ArchDaily | Broadcasting Architecture Worldwide https://www.archdaily.com/ Thu, 9 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://assets.adsttc.com/doodles/archdaily-logo-feedly.svg 026CB6 https://www.archdaily.com/en/1039429/the-earthen-towers-of-shibam-a-vertical-city-in-the-yemeni-desert Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:30:00 +0000 Camilla Ghisleni https://www.archdaily.com/en/1039429/the-earthen-towers-of-shibam-a-vertical-city-in-the-yemeni-desert Symbols of technological development and urban density, tall buildings as we know them today emerged in the late 19th century, primarily in the United States, in response to rapid growth in urban commerce and the need to expand cities without consuming more land. The term skyscraper, for instance, was coined in the 1880s and originally referred to buildings of about 10 to 20 stories—an impressive height at the time.

]]> https://www.archdaily.com/en/993914/what-makes-an-outstanding-city-10-cities-in-focus-in-2022 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 07:30:00 +0000 Ankitha Gattupalli https://www.archdaily.com/en/993914/what-makes-an-outstanding-city-10-cities-in-focus-in-2022 Cities evolve over countless years, each moment of change building up to larger societal and architectural shifts. Metropolises across the world are constantly subject to social, political, economic, or environmental forces that alter their fundamental identity - a character that is meant to be dynamic. As cities develop in size and impact, advancements in the understanding of cities and urbanism grow more complex. 

]]> https://www.archdaily.com/en/985073/the-ancient-high-rise-the-permeability-of-conflict Wed, 13 Jul 2022 04:00:00 +0000 Matthew Maganga https://www.archdaily.com/en/985073/the-ancient-high-rise-the-permeability-of-conflict Skyscrapers are an unmissable characteristic of contemporary settlements. From São Paolo to New York, from Seoul to Dubai – these towering structures are a ubiquitous part of the urban fabric. The conventional image one has of these structures is of curtain-walled facades, but in Yemen – an ancient example goes against this trend. Central Yemen is home to the city of Shibam, surrounded by a fortified wall. It’s also home to a dazzling example of architectural ingenuity – tower houses that date back to the 16th century, stretching up to seven stories high.

]]> https://www.archdaily.com/en/771154/the-manhattan-of-the-desert-shibam-yemens-ancient-skyscraper-city Fri, 01 Nov 2019 05:30:00 +0000 Finn MacLeod https://www.archdaily.com/en/771154/the-manhattan-of-the-desert-shibam-yemens-ancient-skyscraper-city Walking through narrow chaotic alleys dwarfed by soaring towers, few would estimate the age of Yemen's city of Shibam at nearly 1,700 years. Located in Yemen's central Hadhramaut district, Shibam has roots in the pre-Islamic period, and evidence of construction dating from the 9th century.

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