This guide covers a workflow that moves from project parameters to generated floor plans, 3D perspective views, exterior design exploration, and site context visualization, using AI tools in place of preliminary CAD and rendering work.

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We spoke with Mexican architect Lucía Villers about her interest in understanding time in architecture through projects and research focused on transformation and restoration. Her work is divided between architectural practice and research projects. Time is an obsession Lucía has had since childhood. “When I went on road trips and watched the landscape, I would suddenly notice that a mountain moved slower, while what was close to me seemed to go faster. I always had many questions about the perception of time. Sometimes it seems to pass very quickly, and then very slowly.”

No País dos Arquitectos is a podcast created by Sara Nunes, who also runs the architectural film production company Building Pictures. The show aims to profile the professionals, projects, and stories behind landmark contemporary Portuguese architecture. With just over 10 million inhabitants, Portugal is a compelling nation when it comes to this professional field, producing architecture that far exceeds what might be expected from its population or territorial scale.

In this episode, Sara talks with architect Frederico Valsassina about the design of the Adega Herdade do Freixo winery, located in Redondo, Portugal. Listen to the interview and read the transcript of the conversation below:

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Rescuing the invisible, diving into an erased urban memory, and walking on water. Surprising as it may seem, the world has not ended yet. However, those walking through Belo Horizonte, passing the busy intersection of Afonso Pena Avenue and Brasil Avenue, might be able to pinpoint exactly where it does. The “Acaba-Mundo” [World's End] is a creek that crossed the Curral del Rei settlement, the site to which the capital of Minas Gerais was relocated in 1897.

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Responsibly sourced, wood is a renewable, low-emission resource that, in addition to storing carbon within its composition, features low thermal conductivity and high acoustic absorption, creating comfortable, well-insulated spaces year-round. A well-designed timber building will not only enhance these properties but will also be aesthetically pleasing for its occupants and highly energy-efficient.

It is interesting to reflect on the events of a few days ago in Pamplona, which hosted the 7th Latin American Architecture Biennial (BAL) at the Civican Cultural Center. At first, it might seem striking that a Spanish city like Pamplona hosts an event focused on Latin American architecture—a practice that over the years has developed a distinct identity deeply rooted in its own continental context, and which one might think has little in connection with Iberian architecture today. Nevertheless, during these days, the city takes pride in serving as a bridge between Latin America and Spain. It welcomed emerging architecture firms that brought a fresh, driven energy to present work full of potential and promising ideas for the future of the Latin American architectural scene.

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What role does space play in education? How can we incorporate new learning methods that foster environmental stewardship and introduce sustainability principles to new generations? Located in the Parque Donado-Holmberg neighborhood of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, the Siglo XXI School draws on educational facilities in Finland, the Netherlands, England, and the United States as benchmarks, aiming to integrate the school into the community and maximize the use of open spaces and new technologies.

"Earthen construction is an ancient technique, a sustainable alternative, almost always a community effort, and, in a very high percentage of cases, carried out by women." This is how the video for “Paula Pacha Patrimonio” begins—a project by Nidia Bellene that we are presenting on the occasion of World Photography Day (August 19).

The work is the result of an exchange between the artist and women earthen builders from different parts of Argentina, who shared their daily records of work and experiences. Sourced through an open call on social media, the project gathered over 100 images that are now on display in a video installation at the Museo Casa Natal de Sarmiento.

The Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage, in collaboration with the developer Constructora Presidente Riesco, has signed a historic agreement to launch the restoration and preservation of the remains of Block 14, where the new museum will be located. The project will maintain the complex's original height of 10.62 meters, with a floor area of up to 800 square meters. It will be accompanied by a landscaping project across the 1,000-square-meter surrounding protected zone in the eastern sector of Santiago.

"Complete City: La Palomera, Acknowledgment and Celebration" is the installation by Enlace Arquitectura for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale 2021. The model is a representation of the paths, stairways, and gardens of the La Palomera barrio in Caracas, Venezuela. The message: to recognize the barrio as part of the city.

Dear readers, with your companionship, ArchDaily has journeyed through 2020. Throughout this past year, we have continued our daily mission to report on and share global architecture, growing along the way while earning the recognition of architects and the invaluable support of our readers. 2020 has been an extraordinary year. At a time when we cannot gather or meet in person, we rely on the digital realm to send holiday wishes, sharing warmth and connection through online greeting cards. We have compiled the holiday cards we received this year to share with you, our dear readers. Let’s take a look at these creative designs from architects worldwide as we welcome 2021 together.

This September marks the 4th edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial under the title The Available City. It is a perfect opportunity to open up the debate on the role of architecture in urban equity.

"Domingos Libro" is presented by Carmelo of Enorme Studio. Every two weeks, he delves into forgotten architectural publications, books, and magazines from the '60s, '70s, and '80s that have the most interesting stories behind them.

In this eighth episode, titled "I'm Gonna Be a Rock & Roll Star," he discusses issue 231 (February 1984) of the French magazine L'Architecture d'aujourd'hui, which was dedicated to Jean Nouvel's projects from 1977 to 1983. Among these, an interview with the French architect stands out, where his words are accompanied by staged portraits that fictionalize everything he says in the interview.

The acclaimed architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, who passed away on May 23, cementing his eternal legacy, granted an interview to Revista América #1, published just over two years ago. In this journal from the Escola da Cidade graduate program, the architect, whose reflections lie at the core of the publication's editorial vision, expands—as he did on many other occasions—the concept of architecture, linking it to geographic and political dimensions.

# Red Dot Award: Product Design 2020
# 2019 Archiproducts Longlist
# Selected for the 2020 ADI Design Index Exhibition

When Mies van der Rohe urged us to distill our walls to their bare essentials with his famous adage "less is more," he might not have anticipated that we would eventually grow weary of perfectly uniform boxes. While minimalism remains a dominant design style worldwide, there is a growing desire to inject clever details beyond mere simplicity, breaking its monotony to introduce aesthetic refinement and a warmer atmosphere. This is where Eclisse 40 comes in.

The door frame of the Eclisse 40 series is not only a technical innovation, but it also rethinks the frame as an aesthetic, design, and decorative element. The splayed profile defines the volume, playing with light to create a unique theatrical effect. What was once an invisible, purely structural element—the frame—now takes center stage, turning the door into a prominent feature in interior design with its own expressive power.

Smart campuses represent a unique architectural typology of our time. They not only showcase a brand's core technology and identity, but their vast footprint and significant investment also capture public interest, raising expectations for an innovative, interactive destination. In January of this year, construction began on the Midea Shanghai Global Innovation Park. Designed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD), the campus spans a gross floor area of nearly 400,000 square meters with a total investment of over 6 billion RMB. It is scheduled for completion in 2024.

Located in the Hongqiao Business District of Shanghai, near the National Exhibition and Convention Center, the campus spans two urban plots. It is bordered by a natural waterway to the east and an urban green belt and the Shenhai Expressway to the west. BIAD conceived a "floating square ring" architectural form that hovers above the site. Both the building's roof and the landscape below are covered in "forests," seamlessly integrating the built volume with the environment. Equipped with Midea Group's proprietary smart building management systems and intelligent products, the campus aims to become a world-class green technology park.

A new edition of the Latin American Architecture Biennial is set to begin on September 28 in Pamplona, Spain. Organized by the AREA association in collaboration with the City Council of Pamplona, the Basque-Navarrese Association of Architects, the University of Navarra, the Government of Navarra, and the Spanish Ministry of Development, this 7th edition will feature 13 emerging architectural practices representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The upcoming edition of Open House Madrid, taking place from September 24 to 26, will pay tribute to Spanish architect Luis Gutiérrez Soto, a key figure and promoter of the Modern Movement in España.

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Luis Antonio Moreno Aguayo—architect and co-founder of Taller Matatipac in Tepic, Nayarit—presents his project: the Bípeda chair, which uses experimentation to simplify concepts to their elemental roots, employing critique as a tool to fuel creativity.

"Domingos Libro" is hosted by Carmelo from Enorme Studio, where every two weeks he takes a deep dive into forgotten architectural publications—books and magazines from the '60s, '70s, and '80s with the most fascinating stories behind them.

In this episode, titled "Just What Is Necessary," he discusses Thomas Gordon Smith's 1988 book "Classical Architecture: Rule & Invention" and how two columns disappeared from his iconic Tuscan and Laurentian Houses just two years after their completion.

An active city is one that encourages its inhabitants to be physically active in their daily lives. This does not mean aiming to turn citizens into Olympic athletes, but rather providing safe spaces for cyclists and pedestrians to move around, as well as adequate infrastructure so that people of all ages can play sports, have fun, and relax outdoors. Consequently, physical activity, at varying levels of intensity, becomes a natural part of the population's daily routine. 

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Under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” Expo Dubai 2020 —held from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022— is the first world expo hosted by an Arab nation and the Middle East region. The Spain Pavilion, under the slogan “Intelligence for Life,” synthesizes the idea of preserving a high quality of life on our planet for ourselves and future generations.

Designed by the firm amann cánovas maruri, the building is located in the expo's Sustainability District and stands out for its series of prominent truncated cones that rise above the landscape, evoking the feel of a traditional public square. Inside, the Pavilion houses two complementary thematic exhibition areas designed by the joint venture between External Reference and Onionlab. Here, the Barcelona-based firms have applied a striking blend of design, art, and technology to create a uniquely immersive experience.

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The tension between architectural form and structural feasibility is long-standing; the bold, avant-garde visions of architects often remain on paper due to structural requirements and technical constraints. How can projects that break traditional architectural forms be realized? How do we translate these imaginative concepts into reality?

In this feature, ArchDaily introduces Eckersley O’Callaghan, a structural and facade engineering design firm. The practice has collaborated successfully with many of the world’s leading architects. Notably, their long-standing partnership with Foster + Partners has yielded several of Apple’s iconic, minimalist "all-glass" retail stores worldwide. They have also established strong collaborations with Zaha Hadid Architects, SOM, Gensler, KPF, Snøhetta, and Heatherwick Studio. Through numerous innovations and breakthroughs in glass manufacturing technology and structural design, Eckersley O’Callaghan has demonstrated world-leading capabilities in structural innovation and project execution.

When the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, proposed the development of apartment buildings and commercial spaces on an empty industrial site, an op-ed in Growler Magazine compared the proposed development to a metal shredder. “Rather than conserving and enhancing the qualities and character of the neighborhood,” writes Charles Hathaway, “the redevelopment endorsed by the city's plan disregards the unique characteristics of the neighborhood and diminishes its quality.”

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Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, global tourism ground to a halt for over a year, yet the desire to seek the inspiration that comes from traveling and experiencing new places remained. While experiencing spaces firsthand is undoubtedly one of the best ways to study architecture, reconstructing these structures through drawings and visualizations serves as another valuable educational tool, fostering a deeper awareness of the intricate details that compose them.