In Mexico City, the federal government has launched its final major cultural project of this administration, after allocating most of the sector's investment funds to improvements in Chapultepec Forest. On June 15, the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) issued the first call for bids for the "La Mariscala" project, which aims to develop seven vacant lots totaling 5,043 square meters in the Historic Center, located between the Palacio de Bellas Artes and Garibaldi.
ArchDaily and VELUX have joined forces to provide you with an exclusive coverage of the highly anticipated UIA World Congress of Architects 2023. Watch Sebastian Peck from KOMPAS VC and Liz Gilligan from Material Evolution explain a revolutionary low-carbon cement produced from industrial waste, and how can it help to decarbonize architecture by reducing a building's carbon footprint by 85%.
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 unveiling of the next International VELUX Award and a captivating presentation showcasing the past winners.
Although the use of arches in architecture dates back to the 2nd millennium B.C., it was the Romans who solidified them as both an engineering element and a symbol of military victories, which we now see excessively as memorial arches. Shortly after, different civilizations and cultures adopted the arch for their own purposes, bridging together structural necessity and aesthetics. In this article, we look at how arches evolved from significant structural elements to captivating decorative details.
In the face of increasingly intensive planet-wide challenges, it is now clear that the construction sector must shift rapidly and comprehensively toward sustainable construction. The aim of this mobilization must be to drastically and permanently reduce construction-related greenhouse gas emissions, to preserve non-renewable natural resources, to reduce energy consumption, and to provide decent, comfortable housing for all.
In the 2023 Sustainable Construction Barometer, architects are identified as best placed to drive forward sustainable construction (40%, just after public institutions, 44%). And in order to do this, they must be equipped with the knowledge and tools to carry this forward.
Mario Cucinella Architects has unveiled the design for the new Piazza dei Navigatori in Rome, Italy. Planned as a mixed-use development, the design is predominantly for residential spaces, with a retail and office component, parking, and "plant rooms". The development is located in an area rich in natural elements, which heavily inspires this urban agglomeration.
The city of Mérida, the capital of the state of Yucatán in Mexico, has experienced a significant architectural boom in recent years due to emerging talent that has gained recognition through awards and biennials across the country. With its tropical climate, the architecture in this region responds to specific geographical conditions, making it one of the most visited destinations. Mérida is a city that was built upon the remnants of the Mayan city called T'Ho and is composed of a rich culture that combines different moments in history. As a result, the contemporary architecture of this region incorporates traditional elements such as vaults, lattices, and sustainable traditional finishes that are reinterpreted to create a new language that reflects the present moment in which they were constructed.
Foodscapes: Spain's Pavilion for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, curated by Manuel Ocaña and Eduardo Castillo-Vinuesa, explores the Spanish agro-architectural context to address global issues. It analyzes the past and present of food systems and the architectures that construct them, in order to look towards the future and question other possible models that are capable of feeding the world without devouring the planet.
Designed by architect Anthony Rio and his firm Agence Unité, the Château des Pères hotel project showcases the integration of innovative design and materials in the realm of hotel architecture. Taking inspiration from nature, it reimagines the traditional hotel room as a protective nest. This expansion of a historic hotel, nestled in a 12th-century mansion, features reception, restaurant, and event spaces. The new structure, reminiscent of a tree, gracefully extends with branches radiating from a central trunk. Within each bubble-like structure, guests can experience a sanctuary-like ambiance, offering both privacy and panoramic views of the surroundings, made possible by the generous ovoid windows that adorn each facade.
The Royal Academy has honored Shane de Blacam at the 2023 Royal Academy Architecture Awards, alongside announcing the finalists for the Royal Academy Dorfman Award—an accolade that celebrates global architecture, looking toward the future of the discipline and architectural practice. The finalists are COMUNAL (Mexico), Taller Gabriela Carrillo (Mexico), H Arquitectes (Spain), and Tropical Space (Vietnam).
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released a new edition of its Global Liveability Index, announcing the world's most liveable cities in 2023. Vienna has topped the ranking in four of the last five years, thanks to its stability, cultural richness, entertainment options, and reliable infrastructure. Copenhagen, Denmark, held onto second place, while Melbourne and Sydney took third and fourth, respectively. These cities were regular fixtures at the top of the list prior to the pandemic.
What is the situation in Latin America? Buenos Aires once again emerged as the top Latin American city to live in. Santiago, Chile, reclaimed the second-place spot it held before the social unrest, while Montevideo, Uruguay, ranked third. San Juan, Puerto Rico, followed closely with a very strong score. Conversely, Caracas in Venezuela, Aguascalientes in Mexico, and Guatemala City were among the lowest-rated in the region.
Advancements in technology have paved the way for a revolutionary approach to architecture, one that involves responsiveness and movement. This concept called "kinetic architecture" allows buildings to dynamically adapt to their ever-changing surroundings. As of today, kinetic principles are commonly applied to enhance the environmental sustainability of buildings, especially through facades. However, kinetic architecture has the potential to impact the built environment in other facets as well. In public spaces, kinetic architecture holds immense promise, presenting opportunities to make them more accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly. Introducing kinetic elements into public spaces challenge long-held assumptions about architecture as a passive arrangement, ushering in a new era of interactive and engaging urban environments.
The earliest vestiges of furniture in society can be traced back to the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt when the armchair of Queen Hetepheres I (ca. 2600 BC) was discovered. This armchair marked a significant milestone in the history of furniture. It is not surprising, therefore, that the chronology of furniture is intertwined with architectural, pictorial, and sculptural expressions of the time, where these elements often act as witnesses and, in exceptional cases, as central objects in the history of art and design.
Furniture consists of everyday objects designed to meet specific needs in our daily lives. However, sometimes they transcend their practical function and take on an autonomous presence. A piece of furniture has no nobler purpose than its interaction with human beings, therefore, separating these objects from their utilitarian dimension becomes an act of disruption. As a result, designers such as Francesco Binfaré have described sofas as “The most mysterious object amongst the furniture populating the interior design universe”. In this context, Edra creates unique objects that blend art and industrial production, reflecting contemporary domestic landscapes and experimenting with new shapes and materials.
Irish architect Shane de Blacam has been awarded the 2023 Royal Academy Architecture Award in recognition of his commitment to creating communal spaces and the craftsmanship and detail of his projects. In 1976, De Blacam co-founded the architectural firm de Blacam and Meagher alongside John Meagher, establishing a collective practice focused on the careful integration of local materials and the creation of comfortable spaces for people. Each year, London’s Royal Academy awards individuals or collective practices whose body of work has made a meaningful and positive impact on society.
Five finalists have been shortlisted in the competition to design the new Griegkvartalet Theater in Bergen, Norway. The project is set to be a cultural powerhouse in Western Norway, hosting multidisciplinary forms of art, including opera, musical theater, ballet, dance, concerts, and conferences. The competition emphasizes integration with the surroundings, urban space, energy efficiency, and feasibility.
The shortlisted teams include Henning Larsen Architects, Snøhetta, Zaha Hadid Architects, MAD arkitekter and Kengo Kuma, and the Nordic Office of Architecture includes Arkkitehtitoimisto ALA in the architecture subjects. Each studio was selected from 32 participants worldwide and will be filtered into three winners in the coming stages in the fall of 2023. Ultimately, by March 2024, one winner will be selected and receive the official service contract to begin construction.
The conception of architecture, understood since modernity, emphasizes permanence. The durability of tectonic construction can be manifested in various ways. However, what does it mean to associate architecture with ephemerality? And what happens when the idea of permanence is connected to transience? The Shikinen Sengu ceremony in Japan may help provide answers to these questions.
Houses and buildings are one of the first subjects children learn to draw. The simple arrangement of squares and rectangles with a triangle on top is easy and efficient, and quickly identifiable. Once we graduate from drawing to building, however, perhaps there is a better way. These five examples of domed buildings, pavilions, and installations support the thinking that there is an easier way to do it when you think outside the square.
Cairo, Egypt's vibrant capital, is a unique synthesis of both historical and contemporary architecture. One of the most populated cities in Africa, this busy urban agglomeration has a long, rich history and is home to nearly 20 million people. Apart from the infamous Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, which have attracted tourists for ages, the city has been a melting pot of cultures, histories, and built environments alike.
The city of Cairo has witnessed many different eras, each characterized by unique architectural styles. After the Ancient Egyptians, the Islamic Period saw the birth of iconic buildings like the Mosque of Ibn Tulun and the Mosque of Sultan Hassan. These were followed by the Mamluk Period, during which structures such as the Al Rifai Mosque and the Mosque Madrassa of Sultan Barquq were constructed, boasting exquisite stone carvings, towering minarets, and intricate decorative motifs. The Ottoman era brought its own landmarks, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Citadel of AlQalaa. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Cairo experienced an influx of European architectural styles due to colonial influences. This resulted in the construction of notable structures such as the Cairo Opera House and the Cairo Tower.
Since the launch of the Norman Foster Foundation, its mission has been to promote interdisciplinary thinking and research to help new generations to anticipate the future. In order to respond to the growing importance of urbanization and its challenges, the Foundation is now embarking on a new initiative addressed to those who wish to improve the quality of life in cities worldwide, the Norman Foster Institute.
Its first program, On Sustainable Cities, will combine practical on-site experience with academic input from the foundation’s network of international experts, using the most up-to-date digital tools. Each year, scholars will visit three pilot cities to engage directly with their planners and managers.
At the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, NEOM has unveiled the “Zero Gravity Urbanism- Principles for a New Livability” exhibition to present the concept and standards guiding the design of the Line, their proposed 170-kilometer-long linear city in north-west Saudi Arabia. The event aims to introduce to the public an alternative vision for urban planning whose compact configuration strives to become a model for the development of more efficient and sustainable cities. Prior to the opening of the exhibition, more than 20 internationally recognized architects and designers joined the design team, including Sir Peter Cook, Massimiliano Fuksas, Jean Nouvel, and Ben van Berkel. The exhibition is open from 20 May to 24 September 2023 at Abbazia di San Gregorio, Venice.
Doors and windows have undergone few changes since their original conception. They are elements designed to meet the basic human need for sunlight, air circulation in enclosed spaces, and ease of movement, all to ensure comfortable living. Consequently, their role in daily life is both constant and crucial. Although their primary function remains unchanged, doors and windows as architectural components continue to serve the role of separating spaces while allowing the entry of light, objects, and landscapes—largely maintaining their original structure. However, significant progress has been made in their manufacturing materials and the technical performance they offer.
In today's context, minimalism has emerged as a trend focused on simplifying down to the essentials, leaving its mark on contemporary architecture, including modern windows and doors. This streamlined approach, characterized by the elimination of elements unnecessary for proper functioning, has become prominent across various countries. In line with this trend, Strugal window and door systems have made significant strides in the construction of architectural elements through technological development in manufacturing processes and new product design. These advancements are reflected in various applications across facades and interior courtyards using sliding windows and doors.
The International Day of Cooperatives is a celebration of the cooperative movement, which takes place annually on the first Saturday of July. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly established it a national day, celebrating the cooperative movement worldwide with yearly themes. The cooperative movement is an association focused on achieving common goals and addressing collective communal needs. Cooperatives believe in community development at their core, prioritizing people and supporting local communities to improve their well-being. Moreover, the co-living models that have been adapted from it have become an enormous success over the past few decades, providing a form of cost-effective social housing. The cooperative structure redefines how people live, work, play, and collaborate. This year's theme is “Cooperatives: Partners for accelerated sustainable development.”
As cooperative principles continue to be injected into built environments today, the concept has created different models of co-op housing, leading to co-living. Over the past years, established European awards have celebrated co-living and architecture studios and developers worldwide have designed different models exploring co-living. The articles and projects selected in this article address what it means to live together, work together, and form healthy communities in this day and age.
Sayulita is a small beach town in Nayarit, a state located in the western region of Mexico. It is a locality of about 3,390 inhabitants that has grown significantly in the last decade due to tourism, mainly from the United States and Canada, who are attracted by the landscapes and waves that have made it one of Mexico's main surfing destinations.
Bogotá is a metropolis that celebrates the convergence of different architectures, reflecting a significant part of Colombia's diverse culture and geography. Limited by the Eastern Hills, it is not only one of the highest capitals in the world, reaching almost 2,600 meters above sea level, but its history dates back to its foundation as the center of the New Kingdom of Granada in the year 1538.
This guide aims to provide an overview of its colonial, modern, and contemporary architecture, highlighting its main buildings and architectural points of interest. From its civic spaces to renowned public projects such as museums, libraries, and cultural centers, this list of 30 sites showcases works by modern architects like Rogelio Salmona and Germán Samper, as well as contemporary ones like Equipo Mazzanti and TAB. We hope it helps you get to know the city!
