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The refusal to conceal the traces of material processes in the building

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On this occasion, architect Rodrigo Rieiro Díaz, from the ARKRIT Collective, presents an article that explores how certain contemporary architects have refused to hide building scars resulting from material processes in rehabilitation projects, in a bid to emphasize the pre-existing structure as an aesthetic asset.

While it is true that not painting—or covering with joint covers—the marks of material processes during building adaptive reuse projects represents a financial saving, there seems to be a desire among certain contemporary architects that goes far beyond simply cutting a line item from the budget.

Indeed, there is a contemporary tradition—the reuse of industrial buildings as art spaces—where this practice is common. This model of an exhibition space, halfway between a gallery and an artist's studio and geared toward a young, urban audience, already has a history of at least forty years. Yet there is a certain consecration of the method in its adoption by the city councils of major European cities for their cultural institutions, and in the highly favorable reception of these interventions in academic and professional circles.

"Colombia requires research and proposals from academia," states the jury of the ArchDaily open call.

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After evaluating 94 submissions from across Colombia, ArchDaily announced the six winning projects of the third ArchDaily Thesis Competition in Colombia. The selection, chosen by our editorial jury, includes built works, historical research, and master plans: ranging from a rural residential prototype to an in-depth study of the *Edificio de Renta*, a popular residential format in Bogotá between the 1940s and 1970s.

For this edition, we introduced a new evaluation stage: a second jury made up of prominent Colombian architects was tasked with choosing the Grand Winner 2018. The members were Lina Toro, Carlos Cano (OPUS, Medellín), and Jorge Noreña (Ruta 4, Pereira).

"While architecture requires rigor, dedication, and communication skills, it also demands strengthening connections with urbanism and landscape, as well as with other disciplines that make transformative ideas viable," comments Carlos Cano in the jury's evaluation, which we invite you to read below.

"Colombia requires research and proposals from academia," states the jury of the ArchDaily open call. - Image 1 of 4"Colombia requires research and proposals from academia," states the jury of the ArchDaily open call. - Image 2 of 4"Colombia requires research and proposals from academia," states the jury of the ArchDaily open call. - Image 4 of 4"Colombia requires research and proposals from academia," states the jury of the ArchDaily open call. - Image 5 of 4Colombia requires research and proposals from academia, states the jury of the ArchDaily open call. - More Images+ 2

Reflections on Changes in New York City: The High Line

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In this second installment on the ongoing transformations in New York City, Kosme de Barañano focuses on the project that, at the turn of the 21st century, triggered one of the city's most profound transformations: the High Line park.

Meet the winners of the 'Competition for the Design and Realization of Interventions at Concéntrico 04'

The Architecture and Design Festival "Concéntrico 04" is preparing for its fourth edition, taking place from April 27 to May 1, 2018. This public event invites residents and visitors to discover and rediscover key sites in the historic center of Logroño, Spain, through temporary urban installations.

As part of the temporary architectural installations for Concéntrico 04, the festival launched design competitions for interventions in Plaza de San Bartolomé, Viña Lanciano and the creation of an information pavilion in Plaza Escuelas Trevijano to serve as a landmark and starting point for the festival's routes and activities. These will be built, assembled, and dismantled by the winners themselves.

Alto Biobío Floating Cemetery Is Inspired by Pehuenche Culture

The "Floating Cemetery of Alto Biobío" project, developed by Universidad de Chile architect Fabián Leiva, proposes a memorial for the Quepuca cemetery—one of 14 flooded following the construction of the Ralco hydroelectric plant. The design features a monomaterial concrete volume positioned over the flooded cemetery to establish a vertical communication between the living and the dead, creating a point of connection between them.

São Paulo will have shared electric scooter servicesof

Electric scooters, used in major cities around the world as an urban mobility alternative, have been available to São Paulo residents on the capital's bike lanes since the beginning of this month. On August 11 and 12, two mobility startups presented their service options for the vehicles.

Temporary pavilion built at Lina Bo Bardi's Glass House

The Bardi Institute has just inaugurated its "Summer Pavilion," a structure built at the foot of the Glass House by Lina Bo Bardi, which will host a schedule of concerts, exhibitions, lectures, and other events. Built amidst the vegetation and featuring an organic shape that evokes Lina's work, the pavilion both blends in and stands out in its context. All proceeds raised during these activities will go toward the maintenance and cultural programming of the Bardi Institute / Glass House in 2019.

Read the project description by Sol Camacho below.

Chile: Apply for the Editorial Internships at ArchDaily en Español

At ArchDaily en Español, we understand the importance of staying in constant contact with architecture students, who will be responsible for designing and building the cities of the future. For this reason, we periodically open a call for applications to join our editorial team through our internship program.

If you currently live in Chile, this could be your opportunity to contribute local content to the world's most visited architecture platform, which inspires and informs hundreds of thousands of architects worldwide. If you are interested, keep reading below. 

#ArchDailyCo: our 7 favorite Instagram photos in Colombia this week

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Bogotá. Image © Eddie Duarte

A few days ago, we welcomed @archdailyco to Instagram. ArchDaily Colombia's dedicated account on the platform serves as a new showcase for local architecture. To mark this milestone, we invited our readers to share their best photos of Colombian architecture using the hashtag #ArchDailyCo.

Today, we present six of the best photos, along with ArchDaily Colombia's featured project of the week on our Instagram account. This inaugural selection spans Bogotá and Medellín, contrasting concrete and brick, while showcasing both bird's-eye cityscapes and architectural details captured by our followers.

Remember to tag your future photos of Colombian architecture on Instagram with the hashtag #ArchDailyCo for a chance to be featured in our next roundup.

Meet the Finalists of the Plaza Paz Soldán National Competition in San Isidro, Lima

The integration of art and architecture to build a crucial public space at the Paz Soldán roundabout—one of the most iconic and highly trafficked areas in Lima's San Isidro district—was one of the major challenges presented by the Municipality of San Isidro and Grupo Centenario when they launched the Paz Soldán Plaza National Competition. The competition is part of the "2021: Bicentennial Projects" initiative, directed by Gary Leggett.

Among its primary objectives, the competition seeks the transformation of the primarily vehicular roundabout into a freely accessible pedestrian plaza. Additionally, it proposes the spatial integration of the new Paz Soldán Plaza with the monumental area of El Olivar forest, not only establishing this new area as a gateway to the park but also making it a benchmark for other areas of the city. Meanwhile, the anticipated public art proposal offers a reflection on the role of art in public space. It is also worth noting the broad vision of the roundabout as an urban complex, extending beyond the specific area of intervention.

The three finalists and two honorable mentions have already been announced. Out of 160 registered teams, 60 submitted entries. The jury comprised architects Óscar Borasino, Sharif Kahatt, and Michelle Llona, along with art specialists Max Hernández Calvo and Natalia Majluf. The process was advised by specialists including Juan Carlos Dextre, on mobility and traffic impact, and Patricia Dias, on heritage. Finally, the selection of the winner will include a double-weighted vote from the San Isidro Neighborhood Boards.

BAAG: 'a search for discomfort and exploring the new is what drives us'

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We spoke with Griselda Balian and Gastón Noriega, members of the Argentine architecture studio BAAG —Buenos Aires Arquitectura Grupal— a team that, through its understanding of the value of collective work, aims to make an exploratory contribution to the discipline.

Historic Castle on Santa Lucía Hill in Santiago to Be Renovated

In the late 19th century, Santa Lucía Hill in Santiago, Chile, underwent a radical transformation, evolving from a rocky outcrop in the center of the capital into a vibrant green space. During the hill's redevelopment, the mayor of Santiago at the time, Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna, converted one of its structures, Hidalgo Fort, into a castle that housed a history museum. Reduced to an administrative warehouse during the 20th century, the fort—originally built in 1816—was converted into an event venue in 1997 and is now preparing for its most significant renovation since its construction.

According to the Chilean newspaper La Tercera, Castillo Hidalgo will be transformed into a cultural center featuring “a convention center and a laboratory.” This will allow the venue to open its doors for more than just private events, especially since Santa Lucía Hill receives over 600,000 tourists annually, according to figures from the Municipality of Santiago.

Discover the before and after of 10 places in Chile thanks to Enterreno

The website Enterreno is building the first “collaborative time machine” using historical images, allowing thousands of people to travel through time via their mobile devices from anywhere in the country or the world. The platform features over 45,000 photographs revealing what Chile was like in both the distant and recent past, shared by everyday people from their family archives and other sources.

Germany Proposes Free Public Transit to Reduce Pollution

By the end of 2018, at least five cities in Germany could test a model approach to combating pollution. The trial will discourage private vehicle use while offering free public transit—a solution currently adopted in only a few places.

Bonn, Essen, Herrenberg, Reutlingen, and Mannheim are the German cities included in the proposal drafted by the federal government. “We are considering making public transport free of charge to reduce the number of private cars,” German ministers stated in a letter sent to the European Commission. “Fighting air pollution effectively without unnecessary delays is of the highest priority for Germany,” the document adds. 

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Jan Gehl: "We have lost the ability to create neighborhoods where it is a pleasure to grow up and grow old"

On June 14, the second and final day of the 5th International Congress of Architecture and Society took place at the Baluarte Congress Center and Auditorium of Navarre in Pamplona, Spain. The day's sessions focused on topics as diverse as urban development, the political ecology of cities, mobility, and the future of our cities.

Architects Farshid Moussavi and Belinda Tato opened the day's first session, focusing their reflections on the importance of public spaces in cities as “generators of citizenship.” Both experts also highlighted the role of people in shaping cities.

Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Carla Juaçaba, and GrupoSP among the participants in the FREESPACE exhibition at the 2018 Venice Biennale

The Venice Architecture Biennale has released the list of participants for this year's main exhibition, FREESPACE. Among the 71 selected architects, offices, and collectives, three Brazilians are featured on the list: Carla Juaçaba, GrupoSP and Paulo Mendes da Rocha, recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in the 2016 edition.

Curated by Irish duo Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, partners at Grafton Architects, this year's theme seeks to reveal "diversity, specificity, and continuity in architecture." According to Paolo Baratta, president of La Biennale di Venezia, FREESPACE aims to promote "desire" in architecture.

XXI Chilean Architecture Biennial Will Return to Santiago as "Architecture Street Market" in 2019

A "common, everyday, and collective" space is the goal set by the curatorial team of the upcoming 2019 Chilean Architecture and Urbanism Biennial. This was announced during the official launch last Thursday, November 8, at the headquarters of the Architects Association of Chile (Colegio de Arquitectos) in Santiago.

The first edition of the Biennial to be held in Santiago since 2013—the last two editions took place in Valparaíso—will be located in the traditional Franklin neighborhood of the Santiago commune, a historic sector of the capital currently undergoing urban transformation driven by real estate pressure, commercial reconversion, and historic preservation.

Bogotá, through the photography of Sady González

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The modernization of Bogotá between 1940 and 1970, captured in urban and architectural photo essays, was documented in various books, magazines, and photobooks of the era, as well as in images from public and private archives across the city. These images reveal an intentional, and even critical, approach to how modern architecture reconfigured city centers, placing new buildings and urban spaces in relation to the existing cityscape.

In analyzing the impact of photojournalism, the work of Sady González, Manuel H. and Daniel Rodríguez is essential. Architecture and the city serve as the backdrop for scenes of urban life, characters, events, and daily activities. Their photographs offer an indispensable visual testament for understanding the city's transformation and its historical context.

In this edition of Bogotá in the Eyes of 10 Photographers we explore the legacy of Sady González:

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Sean Scully at Luis Barragán's Cuadra San Cristóbal, the Masterpiece of the Modern Movement

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Curated by Oscar Humphries, this exhibition opened on Monday, February 5 at 11 AM, and will run from February 7 to March 24, 2018.

Sean Scully - San Cristóbal is the first exhibition presented at Cuadra San Cristóbal, and marks the first time the artist's sculptures will be exhibited in Latin America.

Hyperconnected Museums: How Are Museums Adapting to Technology?

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Over the past two decades, digital technologies have been changing the way we use and relate to spaces—especially public ones—which are increasingly mediated by networks and devices that allow us to position ourselves in new ways. In May of this year, during the global week of events for Museum Day, promoted by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the theme Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics was adopted as the motto for the 2018 edition's debate series. This initiative aimed to discuss the relationship between museums as institutions and society through the lens of digital connectivity, both in terms of physical space organization and interaction with the public.

In the wake of the debates held in museums worldwide, it became clear that institutions are increasingly focused on building a network with their audience, a feat made possible through technology. Indeed, conceiving an exhibition, as well as the museum as an object within the urban environment, also means imagining the possibilities for audience interaction. This makes it inevitable to compare how viewers used to relate to artworks with how this dynamic has shifted in the so-called “Selfie Era.”

5 Buildings in Mexico City That Should Be Rescued

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In 2011, an improvement plan for the Historic Center of Mexico City for the years 2011–2016 was presented to UNESCO. Conceived as a joint initiative between civil society, private investment, and the government, the project led to the revitalization of a large part of the historic center and the social and physical recovery of many of the neighborhood's properties.

Mexico City's architectural legacy extends far beyond its Historic Center, and while the initial plan greatly benefited this area, many buildings both inside and outside Colonia Centro remain untouched. Following the 2017 earthquake, damaged buildings joined the growing list of properties already abandoned, vacant, or severely deteriorated throughout the city.

Among these, we highlight those whose rehabilitation and subsequent adaptive reuse would have the greatest impact on their surroundings, given their symbolic, architectural, and physical value.

The Importance of the 'Common Courtyard' in Schools: First Place in the Social Infrastructure Projects Competition in Lima

The school courtyard is commonly identified as the place where recess takes place. Who hasn't rushed out to the courtyard, where simply being there—observing and being observed—was enough, with plenty of space to let loose through interaction and play? It might seem obvious that a courtyard is a shared space, but this is not always the case; often, they lack the necessary conditions to be fully enjoyed by everyone. And what if the courtyard is also the link between the school and the community?

Spain is the European country with the most URBACT "Good Practices" in its cities

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Spain is the European country with the most "Good Practices" recognized by the URBACT program. In total, 17 good practices have been recognized across 15 cities and municipalities throughout Spain. The themes addressed by these municipalities are highly diverse, ranging from the issues chosen for intervention to the methods of implementation and the solutions proposed.  

The European URBACT program was established to foster sustainable urban development and urban innovation in municipalities across Europe. As such, any city or municipality, regardless of its size, can participate in the program. Currently, 550 cities from 29 different countries and 7,000 active local stakeholders are participating.

Open House launches its inaugural edition in Mexico City

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Open House, the international festival that invites the public to visit iconic landmarks in various cities such as London, New York, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires, launched its first edition in Mexico City with a press conference. There, Mariela Martínez, Victoria Escalante, and Mar Tomás, the festival's organizers, presented the buildings that will be part of OHCDMX, which the public can visit on April 21 and 22 of this year.

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