The latest data from SICCAU reinforces the importance of architects and urban planners during times of crisis and necessity. With the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty and business restrictions caused demand for projects and construction to drop drastically in the first months of last year. However, after this initial shock, the architecture and urban planning market showed a strong recovery. In the final three months of 2020, the number of activities registered by architects and urban planners grew by 12% compared to the same period in 2019. 

In recent years, wood has gained traction as a renewable, versatile, and aesthetically appealing building material. Its strength, ease of handling, and insulating properties give it advantages that other materials cannot match, making it an increasingly popular choice among designers, architects, and builders. However, while it offers multiple benefits, it is also susceptible to degradation and decay, requiring preservation care to withstand the passage of time and other external threats.

Historically, to address these durability issues, there were two options: applying chemical treatments or using tropical hardwoods. While the former generates harmful toxins, the latter drives deforestation in the context of climate change. Consequently—and driven by an increasing demand for the material—alternative methods have been developed to protect it. One of these is acetylation, a non-toxic process that, in addition to offering high performance, significantly reduces environmental impact.

The National Cultural Heritage Service (SERPAT), with technical advisory from the Ministry of Public Works' Directorate of Architecture and sponsorship from the Chilean Association of Architects and the Association of Architecture Offices (AOA), launched the Los Ríos Regional Infrastructure Design Competition for the Library, Archives, and Collections Repository. The initiative aimed to select the best design proposal to deliver a distinctive and iconic public building for the region while fostering discussion on contemporary local architecture.

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Architect Erich Coufal (1926–2021) traveled from his native Vienna, Austria, to Guadalajara, Mexico, at just 24 years of age, ultimately remaining in the city for the rest of his life. Here, he left a fundamental legacy for Modern architecture in Guadalajara and Mexico. An immigrant who adopted the city as his own, he often said he was born twice: first in Vienna in 1926, and second in Guadalajara in 1950.

The Museum of the Portuguese Language will reopen on July 31, rebuilt after the fire that struck it in December 2015. One of the first museums entirely dedicated to a language, located in the historic Luz Station in the city with the largest Portuguese-speaking population in the world, the museum celebrates the language as a founding element of Brazilian culture. Through interactive experiences, audiovisual content, and immersive environments, visitors are taken on a journey into the history and diversity of the language spoken by 261 million people worldwide. The official opening ceremony on July 31 will be streamed live on the museum's social media channels.

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Established in Shanghai in 2012, atelier mearc is dedicated to delivering exploratory and creative outcomes across architecture, interiors, and installations. The studio focuses on observing daily life, uncovering the deep connections between human behavior and space, and translating them into the genesis of its creative work. It actively explores the unique value inherent in each project, encouraging exploratory research in the early stages while remaining committed to local construction practices during execution. Grounded in design, the studio also prioritizes collaboration with professional consultants to ensure the economic and technical viability of its projects.

This article is a collaboration with Colectivo RE and was originally published on August 2, 2020, in the second edition of Huevo de pato, a publication that aims to share thoughts and experiences as a strategy toward the democratization of knowledge and practice.

Today, April 12, 2021, marked the passing of architect Carlos González Lobo, a leading proponent of social and participatory architecture in Mexico. A 1963 graduate of the National School of Architecture, he went on to earn a Master of Architecture from UNAM's Faculty of Architecture in 1995. That same year, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Rhode Island School of Design, later receiving a PhD in Architecture from UNAM in 2007.

This article is a collaboration with Colectivo RE and was originally published on August 2, 2020, in the second edition of Huevo de pato, a publication that aims to share thoughts and experiences as a strategy for the democratization of knowledge and practice.

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"Architecture Without Architects" is a project led by Mexican artist Sandra Calvo between 2011 and 2014 in the neighborhood of Villa Gloria—a self-built housing complex in Ciudad Bolívar, a district in southern Bogotá. Working in collaboration with a resident family, the project involved creating a thread structure that reflected their latent aspirations for their own home through design and building practices.

In April 2021, the A8 Design Center in Chengdu presented "2-Kilometer Lakeshore: 2021 Luxelakes Cross-disciplinary Exhibition of Independent Architects from Southwest China." The exhibition invited 31 independent architects to build experimental, interactive, and experiential micro-spaces along the Luxelakes waterfront, offering 31 distinct perspectives on the world. Operating under a tight budget of 30,000 RMB, the architects infused their creations with self-reflection and their own understanding of publicness. By facilitating dialogue among the architects and between the architects and the public, the exhibition sought to further stimulate public engagement with design.

Through the works of these 31 local young architects with global perspectives, we witness the diverse values of a new generation and their multi-dimensional thinking on architecture. Limu Architectural Lab deconstructs architecture into columns, plinths, roofs, and envelopes, dissolving pure form; Uyoung Architects boldly deploys pink walls to establish relationships of "seeing and being seen" and "hearing and being heard" with the environment; Bai Yang uses 70 hemlock logs to support an "iron hat"; TEKTONN ARCHITECTS uses 150 bamboo poles to construct an accessible rest area; Fanzhu Design uses iron to create three continuous arched spaces that offer shelter and passage; 00Group creates an enclosed, mirrored space; MUDA-Architects builds a "periscope" by the lake, featuring a bubble wrap facade that invites tactile interaction.

Videos

Archivo de Ideas Recibidas is an interdisciplinary research and dissemination project that seeks to document and connect the ideas of contributors to the contemporary creative ecosystem across art, design, and architecture. It is built upon conversations between the team and various creators, delving into themes related to memory, academia, cultural context, key influences, and working methodologies.

This article by Valeria Abello Aldana and Miriam Kuehler was originally published under the title "Los inquilinatos en Bogotá: desde la problemática socioespacial hasta una propuesta arquitectónica habitacional" in the 31st issue of the Dearq journal on September 1, 2021 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq31.2021.06).

This article sheds light on the inquilinato (tenement/rooming house) typology as a significant form of housing for the most vulnerable populations. It describes their current situation and socio-spatial dynamics, reflecting on both negative aspects and potential opportunities to propose the hypothesis that inquilinatos are a challenge resulting from economic and social factors manifested in spatial terms. Consequently, if approached through architecture, they have the potential to become a dignified housing alternative. Therefore, the architectural project seeks to validate this hypothesis, sparking a discussion about the inquilinato as a housing solution.

We present it below as part of a joint collaboration to contribute to the dissemination of research, analysis, and opinions developed by the national and international academic community on architecture, urban issues, and related fields.

According to the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), the construction industry is the largest consumer of natural resources. To minimize environmental impacts, the concept of sustainable construction has emerged, employing techniques that ensure greater efficiency and responsibility from the beginning to the end of a project.

The first consideration is the layout of the rooms, as each space has an ideal location based on the local climate. “The layout of rooms in a residence can establish baseline conditions for comfort or discomfort. It is the role of the architectural design, through the organization of the floor plan, to ensure the appropriate level of sunlight and natural ventilation for each space,” states the free sustainable renovation guide published by the Ministry of the Environment.

Videos

In late 2020, the documentary Os Mutirões da Leste 1 was released, chronicling the history of the Movimento Sem Terra Leste 1 through each of its projects. The documentary was produced and directed by Paula Constante, who describes herself as a “mother, practicing documentarian, architect, and holder of a master's degree from FAUUSP.” By telling the story of one of the most active social movements in the city of São Paulo, Constante and MST Leste 1 show us the importance of struggle, the collective, affectivity, and the responsibility we must bring to our professional practice. We had the opportunity to speak with Paula and discuss this experience.

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Citymakers is working with ArchDaily to publish a series of articles, conversations, and interviews with different actors in urban co-production, who are behind the Citymakers Barcelona Lab 2021, a program returning to Barcelona between November 8 and 12, 2021.

CityMakers is the global platform of experts in urban co-production best practices, seeking to connect city co-producers and influential leaders from around the world to inspire each other and drive transformation in their cities.

For this edition, Albert Santasusagna del Riu – IdRA – Barcelona Water Research Institute, presents his article "Towards a Globalization of Water Landscapes? Context Matters!".

A modular, prefabricated bike lane was recently inaugurated in Chapultepec Forest Park, Mexico City. Made from post-consumer plastic waste, its smart design also provides drainage and rainwater storage.

The plastics repurposed for the construction of the bike lane would otherwise have been discarded or incinerated. Another advantage is that if the material wears down, it can be recycled again, creating a circular life cycle.

The following article is the result of a collaboration with Arquitectas Colombianas, an initiative that seeks to promote the legacy, contributions, and activities of women in architecture and design in Colombia and around the world. Below, explore their vision and the presence of women in the local scene, accompanied by quotes from the architects behind this work.

In the architecture industry, environmental sustainability applied to the design and production of eco-efficient products has been receiving increasing attention. In this episode, Arquicast speaks with Sami Meira, an architect graduated from Florida Atlantic University and a specialist in Sustainable Business Strategy and Material Health. 

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This article by Sebastián Trujillo Torres (Universidad Nacional de Colombia/CEPT University) was originally published under the title "A Manifesto of Lightweight Infrastructures" in issue 28 (2020) of Dearq journal (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq28.2020.03) and is part of a joint publishing collaboration.

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This article by Carlos Arroyo Zapatero was originally published under the title "Artialization and Ecology: Sustainable Productive Landscapes" in issue 24 of Dearq journal on January 1, 2019 (https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq24.2019.02) and is part of a joint editorial partnership.

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With their project Campo de Retamas, the firms Burgos & Garrido Arquitectos and MAPAAC have won the design competition for the comprehensive renovation of the La Paz University Hospital complex (Madrid, Spain). Although the proposal had already been unanimously selected in November 2019, on March 24, the Governing Council of the Community of Madrid approved the final project, establishing the construction start dates. The initial phases of the project are expected to begin in March 2022, with the entire construction process estimated to take about 11 years. To keep the hospital fully operational throughout this period, the renovations will be divided into three phases: the General Hospital, the Maternal and Child Hospital, and finally, the complementary services building and the Maternity Tower.

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Elevating a building off the ground using pilotis frees up the ground floor for pedestrian circulation. This solution, identified by Le Corbusier as one of the five points of modern architecture, creates an open area that fosters a stronger connection between the public space of the street and the private space of the building. Today, contemporary projects adopt various strategies to design active ground floors that engage with the city and generously share their plots with the public.

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This self-dialogue by Francesco Careri (associate professor, Università Roma Tre), translated by Alessandra Merlo (associate professor in the Department of Languages and Culture, Universidad de los Andes), was originally published under the title Autodialogo sulla produzione di utopie concrete, in Alessandra Criconia (ed.), Una Città per tutti: Diritti, spazi, cittadinanza [Milan: Donzelli, 2019, 111-120], and previously in issue 28 of Dearq journal on 01/01/2020 under the title "Francesco Careri, Self-dialogue on the production of concrete utopias" (https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq28.2020.02) and is part of a joint dissemination partnership.