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March 9 marks the birth anniversary of one of the most globally significant Mexican architects, a pioneer of the Modern Movement in Mexico whose work has transcended geographical boundaries to be studied by generations of architects who have rewritten his teachings to make them their own. Luis Barragán, the Guadalajara-born architect and 1980 Pritzker Prize laureate, left a timeless legacy that continues to pave the way for new research and discoveries today.
Studio Zhu-Pei was founded in Beijing in 2005 by Zhu Pei. The practice has consistently focused on the exploration and practice of cultural architecture, driven by an artistic and experimental creative ethos. To date, the studio has completed 18 art museums and cultural projects, with another 17 currently under construction or in the design phase. Design Philosophy: "Nature Architecture" is neither landscape architecture nor green architecture. Rather than referring to nature in a narrow sense, it represents a natural attitude—an exploration of the natural tectonic laws behind architecture. It seeks to uncover the sensory roots defined by one's own culture, establishing a deep-seated connection between architecture and local culture, geography, and climate.
The history of architectural visualization has undergone numerous shifts over the centuries. Its intrinsic relationship with architecture itself has sparked expressions and critiques that, beyond serving as a tool for representing the inhabited world, directly influence how we perceive it and shape the production of the built environment. Every form of architectural representation—whether showcasing the final product or revealing the design process—is directly tied to a specific understanding of quality, class, interpretation, intention, and meaning. While certain trends may seem linked to specific artistic movements, each possesses its own biases, preferences, cultures, and economic, cultural, and personal impulses.
ArchDaily In-Depth is an interview series featuring architects with long-term expertise in specific typologies. Selected firms must have been established for over a decade, or boast a substantial portfolio of completed and ongoing projects in a specialized field, backed by a robust theoretical framework. Recently, we spoke with the lead architects of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center—one of the world's largest single buildings—the team at Valode & Pistre (VP). Their portfolio also includes the Sanya Haitang Bay International Duty-Free Complex, Haikou International Duty-Free City, Hangzhou Grand Exhibition Center, Jinan International Exhibition Center, and Wuhan International Exhibition Center. How do these mega-scale urban landmarks balance civic symbolism with architectural functionality? How do they reconcile colossal structural spans with the human scale? How many design iterations did it take, and how did they achieve sustainability in both program and construction? This article decodes the design process behind large-scale exhibition architecture.
With the growing interest in virtual tours driven by recent public health conditions, access to these experiences has become increasingly common. While not a new technology, it is rapidly evolving to engage art and architecture enthusiasts. With this in mind, a project titled "San Lázaro 40 (X) 5 / 40 years, 5 murals" was launched to showcase one of the most iconic spaces designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez: the San Lázaro Legislative Palace.
PILLS is a Beijing-based, research-oriented architecture studio. Our practice spans speculative endeavors, including architectural and interior design, installation and exhibition design, urban and landscape design, as well as cross-media production and cultural dissemination. Ranging from installations to public buildings, and from cultural projects to commercial developments, PILLS actively delivers a diverse range of urban and architectural design services while leveraging various media to drive the production of contemporary architectural culture.
The adaptive reuse of the former production center seeks to revitalize the history of local industry through the preservation of its physical and cultural heritage. Transforming the historic building of the former Limache Brewery in Chile into a museum open to the public is the primary goal of the open call launched by CCU. Submissions for the heritage adaptive reuse of this industrial building will remain open until August 15.
Delving into the foundations and methodologies through which emerging architecture practices approach the craft allows us not only to map the trends shaping today's landscape, but also to understand the new perspectives they offer to the development of the discipline. Over their four-year career, Chilean architects Matías Alarcón, Cristian Fuhrhop, and Cristóbal Montalbetti have developed a diverse body of work united by a shared focus on meticulous detailing, material exploration, and a sensitive dialogue with the landscape. In the following interview, the co-founders of this architecture and design studio discuss the importance of collective practice and material experimentation in the design and execution of their work.
Archivo de Ideas Recibidas is an interdisciplinary research and dissemination project that seeks to document and connect the ideas of individuals contributing to the contemporary creative ecosystem from the fields of art, design, and architecture. It is built on conversations between the team and various creators, exploring themes related to memory, academia, cultural context, key influences, and working methodologies.
A new digital platform aims to reappraise and promote the legacy of the renowned Chilean architect and academic Glenda Kapstein. This website compiles a series of projects and publications chronologically, shaping a linear narrative around her career-long focus on the relationship between architecture and the environment.
Ecuadorian illustrator and architecture student Ariel Triana Ayarza (Arluz Ilustraciones) has created a series that explores Guayaquil's architecture through digital illustrations. The graphic collection aims to highlight the beauty of heritage landmarks, colonial buildings, and all the representative works that shape the city's identity.
This article by Susana Romero Sánchez was originally published under the title "La historia olvidada de la arquitectura en Colombia: la vivienda rural y la modernización durante la República Liberal" in issue 29 of Dearq journal on January 1, 2021 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq29.2021.04).
This article analyzes the "campaign for the improvement of peasant housing," launched by the Instituto de Crédito Territorial (ICT) during the Liberal Republic (1930–1946). Contrary to traditional narratives of modern architecture in Colombia, which overlook experiments in rural architecture or relegate them to a form of prehistory, this study shows that peasant housing influenced the subsequent development of modern social housing. The article argues that the rural housing campaign was central to a concept of modernity in Colombia based on the prosperous, mid-sized peasant landowner.
In a privileged location in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, with unparalleled accessibility for both national and international events, the project by Frazzi Arquitectos is built upon the history of Club Vélez Sarsfield, seeking to embody the legacy left by its illustrious figure, Don José “Pepe” Amalfitani.
Following decades of informal, well-intentioned interventions aimed at addressing emerging needs, the new project proposes a comprehensive overhaul. Moving beyond a mere functional solution and drawing on the club's history and sensitivity, it seeks to bring character and local relevance to the community.
This article by Ana María López-Ortego was originally published under the title "Transformaciones territoriales y desbordes en la zona rurbana de la localidad de Bosa (Bogotá) desde la perspectiva de movimientos urbanos de base" (Territorial Transformations and Overflows in the Rurban Zone of the Locality of Bosa (Bogotá) from the Perspective of Grassroots Urban Movements) in issue 30 of the Dearq journal on May 1, 2021 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq30.2021.06).
This article examines the conflicts between planning culture and urban culture in the rurban areas of the locality of Bosa (Bogotá, Colombia), where an urban model is being reproduced that is disconnected from both its territorial border status and the cultural identities of its residents (rural-to-urban migrants, Indigenous populations, and youth collectives linked to urban culture, sports, and hip-hop). A bottom-up analysis of the area's transformations reveals perceptions of urban segregation and a loss of governance mechanisms, while also identifying processes of spatial appropriation and resignification by grassroots, collective, and independent rurban movements.
The following is presented as part of a joint collaboration to help disseminate research, analysis, and commentary from the national and international academic community on architecture, urban issues, and related fields.
During the 1980s, NGOs and other organizations interested in housing highlighted the urgent need to address the housing issue comprehensively—seeking a dignified home and environment for vulnerable populations, particularly in Latin America, which was already the world's most urbanized region by the turn of the 21st century. Eight megacities concentrated 14% of the global population, including Mexico City, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro, among others. Furthermore, urban areas have expanded so rapidly that they have outpaced population growth, driven by the construction of residential complexes, shopping malls, and industrial parks.
As part of an initiative to document the history of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, REGIOPOLIS emerged as a documentary video series narrated from the perspective of the city's creators, aiming to leave an architectural record of the Monterrey metropolis. Each episode showcases some of the most significant works that laid the foundation for its urban fabric, exploring the historic and emblematic architecture built to this day.
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18 shops and stores, 16 shopping malls, 18 hotels, and 18 restaurants have been selected as continental winners of the 2021 Prix Versailles awards across six regions: Africa and Western Asia; Central America, South America, and the Caribbean; North America; Central and Northeast Asia; South Asia and the Pacific; and Europe. The selected projects will now compete for the world titles, which will be announced on December 15, 2021.
As in previous years, the selection criteria focused on innovation, creativity, the reflection of local, natural, and cultural heritage, and ecological efficiency, as well as the values of social interaction and participation. Discover all the continental winners below.
In recent years, "real-time rendering" has become an increasingly prominent concept in architectural visualization. Initially dismissed as a theoretical tool far from practical application—plagued by critiques of poor quality, lack of compatibility, and sparse asset libraries—it was deemed incapable of replacing traditional visualization workflows, let alone serving as a primary tool for architects. However, several recent animations created with D5 Render have piqued our curiosity, prompting a closer look at what real-time rendering can now achieve.
Ciudad Juárez is an industrial Mexican city located on the northern border with the United States, specifically adjacent to El Paso, Texas. Over the years, Juárez's economy has been dominated by the ‘maquiladora’ (assembly plant) industry, and the city was once considered one of the most violent in the world due to a wave of crime between 2008 and 2012. Its territory blends multiculturalism, migration, and resilience, creating a hybrid phenomenon that over decades has shaped the mold of “border culture.”
The results of the XIII Yucatecan Architecture Biennial have been announced. A total of 28 awards were presented across 15 categories, including 1 Gold Medal winner, 14 Silver Medal winners, and 13 honorable mentions. The jury was composed of architects Alejandro Ibarra, Carlos Rodríguez, Miguel Rivera, and Elías Cisneros. Read on to discover the winners.
Matosinhos, in northern Portugal, will host the newest project by BIG, the Danish firm led by Bjarke Ingels. Titled Fuse Valley, the project is a mixed-use corporate complex located near the city, dedicated to Farfetch, a global luxury fashion platform, and the Castro Group, a real estate development and construction company.
Promoting the concept of a "sustainable" development that will pave the way for a "future tech valley" to emerge in Matosinhos over the next four years, the companies highlight that more than 80% of the outdoor spaces will be "fully open to the community, in total harmony and respect for the surrounding environment."
The Ministry of the Environment of Mexico City announced the winning project of the National Thematic Garden-Ethnobotanical Garden, Environmental Culture Center Competition in the Second Section of the Chapultepec Forest, which will form part of a master plan for the “Chapultepec Forest: Nature and Culture.” Upon completing the analysis and deliberation of the projects, the jury members highlighted the quality and high standard of the participants across the five submitted proposals. The first, second, and third-place winners are listed below. Read on to discover the winning project and the four finalist proposals.
Industrial buildings are perhaps the ultimate exemplification of Louis Sullivan's famous adage: form follows function. They are typically functional, efficient, fast to build, and unornamented. Consequently, studying the industrial heritage of cities and countries allows us to understand the materials, technologies, and local construction traditions of each era, while reflecting on the industrial past. This quickly brings to mind England's red-brick factories, as well as the skylights used to flood production floors with natural light, among many other typical solutions. Today, steel frames and precast concrete structures are the most widely used due to their combination of construction efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and capacity for large spans. Typically, these industrial warehouses are also characterized by being extremely cold and impersonal, in addition to carrying a substantial carbon footprint. However, Canada's experience in recent years stands out. In this country, timber buildings for industrial programs are gaining increasing acceptance.
This article by Diego Navarro-Mateu, Oriol Carrasco, and Ana Cocho-Bermejo was originally published under the title "Diseño inverso para superficies doblemente regladas: aproximación geométrica y optimización del hypar de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Valle de Félix Candela" in issue 27 of the Dearq journal on July 1, 2020 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq27.2020.08). The following text proposes a reverse engineering/design methodology based on evolutionary computation to discover the hidden, primal hyperboloid that forms the roof of the Church of Nuestra Señora del Valle (Spain), a legacy of the work of architect Félix Candela.
It is presented here as part of a joint collaboration to help disseminate the research, analysis, and opinions developed by the national and international academic community on architecture, urban issues, and related fields.
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.jpg?1624313332 "Music Palace / Alejandro Medina Arquitectura + Reyes Ríos + Larraín arquitectos + Muñoz arquitectos + Quesnel arquitectos. Image © Onnis Luque")
