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Interview with Andy Wen of Aedas: Sharing the Operational Secrets of a Top International Architecture Firm

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Since its founding in Hong Kong in 1985 and the establishment of its first mainland office in Beijing in 2002, the globally renowned architecture firm Aedas has spent the past 15 years leading the industry across various sectors, particularly in large-scale mixed-use developments and high-rise typologies. Among its most recognizable projects are the Midfield Concourse at Hong Kong International Airport and the recently completed Landmark Center in Shanghai.

According to the World Architecture 100 (WA100) 2017 ranking by UK-based Building Design, Aedas topped the charts in China and ranked ninth globally, boasting 788 registered architects across 13 global offices and generating annual revenues of $230 to $290 million. The firm’s meteoric rise is intimately tied to its site-specific design solutions and efficient execution.

ArchDaily recently spoke with Dr. Andy Wen, Global Design Principal at Aedas, to discuss the operational strategy and philosophy behind a leading global practice.

Interview with Andy Wen of Aedas: Sharing the Operational Secrets of a Top International Architecture Firm - Arch Daily InterviewsInterview with Andy Wen of Aedas: Sharing the Operational Secrets of a Top International Architecture Firm - Arch Daily InterviewsInterview with Andy Wen of Aedas: Sharing the Operational Secrets of a Top International Architecture Firm - Arch Daily InterviewsInterview with Andy Wen of Aedas: Sharing the Operational Secrets of a Top International Architecture Firm - Arch Daily InterviewsInterview with Andy Wen of Aedas: Sharing the Operational Secrets of a Top International Architecture Firm - More Images+ 5

Athos Bulcão Foundation launches crowdfunding campaign to produce the 2019 Illustrated Calendar

The crowdfunding campaign to produce the 2019 Athos Bulcão Illustrated Calendar is now live. Through November 28, the public can contribute to the production and distribution of 6,000 copies of the calendar. In return, supporters will receive copies of the publication alongside rewards featuring the artist's work, such as bookmarks, postcards, books, tote bags, magnet sets, mouse pads, silver jewelry, and even framed tiles, as well as having their names printed in the acknowledgements section. Supporters can view the rewards and make their contributions on Catarse.

São Paulo gets Augusta Park, finally!

A happy ending to one of the disputes over the appropriation of urban space in São Paulo: the land that will house Augusta Park is finally becoming a public and common asset. After decades of impasse, the social, environmental, and cultural function of the city's last central woodland has prevailed over the right of the developers owning the land to exploit it by building high-rises.

Reflections on the Changes in New York City: 'Hudson Yards'

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Colectivo ARKRIT has shared a chronicle by Kosme de Barañano on the physical—and perhaps also social and economic—reconstruction of New York in 2018, following the devastation of the Twin Towers attacks and the 2008 financial crisis. His extensive, wide-ranging work spans surprising European references, New York management systems, contemporary formal architectural exuberance, and bold proposals for public space design.

In this first chapter, Kosme de Barañano describes the new development known as 'Hudson Yards.'

ruestungsschmie.de transforms a church facade in Prague with a video mapping projection

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Dresden-based architecture collective ruestungsschmie.de has shared another large-scale video mapping project, this time on the facade of the Church of St. Ludmila in Prague. Titled NUCLEUS³, the project uses audiovisual media to raise the question: what do we expect for the future?

+Arquitectos and Sauerbruch Hutton Win the INDESA Competition, “Puerta Las Condes”

Real estate developer INDESA launched an unprecedented competition for "Puerta Las Condes," a mixed-use project based on four fundamental pillars: urban design, infrastructure, public space, and the environment. Located at the intersection of Apoquindo and Manquehue Avenues (Santiago, Chile), the competition attracted prominent national and international architects.

Do you know what is needed to promote the use of bicycles as a mode of transportation in Brazilian cities?

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As has been discussed in several countries around the world, promoting cycling as a mode of transportation brings diverse benefits to cities and their citizens, such as: a reduction in chronic illnesses (like hypertension and cardiorespiratory diseases), lower rates of overweight and obesity, fewer traffic fatalities and injuries, and lower levels of air pollution, among others. Despite the continuous dissemination of these positive impacts, in Latin America less than 10% [1] of the adult population uses the bicycle as a means of transportation, whereas in European countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, this figure exceeds 25% of all trips [2].

To better understand the relationship between the built environment and the promotion of cycling in Brazil, a study [3] sought to understand the associations between cycling for transportation and bike paths and mass transit in the city of São Paulo. The research was

Discover the 108 projects selected for the XXVI Colombian Biennial of Architecture

The Jury of the XXVI Colombian Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism has presented the list of projects and publications selected for the next edition of the event, which will be held once again in Cartagena this year.

Divided into eight categories, the 283 submitted projects were evaluated by an international jury comprised of Iñaqui Carnicero (Spain), Alejandro Beals (Chile), and Fabián Farfán (Bolivia), alongside local architects Germán Fonseca, Julián Rincón, Sara Giraldo, and Diego Aguilera.

The 108 finalist projects for the upcoming Colombian Biennial are:

The film "Landscape: A Look at Roberto Burle Marx" tells the story of one of the greatest landscape architects of the 20th century.

The documentary FILME PAISAGEM, um olhar sobre Roberto Burle Marx (Landscape Film: A Look at Roberto Burle Marx) opens in theaters on November 15, showcasing the Brazilian landscape architect's profound contribution to the country's native flora. Written and directed by João Vargas Penna, the film is a journey through the art and personality of Roberto Burle Marx, who was also a painter, cook, and singer—lesser-known facets of his life to the general public.

'Refugio 2018' Pavilion by Fernanda Canales + Claudia Rodríguez for FYJA 2018

'Refugio 2018' Pavilion by Fernanda Canales + Claudia Rodríguez for FYJA 2018 - Imagen 1 de 4'Refugio 2018' Pavilion by Fernanda Canales + Claudia Rodríguez for FYJA 2018 - Imagen 2 de 4'Refugio 2018' Pavilion by Fernanda Canales + Claudia Rodríguez for FYJA 2018 - Imagen 3 de 4'Refugio 2018' Pavilion by Fernanda Canales + Claudia Rodríguez for FYJA 2018 - Imagen 4 de 4'Refugio 2018' Pavilion by Fernanda Canales + Claudia Rodríguez for FYJA 2018 - More Images+ 22

The FYJA Flowers and Gardens Festival is an event that brings together landscape architects, architects, artists, designers, artisans, gardeners, and students to create, for each edition, a route with various activities and exhibitions. These offer everyone—experts, enthusiasts, and the curious alike—the opportunity to engage with horticulture and experience the benefits of plants.

This year's edition, which took place from April 20 to 22, aimed to raise awareness among Mexicans about the importance of plant care and the necessity of creating and preserving urban green spaces, while also fostering interest in landscape design, floral art, and gardening.

We Need to Talk About Gentrification and Innovation Ecosystems

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We Need to Talk About Gentrification and Innovation Ecosystems - Image 3 of 4

I have been writing about gentrification for some time now. However, over the past week, two reports in particular caught my attention regarding how the topic is stirring up debate in two very different places: California and Berlin.

Interestingly, both cases boil down to the same underlying reason: the risk of gentrification in these cities is largely driven by the impact of innovation ecosystems on local real estate dynamics.

Therefore, this article aims to reflect on how Americans and Germans are tackling the issue, each in their own way. Furthermore, what lessons can we draw from these experiences, given that this could soon affect Brazilian cities rising in the national entrepreneurship and innovation scene?

Spanish Architects Unite in Defense of the Van der Driesche House

The Van der Driesche House, designed by Spanish architects José Antonio Martínez Lapeña and Elías Torres Tur—winners of the 2016 National Architecture Award—has narrowly escaped demolition, avoiding yet another loss of contemporary Spanish architectural heritage to cultural insensitivity.

On Tuesday, September 18, the Island Council of Ibiza approved a decree suspending the demolition of the Van der Driesche House for up to three months. Because the building is currently neither listed nor declared of cultural interest, the next step is to take the necessary measures to preserve its cultural value, preventing any work or intervention that could alter the complex's original features.

What can architecture students learn from a community in the Peruvian highlands?

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On the occasion of the recent edition of the Latin American Social Workshop in Chucuito, Peru —XV TSL Puno—, ArchDaily en Español and the Latin American Coordinator of Architecture Students (CLEA) invited all participating students to reflect on their personal experience in a recent call for articles. The text, originally titled "Construyendo Lazos" (Building Bonds) by Indira Fernández and Diana Hernández—members of the Puma Workshop led by Lucio Torres and students at the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico—was selected as the winner of this open call.

Indira and Diana focus on the challenge that the TSL has faced in recent years: it is no longer merely a construction workshop, but also a platform for future architects to practice different methodologies of citizen participation and integration during the design process, while simultaneously discussing the challenges and threats facing so-called social architecture.

Being part of a team dedicated to understanding emotions, traditions, and cultures is deeply rewarding, but it also prompts you to question the ultimate purpose of practicing architecture. What could we expect from a social workshop in a country other than our own, Mexico? What can be learned from a community located 3,870 meters above sea level? What can we, as students, contribute?

Like Father, Like Son: 20 Architects Who Followed Their Fathers' Profession

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In any profession, it is common for children to follow in their parents' footsteps, motivated by the environment they grew up in and inspired by a passion for the craft. Architecture is no exception. Growing up surrounded by sketches, floor plans, and coffee seems to spark the desire to pursue the same career.

In celebration of Father's Day, observed in Brazil this coming Sunday, August 12, we have compiled a list of architects who followed in their fathers' footsteps. Read on below:

Promoting diversity to make cities more equitable

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When there is a balanced combination of complementary activities in a given neighborhood (meaning a mix of housing, workplaces, commerce, and services), a significant portion of its residents' daily trips can remain short and walkable. Diverse uses, with different peak hours throughout the day, help keep streets busy and safe for longer, stimulating pedestrian and cyclist activity and promoting a lively human environment where people want to live. This also helps balance public transit demand, resulting in a more efficient and sustainable operation over longer periods of the day. People of all age groups, genders, and income levels can safely interact in public spaces.

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Cortesia de ITDP Brasil

2018 Beijing Design Week - 751 International Design Festival Press Conference Interprets Food Aesthetics with 'Tasty Design'

2018 Beijing Design Week - 751 International Design Festival Press Conference Interprets Food Aesthetics with 'Tasty Design' - Films & Architecture
Courtesy of 751 International Design Festival

On August 30, the press conference for the 2018 Beijing Design Week - 751 International Design Festival was held at the Geyuan space in Beijing's 751D·PARK. Wang Yudong, General Manager of Beijing Design Week, and Zhang Junyuan, General Manager of 751D·PARK Cultural Development Co., Ltd., delivered opening remarks. The event was attended by Per Boesgaard, Sector Counselor for Sustainable Urban Development at the Royal Danish Embassy, Bart Hofstede, Cultural Counselor of the Dutch Embassy, and over 40 Chinese and international media representatives.

The Role of Women in Construction: Times of Change?

One of the first courses I took in the introductory cycle at the School of Architecture was Design Studio. Around 100 young students gathered in the studio, where an architect warmly welcomed us and spoke about the course syllabus. She happily explained that she had recently become the course chair. At the time, I was not aware of academic hierarchies, but I understood it was significant. Over the years, I noticed that most courses were led by men. Therefore, what that architect had achieved was uncommon: she had shattered the glass ceiling by reaching a position of leadership and authority.

This situation is particularly striking because this disparity is not reflected in the classrooms of FADU (University of Buenos Aires). In the architecture program, over 60% of students are women, according to architect Carolina Quiroga. Although women hold 45% of teaching positions, according to a report by the FADU Teaching Administration Department, none of the 'Design' studios—the core subject of the curriculum—are led by female tenured professors.

Unfortunately, the academic world is not the only place where this inequality exists.

289 projects submitted to the open call for the Brazilian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

The open call for projects for the Brazilian Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale closed on Friday, January 19, at 11:00 p.m., after being open to the public for one month. 

The initiative aimed to find projects across Brazil that demonstrate architecture as a tool to mediate conflicts, negotiate transitions between the public and private realms, and articulate connections between distinct urban fabrics. 

Alberto Campo Baeza Receives the 2018 Piranesi Rome Prize

The Accademia Adrianea di Architettura di Roma has awarded the 2018 Piranesi Award to Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza for his outstanding professional career in relation to historic heritage.

The Piranesi Award is a prestigious international recognition, sponsored by the Accademia Adrianea, the Ordine degli Architetti of Rome, and the Casa dell'Architettura, which honors the quality of an architect's work and their approach to the classical.

Shipping containers as pedagogical spaces for children: see the competition results

The Agisa Todeschini Ideas Competition brought together architects and students of architecture and urbanism to select and award the three best free-design concepts utilizing one or more habitable modules as an interactive space for the beneficiary institution. In addition to a cash prize, the competition winner will design a furnished habitable module to be built and donated to Lar Infantil Sol Amigo—an organization supporting vulnerable children in Curitiba—to serve as an educational and interactive space.

Participatory architecture that transcends language barriers: Birthing Houses in Los Altos de Chiapas, Mexico

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Until a few years ago, childbirth was the leading cause of death for women in the municipality of Tenejapa, located in the Highlands region of Chiapas (Los Altos de Chiapas). Faced with this situation, coupled with a lack of medical services in the region, traditional midwives from 22 communities joined forces to combat the issue. They formed the “Un solo corazón A.C.” Midwives Network, an organization that has succeeded in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates to zero while attending 98% of births in the area.

Built on a former landfill, Brazilian library is in the running for the world's best library award.

The Villa-Lobos Park Library (BVL), in the western zone of São Paulo, is one of five finalists for the best public library award from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the industry's most prominent international organization. The Villa-Lobos Park Library was built on the site of a former open-air landfill. The revitalization of the area led to the creation of a free-entry, open-access reading space, modeled after the São Paulo Library in Youth Park (Parque da Juventude), which has also competed for another international award.

Exhibition in Zurich to Showcase Smiljan Radic's Private Collection

Chilean architect Smiljan Radic, along with Patricio Mardones, are the curators of the exhibition CLOUD '68 - PAPER VOICE, which will be on display from March 14 to May 18, 2018, at the Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg in Switzerland.

This exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the social revolution of May 1968, paying tribute to radical European thought and its architecture from 1950 to 1970, which generated diverse perspectives of expression and design forms.

Zaha Hadid Architects presents a piece inspired by the work of Félix Candela in Mexico.

Zaha Hadid Architects presents a piece inspired by the work of Félix Candela in Mexico. - Image 1 of 4Zaha Hadid Architects presents a piece inspired by the work of Félix Candela in Mexico. - Image 2 of 4Zaha Hadid Architects presents a piece inspired by the work of Félix Candela in Mexico. - Image 3 of 4Zaha Hadid Architects presents a piece inspired by the work of Félix Candela in Mexico. - Image 4 of 4Zaha Hadid Architects presents a piece inspired by the work of Félix Candela in Mexico. - More Images+ 8

As part of Zaha Hadid Architects' first exhibition in Latin America, the Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico City is hosting an experimental structure that pays tribute to Mexican architect and engineer Félix Candela. "Design as Second Nature" showcases several projects by architect Zaha Hadid through models, audiovisual materials, paintings, and photographs, exploring her practice's creative process and highlighting the importance and complexity of design as the articulating axis of forms and construction processes in her work.

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