Carlson-Reges House (1992-1996). Image Courtesy of Michael Rotondi
Michael Rotondi’s buildings—museums, civic centers, education facilities, monasteries, restaurants, and residences—evoke kinetic mechanisms that fold, hinge, twist, and split open. They express the architect’s feelings, thinking, and mood at the time they had been designed, and, on some occasions, during their assembly and construction. Rotondi was born in 1949 in Los Angeles.
He established his RoTo Architects, a research-based firm in his native city, in 1991 after co-heading Morphosis for 16 years with Thom Mayne. Parallel to his practicing career, the architect has been teaching and lecturing at SCI-Arc, Southern California Institute of Architecture, which he co-founded in 1972, led its graduate program from 1978-1987, and was the school’s second director for a decade from 1987 to 1997.
Aerial view of buildings in São Paulo, Brazil, including Oscar Niemeyer's Copan Building. Image via 3 Dias Fotografia / Shutterstock
July 11th marks World Population Day, an annual event established by the United Nations Development Programme in 1990 to raise awareness of global demographic issues. This is a highly pressing issue today; not only is the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, but the latest UN-Habitat reports estimate that two-thirds of us will live in cities by then. Furthermore, this year is particularly notable because India has become the world's most populous country, reaching 1.4286 billion people—a milestone that naturally raises the question of what it means to build for billions.
World Population Review annually tracks urban growth and metropolitan populations to understand global development trends. Although the list of the 20 most populous cities in the world features familiar Asian hubs such as Tokyo in Japan, Delhi in India, and Shanghai in China, it also includes several Latin American giants. Among them are São Paulo, Mexico City and Buenos Aires, which recorded year-over-year growth rates of 0.85%, 0.89%, and 0.78%, respectively.
A popular saying goes, "Mexico is many Mexicos," a reality that manifests in various ways. The country's multiculturalism is highly pronounced; since pre-Columbian times, it has been clear that while there were commonalities linked to general human traits, material availability, and regional influence, architectural discourse and needs varied distinctly according to the geographical conditions of where it was built.
Infrared thermal imaging showing a lack of thermal insulation. Image via Ivan Smuk / Shutterstock
As widely reported, the global building sector is responsible for 36% of final energy consumption (Global ABC, 2022)—across its full life cycle, from material extraction to end-of-life. Crucially, the energy consumed during building operation accounts for more than 80% of the building's total life-cycle energy. Furthermore, 66% of this energy is known to be consumed primarily by HVAC systems [1].
Against this backdrop, a series of global measures have been promoted to reduce building operational energy, such as improving the thermal insulation of building envelopes, implementing solar shading, incorporating renewable energy, and upgrading to more efficient equipment, among others.
https://www.archdaily.com/1136409/relevance-and-calculation-of-building-energy-demandPaola Valencia M.
In recent years, the spotlight on sustainable, eco-friendly, and low-carbon materials has intensified across the architecture industry. Amid this interest, a renaissance of hemp architecture is gradually gaining momentum on a global scale. Hemp-based materials have emerged as a favorable alternative to traditional industrialized materials, presenting a multitude of benefits that could revolutionize the construction industry. Despite its vast promise, several hurdles obstruct the widespread adoption of hemp, inhibiting its transformative potential in the construction industry.
Curved design has a timeless appeal that has captivated designers throughout history, transcending mere functionality and aesthetics in interior furnishings. Incorporating curves adds captivating visual appeal, infusing spaces with intrigue and a sense of harmonious flow. Furthermore, curved furniture has the ability to transform the spatial dynamics of an environment, introducing fluidity and softness into a world often dominated by rigid, linear forms. While curves are sometimes associated with an old-fashioned look, contemporary curvilinear furniture presents a fresh and modern approach, combining elements of softness, comfort, and simplicity.
Following an international competition, Dorte Mandrup has been selected to design the new Inuit Heritage Centre in the territory of Nunavut in northern Canada. Designed together with Architect of Record Guy Architects, LEES+Associates, Adjeleian Allen Rubeli, EXP, Pageau Morel, Altus Group, and indigenous consultants Kirt Ejesiak and Alexander Flaherty, the new centre aims to become a sign of cultural conciliation and a symbol of the continuation of Inuit practices, traditions and values. By offering a place where Inuit can reconnect with their collective past through objects, stories, and activities, the centre will promote greater awareness of Inuit culture. The project is expected to be completed by 2027.
The XIV Florence Biennale of Art and Design announced that Santiago Calatrava will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, a "tribute to one of the most influential architects of our times and a recognition of your audacious experimentation, extraordinary talent, and ingenious ability to combine architecture and art in projects imagined and designed in harmony with nature and oriented towards the ideals of beauty.”
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier. Photo by Francesco Zivoli, via Unsplash
Architectural styles have fallen out of favor throughout history. Generally, the peak of one movement means the decline of another. Over time, the situation may reverse, as in the case of postmodernism, which has divided opinions since its emergence, but experienced a revival in the first decades of the 2000s (or maybe not). Temporal distance contributes to the revision of certain styles' relevance and evaluation of their qualities - or problems.
Courtesy of Foster + Partners | Bank of International Settlements (BIS) Headquarters Extension
Office spaces in design and architecture play a crucial role in shaping the way we work and interact in professional environments. They are thoughtfully designed to promote healthy output, encourage teamwork, and give workers a welcoming and motivating environment. After the Covid-10 pandemic, work lifestyles underwent a significant transformation. As a result, companies have been adapting and redesigning new ways of working, implementing flexible schedules and hybrid work policies.
This evolution in work lifestyles has father influenced office design, now more focused on prioritizing health, safety, personal space, and collaboration. Office spaces in design and architecture have been adapting to the changing work landscape for decades. As they evolve to meet the changing needs of the workforce, various design iterations are explored, promoting different values.
This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture showcases projects submitted by the ArchDaily community highlighting different office spaces. Ranging from a more formal bank headquarters in Switzerland to a mixed-use business center in Ukraine, these designs heavily influence the way in which people work in the spaces.
The sensitivity in selecting new firms and the focus on accessibility and sustainability alone place the latest editions of CASACOR among the architecture events that demand close attention. However, this year's theme, “Corpo & Morada” (Body & Home), goes a step further, showing how the event remains attuned to the profession's emerging and provocative themes.
No País dos Arquitectosis a podcast created by Sara Nunes, who also runs the architectural film production company Building Pictures. The podcast aims to profile the professionals, projects, and stories behind leading contemporary Portuguese architecture. With just over 10 million inhabitants, Portugal is a fascinating country within this professional field, producing architecture that far exceeds its small population and territorial scale.
In the first episode of the fifth season, Sara talks to the architects of fala atelier about the Casa Garagem project. Listen to the conversation and read part of the interview below.
The challenge of designing a house with a tight budget and space constraints, together with the essential duty of responding correctly to the requirements of the user, is sometimes one of the most challenging and motivating tasks an architect can face. How can you take advantage of space most effectively? How can you avoid wasted material? How do you anticipate the possible future expansion of the house? And how do you develop a simple design that also delivers value to its inhabitants?
To help you in this process, we scoured our projects archives to select 30 houses that provide interesting architectural solutions despite measuring less than 100 square meters.
The Second Studio (formerly The Midnight Charette) is an explicit podcast about design, architecture, and the everyday. Hosted by Architects David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet, it features different creative professionals in unscripted conversations that allow for thoughtful takes and personal discussions.
A variety of subjects are covered with honesty and humor: some episodes are interviews, while others are tips for fellow designers, reviews of buildings and other projects, or casual explorations of everyday life and design. The Second Studio is also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.
This week David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design are joined by Denise Scott Brown, architect, planner and urban designer, and a theorist, writer and educator to discuss her background and upbringing in South Africa; her beginnings in architecture; traveling the world; how teaching impacted her life and career; the National Gallery and other of her projects being remodeled; and much more!
In the latest episode of the series, Arquicast spoke with the jury of the 9th Tomie Ohtake Akzonobel Architecture Award to understand the criteria established for the accolade. This time, joined by Sabrina Fontenele, architect, urbanist, and coordinator of the award, along with the other awardees, a roundtable discussion was held on the projects, providing a deeper look into their significance and the identity of the prize.
What does the future of cities and transportation look like? It looks like the future will run on two wheels and a handle bar. Many explain the rise of cyclists as a shift towards a healthier and more economical lifestyle. But while that may be true, why would individuals feel inclined to ride bicycles if the roads don't support it, or if there weren't adequate spaces to park?
Architecture plays an important role in promoting the use of bicycles. Cities equipped with safe bicycle lanes, parking lots, and public bike facilities encourage citizens to refrain from using their cars, and opt for a much more sustainable means of transportation. Many have already began reshaping their urban infrastructure in a way that caters to bicycles, whether it is through bicycle bridges, widened cycling lanes, or permanent parking lots.
Toronto’s digital billboard-laden Yonge and Dundas Square is owned by the city but managed through a public-private partnership. While primarily hosting commercial content and activities, the spaces and screens of the square are often used for cultural events and artistic content. As cities, arts organizations, governments, and corporations increasingly seek to engage people in public spaces through combinations of media and architecture, what are some of the possibilities and pitfalls associated with their approaches individually and in concert with one another? How does media architecture modulate civic, creative, and commercial interests and impacts?
ArchDaily and VELUX have joined forces to provide you with an exclusive coverage of the highly anticipated UIA World Congress of Architects 2023. Watch the discussion panel on the future of next-generation homes, moderated by David Basulto, founder and editor-in-chief of ArchDaily. Get to know more of the world of next-generation homes as the panelists delve into innovative approaches, cutting-edge technologies, and sustainable solutions that are reshaping the way we live.
Shifting from an exploitative to a restorative and circular design ideology is fundamental in changing architecture and the built environment to become more sustainable. We look at strategies for a new resourcefulness in architecture and discuss how to bring the built environment back inside the planetary boundaries.
This session is a keynote dialogue moderated by Connie Hedegaard. The UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 keynote dialogues are designed as a series of dialogues between trailblazing architects and experts from science, business and politics. All keynote dialogues are moderated by Connie Hedegaard.
The Implementation Plan for the Construction of National Education System for Green Low-Carbon Development in China clearly states that green low-carbon development should be integrated into campus construction as a goal. New technology products of energy saving and emission reduction are given priority in campus construction to guide teachers and students in the education system to firmly establish the concept of green low-carbon development and lay a solid ideological and operational foundation for achieving the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.
Tietê River, São Paulo. Photo by Ana Paula Hirama, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Swimming in the Tietê. Although many people did so until the 1930s — when the river was already polluted, though much less than today, and swimming and rowing competitions were held even along the stretch within the São Paulo capital —, no one believes this will be possible in the coming years. Cleaning the river, however, is a feasible ambition, provided we understand that there are various gradations within the category of “clean.”
https://www.archdaily.com/1136457/is-cleaning-up-the-tiete-river-possible-or-a-utopiaDavid A. Cohen
Saint Laurent Men’s Summer 24 at Mies van der Rohe’s Neue Nationalgalerie. Image Courtesy of Saint Laurent
Architecture and fashion share an interesting interplay in the formation of cultural expressions and identities. Both disciplines can become vehicles for creativity at different levels. Architecture is often described as the “third skin” of humans, while clothes represent the second skin, highlighting somewhat similar functionality of protecting the body while also allowing for self-expression and individuality.
The relationship between architecture and fashion can also be seen in the shared design principles, such as form, proportion, human scale, and materiality. More than a simple background for runway shows, architecture can contribute to setting the atmosphere, becoming a source of inspiration, and orienting the movement through space. Collaborations between architects and fashion houses, such as the renowned partnership between OMA/AMO and Prada, further blur the boundaries between the two disciplines, demonstrating the myriad of interconnections between the two creative fields.
The projects were revealed during the Eumies Awards Day 2023, which took place in Palazzo Michiel in Venice as part of the Collateral Events of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. This year, an additional prize has been added: the Young Talent Open. Created by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, the award was created for schools from the African continent and Council of Europe nations that are not a part of Creative Europe.
There are three primary settings in which lower-density urbanism can be useful, and where conditions favored by YIMBYs are weak or nonexistent: as a replacement for what is currently slated to be built out as sprawl, as a recovery process for existing sprawl, and in small towns that are growing. Giving up on these settings forces all development intended to combat the housing crisis into urban settings, ideally near transit, where land is much more expensive to acquire and to develop. It also allows the sprawl machine to roll on unimpeded.The best vehicle for implementing principles illustrated here at the scale of a neighborhood, hamlet, or village is not a major production builder, as these principles violate almost all of their conventional industrial practices. Instead, look to the record of stronger New Urbanist developers who are no strangers to doing things considered unconventional by the Industrial Development Complex in the interest of better places with stronger lifetime returns.
