The focus of buildings should ultimately be the well-being of the people using them. When we think of our experiences in hospitals, clinics, the dentist's office, and other medical facilities, the feeling is rarely pleasant. Perhaps it's the smells, the dull, monotone colors, or the sound of medical gadgets working away on some unlucky patient.
The Reggio Emilia Approach was created in the post-WWII period at the initiative of widowed mothers and under the coordination of journalist and educator Loris Malaguzzi. In a time of postwar urban reconstruction, the group's primary concern was the formation of new schools, where they wanted to create a peaceful, welcoming, and cheerful environment, with a domestic atmosphere where children could stay while their mothers worked. Understanding the children's interests and providing a suitable environment for exploration and experimentation is one of the focal points of this pedagogy. The creation of a safe and stimulating environment is so fundamental that, in much literature, it appears as a third teacher.
As one of the leading architects of Japan's increasingly highly-regarded architecture culture, 2013 Pritzker Laureate Toyo Ito (born June 1, 1941) has defined his career by combining elements of minimalism with an embrace of technology, in a way that merges both traditional and contemporary elements of Japanese culture.
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“Time is a resource we are not spending properly. People are eager to save other resources, but they don’t mind spending their time carelessly,” says Anupama Kundoo in this Louisiana Channel Interview, where she talks about time as a general concept, sharing some of her philosophy of life on the matter. Turning to architecture, Kundoo reflects on the sense of urgency governing the current design process, obstructing any long term thinking about the collective body of work left as a legacy to future generations; therefore she urges architects to take time to rethink their work and refine their designs.
Against the backdrop of Chile's ongoing social crisis, Radio Zero's program *Santiago Adicto* featured an insightful conversation in which architect Cristián Fernández shares his perspective on what the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center (GAM) represents today for the city of Santiago.
The Fundação Bienal de São Paulo announced today the curators of the Brazilian Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale, scheduled to open on May 23. The exhibition will be designed by the firm Arquitetos Associados (comprising Alexandre Brasil, André Luiz Prado, Bruno Santa Cecília, Carlos Alberto Maciel, and Paula Zasnicoff) alongside visual designer Henrique Penha.
The characteristics of Corten steel has been respected by all architects, both for its strength and for its particular color. It corresponds to a type of steel manufactured with a chemical composition that provides an oxidation that protects the piece, practically without altering its mechanical characteristics. The architectural details of Corten steel present a diversity of situations and connections, not only the obvious constructive factor but it also gives an aesthetic value to any architectural project.
We have compiled this list of 6 eye-catching Corten steel construction details that stand out the most.
Alejandro Aravena was in Florianópolis last week, invited by the 2019 NCD Summit to speak on Social Architecture. Founder of the "do tank" ELEMENTAL, the 2016 Pritzker Laureate gave an overview of his work, spanning diverse project typologies, while highlighting the processes that led to the adopted solutions. Before his lecture, Aravena spoke exclusively with ArchDaily Brasil. Read the interview below:
In 1979, CHC opened its doors as a toilet seat manufacturer in Chile. The company took its first steps manufacturing these under the Europa brand, later adding Delfin Coatings industrial paints, followed by bathroom fixtures from the Spanish brand Roca. During the 1980s, public restrooms in Chile used products designed for residential use, leading to frequent failures and a poor reputation. This unmet need opened the door to importing specialized products from the US and Italy to improve the country's public restrooms. Years later, CHC innovated by designing products specifically for the Chilean market. It developed the Wasser brand, introducing new fixtures to homes and buildings, such as whirlpool tubs, prefabricated furniture, bathroom partitions, shower trays, laminated glass screens, and cabins, among others.
During the 2000s, aiming to offer comprehensive solutions, the company added ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, vinyl and laminate flooring, sports surfaces, and ventilated facades to its portfolio, incorporating more than 20 renowned brands based in Spain, Italy, and Brazil.
Normally the efforts of the construction industry are aimed to design permanent and durable spaces. However, on some occasions creating temporary spaces can be of great help, not only when providing fast assembly infrastructure after the effects of a natural disaster, but also when activating residual or abandoned spaces in our cities. To exemplify the potential of these interventions, we present thirteen successful temporary public spaces.
Eduardo Souto de Moura (born 25 July 1952), the Portuguese architect that won the 2011 Pritzker Prize, is known for designs that are formally simple yet serious and at times, dramatic, created through his thoughtful use of colors and materials. His architecture is both versatile and consistent, contextual yet universal, and rarely affected by current trends or styles.
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