Wood is an incredibly common material in the construction industry, utilized across various stages and for multiple purposes. Below, we explore its potential to shape residential facades through 17 examples of Brazilian houses.

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The Brumadinho Memorial, designed by the firm GPA&A and led by architect Gustavo Penna, is already under construction. Designed to honor the victims of the dam collapse on January 25, 2019, the project involved the entire local community to create a space of belonging, identity, and collective interest.

Construction is underway, and earthmoving works have already been completed. The memorial is scheduled to open in January 2023.

A landslide on the Morro da Forca hill struck two historic mansions in the historical center of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, this morning, completely destroying them. The buildings were listed by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (Iphan). Minutes before the tragedy, the area had been evacuated, and there were no casualties.

Reinforced concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. In Brazil, the nation's greatest architectural icon, Oscar Niemeyer, was passionate about the material, claiming it was the only one capable of giving shape to his sinuous curves.

Builders love concrete, making it the most widely used construction material in the world–but the production of the cement used in most concrete accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

When we think of an architecture firm, what typically comes to mind is the design and development of projects of varying complexity and scale, traditionally associated with lived space—whether designed for residential, commercial, or institutional purposes, among many other activities that characterize our urban lifestyle. Consequently, encountering a portfolio that simultaneously features residences, nautical equipment, public transit systems, and small appliances—such as ceiling fans, air purifiers, and citrus juicers—can elicit a certain surprise. 

For designers and architects, ugliness has historically not been something to strive for. Culturally, however, we are increasingly weary of perfection.

Following decades of designs that behaved in similarly simple and orderly ways—particularly during the twentieth century, with the rationalism and purity of Modernism—we now long for expressions that are less sanitized and, at the same time, more human.

Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in the region between the tropics and the Equator, is marked by high humidity, heavy rainfall, and high temperatures. Alongside these summer storms, Brazil also contends with a series of severe events such as flooding, landslides, and dam failures. Over the years, the concentration of these events between November and March has become increasingly common. Their occurrence is directly linked to seasonal summer rains, but also to the country's ongoing economic activities.

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There are many architectural and urban planning qualities that justify Brasília's inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage list, and perhaps the invention of the superquadra is one of the most overlooked. The structural module of the residential sector proposed by Lucio Costa, the superquadra does not exist solely for housing; it is part of a larger whole, the modern city, contributing to the enjoyment, harmony, and coexistence of its residents.

Starting today, Florianópolis residents will receive a one-real discount on bus fares paid during off-peak hours. Additionally, to facilitate short-distance travel, the City of Florianópolis is offering a 50% fare discount on six neighborhood lines. These benefits apply to all municipal transit cardholders.

Severiano Porto was honored today with the 2021 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, organized by the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, a French institution dedicated, among other things, to organizing events focused on heritage and architectural education. Porto, who passed away in 2020, had his work represented by Professor Marcos Cereto, a professor at the Federal University of Amazonas, and is the first Brazilian to receive the honor.

Will 2022 place Brazil on the path toward the economic transition needed to meet climate goals and keep the long-term target of net-zero emissions by 2050 viable? There is still a window of opportunity for the world to limit warming to 1.5°C, but countries' lack of ambition so far has made this scenario increasingly costly to achieve. Each passing year adds urgency, and science has made it clear that decisions made this decade will define the planet's climate balance.

Facades are the calling card of any building, shaping visitors' first impressions of the space they are entering. They are also the part of a building most exposed to the elements and street pollution, requiring periodic maintenance. This article offers practical tips to guide you when renovating the front of your home. 

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We have repeated the word “sustainability” so often in recent years that we have almost lost sight of its true meaning. What does it actually mean to be sustainable?

A guest on the Betoneira Podcast, architect Marko Brajovic suggests that, rather than seeking out certifications—often used for greenwashing—the most genuine approach is to recognize that we are part of the very nature we are trying to protect.

CAU Brasil is developing an Interactive Database for its Education and Training Commission. The project aims to collect, systematize, and qualitatively and quantitatively use data on education, training, research, and outreach activities in Architecture and Urbanism.

To develop this technology, CAU Brasil has launched a special bidding process to hire a software development startup. The estimated budget is R$ 100,000.

Aiming to find an environmentally friendly use for approximately 164 tons of organic waste generated monthly in its food courts, Shopping Eldorado in São Paulo has invested in the Telhado Verde (Green Roof) composting project since 2012. The initiative transforms food waste into organic compost, recycling more than 30% of the waste generated by the establishment.

Departing from the 20th-century logic that shaped most cities, deprioritizing cars in urban development and reducing their designated street space does not worsen congestion. On the contrary, reclaiming road space by reducing vehicle lanes prompts a shift in transit habits. People increasingly opt for sustainable alternatives—such as walking, cycling, or public transit—which significantly reduces the volume of private vehicles.

This article begins with the premise that cities are not neutral spaces. Territories, much like architecture, urbanism, literature, culture, and politics, are conditioned by the values of a given society at a specific point in time. Consequently, the configuration of these spaces is shaped by societal values—in this case, those of a patriarchal, racist, and capitalist society. As a result, this lack of neutrality in the production of urban space leads to different ways in which cities are used and experienced by their inhabitants. These unique experiences, in turn, are deeply intertwined with issues of social class, race, and gender.

The design for what was then called the Ministry of Education and Public Health was developed during 1936 by a team comprising architects Oscar Niemeyer, Affonso Reidy, Jorge Moreira, Carlos Leão, and Ernani Vasconcelos, under the coordination of Lucio Costa. At the request of the then-Minister Gustavo Capanema and with guidance from Le Corbusier, the team of young Brazilian modernists was tasked with giving a national identity to the building that would become one of the greatest icons of Brazilian architecture, in direct opposition to the dominant aesthetic of the time. The decision not to commission the original design, which had won the public competition held for this purpose, is just one part of this incredible story.

Whether or not they grow up to be architects, the fundamental skills that drive design and architecture can offer immense benefits to our children. The way children grow up to think, behave, solve problems, and create can be immeasurably enhanced by teaching them to think like architects from an early age.

We are living through a period of demographic transition—a shift we are all well aware of. The growth of the population over 60 has been exponential; however, it is not just this demographic increase that must be considered, but also the changing profile of this generation. After all, older adults are not what they used to be. 

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As the global population increasingly concentrates in urban centers, land in major cities is becoming progressively more expensive. Meanwhile, rising sea levels driven by climate change threaten the housing of millions worldwide—it is estimated that 800 million people will be at risk by 2050.

Living on water could offer a solution to both of these major challenges. This very premise inspired a new neighborhood in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands—a country with a long history of adapting to environmental adversity, where a quarter of the land lies below sea level.

"I’m an architect... now what do I do?" is likely one of the most common questions asked by any recent architecture graduate. Over the years, many will find jobs in different industries that do not necessarily involve working in an office designing and constructing buildings.

An architectural project goes far beyond final plans, stunning renderings, or physical models. It progresses through several phases that generate a comprehensive set of documents—including technical drawings, written reports, and various other forms of representation—covering everything from conceptualization to construction. More than just a methodology, these stages are governed by standards, with NBR 13532 (Preparation of Building Projects - Architecture) serving as the foundation for the necessary conditions of architectural design development.

The latest episode of Arquicast on construction industry trends explores the key themes that dominated architectural debate throughout 2021 and how these issues are shaping market expectations for the year ahead. Sustainability, innovation, technology, and workplace culture are among the core concepts discussed—all of which, in one way or another, seem central to the shifts on the horizon for 2022.