A successful interior design must be paired with a proper lighting design. It is responsible for ensuring that the quantity and wattage of the bulbs are suited to the space based on its dimensions and use.

Currently, until August 16, the second public consultation on the new Urban Intervention Project (PIU) for the city's central sector is open on the municipal government's website. The project involves the necessary revision of the Centro Urban Operation, a law enacted in 1997 whose alignment with the regulatory framework established by the 2001 City Statute had been expected since the passage of the last Master Plan (Law 16,050/2014).

The flooding issues in São Paulo, which have shown signs of worsening due to changing rainfall patterns, can only be effectively addressed by combining different approaches and drainage solutions—specifically those of urban planning and engineering. This means both improving the system of stormwater retention basins and promoting drainage solutions with urban design quality, such as linear parks, renaturalization, and network structuring linked to mobility axes. More importantly, these solutions must be implemented in areas where those most affected by disasters live: lands prone to landslides and flooding, occupied by vulnerable housing and severely lacking in infrastructure, such as favelas, informal settlements, and peripheral neighborhoods.

The so-called “right of protocol” is a legal anomaly today, as it allows private real estate developers to choose which legislation applies to their projects. This mechanism was established in the 1970s, prior to key democratic advancements, particularly those concerning the social function of property and rights to an ecologically balanced environment, housing, and cultural heritage. Today, maintaining this “right” of protocol delays the implementation of changes envisioned by new urban planning laws designed to correct the everyday dysfunctions of the city, such as flooding.

Architectural photographer Guilherme Pucci shared with us his photo essay of the boat garage that is part of the Santa Paula Yacht Club complex, designed by architect João Batista Vilanova Artigas in the early 1960s and closed in the mid-1980s. Currently, the building, one of the icons of São Paulo's modern architecture, located on the shores of the Guarapiranga Reservoir in the southern zone of the city of São Paulo, is in a state of disrepair and abandonment.

The real estate market and construction industry in São Paulo, which had been booming since the mid-1960s thanks to the creation of the National Housing Bank, allowed for broad architectural experimentation, such as a novel program: vertical multifamily housing. Nevertheless, as early as the 1950s, Revista Pilotis was already calling for architects to take a stance on the issues generated by this new program:

Recently, the population of Mozambique suffered a devastating tragedy caused by Cyclone Idai, which left a massive number of people dead, injured, and homeless. To support the affected communities, the Architectes de l'Urgence Foundation is calling on architecture and engineering professionals to help rebuild one of the hardest-hit areas. Read the official statement below.

Lina Bo Bardi was undoubtedly one of the most expressive architects to ever practice in Brazil. Born in Rome, she became one of the most important figures to synthesize Brazilian culture for the world, merging architecture and politics by breaking down the barriers between high culture and popular culture.

Over the last few years, ArchDaily Brasil has published a series of articles and reflections on her material and immaterial work. To this end, we have compiled a selection of these texts to serve as a foundation for a deeper understanding of the architect:

Two residential buildings collapsed this morning in Rio de Janeiro. Located in the Muzema community, in the city's West Zone, the four- and six-story structures collapsed at around 6:30 a.m. Two fatalities and three injuries have been confirmed, and another 17 people remain missing under the rubble.

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The Arquiteturas Film Festival (AFF) is returning to Lisbon soon and has already set its dates. From June 4 to 9, the 7th edition takes over Cinema São Jorge, centering the debate around the theme "Human Nature." Over the course of six days, the 2019 program will feature 62 films—90 percent of which are Portuguese premieres, alongside several world premieres. There will also be various parallel activities, including workshops, masterclasses, children's workshops, guided tours, collective meetings, and more.

The firm Vigliecca & Associados was named the winner of an international competition in Bogotá, organized by Compensar, a Colombian social service organization, in partnership with the Universidad de los Andes. Held in two phases, the competition featured invited firms from Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as Colombia, and aimed to select the best proposal for a social housing complex.

In early September 2019, the Geography, City and Architecture graduate program at Escola da Cidade welcomed Canadian philosopher Mark Kingwell for a series of lectures. On Wednesday, September 4, students Pedro Perez Barroso, Lua Victor Vieira Lima, and Igor Augusto, invited by the Scientific Council of Escola da Cidade, interviewed Kingwell on issues concerning society, politics, the climate emergency, architecture, and cities.

Residents of Jardim Lapenna, in São Miguel Paulista, in São Paulo's East Zone, have created a participatory neighborhood plan in the state capital. Out of 32 urban actions planned in areas such as lighting, security, and paving, seven were selected as priorities and are currently being incorporated into the annual budget bill (PLOA) for 2019.

In modern architecture, designing involves analyzing, predicting, and determining spaces and functions with precision, leaving no room for error. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, this rationalizing character, driven by maximum efficiency, was harshly criticized, and "erring"—in the sense of wandering, roaming without aim or destination—became recognized as an inevitable part of the human experience.

After reflecting on design capable of establishing 'emotional belonging' and the antipatterns of social housing, Nikos A. Salingaros, David Brain, Andres M. Duany, Michael W. Mehaffy, and Ernesto Philibert-Petit continue their series of articles on social housing in Latin America. In this installment, the text addresses how control influences urban form and ways of living.

In regions with high temperatures and intense solar radiation, buildings must ensure adequate thermal comfort for their occupants. To this end, the use of brise-soleils is an effective solution for projects featuring large glass surfaces, thereby reducing heat gain from direct sunlight.

Urban Brazil is deeply ugly. Why did this happen? Some blame "the absence of urban planning and zoning, manipulated height limits, and the nefarious power of contractors and builders influencing the drafting of master plans."

The future of architecture is urban; there is no longer any doubt about it. Projections indicate that by 2050—that is, in just over 30 years—75% of the world's population will live in cities, while in Brazil this figure will exceed 90%. However, our discipline must concern itself with the quality of life for everyone; therefore, projects in rural contexts will continue to be on the agenda of architects worldwide.

Below, we present a selection of residential projects built in the countryside. These Brazilian houses, nestled in rural and pastoral landscapes, are designed for the daily lives of their inhabitants or as temporary retreats to decompress from urban life. One way or another, they all share a single objective: to open themselves up to their bucolic surroundings. 

The Spanish word medianera carries a meaning that is often translated as "party wall" or "blind wall," yet its significance in Spanish-speaking contexts takes on a deeper cultural and urban resonance when considered in local terms. This architectural element, which simultaneously separates and connects adjacent lots in such a striking manner, is a recurring feature in Spanish-colonized cities across the Americas. In the case of Argentina, Buenos Aires took shape under the principles of those who arrived with gridiron plans and the rigor of orthogonal organization. The city developed within this logic, resulting today in an urban landscape persistently marked by the presence of these rigid, seemingly unavoidable elements known as medianeras.

Throughout Brazil and across different sectors of society, organized groups are collaborating to develop projects and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of urban life and transforming cities into more democratic spaces, reinforcing collective identity and a sense of belonging. The 4th Project Exhibition, an event taking place during the 4th COURB - Collaborative Urbanism Meeting, aims to celebrate and bring visibility to these groups. It focuses on themes such as Public Policy and Legislation, Communication and Information, Education and Culture, Physical Intervention in the Territory, Mobilization and Advocacy, Research, Projects, and Plans.

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As part of the programming for the exhibition Infinito Vão, Casa da Arquitectura invited a group of architects from different generations featured in the exhibition on 90 years of Brazilian architecture for a series of talks hosted at the Instituto Moreira Salles in São Paulo. Architects Ruy Ohtake and Marcos Acayaba participated in this event, moderated by one of the exhibition's curators, Guilherme Wisnik. 

Tactical urbanism, a practice that has gained prominence in recent years, has proven to be an appealing strategy for activist collectives, architects, urban planners, and designers worldwide. By proposing low-cost, micro-scale, targeted urban interventions, it aims to promote the right to the city. This approach to thinking about public spaces in the city operates through a non-hierarchical logic, where civil society (whether or not in collaboration with the state and/or private enterprises) proposes alternatives to the traditional design process in the urban sphere.

After at least five years of study, the time comes for architecture and urban planning students to complete their final graduation projects—often referred to as thesis, graduation, or capstone projects. In choosing their topic, students highlight civil, urban, or theoretical proposals that are highly relevant to fostering discussions about the future of our cities, the built environment, urban infrastructure, mobility, and many other topics essential to evolving the way we inhabit space.

With nearly four thousand projects published on ArchDaily Brasil in 2019 alone, and with less than a month left in the year, our curators wrap up this stimulating year for architecture with a selection of the most visited residential projects published on our Brazilian platform.

Set in urban, rural, or coastal landscapes; built using diverse structural systems, from traditional masonry to highly technological prefabricated methods; and ranging from compact dwellings to large-scale residences; this selection of 50 houses highlights the most popular projects from the past twelve months. According to our readers, these designs stood out as the most compelling in terms of innovation, construction techniques, and design challenges. Check them out below: