For more information on Obra Blanca 2025 and the upcoming 2026 edition, visit the following link or follow their social media channels.

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By Jeanette Fich Jespersen, MA, Director of the KOMPAN Play Institute, Chair of the Steering Committee of the World Playground Research Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Vice President of the International Play Association, Denmark.

"No, I don't want to go to that playground. It's boring!" This might sound like something no child would ever say. However, children have clear opinions about the playgrounds they like from a very early age. The reason why not only parents and caregivers, but also urban planners and architects must listen and adapt is more important than ever.

The way we perceive a space does not depend solely on its scale or form, but on a series of decisions that shape our experience from within. Certain gestures are decisive: clear height, the organization of vertical planes, or the size of the bed. Others operate more subtly, such as the play of light, the tonality of materials, or the use of color. All these variables influence how a space manifests—whether it feels open or contained, segmented or continuous. Along these lines, the use of large-format flooring becomes a key strategy, reducing visual fragmentation and reinforcing surface continuity.

The design of public restrooms has historically been linked to satisfying a common need for hygiene, health, and well-being in communities. By condensing different spaces, materials, and sanitation elements within their typologies, the architecture of public restrooms has adapted to contemporary demands for hygiene, care, and aesthetics. From sinks, toilets, and drinking fountains to partition systems, showers, changing tables, or lactation rooms, these features shape the dynamics of these spaces. Whether in airports, parks, clinics, hotels, or other sites, these elements aim to provide privacy and comfort, deliver efficient cleaning solutions, and integrate accessibility criteria across all components, supported by contemporary tools and technologies.

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Recognizing the contemporary role of the kitchen as a social, leisure, and experimental hub within the home, the dialogue between technology and architecture becomes increasingly relevant by bringing movement, adaptability, and flexibility to domestic spaces. While kitchens embody the essence of diverse cultures, preserving everything from ancient recipes and techniques to heritage and tradition, their architectural design increasingly integrates innovative material finishes and invisible technologies, seamlessly combining durability, energy efficiency, and design.

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In ancient Greece and Rome, agoras and forums were spaces where merchants and artisans displayed their products. Although they were not showrooms in the modern sense, they already operated as arenas for visual stimulation. The concept we know today took shape centuries later during the Industrial Revolution, when novel tableware began to be presented in carefully designed settings. And therein lies the key: designing. Over time, spaces dedicated to displaying materials, furniture, and objects have been much more than mere showcases; they have functioned as platforms for exploration and experimentation. What we call a showroom today inherits this spirit: spaces where design is not only observed but touched and projected in real time, giving rise to tools such as moodboards.

In its constant quest to create functional spaces that also establish a visual and emotional connection with their inhabitants, architecture has found a source of inspiration in nature. From the golden ratio, present in biological structures, to the use of site-specific materials, the natural environment offers a lesson in shapes and textures that nourish architectural thinking. An iconic example is Fallingwater, where stone acts as an integrating element between the building and its surroundings. While this work demonstrates the potential of stone, its presence and character have evolved into new formats, such as porcelain tile, expanding design alternatives and consolidating the importance of stone textures and tones in contemporary projects.

Water, in addition to being a design resource widely valued for its aesthetics and functional contribution, can become a formidable adversary when it infiltrates through cracks and fissures in built surfaces. Consequently, waterproofing is not merely a protective measure; it is an essential strategy to extend the lifespan of structures, ensure the habitability of spaces, and prevent issues like leaks and premature deterioration. From terraces and green roofs to heavy-duty surfaces, controlling moisture represents a constant challenge for architects, engineers, and builders. This is especially critical in a context that demands increasingly efficient waterproofing materials with greater resistance to adverse environmental factors.

External factors shaping the built environment play a decisive role in building configuration, particularly with respect to facades. These factors can encompass physical phenomena, such as wind pressure or seismic activity, as well as climatological aspects, including precipitation, solar radiation, and temperature changes.

Consequently, facades have evolved to adapt to the design conditions they face, driving the integration of lightweight building envelopes. In this context, the exterior wall solutions by Panel Rey stand out. These systems are used as exterior cladding, incorporating various substrates, profiles, and other components. Together, these provide the facade with lightness and strength.

Year after year, interior design surprises us with new trends in colors, materials, textures, and patterns that take center stage in the spaces we inhabit. Maintaining a balanced dialogue, considering both the needs to be met and the emotions to be conveyed, is central to the design of diverse environments. Ceramic, mosaic, and porcelain coverings allow for the creation of spaces ranging from warm and cozy to elegant and sophisticated.

The 19th annual Design Awards, organized by Shaw Contract, is one of the premier interior architecture awards programs. With nearly 700 submissions from 36 countries, the accolade highlights trends in scale, functionality, and sustainability. Of the 43 Best of Region winners, two Brazilian and three Mexican projects have advanced to the final stage of the Best of Globe evaluation, with the winners to be announced in September. Addressing themes such as Material Health, Circular Economy, and Diversity and Inclusion, the awards evaluated Latin American projects through a jury representing five countries.

Discover more about the winners below.

Ceramic is an intrinsically versatile material: advanced printing technologies allow for infinite possibilities in terms of colors, textures, and patterns. As a result, it is widely used in interiors worldwide, combining durability, low maintenance, ease of installation, competitive pricing, and the ideal aesthetic to transform environments according to the designer's vision. Trends and fashions are a natural part of interior design, and staying at the forefront is crucial for creating spaces that are both contemporary and timeless. Whether through the clean lines of geometric patterns, the cozy feel of rustic finishes, or the timeless elegance of marbled surfaces, each trend offers something unique to enhance the character of any space.

What role does street furniture play in public spaces? In response to human social behavior, the design of public spaces is part of a complex inquiry. Alongside the analysis of uses, community participation, the study of climatic and geographical conditions, and resource efficiency—among many other factors—it involves selecting appropriate urban equipment and elements to meet the needs of a large share of the population. As the Spanish architect and urban planner Oriol Bohigas Guardiola maintained, architecture is not only an art but also a direct service to society. Consequently, harmony among the multiple disciplines involved should yield tools that improve and facilitate community life. Understanding the role of street furniture—how it supports specific activities depending on its layout, dimensions, materials, and long-term lifespan—is essential to the current and future functioning of urban spaces.

As part of Expo OBRA BLANCA 2024, held from October 15 to 17 at Expo Santa Fe in Mexico City, Porcelana Corona México and Ambiance showcased their latest innovations in sanitaryware alongside a wide range of products for architects, builders, and distributors at booth 224 of the Bathrooms and Fittings Pavilion.

The atmosphere of a home is gradually built through the interaction between architecture, furniture, and materials. Each component contributes color, texture, and depth, making the living experience sensory and immersive. Among these, materials play a decisive role: they define more than just the visual aspect, conveying tactility, light, temperature, and a connection to the environment, thus transforming our perception of the home. When viewed contextually, they reveal new possibilities for designing and experiencing interiors and exteriors, reminding us that every choice influences comfort and functionality.

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In 2017, ArchDaily China's reach grew stronger than ever. We brought Chinese architecture into the global conversation, introducing Chinese design to the world while delivering global architectural news to our Chinese readers. True to our mission, we continue to serve as an open platform for the public benefit, fostering a more inclusive and egalitarian architectural community.

This year, we invite our readers once again to participate in the 2018 ArchDaily China Building of the Year Awards. By casting an unbiased vote free of geographical restrictions, you become part of a collective jury, identifying the architecture that best represents our time. Over the next three weeks, your nominations will narrow down over 300 Chinese projects to 10 finalists, before a final round of voting determines the three winning designs.

The time has come to support the projects you admire. Go to this page to nominate the 2018 China Building of the Year! Click “Read More” to view the complete guidelines.

In this third dispatch from New York, Kosme de Barañano shares the current state of construction on two structures that will undoubtedly become new milestones in the network of globalized public space—a symptom of the sculptural turn in architectures designed for this type of consumption. The shed and the staircase: two very different constructions that somehow pose an age-old question: are they sculptures, or are they architecture?

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On Thursday, September 6, ArchDaily México celebrated its sixth anniversary. The exclusive event took place in one of the country's most significant architectural gems: Casa Gilardi, designed by Luis Barragán, the only Mexican architect to receive the Pritzker Prize. The venue served as the setting for some of today's most influential architects to connect with the ArchDaily México team.

Designed by Milena Lara Silva, the project Ruta de las aves was selected as one of the 10 winners in the Thesis Project category of the 2018 Concurso Arquitectura Caliente (CAC 2018), a Chilean competition organized by Grupo Arquitectura Caliente and funded by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage.

The constant industrial threats endangering the delicate wetland ecosystems are primarily the result of Chile's weak environmental legislation. In the rural sector of Trumao, 11 kilometers from the city of La Unión, this has led to the gradual degradation of its forested wetland. This decline risks not only its biodiversity but also local communities that have persisted since ancient times thanks to the dynamic landscape and its natural resources—both of which are vital for their survival, economy, and, above all, their culture.

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The dynamics of city dwellers are shaped by their daily routines, including the work they perform, their schedules, and their chosen mode of transportation. Furthermore, physical and mental conditions underpin how people interact with the streets. This experience is entirely subjective, determined by factors such as age, height, or any physical condition involving the loss of a sense or limb.

People walk, crossing at traffic lights when they see the signal change, while simultaneously listening to a playlist on their phones. They recognize textures because they see them, and they track the direction of the wind visually. They perceive the city without deeply engaging with the sensory information they receive.

Numerous studies have examined the relationship between gender and urban mobility, concluding that women face greater challenges in exercising their right to the city and accessing urban opportunities. The unequal division of domestic labor places a heavier burden on women, who shoulder tasks such as school drop-offs and pick-ups, caring for elderly or sick relatives, and grocery shopping. Consequently, this largely shapes a travel pattern characterized by trip-chaining—making multiple, sequential stops—and relying heavily on walking and public transit.

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The city of Hiroshima, Japan, has selected prominent Chilean visual artist, architect, and filmmaker Alfredo Jaar as the winner of the 11th edition of the prize (Hiroshima Art Prize).

Jaar, who studied architecture at the University of Chile before permanently leaving the field in 1980, worked during the Chilean military dictatorship on projects such as Studies on Happiness (1979-1981) and Opus 1981 / Andante desesperato performance (1981), before settling permanently in the United States. Jaar's global recognition is reflected in his participation in the 1987 and 2002 editions of Documenta, as well as the retrospectives dedicated to his work in 2012 by the Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst (NGBK) and the Berlinische Galerie in Berlin.

In late January, the forum “Chillán: Paisaje Moderno/Territorios en transformación” took place in Chillán. Jointly organized by the Spanish Cultural Center (CCESantiago), the Alfonso Lagos Extension Center of the University of Concepción (CECAL), and the Heritage Unit of the Municipality of Chillán (UPA), the event featured three days of conferences and workshops open to the community.

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The Official Selection of projects representing Mexico at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale is the result of an open call published in August 2017. Out of 213 projects submitted from 15 states across Mexico, 21 were selected to represent the country: Oscar Hagerman + CANO VERA; Alejandro Guerrero, Andrea Soto | ATELIER ARS; Comunal: Taller de Arquitectura + Onnis Luque; Isaac Broid + PRODUCTORA; Taller Héctor Barroso; Juan Carral Arquitectura; Carlos González Lobo + María Eugenia Hurtado; Manuel Cervantes Céspedes; Jsa | Javier Sánchez + Aisha Ballesteros; Estudio Macías Peredo; Enrique Norten | TEN arquitectos; Taller 6a | Alejandro Sánchez García, Mariza Flores Pacheco; S-AR; Estudio MMX; Taller | Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo; Javier Muñoz + Mario Peniche + Augusto Quijano + Alejandro Vales + Jorge Carlos Zoreda; GDU: Grupo de Diseño Urbano; Enrique Lastra de Wit; Estudio ALA; Escobedo-Soliz; Alonso de Garay | Taller ADG