Tag: metal | ArchDaily

Designing Quietly: Rethinking Architecture’s Overlooked Surface

Kiana Buchberger — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:09:40 +0000

The ceiling is one of the largest continuous surfaces in a space, yet why is it rarely the first architectural element people notice? Often perceived as the plane that conceals structure and building services, it quietly recedes into the background while facades, materials, structural systems, and furniture define a building's architectural identity. Yet few architectural elements influence the experience of a space as consistently as this one. The ceiling shapes how sound travels, how light is reflected, how air moves through a room, and ultimately how architecture is experienced, bringing together technical performance and architectural expression through a single continuous surface.

Calibrated Rawness: Studio 1:1 and the Discipline of Making in Hong Kong and Beyond

Jonathan Yeung — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In Hong Kong, where interiors and small buildings are routinely caught between two extremes—high-gloss "luxury" finishes on one end, and budget-cautious industrial roughness on the other—a third attitude has emerged through the calibration of both: a uniquely precise, relevant, and materially honest execution that is not dependent on price point. This is calibrated rawness. Calibrated rawness describes an architecture that retains the directness of matter and materiality—concrete, metal, blockwork, exposed structure, visible services—while subjecting it to rigorous control.

From Industry to the Living Room: Metal Furniture in Interior Architecture

Camilla Ghisleni — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:30:00 +0000

How did a material conceived for bridges, factories, and large structures find its way to the living room bench, the apartment bookshelf, or the coffee table? Metal has crossed centuries associated with labor, machinery, and monumentality—from the exposed structures of the 19th-century World Expos to the production logic of modern industry. Its presence in the domestic interior is not a given, but rather a cultural achievement: the transformation of an industrial material into an element of everyday, intimate use, close to the body.

Interior Design Trends of 2025

Mohieldin Gamal — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:00:00 +0000

As 2025 approaches its end, we look back at an eventful year in the world of interior design. Last year, designers favored reserved, modest approaches, a trend that continued from previous years. The emergence of artificial intelligence generated intense discussions on digital equity and misinformation, which continued into 2025, especially with the topic of the Venice Architecture Biennale, Intelligens. This opened the conversation to the opportunities of digital technologies, attempting a more hopeful outlook. On the other hand, completed interior design projects over the year focused more on the tangible and the pragmatic, with expressed raw materials and an appreciation of history.

Metal Façade Systems with Community Resonance: The Case of Africatown Plaza

Enrique Tovar — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:30:00 +0000

As urban neighborhoods continue to evolve, design plays a key role in shaping how buildings respond to urbanization, functional demands, and the character of their surroundings. Intertwined, these elements guide the transformation of urban life and influence how new developments engage with their context—a dynamic clearly visible in Seattle's Central District. Long considered a historic hub for the city's African American community, the Africatown Plaza project proposes a comprehensive approach that integrates architectural performance with community resonance, using the building envelope as a primary medium.

Metal Up Top: Which Roofing Style Is Leading the Change?

Eduardo Souza — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:30:00 +0000

Metal roofs have a long history dating back to ancient civilizations, with early examples found in Roman and Byzantine architecture, where copper and lead sheets were used for durability and weather resistance. During the 19th century, advances in industrial manufacturing led to the widespread adoption of corrugated iron and steel roofing, which became popular for their strength, affordability, and ease of installation. Today, modern metal roofing systems use materials such as aluminum, galvanized steel, and zinc, offering superior performance against extreme weather conditions, fire resistance, and energy efficiency. These surfaces can be designed in various profiles, including standing seam, corrugated, and metal shingles, allowing for aesthetic flexibility and structural integrity. Additionally, reflective coatings and insulation options contribute to energy savings, making metal roofs a preferred choice for sustainable and long-lasting building solutions.

Architecture Reflected in Water: 20 Lakeside Homes

Camilla Ghisleni — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:30:00 +0000

On the shores of serene lakes, where water reflects the harmony between architecture and nature, homes emerge as true retreats. Designed to offer comfort and a deep connection with the surroundings, these residences stand out worldwide for their diverse materials and scales, adapting to different landscapes and lifestyles. From remote wooden cabins to sophisticated concrete and glass mansions in urban areas, each project takes advantage of natural resources and the unique characteristics of its setting.

Interior Design Trends of 2024

Dima Stouhi — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:30:00 +0000

As 2024 comes to an end, a dynamic year that questioned knowledge, tradition, and innovation, we take a look at how global events and trends influenced the design of interior spaces. Last year, architecture practices sparked worldwide discussions, challenging norms and tradition, and embracing overlooked regions. Interior design, on the other hand, took a more reserved, modest approach, favoring simplicity and individuality. Fast forward a year later, the overall architecture and design themes of 2023 remain the same - reinforced if anything - but have embraced "crafted experimentations" through subtle, acupuncture-like interventions.

Building Methods in Focus: The Solid vs Hollow Partitioning Debate

Jonathan Yeung — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Two primary building approaches are commonly identified in architecture and design: solid versus hollow construction. These methods vary significantly across different cultures and regions, specifically for interior partitioning systems, when they appear interchangeable. Each has its own established practices influenced by local materials, labor preferences, climatic conditions, and cultural traditions. When architects and designers focus on their local context, it is easy to overlook the broader construction assumptions, limiting design flexibility and methodology. This raises an important question: How do these two building approaches differ?

The Rise of Metal: Blending Industrial Aesthetics with Other Textures

ArchDaily Team — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Often associated with an industrial aesthetic, metal has become more prevalent in residential and commercial architecture. Its reflective quality has broadened the scope of texture and color combinations, giving rise to a fresh aesthetic for interior design. Consequently, architects and designers increasingly incorporate metallic surfaces to define floors, benches, and other furniture elements, thereby defining spatial layouts and infusing them with a contemporary vibe. To inspire this trend, we explore various methods for incorporating aluminum or similar materials into your space.

30 Japanese Homes that Use Metal for Interior Accents

Claire Brodka — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Contemporary Japanese interiors incorporate elements both of tradition and modernity to embody the country's innovative spirit while maintaining a profound respect for its history and cultural heritage. Though traditional materials like wood, paper, and bamboo continue to hold significance, modern Japanese interiors also often feature a fusion of glass, steel, concrete, and metals. The juxtaposition of smoother, sleeker textures and finishes with warmer and more organic ones reflects a dynamic synthesis of old and new, and results in visually striking and functional spaces that honor the essence of the country's design principles.

Angled Metal Panels for Modular, Creative and Sustainable Façades

Valeria Montjoy — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 01:30:00 +0000

Blending in with its urban context or standing out to draw attention, a façade tells a building’s story. It is an expressive medium through which we engage with architecture, defining first impressions and setting the tone for the interior by experimenting with transparency, movement, texture and color, among other aesthetic possibilities. Of course, the envelope also plays a crucial functional role, acting as a protective barrier against extreme weather conditions and directly impacting light transmittance, energy efficiency and acoustic comfort. Architects therefore face an important challenge: to achieve a balance between an attractive look and performance. To do so, it is pivotal to specify the right materials during the design stage.

Modular Ceramics that Reproduce the Beauty of Stone, Marble, Cement and Metal

Eduardo Souza — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 06:45:00 +0000

A rock like marble is usually light in color when formed through a process involving the heat and pressure of limestone. Carrara marble, for example, became famous for having good workability for sculptures, but also for its extremely uniform appearance. Under skillful hands, rough stone could become works of art such as Michelangelo's Pietá or David, among many others. But if during the rock formation process there are impurities such as clay minerals and iron oxides, the resulting stone may acquire bluish, gray, pink and black hues. Something that would make its use in a sculpture unfeasible can be seen as the real beauty of the piece, and how the passage of time was printed on it. Likewise, it is very difficult to predict exactly how zinc or copper will oxidize over time, and its patina effect takes on beautiful greenish, reddish or grayish tones, depending on the conditions to which they were exposed.

Houses in Costa Rica: Creating Shelter, Ventilation, and Shade Using Wood and Metal

Fabian Dejtiar — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 05:00:00 +0000

"Here in the tropics, shade is the prime air conditioner and, unlike the stove, it can be created everywhere," says Bruno Stagno about architecture for the tropics. In this sense, how has Costa Rica been "building" it's shade over the years?

How to Incorporate Steel Railings Into the Design

Giovana Martino — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Railings play two roles in architectural projects, both as a support and safety component in a building, which involves a great deal of technical detailing and accessibility standards, and as an accent element in the design. In this article, we will explore the different ways in which these elements can be used in a project.

Metal Houses in Argentina: 10 Projects with Sheet Metal Exteriors

Belén Maiztegui — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Whether applied as cladding to steel or timber frame structures or to structures built by traditional means, sheet metal offers an array of advantages as a building material, thanks to its low cost, ease of maintenance, and versatility.

What Are The Most Used Materials in Social Housing? 15 Diverse Applications and Construction Styles

Fabian Dejtiar — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:30:00 +0000

Choice of building materials and the inherent continuous reflection about the reach and capabilities of architecture are an interesting alternative way to approach this issue. The materials used in social housing should address local and economic possibilities and the real needs for access to housing in the contemporary context.

How Exterior Metal Panels Provide Function, Performance, and Beauty

Olivia Bartolini — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 01:30:00 +0000

Integrating metal panels into exterior architecture can result in a unique building that is both performative and beautiful. Metal panels customized in tandem with adaptive solutions, proprietary technology, and skilled project managers and designers create a perfect opportunity to make a statement in the surrounding built environment. Arktura provides services, resources, and materials to support endless creativity with exterior metal wall panels that give the flexibility to achieve virtually any design preference.