Tag: exposed-concrete | ArchDaily

Beyond Imported Icons: Tao Ho and a Local Modernism for Hong Kong

Jonathan Yeung — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:30:00 +0000

When Hong Kong's architectural story is told, it is often reduced to a handful of icons. Many people most readily name I.M. Pei—Pritzker Prize laureate and architect of the Bank of China Tower in Central (1990), as well as global works such as the Le Grand Louvre in Paris and the Miho Museum in Shiga. Looking elsewhere, one also encounters a long lineage of British and international architects whose imprints have shaped the city's institutional skyline: from Ron Phillips' civic works—most notably the former Murray Building (1969), now The Murray Hotel, and Hong Kong City Hall (1962)—to Norman Foster's infrastructural and corporate monuments, including the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Tower (1986) and Hong Kong International Airport (1998), and, more recently, Zaha Hadid Architects' The Henderson (2024).

Limbo Museum Opens Its Debut Exhibition Within an Unfinished Brutalist Building in Ghana, West Africa

Antonia Piñeiro — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 05:30:00 +0000

The Limbo Museum is a new institution dedicated to architecture, art, and design based in Ghana, West Africa. The museum challenges the concept of the ruin, operating from a formerly abandoned Brutalist estate that currently conveys the image of an unfinished building. The project was founded by Limbo Accra, a spatial design and research-based practice established in 2018 by Dominique Petit-Frère and Emil Grip, dedicated to "unlocking the potential of unfinished buildings across West Africa and beyond." On October 31, 2025, the museum opened its first public exhibition, On the Other Side of Languish by Reginald Sylvester II, developed through the institution's visiting artist residency program.

The 50 Best Latin American Houses of 2024

ArchDaily Team — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Annually, ArchDaily's curatorial team undertakes a rigorous selection process to identify exemplary projects in Latin American residential architecture. The goal is to share these works of architecture with our audience and highlight and promote good practices within contemporary architecture. This meticulous effort focuses on identifying projects that stand out for their design and their positive impact on the environment, innovative use of materials and techniques, and ability to address current needs.

Prefabrication and Formal Boldness in Belgian Modernism: The Story of the CBR and LH 187 Buildings in Brussels

Camilla Ghisleni — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Between 1960 and 1976, Belgium's capital became a center for architectural experimentation, blending modernist ideals with prefabrication. This period led to the creation of two iconic buildings: the CBR Office Building (1967-1970) and LH 187 (1976), designed by Constantin Brodzki and Marcel Lambrichs. Located side by side, these buildings share a striking architectural style. Both feature facades made from large prefabricated concrete modules, showcasing the brutalist aesthetic and a dedication to using industrial materials and innovative construction techniques for their time.

Between the Sacred and the Profane: The Story Behind the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lisbon

Camilla Ghisleni — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 07:30:00 +0000

As a landmark of contemporary religious architecture in Portugal, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands in contrast to traditional models, representing a work free from historicist stigmas. Resulting from a design competition organized in 1960, the church is notable for its civic dimension, urban role, and its anti-monumental and social significance. Integrated into the regular grid of the Avenidas Novas neighborhood, this example of the Movement for the Renewal of Sacred Art is part of a larger parish complex that often goes unnoticed by passersby. Its external street creates an unexpected public space, inviting people to enter and engage in a courtyard where architecture and the city merge. Finely crafted in terms of spatiality, detail, and light, the church holds many surprises for those who venture inside.

The Expressiveness of Exposed Concrete: Exploring the Works of Luciano Kruk

Agustina Iñiguez — Sat, 25 May 2024 07:30:00 +0000

In response to the diverse topographies and natural conditions throughout the Argentine territory, the works of Luciano Kruk propose an architecture that works in harmony with the environment, the landscape, and the nature in which they are situated. Whether immersed in a forest, on sloping terrain, or on a rural plain, among other geographies, his intention is to enhance the relationship between the interior and exterior of the architecture, using concrete as the main material in most of his projects.

An Abstract Chapel in Portugal and a Museum in Iran: 10 Unbuilt Projects Featuring Concrete Designs

Nour Fakharany — Mon, 20 May 2024 07:30:00 +0000

A cornerstone of architectural innovation for centuries, concrete has transformed the structural capabilities of buildings worldwide. As one of the more versatile and durable building materials, concrete has aided architects and engineers in pushing the traditional boundaries of design. Today, it is the most widely used construction material on the planet. According to the Guardian, concrete is also a “lifestyle concept,” using its “gritty, urban” aesthetic to shape the imagination of all our architectures at every scale.

Kenyatta International Convention Center: A Modernist Icon of Post-Colonial African Architecture

Camilla Ghisleni — Sat, 04 May 2024 07:30:00 +0000

The modern and futuristic architecture of Sub-Saharan Africa reflects the aspirations and progressive spirit that dominated the early years of independence for many countries in this region between the late 1950s and early 1960s. This architectural production, coinciding with economic growth, employed complex construction methods in designs that seamlessly blended interior and exterior spaces (thanks to the tropical climate), focusing on form and expression of materiality. From this fusion of specific conditions emerged architectural masterpieces of unique value that demand 'rediscovery,' among them the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Legacy of Brutalism on Morocco’s Post-independence Architectural Landscape

Paul Yakubu — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Several events have shaped Morocco since its independence. One of them is the Architects’ transition from serving the declining French empire to serving the newly independent Moroccan nation. Upon gaining independence in 1956, young Moroccan and foreign architects were tasked with constructing a self-sufficient Morocco. The demand for modern infrastructure, new administrative buildings, and improved education and health facilities led to a construction boom. This boom provided architects and planners the opportunity to express their vision.

A Look at the First 10 Editions of the MPavilion in Melbourne, Australia

Maria-Cristina Florian — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:30:00 +0000

The MPavilion represents one of the most important architectural events happening annually in Melbourne, Australia. Initiated and founded by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, the event was first launched in 2014 and has since brought internationally recognized architects to design a temporary structure in Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens in a system similar to London’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. From Sean Godsell's solar-actioned panels to Studio Mumbai‘s experimental bamboo structure, each pavilion explores craftsmanship and contemporary design while fostering a rich cultural program for several months before being disassembled and donated to one of the city’s parks. As the latest pavilion was recently inaugurated by Tadao Ando, we look back at the previous editions of Australia’s most famous annual structure.

Designed by Tadao Ando, MPavilion 10 Opens in Melbourne, Australia

Maria-Cristina Florian — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 06:30:00 +0000

The tenth edition of the MPavilion opens in Queen Victoria Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. The structure was designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Tadao Ando, marking the architect’s first built project in Australia. The pavilion follows his signature use of geometric shapes in harmony with the natural landscape and the precise use of exposed concrete. On November 16, 2023, the official opening inaugurates the space with a public celebration and a wide array of art commissions selected by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation. The MPavilion will remain free and open to the public from 16 November to 28 March 2024, inviting visitors to engage with its diverse cultural program and find opportunities for contemplation and tranquility in its spaces.

The Impact of Pigmented Concrete in Latin American Residential Architecture

Agustina Iñiguez — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

The use of pigmented concrete in Latin American architecture is growing - and influencing contemporary architectural expression. This can be seen in recent built works ranging from the INES Innovation Center designed by Pezo von Ellrichshausen in Chile to the Teotitlán del Valle Community Cultural Center by PRODUCTORA in Mexico.

Uncoated: 11 Apartments With Visible Structure

Helena Tourinho — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Housing is one of the primary aspects of the architecture profession. There are many ways to explore it, from a subordinate program such as a religious cloister to the splendor of a single-family home. Luis Fernández-Galiano is torn between the "waste" of a low-density area in this type of housing and its seductive formal charm. He reminds us that high-density collective housing, such as apartments, makes more sense in an urban context.

OPEN Architecture Reveals Design for the Shanfeng Academy Campus in Suzhou, China

Maria-Cristina Florian — Thu, 12 May 2022 05:30:00 +0000

The architectural practice OPEN has revealed the design for the Shanfeng Academy, a project currently under construction that topped out at the end of April, marking the completion of its highest point. The new campus center, located in a new district of Suzhou city, will host a K-12 international school while also aiming to act as a cultural hub for the local community.

Concrete Barrel Vaults Applied in 10 Projects of Contemporary Architecture

Paula Pintos — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:30:00 +0000

The oldest record of barrel vaults is estimated to date back to 4000 BC. These provided the spans in the Sumerian ziggurat at Nippur in Babylonia, built from fired bricks amalgamated with clay mortar. This type of vault was built as a continuous round arch and became a characteristic architectural element of Roman architecture, later used also in Renaissance architecture.

Cyclopean Concrete and Its Many Diverse Uses and Applications in Architecture

Belén Maiztegui — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Historically, "cyclopean" referred to a building technique that superimposed large stone blocks together without any mortar. This allowed for a diverse array of structures across various civilizations, including defensive walls, talayots, navetas, nuraghes, temples, tombs, and forts. Nowadays, the term applies to any ancient structure consisting of large stones superimposed to form a polygonal shape.

Cork Trees House / TRAMA arquitetos

Andreas Luco — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0000

We were approached by a young family, who has a close relationship with architecture, to develop a project that materialized the DNA of Trama Arquitetos. Furthermore, in addition to a harmonious design, the project should focus on the space details. The intention was to surprise, to integrate the exterior surroundings with the interior environment, to merge spaces and create sensations, without discouraging functionality.

Brazilian Interiors With Exposed Structures

Susanna Moreira — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Many architects tend to prefer using materials and architectural elements in their natural or raw state. It is common to remove ceilings and finishings, especially in renovation projects, to expose a building's structure. This process of reclaiming the natural materials of construction - without incorporating elements to cover the framework, pipes, tubes, and cables - transforms these spaces into places that have nothing to hide.