+ 16

Due to its climate and territorial characteristics, Ecuador possesses an immense diversity of bamboos: it has 6 genera and 42 identified species, of which 11 are endemic. Among them, Guadua angustifolia cane is considered the most important species in terms of abundance and physical and mechanical properties. The indigenous term guadua was used by the native communities of Ecuador and Colombia to designate this species of "native bamboo," which was later renamed "Guadua angustifolia"—meaning "narrow leaf"—and taxonomically belongs to the Poaceae family and the Bambusoideae subfamily. The use of this material is so ancient that, according to the book *Nuevas técnicas de construcción en bambú* (1978), remains have been found in buildings in Ecuador estimated to be 9,500 years old.

Icons at Risk is an international initiative led by the organization Iconic Houses that seeks to protect and preserve residential projects—private homes, housing developments, and residential complexes—considered of high architectural relevance as representative examples of the ideas and principles of the Modern Movement. The initiative is based on the premise that many iconic homes around the world are currently disappearing—either falling into irreversible neglect, being radically transformed, or ultimately demolished—due to a lack of protective legislation. Because they are part of recent history, many of these structures—particularly houses from the second half of the 20th century—are not yet recognized as "heritage" and therefore lack sufficient legal protection. In many cases, these works serve as physical manifestos that reveal the aspirations and creative pursuits of 20th-century architects and designers within each country's specific urban landscape, making their historical significance clear.

Toward a New Normal with Less Urban Inequality is a petition addressed to the various levels of the Peruvian government –the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Provincial Municipalities, Ministries, District Municipalities, and Regional Governments—that aims to draw attention to and denounce the current situation facing the country's cities. Through this document, the signatories express their concern and call for priority and structural actions to improve the living conditions of all citizens in Peru.

+ 12

The levels of air pollution reached by major urban centers around the world in recent years reveal the troubled relationship we have maintained—and continue to maintain—with our environment. The gravity of the issue lies in the fact that this not only affects the overall balance of the planet, but according to the World Health Organization, the current state of the atmosphere also causes, through the simple act of breathing, the death of around seven million people each year. Shortly after governments in various countries announced measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus—lockdowns and isolation—numerous studies began to show an unexpected and promising trend: air pollution levels in many cities began to drop significantly within days of the measures being announced due to reduced traffic and a decline in industrial emissions.

In recent months, Legado Lima 2019 has become one of the key organizations collaborating in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in Peru. Thanks to hosting the Pan American and Parapan American Games in 2019, the country was able to apply lessons learned in infrastructure, equipment, protocols, and operations to combat COVID-19, repurposing and transforming modern infrastructure—originally built to host the continent's largest multi-sport event—to confront the pandemic.

Techniques in visualization have evolved significantly over the years, providing increasingly accurate depictions that give architects a realistic view of their work before the foundation is even laid. For architects and the people they work with, the goal of a visualization is to illustrate the qualities and characteristics of a three-dimensional space that has yet to be built or is in the process of being constructed, by using hand or computer drawn images, videos, and even virtual reality platforms. All of these tools serve as a way of bringing an idea to life, whether for clients or judges in an architectural competition.  

+ 7

Through a visual survey, architect and photographer Ramón Paolini explores the evolution of Caracas (Venezuela). The photographs capture the capital's transformation throughout the past forty years, giving viewers an in depth look at one of Latin America's most tumultuous regions, its urban development, and the socio-political aspects behind it. Most importantly, Paolini illustrates his personal vision for this urban space that builds, destroys, and rebuilds with an astounding tenacity.

+ 33

In 2019, third-year architecture students from the Universidad del Desarrollo in Concepción, Chile, traveled to the town of San Juan on Chiloé Island to build the Piuche Lookout. In this project, students faced the realities of construction processes—experiencing challenges associated with adverse weather and physical fatigue—working with the community and interpreting the territory, materials, and local crafts to realize a full-scale project. This activity, which began with a blank page and culminated in a built idea, serves as the students' first hands-on experience with developing an architectural project. Piuche is positioned vertically along a coastline south of the town, in dialogue with the natural elements: the hills, the sky, and the water.

Set against the backdrop of the current pandemic—and the tragic experience it has brought to countries worldwide—the Manifesto for the Reorganization of the City after COVID-19 expresses the deep concern of professionals regarding the future of cities in the post-pandemic period. The text, a critical document focused on the city of Barcelona—though applicable to most Western cities—was drafted by Massimo Paolini, an architectural theorist and member of the Political Ecology Network (POLLEN). It outlines the problems affecting urban centers and highlights alarming data, calling for urgent and drastic measures.

+ 36

On May 28, the results of the national architectural ideas competition for the Three Faculties Educational Complex and University Campus were announced, a call inviting professionals in Argentina to develop an educational master plan in the Tigre district, Buenos Aires. The University Campus was to include a Law and Social Sciences Faculty, a Faculty of Medicine with a University Medical Research Center, and a Faculty of Architecture to house technical and humanities disciplines. Meanwhile, the Educational Complex was required to include a high school, a primary school, and a preschool, which had to be connected to the university cloisters to support educational continuity.

+ 116

The winning projects of the Emergency Health Prototypes ideas competition have been announced, an open-call initiative aimed at Latin American students of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, design, and related fields. Jointly organized by the Taller de Desarrollo Urbano (Venezuela), the Organización Peruana de Estudiantes de Arquitectura (Peru), and Colectivo Más Ciudad (Peru), and sponsored by Revista Envolvente, Revista Entre Rayas, Instituto Científico del Pacífico, Arquitectura Venezuela, Dilab, and Imagina 3D, the competition was conceived as an opportunity to generate innovative architectural responses to potential collapses in healthcare systems under the threat of COVID-19.

The main source of spread—and likely the origin—of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), first detected in December 2019, is believed to be the Wuhan seafood market in China. From the facility's workers and vendors, the virus began to spread, initially affecting the local population and subsequently reaching more than 200 territories and countries worldwide. Today, three months after the WHO's declaration characterizing the disease as a pandemic, traditional wholesale and retail markets have come under scrutiny as potential contagion hotspots. How can food access be guaranteed for a population without posing a risk to distributors, vendors, and buyers?

Lately, virtual technology has become a crucial resource to support users and students worldwide. Courses, training programs, and books have successfully transitioned to digital formats to ensure the continuity of educational, training, and leisure activities. Understanding this shift, the Arquitectura Moderna 360 project has created a free-access web database that functions as a digital catalog or log, compiling various three-dimensional models, 360° panoramic photos, and VR of representative works of the Modern Movement in Argentina. This allows users from anywhere in the world to immerse themselves in the interior spaces of iconic buildings that have played a significant role in the country's architectural history.

Directed by Gerardo Panero, the documentary narrates the life and work of architect Amancio Williams, a key figure of the Modern Movement in Argentina. Amancio played an undeniable role in renewing the country's architectural ideals, gaining global recognition for his ideas and projects. Among these is the famous Casa sobre el arroyo (House on the Brook), designed in collaboration with his wife Delfina Gálvez de Williams between 1943 and 1946 in the city of Mar del Plata. Although many of his proposals were never built, his ideals and explorations brought about significant changes in the understanding of ways of living, technique, and aesthetics, leaving a valuable legacy for future architects.

Mapas Sonoros is a project by the Usted no está aquí Archive that documents Latin American cities and towns in a non-traditional way. Functioning as a “map of maps,” the website compiles more than 40 independent sites with sound archives from countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay, creating a comprehensive log of georeferenced audio documents that offer an alternative way to map and understand Latin America.

In densely-populated cities, where construction projects tend to require party walls, the close proximity of other buildings complicate even further the process of creating spaces that incorporate elements like natural light and cross-ventilation. But this of course is not the only challenge: the ever-changing and multiplying nature of cities has given rise to atypical lots--properties that have been created by subdividing large swathes of urban land. In general, the reduced dimensions force developers to look for ways to maximize the limited space available to them. 

With their cliffs and bluffs, the rocky coasts of Peru form a unique landscape of surfaces shaped and reshaped by the erosion of the sea and wind. On these heterogeneous, steeply sloping terrains, designing architecture integrated with the context is no easy task. From volumes embedded into hillsides to houses that incorporate mineral formations into their interior spaces, projects addressing this challenge prompt us to reflect on how to establish a relationship with the natural environment, blurring or tensioning the boundaries between architecture and landscape.

During social lockdown, the CNM (National Commission of Monuments, Places, and Historical Assets of the Ministry of Culture), is offering a free online course to discover the great treasures of Argentine architectural heritage, spanning different eras, styles, and regions. Led by renowned experts in each field, the classes will cover a broad overview ranging from the Cueva de las Manos in Santa Cruz Province to modern buildings throughout the country.