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Open question: How will we live in our cities?

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Is there a future for our cities without a sustainable way of life? For some time now, urban sustainability has been viewed primarily through the lens of climate change rather than a holistic vision that integrates society and the way we live in community.

What new ways of living are we experiencing amid social, economic, and ecological shifts? We need to bring to the table different reference cases from around the world and understand the latest trends shaping how we live in our cities.

We want you, our readers, to not only be the first to share examples of co-living, cooperatives, and any new types of social housing you consider benchmarks, but also to share your thoughts on the matter in the form below. Selected comments will be published in an upcoming article.

"The Incredible Story of the Seasonal Worker Who Found His Home in Almendralejo", winning proposal of the EUROPAN 16 awards

The 16th edition of the Europan awards, launched in the spring of 2021 under the theme "Living Cities: Metabolic and Inclusive Vitalities," has announced its results. “The Incredible Story of the Seasonal Worker Who Found His Home in Almendralejo” is a Spanish project selected as one of the seven winners within Spain.

Aesthetics in Interior Design: How to Define the Style of Our Spaces?

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When defining the aesthetic of a space, whether interior or exterior, architects and interior designers should first ask themselves what the needs of its future inhabitants are or will be. Dialogue with users is essential to establishing the style of these spaces, which shapes their physical environment through composition, color, form, and furniture.

Marta Vall-llossera Ferran assumes the presidency of the Superior Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain

Marta Vall-llossera Ferran has become the first woman to hold the presidency of the Superior Council of Colleges of Architects of Spain following the extraordinary election called after the recent death of CSCAE President Lluís Comerón at the age of 61.

"The future of architectural visualization will be more democratic, liberal, and decentralized," according to our readers

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From NFTs and the Metaverse to the productive advantages of real-time rendering, this year offers a tremendous opportunity to discuss the latest trends in architectural visualization. To this end, we opened the debate to our readers around these questions: How much can we learn from other related industries like cinema, video games, and industrial design? How can architecture contribute to and advance the world of visualization?

After reading and compiling all the comments received—from construction professionals, students, and architecture enthusiasts alike—we agree that as technological advancements continue, the future of architectural visualization will likely be more democratic, liberal, and decentralized. Below, we share the most frequent viewpoints from our readers.

Urs Fischer presents his first major exhibition for Mexico and Latin America at Museo Jumex

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Urs Fischer presents his first major exhibition for Mexico and Latin America at Museo Jumex - Featured ImageUrs Fischer presents his first major exhibition for Mexico and Latin America at Museo Jumex - Imagem 1 de 4Urs Fischer presents his first major exhibition for Mexico and Latin America at Museo Jumex - Imagem 2 de 4Urs Fischer presents his first major exhibition for Mexico and Latin America at Museo Jumex - Imagem 3 de 4Urs Fischer presents his first major exhibition for Mexico and Latin America at Museo Jumex - More Images+ 6

As part of the programming hosted by Museo Jumex from April 2 to September 18 in Mexico City, "Urs Fischer: Lovers" presents a 25-year retrospective of one of today's most celebrated international artists. Organized by guest curator Francesco Bonami, the exhibition brings together new pieces created specifically for the museum alongside works from international public and private collections, as well as the artist's own archives. Together, these works showcase the expansive creativity, humor, and depth of the artist's practice.

Aldea Navarro: A sustainable rural social housing prototype to resettle families with a productive vocation in Colombia

The Mayor's Office of Santiago de Cali, the Special Housing Fund (FEV), and the Colombian Society of Architects – Valle del Cauca (SCA Valle) launched a public competition for the preliminary urban, architectural, and landscape design of a sustainable rural social housing prototype. This project is designed to resettle families with productive vocations.

For the project, located in the city of Cali, within the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia, the jury awarded first place to the architecture firm DARP – De Arquitectura y Paisaje + Ana Elvira Vélez.

Cartography and Living Materiality: A Traveling Exhibition of the Madrid Metropolitan Forest

Over the last two years, the city of Madrid has hosted, and continues to host, the traveling exhibition of the Metropolitan Forest. It has three main objectives: first, to present Madrid's residents with the winning and finalist ideas from the competition held to redefine the future of their city; second, to communicate the processes the city will undertake regarding sustainability, urban resilience, and environmental education; and finally, to foster concrete strategic alliances between the Forest and the citizens of Madrid.

Cartography and Living Materiality: A Traveling Exhibition of the Madrid Metropolitan Forest - Image 1 of 4Cartography and Living Materiality: A Traveling Exhibition of the Madrid Metropolitan Forest - Image 2 of 4Cartography and Living Materiality: A Traveling Exhibition of the Madrid Metropolitan Forest - Image 3 of 4Cartography and Living Materiality: A Traveling Exhibition of the Madrid Metropolitan Forest - Image 4 of 4Cartography and Living Materiality: A Traveling Exhibition of the Madrid Metropolitan Forest - More Images+ 14

FIIU 7 Urban Intervention Festival Opens in Lima

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Yesterday marked the opening of the seventh International Festival of Urban Interventions in Lima, Peru. The opening day featured a series of events at the Lugar de la Memoria, aiming to shape the agenda, stimulate public debate, and highlight diverse efforts from multiple fronts striving to build a better city for everyone.

What can architects do besides architecture?

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"I'm an architect... now what?" must be one of the most common questions for any recent graduate holding an architecture degree. Over the years, many will find jobs in different industries that do not necessarily involve working in an office designing and building buildings.

Architecture and Urbanism in “Dogon Country”: From Aldo van Eyck to Francis Kéré

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We visited “Dogon Country” in Mali (latitude 15°N) in 2008 to observe how vernacular “Dogon” architecture (a UNESCO World Heritage site) has achieved the counter-form of lived experiences. We were looking for the coherence between society and dwelling through architecture and urbanism in another dimension and another culture.

Quality Housing for Vulnerable Older Adults: Casa Alegre 97 Project

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Throughout its history, CHC has participated in and supported social projects that improve the quality of life of their residents, while constantly seeking to establish new and better standards that contribute to the construction of spaces. In this particular case, the project led by architect Jaime Ovando integrates public funds through Chile's Habitabilidad Program and the Illustrious Municipality of Paine, along with private contributions from building material companies, the architecture firm, and the construction company, including CHC.

Thinking about the present and future of older adults is essential to improving the population's quality of life. According to the United Nations study on world population prospects, by 2050, it is estimated that 32% of Chile's population will be over 65 years old. According to data from the 2017 National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN), 22.1% of older adults in the country live in multidimensional poverty. The connection between architecture and social commitment develops a strategy to combat vulnerability in this demographic.

Eldorado Tourism Hotel: Shadow as an Approach to an Environmental Aesthetic

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For several years, the global context of energy and ecological crises has resonated across various disciplines, and architecture has been no exception. Consequently, a crucial question arises: how do our buildings help mitigate these issues? In this context, the global architectural scene has been flooded with buildings addressing these challenges through heavy technological dependence. In their bid to tackle environmental problems, some have forgotten that architecture can offer a synthetic response through an understanding of place and the deliberate manipulation of form, matter, and energy. 

Textile Clay: A New Material at Milan Design Week

At first glance, textile materials and clay do not share many similarities. However, Oficina Penadés brings these two concepts together, showcasing the potential of a new textile-based material combined with clay processing techniques in “Looks like magic!”, an exhibition held during the recent Milan Design Week.

Discover the winning project for the Ferro-Cultural Hub and General Railway Archive at the Francisco Álvarez Station in Buenos Aires

The Central Society of Architects (SCA) and the Association of Architects of the Province of Buenos Aires (CAPBA) organized the National Ideas Competition to develop a Rail Cultural Hub. The project includes a new General Railway Archive (AGF), a branch of the National Railway Training Center (CENACAF), and new facilities to protect records and showcase the historical and cultural heritage of Argentine Railways (Ferrocarriles Argentinos).

Winners of the "Chapultepec Garden and Scenic Pavilion" Competition in Mexico City

In August 2021, the call for entries was launched for the ideas competition for the "Scenic Garden and Pavilion" project. The primary goal was the reorganization and comprehensive recovery of the area known as the "ecological parking lot" to integrate it with the Centro Cultural del Bosque (CCB). The project called for the design of a Scenic Pavilion conceived as "a permanent space with unobtrusive, harmonious architecture that blends into the Forest's environment, establishing a point of connection with both the performing and visual arts ecosystems, looking toward the Zoo and the Museum of Modern Art."

Open House Santiago 2022 features over 70 places to visit

Open House Santiago 2022 features over 70 places to visit - Imagen 4 de 4
Matta Sur Community Center. Image

The fifth edition of the Open House Santiago 2022 (OH!Stgo) festival features more than 70 free tours guided by photographers, architects, community leaders, historians, and residents. From January 14 to 23, 2022, the event aims to span 23 municipalities across the Metropolitan Region, with the goal of fostering the connection between the city, learning, and care.

Clásicos Mexicanos presents the book: Armando Franco. COFRAN COLLECTION (1955-2022)

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To honor the life and work of architect Armando Franco—who passed away last June at the age of 100—Clásicos Mexicanos presents the book Armando Franco COLECCIÓN COFRAN (1955-2022). This publication, the result of extensive research by the Clásicos Mexicanos team, brings together biographical data, plans, sketches, designs, and photographs of the most iconic works from the career of Franco, one of the most original and enigmatic Mexican modern architects of the 20th century.

The 10 Most Populous Cities in Latin America in 2022

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The 10 Most Populous Cities in Latin America in 2022 - Featured Image
The Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in São Paulo, Brazil, over the Pinheiros River, opened in May 2008. It connects Marginal Pinheiros to Avenida Jornalista Roberto Marinho. Image © Raphael Paulino Goncalves/ Shutterstock

This July 11 marks World Population Day, an annual event established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990 to raise awareness of global demographic issues. This is a critical issue today; not only is the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, but the latest UN-Habitat reports estimate that, by then, two-thirds of the world will live in cities.

Every year, World Population Review assesses urban growth and the number of residents living in metropolitan areas to understand global development trends. While the list of the 20 most populous cities in the world features recurring Asian hubs like Tokyo, Delhi, and Shanghai, it also includes several Latin American metropolises such as Sao Paulo, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires. Consequently, we have compiled a list of the ten most populous cities in Latin America to understand their growth and role in the global context.

The latest in printing: High-quality colors on both rigid and flexible substrates

Delivering productivity levels up to 50% higher than previous models, HP introduces its new range of HP Latex large-format printing solutions. The series consists of four devices—the HP Latex 700 and 800, and the HP Latex 700W and 800W—introducing white ink printing to this category for the first time. Print jobs executed by this new series will not only deliver brighter colors and finer details, but will also do so at even faster printing speeds, reaching up to 36 m2 per hour.

The Timelessness of Brick: Its Benefits in Construction

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The Timelessness of Brick: Its Benefits in Construction - Featured Image
Cerámica Santiago at Los Algarrobos House / MasFernandez Arquitectos + Claudio Tapia. Image © Nico Saieh

With more than 11,000 years of history, brick is one of the oldest building materials. In fact, replacing sun-dried mud blocks, the Romans were the first to experiment with fired clay masses in new structural forms such as arches, vaults, and domes. Although the dimensions and manufacturing methods of this small module have evolved over the years, its components and classic rectangular shape have undergone few changes, especially considering its long history. The reason is simple: with its warmth, versatility, and outstanding structural properties, brick is a timeless material that never goes out of style.

Discover the winning project for the Trinidad Market in Uruguay

The Municipality of Flores launched a public competition for preliminary architectural proposals for a mixed-use building called Mercado Trinidad, to be located in the city of Trinidad, Uruguay. By integrating existing heritage structures and renovating or replacing the remaining buildings and open spaces, the project aims to redirect truck and heavy machinery traffic from the municipal workshops and warehouses currently operating there. This shift will promote urban regeneration and revitalize the central area with a new urban facility.

"We cannot continue to live in cities without ecological and social responsibility": Our readers share their thoughts on urban trends

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Is there a future for our cities if we do not adopt a sustainable way of life? For some time, urban sustainability has been approached more from the perspective of climate change than from a holistic vision that integrates society and how we live as a community.

What new ways of living are we experiencing amidst today's social, economic, and ecological shifts? We must bring to the table the various reference cases emerging around the world to understand the latest trends in how we inhabit our cities.

"The Lava Landscape," the exhibition by David Pompa Studio, is presented at Milan Design Week 2022

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Founded in 2013 and based in Mexico City, David Pompa is a studio comprising designers, engineers, and makers established in Mexico and Austria. David Pompa grew up in both countries and studied product design in London. Over time, the studio has shown a strong interest in traditional materials and techniques, maintaining a commitment to Mexican culture since its inception—a dedication reflected in the creation of aesthetic and accessible design objects. On this occasion, they are presenting a new collection for Milan Design Week 2022 on Via Simone Saint Bon as part of Fuorisalone from June 5 to 12.

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