The Brazilian city is at the center of current debates on quality of life and social justice, driven by the widespread pandemic crisis affecting our urban centers. Not in a long time have both the relevance of urban planning and the value of quality housing design taken center stage as they do today, extending far beyond the social and technical circles where architects operate. It is as if we had forgotten that we are responsible for the cities we inhabit, and that neglect is also a form of design. Now, reality is taking its toll. 

Born from a mechanical engineer's fascination with and interest in the work of Oscar Niemeyer, the Instagram profile Oscar Niemeyer Works has become a benchmark for the modernist architect's legacy, as well as a masterclass in communicating theoretical architectural content without being tedious. Rolando Figueiredo, now an architecture student, is the mind behind this achievement, successfully bridging two seemingly distant worlds: scientific research and entertainment. It is no coincidence that his account has amassed over 87,000 followers, including researchers, educational institutions, renowned offices, and architecture critics.

Among the hardships we have faced due to the pandemic, perhaps one of the most keenly felt is the loss of freedom to enjoy public open spaces. Walking down a pedestrian street, meeting friends in a plaza, exercising in large parks or on beaches, enjoying a nature that is also urban. Beyond the desire to meet someone, there is a deep yearning to meet somewhere—beyond the private and intimate sphere.

With seven years of professional practice, the Rio de Janeiro-based firm Gru.a Arquitetos has built works and interventions in different parts of the world. These architectural, urban, and art installation projects collectively set the group's work apart from traditional practice.

Architecture and Urbanism education, as with all other fields of knowledge, was heavily impacted by the pandemic. Forced to stay home, students and teachers faced a tremendous challenge imposed by physical distancing: how to maintain the quality of teaching practices?

Most federal universities suspended in-person activities, but made their facilities, faculty, and researchers available to combat the pandemic. Research and academic advising were adapted to remote formats, and extracurricular activities were planned to offer alternatives to the abrupt halt of in-person education. Those programs that chose to continue their traditional academic calendars had to migrate content and rethink long-held convictions to adapt to virtual learning environments in a very short period of time.

Discussing the history of cities and architecture in Latin America requires an exercise in deconstruction. The dominant official narrative focuses on understanding the consequences of the colonization of the American continent – North, Central, and South – by European colonizers, overlooking the diverse cultures, techniques, and economies that for over fifteen hundred years shaped lifestyles and spatial production through distinct building traditions. These practices remain highly relevant to the multifaceted context of the world's most “vertical” continent, which spans more latitudes than any other.

The video game industry is one of the most profitable in the world, driven by a constant search for innovation and creativity. The field of game design involves creating and planning the elements, rules, and dynamics of video games. Part of this process involves conceptualizing the virtual environments where the game's action unfolds, placing players within detailed and character-rich virtual contexts. Whether replicating real, recognizable cities in meticulous detail or creating entirely new worlds, architecture and urban planning are vital tools for the game designer.

To talk about architecture and social media is to immediately think of Instagram. Launched in 2010, the app was characterized from the very beginning by combining photo sharing with typical social network features. Its success was extraordinary; within hours of its launch, it was already the most downloaded free photography app. Within two months, the number of registered users surpassed the one-million mark.

The use of shipping containers as a design solution has emerged as a strong trend in contemporary architectural practice. Adapting this utilitarian object, originally designed for cargo transport, into habitable spaces capitalizes on features like its modular capacity, standardized dimensions, and an inherent industrial aesthetic, appealing to many market segments.

This episode of Arquicast brings the Final Graduation Project (TFG), or Capstone Project (TCC), to the center of the debate. This famous acronym represents a crucial milestone in every architect's education. For those who have already graduated, it remains one of the most memorable experiences of their university years. For current students, it can be a phase of conflicting emotions: the anxiety of the upcoming challenge coupled with the excitement of developing a project with complete autonomy.

Any self-respecting architect loves to talk about our profession and its importance to people's quality of life. And with good reason! We know we can contribute to building a more equitable urban environment and that our actions can directly impact the daily lives of city dwellers. However, there are several less-than-flattering traits that architects themselves admit are deeply embedded in our professional culture. 

On January 26, 2021, the Institute of Architects of Brazil celebrates 100 years of history. Since its inception, the IAB has worked to promote architecture and advocate for public design competitions, actively participating in major artistic, political, and social movements in the country's history, always striving to advance professional practice. Since then, global changes and urgent social crises have made it even more critical for the profession to remain conscious of its role in transforming our cities—and for the public to recognize architects as strategic agents in addressing the challenges of the new millennium.

The latest episode of Arquicast features Gabriela de Matos, who was named 2020 “Architect of the Year” by the Institute of Architects of Brazil – Rio de Janeiro Department (IAB-RJ). She is also one of the invited speakers at the 27th World Congress of Architects, organized by UIA2021 RIO.

Currently, one of the most promising fields for design professionals is the planning of open, natural, and urbanized areas that shape the city’s landscape. The fragile balance of urban water systems and the social consequences of the global climate crisis are large-scale examples of how the lack of awareness regarding the importance of natural ecosystems impacts quality of life in cities. It is with this in mind that we must closely examine the role of landscape design and landscape architecture.

The technical assistance law is a planning and legal transformation tool that could bring the practice of architecture and urbanism closer to the people and places where its absence is most felt: in neighborhoods within vulnerable territories. In doing so, it would help provide access to decent housing and guide best practices to ensure resources are used effectively and precisely. To discuss the subject, Arquicast speaks with Coletivo Arquitetos da Favela and ATOS Colaborativos.

In the words of Eduardo Costa and Sonia Milani, this architect “has established himself as an architectural photographer and is today, without a doubt, one of the few who can translate the words, drawings, and concepts of architects into images, particularly those with whom he shares the same ideas.” This time, Arquicast brings us the extensive experience of architect and photographer Nelson Kon in a conversation of rare honesty and deep insight into the personal experiences of this great Brazilian artist. An architect who is also dedicated to photography, as well as an admirer of Nelson's work, Manuel Sá joins the conversation, helping us understand what makes Nelson Kon a point of reference for different generations of architects and photographers worldwide.

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More than just software, BIM (Building Information Modeling) represents an entire approach to representing, modeling, and managing a project, factoring in different dimensions and quality parameters throughout a building's design and subsequent operation—such as architectural design, budgeting, process management, thermal performance, and the environmental impact of materials and their application. Design thinking through BIM must be implemented from the very initial ideas and is most effective when it influences the entire decision-making chain that shapes the project, including post-occupancy evaluations. 

Arquicast dedicates this week's episode to the 2021 Pritzker Prize, providing an opportunity to reflect on the laureates, their body of work, and the jury's citation. The discussion adopts a broader perspective, also considering the history of the award and the potential agendas behind a not always cohesive group of past laureates. Architects Bruno Sarmento and Caio Dias join the conversation.