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The Ministry of the Environment of Mexico City announced the winning project of the National Thematic Garden-Ethnobotanical Garden, Environmental Culture Center Competition in the Second Section of the Chapultepec Forest, which will form part of a master plan for the “Chapultepec Forest: Nature and Culture.” Upon completing the analysis and deliberation of the projects, the jury members highlighted the quality and high standard of the participants across the five submitted proposals. The first, second, and third-place winners are listed below. Read on to discover the winning project and the four finalist proposals.

Industrial buildings are perhaps the ultimate exemplification of Louis Sullivan's famous adage: form follows function. They are typically functional, efficient, fast to build, and unornamented. Consequently, studying the industrial heritage of cities and countries allows us to understand the materials, technologies, and local construction traditions of each era, while reflecting on the industrial past. This quickly brings to mind England's red-brick factories, as well as the skylights used to flood production floors with natural light, among many other typical solutions. Today, steel frames and precast concrete structures are the most widely used due to their combination of construction efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and capacity for large spans. Typically, these industrial warehouses are also characterized by being extremely cold and impersonal, in addition to carrying a substantial carbon footprint. However, Canada's experience in recent years stands out. In this country, timber buildings for industrial programs are gaining increasing acceptance.

This article by Diego Navarro-Mateu, Oriol Carrasco, and Ana Cocho-Bermejo was originally published under the title "Diseño inverso para superficies doblemente regladas: aproximación geométrica y optimización del hypar de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Valle de Félix Candela" in issue 27 of the Dearq journal on July 1, 2020 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq27.2020.08). The following text proposes a reverse engineering/design methodology based on evolutionary computation to discover the hidden, primal hyperboloid that forms the roof of the Church of Nuestra Señora del Valle (Spain), a legacy of the work of architect Félix Candela.

It is presented here as part of a joint collaboration to help disseminate the research, analysis, and opinions developed by the national and international academic community on architecture, urban issues, and related fields.

Ad Urbis is a Cuban collective navigating the complexities of inserting contemporary architecture into a high-value heritage context like Havana, prioritizing above all architectural research, theory, and practice across the realms of design and education.

We interviewed the collective to explore their reflections, workflows, the relationship between practice and academia, and their upcoming projects and outlook for the future of architecture in Cuba. 

This week, we feature job openings from two of China's leading architecture practices: Beijing-based People's Architecture Office (PAO) and Shenzhen-based Meng Architects. Known for their distinct design philosophies and active presence in different sectors of the architectural field, both offices are looking for talented architects to join their teams.

MOVYT has launched Trayectopia, a card game designed to foster reflection on our experiences of mobility in public space. The tool was created to support public officials tasked with developing mobility plans under Chile's new Public Space Contributions Law.

The Antofagasta Public Space Design Guides, developed by Allard&Partners for CREO Antofagasta, aim to improve the quality of life for the city's inhabitants, “by gradually complementing and consolidating a coherent identity for the city that strengthens the character of each area and its communities.” The four volumes, corresponding to their respective neighborhood typologies—Commercial (Downtown District), Under Transformation (Station District), Mixed Residential (Brasil District), and Coastal Edge—are available on the CREO Antofagasta website for direct download and free use.

Arquitecturas Colectivas defines itself as “a network of people and collectives interested in the participatory construction of the urban environment.” Looking at this network in perspective, two things stand out. The first is that it seems quite sensible for a group of people and collectives to organize to tackle urban transformation projects with a bottom-up philosophy, collaboratively developing the necessary tools. The second is that this does not happen more often.

The bid award meeting for the "Full-Phase Design of the Guiwan Unit 4 Nine-Year School Project" was held on January 29, 2021. The tenderer legally established a bid selection committee, and following a vote by the committee, the final rankings are as follows:

Traveling to Colombia, as a Brazilian, felt like recognizing a sister country. Over the course of a month, as a participant in the Field Stations workshop, I recorded personal perspectives of my impressions of the places visited. The theme is the river landscape, and the records carry the fragility and subjectivity of a logbook. The desire to share them is driven by the desire to express this sense of identification, showing how I saw similarities between us—problems, complexities, and beauties—as well as the clear recognition that we would be stronger together. It envisions the idea of eliminating the invisible borders that separate us and uniting peoples divided by colonizers. 

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Driven by necessity, various building types have changed their use. Churches that are now libraries, abandoned warehouses turned into cultural centers—and while much has been written on the subject, from N. John Habraken's 1970s Open Building concept to Adamo Faiden's contemporary From Mixed-Use to Diff-Use, today we are experiencing, more than ever, a compelling global debate surrounding housing adaptability. Is it necessary to dedicate so much square footage to offices when, during the pandemic, we realized that a large portion of work can be done remotely? This was one of the central questions during the lockdowns of recent years.

Undoubtedly, buildings are on the radar for what we can do with them in the near future—especially as the climate crisis enters the equation. "The greenest building is the one that is already built," says Carl Elefante. Adaptive reuse and adaptability will surely be the defining terms on the lips of architecture professionals worldwide. Thus, it is time to reflect further on how design can address this challenge.

The National Preliminary Project Competition for the Prourban Tower Perimeter Enclosure and Outdoor Spaces, organized by the Central Society of Architects (SCA), focused on intervening in an iconic building located on one of the main entry routes to the downtown area of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The objective was to develop a preliminary design centered on its entrances and perimeter enclosure. By incorporating landscaping for the ground floor's outdoor areas, the competition sought to revitalize these spaces, the urban surroundings, and the architecture of the tower itself, allowing office tenants to make active use of the ground floor.

Portuguese architecture firm Sastudio, in partnership with Icelandic studio Huldajons and engineering firm Exa Nordic, has won the international design competition for a kindergarten in Garðabær, Iceland. Organized by the city municipality, the competition schedules the construction of the winning design for completion by 2022.

This is the second collaboration between the two offices, which were founded by Tiago Sá and Hulda Jóns, both of whom worked at Bjarke Ingels Group before establishing their own practices. Their first collaboration was also for a kindergarten competition, with their proposal being acquired by the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik. Discover the winning project below, along with the project description provided by the architects:

The primary goal of the Trienal Sur del Mundo, taking place from November 26 to December 4 in Concepción, Chile, is to foster debate around the challenges facing intermediate cities and how to improve the quality of life for their inhabitants.

Sergio Baeriswyl—an architect and urban planner who has dedicated much of his career to public administration in Concepción—is serving as the general curator. We interviewed him to get a preview of what to expect in this upcoming edition.

Located near Paris and symbolizing the power of French absolute monarchs, the Palace of Versailles was originally built between 1610 and 1643 as a rural hunting retreat for King Louis XIII of France. Over time, the residence was expanded and refined, becoming a small chateau in 1634. Its transformation into a grand, luxurious palace and a display of royal opulence began during the reign of Louis XIV, known as the Sun King.

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September 10 marked the closing of the sixth edition of the Pamplona International Architecture Congress: “The City We Want.” Over three days, 16 speakers from various disciplines shared their expertise to reflect on the global challenges facing the future of cities, addressing dimensions such as ecology, sustainable mobility, social equity, health and well-being, and the humanization of public spaces.

One of the opening keynotes on the first day was delivered by 2021 Pritzker Prize laureate Anne Lacaton of the firm Lacaton&Vassal. Her presentation emphasized housing as the core of social well-being and urban policy, and she advocated for the right to open space within the home. “Housing must be the pillar of any urban policy,” she asserted.

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The federal Ministry of Culture and the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) will present the pavilion titled Desplazamientos (Displacements), representing Mexico at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, from May 22 to November 21, 2021, at Venice's historic Arsenale complex. The proposal rethinks the way Mexico has traditionally participated in this prominent forum, where the world gathers to discuss architecture—a field fundamental to heritage and human life in both cities and nations.

Last week we announced the 15 finalist projects for the 2021 Obra del Año Award, which since 2008 has celebrated the best built architecture in Latin America and Spain, calling on our jury of experts—you, our readers—to choose your favorite built projects from nearly 1,000 works published in 2020.

Today, the day has come to announce the winners of ODA2021!

The 2021 Obra del Año Award is brought to you by Dornbracht, renowned for its leading architectural designs, which can be found in bathrooms and kitchens worldwide.

The construction industry's role in today's climate crisis is deeply concerning—between material production, building execution, and operations, the sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. At the same time, urban populations are growing at unprecedented rates. Within the shaping of major cities—which consume massive amounts of energy—reducing the discipline's impact seems to rely on small-scale interests and personal initiatives rather than sweeping action from the academic, professional, or political spheres.

History has provided us with numerous construction techniques and local material uses that have proven sustainable over time. This involves the efficient use of resources that bypass major industrial processing stages and eliminate the need for long-distance transport. In some cases, at the end of their life cycle, they can even be returned to the environment, such as adobe and timber. In other instances, reclaimed materials—such as recyclable waste and debris generated directly on-site—can also be integrated. Undoubtedly, modern technology and knowledge can help optimize these materials for large-scale application in major cities. Is it possible to develop projects with low environmental impact and adapt them to dense urban contexts? Is this the future path for building materials?

Founded in London by Ms. Jane Zhang, Jane Z Studio established its roots in Shenzhen in 2012. Combining an international perspective with local practice, our multicultural team continuously injects depth and vitality into Eastern aesthetics. We provide world-class urban, architectural, and spatial design solutions, with a portfolio spanning corporate headquarters, commercial districts, private clubs, Zen temples, high-end residences, and exhibition spaces. Through our creative vision, we bridge East and West, weave past and future, and inspire daily life.

Campeche is a state located in southeastern Mexico on the Yucatán Peninsula, bordering the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco, and facing the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, Campeche is one of the three states that define the political border with Guatemala. Covering 57,924 km², it is the third least-populated state in the country. Its capital and most populous city is San Francisco de Campeche.

This week’s job openings come from two design firms based in Beijing and Shenzhen: Origin Architect and JKP Architects. Specializing in different scales and themes, both practices are active across various architectural fields and are seeking like-minded architects to join their teams.

Through IMPSOL (Metropolitan Institute for Land Development and Property Management), the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) has begun construction on a new series of social housing (VPO) units on Anselm Clavé Street in Sant Feliu de Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain). Project design and construction management are led by Guillermo López of MAIO Architects.

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Paradoxically, the confinement we have experienced during the current health crisis has also sparked a series of encounters that ignore border limitations. For Estudio Diagonal, an emerging practice that has achieved international recognition for projects like Refugio 3x3, remote work has allowed them to open up to the world and the multiple opportunities it offers without leaving their place of origin. Based in the city of Osorno in southern Chile, the interdisciplinary team led by architect Sebastián Armijo designs and builds a series of works that draw both from the local landscape and its resources and from the architectural influences shaping current global trends.

A critical perspective on the regionalism that dominates local academic discourse, the importance of physical materialization in conceptualizing their work, and the drive to achieve high design standards with minimal resources are some of the recurring themes in their thinking and practice. In the following interview, Sebastián Armijo elaborates on the interests and influences that drive him to develop a variety of projects rooted in the concept of "pragmatic irreducibility."