, is an architectural masterpiece that embodies a synthesis of creativity, innovation, and architect Antoni Gaudí's deep connection with nature. Built between 1904 and 1906, this residence is a major tourist attraction in the city and an important contribution to architectural history. Here, we analyze Casa Batlló through concepts central to the field of neuroarchitecture.
Much has been said about the dangers that humanity as a whole will face from the effects of the climate crisis. More intense floods, prolonged droughts, hotter summers, and freezing winters are some of the immediate consequences we can already feel.
The cause of these local disasters is a global and historical problem: the growing and systematic emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from anthropogenic activities since the Industrial Revolution. These gases intensify our atmosphere's greenhouse effect, a natural phenomenon that sustains life on the planet. This heightened greenhouse effect disrupts natural cycles, now putting at risk not only our future, but our present as well.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136449/what-is-carbon-offsettingGabriela Ribas e Fernando Paraíso
Curitiba BRT and tube station. Photo: Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brasil, via Flickr. License CC BY-NC 2.0
The city of Curitiba, located in the state of Paraná, has been recognized internationally as a leading benchmark for Brazilian urban planning, primarily due to the success of its public transit model. Within this context, tracing the path that led the capital of Paraná to achieve such acclaim is a compelling exercise. Addressing the process of diffusion of ideas, this essay highlights Curitiba's shifting positions in the history of urban planning: at times an importer of ideas, at others an exporter.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136450/curitibas-public-transportation-model-goes-against-the-grain-of-foreign-ideas-adopted-in-brazilValdinei de Souza Castro
Following an invitation from the Municipal Government of Puebla, Mexico, through the Office of the Historic Center and Cultural Heritage, "Patio Efímero, the festival of contemporary art, architecture, and heritage," better known as "Patio Efímero," will represent Puebla at Berlin Design Week 2023. This year's central theme is resilience; accordingly, the Puebla-based collective responsible for organizing the festival will address the September 19, 2017 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic—events that have shaped all three editions of the project.
When considering the segment of the elderly population aged 60 and over, the 2022 survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) recorded a total of 32,113,490 older adults, representing approximately 15.6% of the current population. In 2010, this same age group represented 10.8%, indicating a 4.8% increase in just 12 years. The median age of the Brazilian population has increased by six years since 2010, reaching 35 in 2022, while the aging index rose, indicating 55.2 older adults for every 100 children aged 0 to 14, compared to 30.7 per 100 in 2010.
Interior design is the art of transforming the experience of interior space by manipulating spatial volume and treating surfaces to enhance the inside of a home, apartment, building, or restaurant. Closely related is landscape architecture, which focuses on shaping open, outdoor spaces.
“Together we are stronger,” read the signs at the massive Latin American marches on International Women's Day. Women build networks across all their spheres of action: their families, communities, and workplaces. The world of architecture is no exception. Among women architects, these bonds foster connection, as seen in the nearly 30 networks of women architects in the region featured below.
Architects Smiljan Radic and Nicolás Schmidt designed an inflatable structure for the XXII Chilean Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism. Located in the urban setting of the Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago, it served as a temporary venue for meetings, debates, and lectures that brought public discussions to the forefront regarding the event's central theme: "Vulnerable Habitats."
A subjective understanding guides us when we think about real estate values—one deeply connected to how markets shape cities. While the spatial distribution of prices leads us to place higher value on land in urban centers, the same economic model conversely assigns lower values to more remote areas.
Historically, central port areas were responsible for developing many cities into commercial hubs, which also expanded along geographical and economic lines. In a standard urban model, it is from the center outward that market forces dictate land prices and densities, factoring in transport costs, income, and total population.
Recycling is the process of reclaiming discarded materials. Its goal is to reintroduce them into the production chain to continue generating value and enable their reuse, enhancing the preservation of natural resources and improving quality of life. It is considered one of the most efficient alternatives for managing solid waste from both an environmental and social standpoint, and is directly integrated into the framework of the circular economy.
Play represents a key opportunity for children to acquire skills and knowledge in a natural and engaging way. Among the key innovations in early childhood and primary education, play stands out as a central axis of the learning process, serving as a fundamental pedagogical principle to achieve educational goals. Combining play with outdoor learning fosters exploration, experimentation, sensory stimulation, and motor development during childhood.
Featuring diverse materials, designs, and dynamics, the playground equipment represented by Urbanplay fosters open, spontaneous interactions, providing children with spaces to take risks, explore, and connect with nature.
Buildings consume natural resources. Whether in their construction or during their operation, architecture can have a significant impact on the environment. Promoting sustainable practices to minimize energy, water, and material consumption is essential to reduce carbon emissions and help mitigate the climate crisis. With the ongoing debate surrounding sustainability, environmental consciousness has not only become vital, but it has also started to add value to properties built with this focus. Therefore, moving beyond mere greenwashing, we must look for solutions that make a real difference.
genarchitects was founded in Shanghai in 2013. Whether operating in dense urban environments or amidst natural landscapes, the firm remains committed to the authentic realities of design and construction practice. By carefully balancing site conditions and functional requirements, genarchitects seeks to find calm and honest solutions for complex and uncertain realities.
Led by founding partners Fan Beilei, Kong Rui, and Xue Zhe, genarchitects engages in a comprehensive range of design work. Their projects span from schools and art museums to bridges, sports fields, furniture, and urban design. Representative works include the Dingshu Vocational School, the Pavilion of One Court, the Aranya MCSC Hotel, and the Wallpaper* Apartments at Friendship Bay. The firm's work has received numerous honors, including the Architecture China Natural Construction Award, the WA China Architecture Award, the Architectural Creation Award of the Architectural Society of Shanghai, the AIA Shanghai Design Award, the German Iconic Awards (Best of Best), and Italy's THE PLAN Award.
Avenida Paulista. Circa 1920. Photo: Guilherme Gaensly (Acervo Instituto Moreira Salles)
A major urban axis where thousands of people, subways, buses, cars, and bicycles pass daily. High-rise buildings, cultural centers, banks, and shopping malls. As the symbol of São Paulo, Avenida Paulista once looked very different. As difficult as it may be to imagine today, it was once lined with grand mansions of the most diverse architectural styles, and its destiny was altered in a matter of days by heritage preservation disputes and... a pizza.
