This article is a collaboration with Colectivo RE and was originally published on August 2, 2020, in the second edition of Huevo de pato, a publication that aims to share thoughts and experiences as a strategy toward the democratization of knowledge and practice.
Today, April 12, 2021, marked the passing of architect Carlos González Lobo, a leading proponent of social and participatory architecture in Mexico. A 1963 graduate of the National School of Architecture, he went on to earn a Master of Architecture from UNAM's Faculty of Architecture in 1995. That same year, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Rhode Island School of Design, later receiving a PhD in Architecture from UNAM in 2007.
This article is a collaboration with Colectivo RE and was originally published on August 2, 2020, in the second edition of Huevo de pato, a publication that aims to share thoughts and experiences as a strategy for the democratization of knowledge and practice.
"Architecture Without Architects" is a project led by Mexican artist Sandra Calvo between 2011 and 2014 in the neighborhood of Villa Gloria—a self-built housing complex in Ciudad Bolívar, a district in southern Bogotá. Working in collaboration with a resident family, the project involved creating a thread structure that reflected their latent aspirations for their own home through design and building practices.
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In April 2021, the A8 Design Center in Chengdu presented "2-Kilometer Lakeshore: 2021 Luxelakes Cross-disciplinary Exhibition of Independent Architects from Southwest China." The exhibition invited 31 independent architects to build experimental, interactive, and experiential micro-spaces along the Luxelakes waterfront, offering 31 distinct perspectives on the world. Operating under a tight budget of 30,000 RMB, the architects infused their creations with self-reflection and their own understanding of publicness. By facilitating dialogue among the architects and between the architects and the public, the exhibition sought to further stimulate public engagement with design.
Through the works of these 31 local young architects with global perspectives, we witness the diverse values of a new generation and their multi-dimensional thinking on architecture. Limu Architectural Lab deconstructs architecture into columns, plinths, roofs, and envelopes, dissolving pure form; Uyoung Architects boldly deploys pink walls to establish relationships of "seeing and being seen" and "hearing and being heard" with the environment; Bai Yang uses 70 hemlock logs to support an "iron hat"; TEKTONN ARCHITECTS uses 150 bamboo poles to construct an accessible rest area; Fanzhu Design uses iron to create three continuous arched spaces that offer shelter and passage; 00Group creates an enclosed, mirrored space; MUDA-Architects builds a "periscope" by the lake, featuring a bubble wrap facade that invites tactile interaction.
Archivo de Ideas Recibidas is an interdisciplinary research and dissemination project that seeks to document and connect the ideas of contributors to the contemporary creative ecosystem across art, design, and architecture. It is built upon conversations between the team and various creators, delving into themes related to memory, academia, cultural context, key influences, and working methodologies.
This article by Valeria Abello Aldana and Miriam Kuehler was originally published under the title "Los inquilinatos en Bogotá: desde la problemática socioespacial hasta una propuesta arquitectónica habitacional" in the 31st issue of the Dearq journal on September 1, 2021 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq31.2021.06).
This article sheds light on the inquilinato (tenement/rooming house) typology as a significant form of housing for the most vulnerable populations. It describes their current situation and socio-spatial dynamics, reflecting on both negative aspects and potential opportunities to propose the hypothesis that inquilinatos are a challenge resulting from economic and social factors manifested in spatial terms. Consequently, if approached through architecture, they have the potential to become a dignified housing alternative. Therefore, the architectural project seeks to validate this hypothesis, sparking a discussion about the inquilinato as a housing solution.
We present it below as part of a joint collaboration to contribute to the dissemination of research, analysis, and opinions developed by the national and international academic community on architecture, urban issues, and related fields.
According to the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), the construction industry is the largest consumer of natural resources. To minimize environmental impacts, the concept of sustainable construction has emerged, employing techniques that ensure greater efficiency and responsibility from the beginning to the end of a project.
The first consideration is the layout of the rooms, as each space has an ideal location based on the local climate. “The layout of rooms in a residence can establish baseline conditions for comfort or discomfort. It is the role of the architectural design, through the organization of the floor plan, to ensure the appropriate level of sunlight and natural ventilation for each space,” states the free sustainable renovation guide published by the Ministry of the Environment.
In late 2020, the documentary Os Mutirões da Leste 1 was released, chronicling the history of the Movimento Sem Terra Leste 1 through each of its projects. The documentary was produced and directed by Paula Constante, who describes herself as a “mother, practicing documentarian, architect, and holder of a master's degree from FAUUSP.” By telling the story of one of the most active social movements in the city of São Paulo, Constante and MST Leste 1 show us the importance of struggle, the collective, affectivity, and the responsibility we must bring to our professional practice. We had the opportunity to speak with Paula and discuss this experience.
Citymakers is working with ArchDaily to publish a series of articles, conversations, and interviews with different actors in urban co-production, who are behind the Citymakers Barcelona Lab 2021, a program returning to Barcelona between November 8 and 12, 2021.
CityMakers is the global platform of experts in urban co-production best practices, seeking to connect city co-producers and influential leaders from around the world to inspire each other and drive transformation in their cities.
For this edition, Albert Santasusagna del Riu – IdRA – Barcelona Water Research Institute, presents his article "Towards a Globalization of Water Landscapes? Context Matters!".
A modular, prefabricated bike lane was recently inaugurated in Chapultepec Forest Park, Mexico City. Made from post-consumer plastic waste, its smart design also provides drainage and rainwater storage.
The plastics repurposed for the construction of the bike lane would otherwise have been discarded or incinerated. Another advantage is that if the material wears down, it can be recycled again, creating a circular life cycle.
The following article is the result of a collaboration with Arquitectas Colombianas, an initiative that seeks to promote the legacy, contributions, and activities of women in architecture and design in Colombia and around the world. Below, explore their vision and the presence of women in the local scene, accompanied by quotes from the architects behind this work.
In the architecture industry, environmental sustainability applied to the design and production of eco-efficient products has been receiving increasing attention. In this episode, Arquicast speaks with Sami Meira, an architect graduated from Florida Atlantic University and a specialist in Sustainable Business Strategy and Material Health.
This article by Sebastián Trujillo Torres (Universidad Nacional de Colombia/CEPT University) was originally published under the title "A Manifesto of Lightweight Infrastructures" in issue 28 (2020) of Dearq journal (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq28.2020.03) and is part of a joint publishing collaboration.
This article by Carlos Arroyo Zapatero was originally published under the title "Artialization and Ecology: Sustainable Productive Landscapes" in issue 24 of Dearq journal on January 1, 2019 (https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq24.2019.02) and is part of a joint editorial partnership.
With their project Campo de Retamas, the firms Burgos & Garrido Arquitectos and MAPAAC have won the design competition for the comprehensive renovation of the La Paz University Hospital complex (Madrid, Spain). Although the proposal had already been unanimously selected in November 2019, on March 24, the Governing Council of the Community of Madrid approved the final project, establishing the construction start dates. The initial phases of the project are expected to begin in March 2022, with the entire construction process estimated to take about 11 years. To keep the hospital fully operational throughout this period, the renovations will be divided into three phases: the General Hospital, the Maternal and Child Hospital, and finally, the complementary services building and the Maternity Tower.
Elevating a building off the ground using pilotis frees up the ground floor for pedestrian circulation. This solution, identified by Le Corbusier as one of the five points of modern architecture, creates an open area that fosters a stronger connection between the public space of the street and the private space of the building. Today, contemporary projects adopt various strategies to design active ground floors that engage with the city and generously share their plots with the public.
This self-dialogue by Francesco Careri (associate professor, Università Roma Tre), translated by Alessandra Merlo (associate professor in the Department of Languages and Culture, Universidad de los Andes), was originally published under the title Autodialogo sulla produzione di utopie concrete, in Alessandra Criconia (ed.), Una Città per tutti: Diritti, spazi, cittadinanza [Milan: Donzelli, 2019, 111-120], and previously in issue 28 of Dearq journal on 01/01/2020 under the title "Francesco Careri, Self-dialogue on the production of concrete utopias" (https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq28.2020.02) and is part of a joint dissemination partnership.
# Number of architectural projects completed annually: 3,000
# Total length of fabric sold annually: 3,999,220 meters
#Retail price of the most expensive textile: ¥ 4,000 / meter
# Textile Brand Kvadrat
Founded in Denmark in 1968, Kvadrat is a renowned textile brand deeply rooted in Scandinavia's world-famous design tradition. The name Kvadrat means “square” in Danish, inspired by the grid paper commonly used by designers and engineers for sketching in the 1960s. Refusing to be homogenized by global trends, the company maintains its distinct Scandinavian identity. As a leader in design innovation, Kvadrat continuously explores new ideas in material and technological applications within design and manufacturing, producing high-quality contemporary textiles and textile-related products for architects, designers, and private consumers worldwide.
Since ArchDaily launched its recruitment services, we have received job listings from architecture practices of all scales across China, from Beijing and Shenzhen to Hangzhou. Characterized by their distinct design philosophies, these practices operate across diverse architectural fields, seeking talented professionals to join their teams. Concurrently, ArchDaily and its sister platform, the design and materials database Architonic, are seeking a Business Development Manager for China. Below is a curated selection of nine active openings and representative practices. We invite qualified candidates to apply.
“Learning from Las Vegas” is one of the most important books in the history and criticism of architecture and urbanism. Its three authors—Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour—brought a curious approach to a city whose growth was driven by gambling and a dangerous association with the Mafia. Las Vegas, a city filled with signs, parking lots, and casinos, served as the reference point for the three authors during a research project at Yale University. The objective was to study the development of a new urban typology, the strip, in search of a new perspective on the city and architecture.
Hiring this week is Shanghai-based Atelier I-N-D-J. Active in the fields of architecture, spatial, product, and furniture design with a highly distinct style, they welcome young talents passionate about architectural design to join their team.
The Rafael Manzano Prize for New Traditional Architecture aims to promote the value of traditional architecture as a proven reference for contemporary architecture in Spain and Portugal. It seeks to do so both in the restoration of historical and artistic monuments and urban ensembles, and in the construction of new buildings that, based on local traditions, integrate harmoniously into these contexts.
The CA Awards, organized and curated by the Colegio de Arquitectos de Chile, aim to recognize professionals who stand out for their "excellence, work, and contribution" to the field of architecture across the country. Marking the end of the institution's 79th anniversary celebrations and Architecture Month, the awards honored 12 members who, according to the National Board, are "role models for architects throughout the country." See below the awards and distinctions for each category in this new 2021 edition.
