Today, there is a clear need for those who practice and think about architecture to focus on latent, realistic, and immediate issues that directly impact people's quality of life—rather than focusing on egocentric architectural landmarks spanning thousands of square meters.
This is the case with the project by architect PhD Juan Pablo Aschner Rosselli: a series of activation artifacts for coexistence including the *Jugarmario*, the *Ciclaportivas*, and the *Carpamóvil*. These were designed for the Corpovisionarios Center for Thought and Action, which managed the project.
Render Tipología 4. Image Cortesía de Manuela Keegan
Barranquilla is one of the few Colombian cities whose urban grid was not shaped by a foundational central plaza. Instead, the city grew along the Magdalena River, a bustling trade hub where narrow alleys were formed to distribute goods. Today, the condition of these alleys is a far cry from the peak of the urban landscape recorded in history. Discover the winning proposal of the university competition: Recovering the Alleys of Downtown Barranquilla.
As part of the cultural programming of the Mexico City-based art gallery, MASA presents its fourth exhibition, The Last Tenant, curated by artist Mario García Torres and featuring works by artists such as Carlos Amorales, Leticia Arroyo, Geles Cabrera, Jose Dávila, Héctor Esrawe, EWE, Marie Lund, Theo Michael, Adeline de Monseignat, Rubén Ortiz Torres, Ana Pellicer, Rooms, Josef Strau, Brian Thoreen, and Jorge Yázpik.
As part of the annual celebrations hosted by the CEMEX Awards, the recipient of the Arq. Marcelo Zambrano Scholarship has been announced, reaffirming the commitment to fostering the continued development of architecture in Mexico. CEMEX awards the Arq. Marcelo Zambrano Scholarship in honor of the exemplary career, professional dedication, and leadership of architect Marcelo Zambrano, aiming to support young Mexicans in pursuing postgraduate studies at prestigious international universities.
As part of an initiative by the new Mexico Design Fair platform, the "Designer of the Year" award was presented today, May 22, at Casa Naila in Puerto Escondido to industrial designer Liliana Ovalle, whose work demonstrates an extensive exploration of materials and processes that incorporate narratives and observations of her surroundings.
Built in collaboration with the architecture firm Colette Studio, the showroom for Verdi, a textile studio from Colombia, Bogotá, invites visitors to immerse themselves in a phenomenological experience that bridges textile tradition and contemporary industry. The exhibition space is not only designed with the studio's moving family and cultural legacy in mind, but also reflects the company's belief that exceptional, sustainable craftsmanship is one of today's ultimate luxuries.
As part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the award, Interceramic announced the winners of the Tenth Edition across its various categories and the "2021 Architecture Lifetime Achievement Award." The initiative aims to recognize and promote projects that best reflect contemporary design and express the current state of architecture and interior design, as well as reward creativity in the use of Interceramic ceramic materials.
In a year defined by physical distancing, social media has taken on an even greater role in how we connect and stay informed. Our Instagram accounts have broken reach records, bringing our audience the very best of our website's content: projects, articles, interviews, and news from the architectural world, inspiring new ideas and tools for a better future for our cities.
On Thursday, October 28, as part of the Nuevo Léon Architecture Biennale, the XXI Professional Calli Awards ceremony took place. Honorable mentions, Crystal Calli awards, and silver and gold medals were presented, representing the most prestigious recognitions awarded by the Association of Architects to the best academic and professional projects developed over the last two years.
As part of a new initiative, ESRAWE is transforming its Mexico City showroom into a platform that promotes collaboration among the designers and creatives it works with. This inaugural exhibition seeks to capture the essence of the synergy that defines their working method, featuring iconic pieces from VISSIO, EWE, and Héctor Esrawe's own work, alongside high-design furniture from ESRAWE Studio and young designers like Manu Bañó. Additionally, they are presenting their partnership with Galería Arróniz, showcasing a selection of national and international artists. Read on to discover the full collections.
With Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, two highly important pottery centers, as neighbors, Guadalajara naturally became an epicenter for the promotion and commercialization of crafts. Consequently, in 1963, the government of Jalisco decided to develop a space to promote the work of artisans from all regions of the state.
In the face of an unprecedented climate crisis, green roofs are increasingly establishing themselves as a global architectural trend, providing multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits in urban areas. Following the example of pioneering models like Copenhagen's, cities around the world are replacing gray roofs with green ones in an effort to move toward a more sustainable and healthy future. As a result, integrating green roofs has become a recurring practice in projects aiming to address the inherent challenges of the contemporary city.
Sustainability and the efficient use of natural resources have become fundamental requirements for every architectural project. In this new context, ongoing research and studies have led to the emergence of new materials and construction systems aimed at sustainable development. A recurring example is the ventilated facade, which ensures a building's envelope is safe, efficient, sustainable, and durable by subtly and effectively integrating air renewal. Its ease of installation, contribution to the building's overall structure, and sustainable composition make it a compelling alternative for all types of projects.
As we have discussed previously, home automation is a comprehensive system of automated technologies that allows for the optimization and increased flexibility of the spaces we inhabit. Its primary benefits—such as security, accessibility, comfort, and energy savings—significantly improve people's daily lives. While it might be perceived as an exclusive, high-tech system, it is important to understand that its primary objective is to facilitate daily activities and needs by automating routine tasks.
A key area of home automation is comprised of lighting control systems, which can be connected to all devices within a building. By avoiding unnecessary waste, these systems use only the amount of light required, increasing the lifespan of bulbs and providing significant energy savings. Furthermore, they allow for the creation of environments tailored to each activity, adding flexibility to a space's function. In the current context of the pandemic, the ability to transform a space through lighting has become extremely useful. Our dining room can simultaneously serve as an office and a place to eat, with the appropriate environment for both situations.
The climate crisis is driving architects to integrate solar energy as an essential component of architecture right from the start of the design process. Consequently, companies have been prompted to develop new products that go beyond conventional photovoltaic panels installed on roofs or additional support structures.
Representation is the medium through which architects express their ideas; the better a project is represented, the easier it is to convey its intent to the viewer. In most cases, a simple and concise representation helps to manifest a project's core ideas. However, new technologies provide us with tools that, beyond helping us express and highlight an intent, allow us to convey the quality of the designed environment more realistically.
Mexican architect José Luis Cortés has been appointed President of the International Union of Architects (UIA) for the 2021-2023 term. José Luis Cortés graduated from the Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico and completed studies in Urban Planning in Copenhagen, Denmark, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. He previously served as president of the Federation of Colleges of Architects of the Mexican Republic (FCARM) (2017-2018) and is currently a member of the UIA Council for Region III.
With the onset of COVID-19, we have had to adapt to a different way of living, a shift that has been reflected in our work styles. Where and how do we work today? Many people have begun working from home, provided their circumstances allow it. While this has been convenient for many, for others it has meant a radical change, implying new needs for space and resources. For architects, engineers, builders, and contractors, this challenge has been quite complex, as much of their work involves handling large, high-cost devices.
In this article, we present 3 innovative solutions that replace the traditional, bulky plotter, allowing us to print in large formats from our own homes.
With the onset of COVID-19, we have had to adapt to a different way of living, which has been reflected in our work style. Where and how do we work today? Many people have begun working from home, provided their circumstances allow it. While this has been comfortable for some, for others it has meant a radical change, involving new space and resource requirements. For architects, engineers, builders, and contractors, this challenge has been quite complex, as a large part of their work involves handling large, high-cost devices.
In this article, we present three innovative solutions that replace the traditional, bulky plotter, allowing us to print in large formats from our own homes.
The initiative aims to improve efficient urban solutions at a neighborhood scale, working to counteract the effects of climate heating through urban acupuncture and tactical urbanism as strategies for evaluating urban planning and economic proposals. Additionally, it aims to strengthen direct interactions between the project team and the beneficiary community.
As part of an initiative by KeObra—a platform providing reliable, free information through content, infographics, videos, and social media to support those building their own homes while fostering a network that empowers self-builders, master masons, material suppliers, and architects—the First KeObra University Competition was launched. The competition called for progressive housing proposals to be integrated into the KeObra Calculator, a tool that provides cost estimates, material lists, projected timelines, and the necessary construction blueprints.
Since 1985, the Faculty of Architecture at the National Autonomous University of Mexico has organized the Alberto J. Pani Architectural Composition Award, aiming to bring together the best students from institutions affiliated with the Association of Architecture Education Institutions of the Mexican Republic (ASINEA). This year, the collaborating host is the Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca, Morelos.
México Territorio Creativo presents the program for the thirteenth edition of Design Week México under the motto: design is everything. It will take place from October 6 to 31 of this year, featuring traditional programming alongside the digital initiatives adopted in the previous edition. Additionally, all events will adhere to international and national guidelines, particularly the Mexico City government's health and safety measures, to protect the health of participants, attendees, and everyone who makes the 2021 lineup possible.