This guide covers a workflow that moves from project parameters to generated floor plans, 3D perspective views, exterior design exploration, and site context visualization, using AI tools in place of preliminary CAD and rendering work.

Known worldwide for pushing the limits of formal experimentation with reinforced concrete, Oscar Niemeyer relied in many of his works on the indispensable collaboration of a civil engineer as inventive and daring as the architect himself: Recife-born Joaquim Moreira Cardozo, who graduated in civil engineering in 1930 from the School of Engineering of Pernambuco, today part of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE).

Responsible for the design of the Alberto Torres Rural School in 1936 – a project that already showed synergy with modern architecture at the time – Cardozo met Niemeyer while working at the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Service (SPHAN) in Rio de Janeiro. During this time, he developed the structural design for the Pampulha Ensemble in Belo Horizonte, inaugurated in 1943. This was the initial collaboration of a partnership that would last 30 years and find its most prolific period in the construction of Brasília.

Studio Zhu-Pei was founded in Beijing in 2005 by Zhu Pei. The practice has consistently focused on the exploration and practice of cultural architecture, driven by an artistic and experimental creative ethos. To date, the studio has completed 18 art museums and cultural projects, with another 17 currently under construction or in the design phase. Design Philosophy: "Nature Architecture" is neither landscape architecture nor green architecture. Rather than referring to nature in a narrow sense, it represents a natural attitude—an exploration of the natural tectonic laws behind architecture. It seeks to uncover the sensory roots defined by one's own culture, establishing a deep-seated connection between architecture and local culture, geography, and climate.

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The history of architectural visualization has undergone numerous shifts over the centuries. Its intrinsic relationship with architecture itself has sparked expressions and critiques that, beyond serving as a tool for representing the inhabited world, directly influence how we perceive it and shape the production of the built environment. Every form of architectural representation—whether showcasing the final product or revealing the design process—is directly tied to a specific understanding of quality, class, interpretation, intention, and meaning. While certain trends may seem linked to specific artistic movements, each possesses its own biases, preferences, cultures, and economic, cultural, and personal impulses.

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Argentine architect Daniel Silberfaden, founder of Estudio Silberfaden, passed away on October 29 at the age of 66, according to local media reports.

Solutions that improve usability while also being sustainable always deserve to be highlighted. Klabin, a Brazilian paper and packaging company, has developed the market's first cement packaging that can be integrated directly into the concrete mixing process. The water-dispersible packaging is made of 100% dispersible paper, meaning it can be incorporated during concrete preparation, streamlining production through direct use in a horizontal shaft concrete mixer. Simply place the closed packaging into the mixer, add sand, gravel, and water, and mix until it disperses and integrates into the final product, preserving the concrete's quality. This new packaging guarantees high performance and easy handling.

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As part of the annual collaborative efforts of the Design Week team in Mexico City, the "Inédito" exhibition opened on October 14 at the Espacio CDMX Arquitectura y Diseño gallery. This showcase is part of the seventh consecutive edition of the open call, which aims to support, promote, and disseminate utilitarian design projects in the categories of social impact, environmental impact, innovation, function, aesthetics, concept, user experience, materials, and processes. Divided into three categories—professional, student, and limited edition—the exhibition, rather than fostering competition, opens up opportunities in both the domestic and international markets for exceptional design with commercial and production viability.

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In late May 2021, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, hosted the inaugural edition of MDF Mexico Design Fair, an emerging platform born out of a desire to discuss, exhibit, and celebrate the Mexican design scene. Its primary objective is to promote the acquisition of contemporary Mexican design, strengthening its position by understanding and transcending the goals of the international market.

ArchDaily In-Depth  is an interview series featuring architects with long-term expertise in specific typologies. Selected firms must have been established for over a decade, or boast a substantial portfolio of completed and ongoing projects in a specialized field, backed by a robust theoretical framework. Recently, we spoke with the lead architects of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center—one of the world's largest single buildings—the team at Valode & Pistre (VP). Their portfolio also includes the Sanya Haitang Bay International Duty-Free Complex, Haikou International Duty-Free City, Hangzhou Grand Exhibition Center, Jinan International Exhibition Center, and Wuhan International Exhibition Center. How do these mega-scale urban landmarks balance civic symbolism with architectural functionality? How do they reconcile colossal structural spans with the human scale? How many design iterations did it take, and how did they achieve sustainability in both program and construction? This article decodes the design process behind large-scale exhibition architecture.

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The detection of gravitational waves is one of the most important recent discoveries. It is revolutionizing the way we observe and study the universe. 

El Equipo Mazzanti in association with Lino Cabras, Fabrizio Pusceddu, Eugenio Coccia, Massimo Faiferri, and Michele Punturo, designed an installation that showcases the latest projects on the subject. Titled 'Gravitational Wave Architecture', the exhibition is housed within the Italian Pavilion, curated by Alessandro Melis, at the Venice Biennale 2021.

This week's podcast tackles a topic that, as the saying goes, offers plenty of food for thought. For architects, representing a project is not only a form of artistic expression but also requires mastering a series of tools that must graphically translate the information needed to bring a building concept to life. In this sense, the history of architectural representation is deeply intertwined with the history of design itself, remaining a constant subject of reflection and evolution in our field. 

Ocamica Tudanca Arquitectos, led by Iñigo Tudanca and Iñigo Ocamica, has been named the winner of the 2021 Peña Ganchegui Prize — established to recognize young talent in Basque architecture and organized biennially by the Peña Ganchegui Archive in collaboration with the Directorate of Housing and Architecture of the Basque Government.

Among the social challenges facing Colombia is the lack of decent housing for a large portion of the population. A survey by the country's population statistics center revealed that 35% of Colombians live in poverty, lacking access to adequate living conditions.

For construction startup Woodpecker, the answer to this problem might lie in another national challenge: agricultural waste from coffee production, as Colombia is one of the world's largest coffee producers.

With the goal of getting to know the architects, projects, and stories behind landmark Portuguese architecture, Sara Nunes, from the architectural film production company Building Pictures, launched the podcast No País dos Arquitectos, where she talks with leading names in contemporary Portuguese architecture.

In this week's episode, Sara talks with architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade about the various buildings and renovations he designed in Pedras Salgadas, a municipality in northern Portugal. Revisit the other interviews from the podcast No País dos Arquitectos and read the transcript of the interview with Andrade below.

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Following the release of "Architectural Classics," a series of iconic architectural classics depicted in axonometric views, Diego Inzunza—the Chilean architect and visual artist behind Rosamente—now shares a collection of 22 drawings created in 2021 in collaboration with 16 architects from five countries, including Cristian Danke, David Carcamo, Anita Catricura, Roberto Ibáñez, Rodrigo Ortiz, Charlotte Bazonnard, Javiera Muñoz, Sofía Montealegre, Juan Pablo Santamaría, Tom Gardner, Joel R, Sergio Pita, José Tello, Francisco Guerrero, José Tomás Infante, and Camilo Carrascal.

The title of this new series is “Abstract Architecture,” featuring conceptual drawings that revolve around architecture, nature, and alternative graphic narratives.

"Domingos Libro" is hosted by Carmelo of Enorme Studio, where every two weeks, he delves deeply into forgotten architectural publications, books, and magazines from the '60s, '70s, and '80s that have the most interesting stories behind them.

The Spanish architecture firm IDOM is leading the new San Lorenzo stadium project in Boedo, Argentina.

This week, we feature job openings from two leading practices in the Yangtze River Delta: Senshang Design in Hangzhou and DYML Architecture in Shanghai. Active across various architectural sectors with their distinct styles, both firms are looking for talented designers to join their teams.

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.

The FAU Student Ideas Competition was held with the objective of developing the site of Club Atlético Ever Ready, located in the city of Dolores, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The competition focused on proposals for a Master Plan to consolidate the 8-hectare site as a sports complex. First prize was awarded to Arch. Gabriel De León, Pedro Sansogni, Santiago Sosa, and Renzo Guagnini Drews.

The jury consisted of Nicolás Frontini representing Club Ever Ready, Arch. Carolina Helenas Pintos for the Municipality of Dolores, Arch. Silvana Noelia Paul for the Alumni Association, Solange Hoyos for the Student Body, and Dr. Arch. Juan Carlos Etulain for the Faculty Association.  Explore the project below.

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.

After years of discussion, the fixed connection between the Isla Grande de Chiloé and the Chilean mainland is becoming a reality. Expected to be completed in 2025, the Chacao Bridge will be a 2,750-meter-long suspension structure spanning the Chacao Channel, specifically connecting Punta Coronel to Punta Gallán. Currently, crossing to the island takes approximately 20 minutes by ferry, a service often subject to delays due to weather conditions. The bridge will reduce this transit time to just 3 minutes, regardless of external factors.

The reality of an architectural project begins to take shape when the work is materialized. For this reason, the task of specifying the products to be used becomes highly relevant within the creative process. When starting a project, architects often conduct a study of references to find inspiration for both the conceptualization of the work and its aesthetic, taking advantage of the vast visual content available on digital networks, which allows them to explore various application cases. This research is useful for understanding the final image one wishes to achieve; however, it is necessary to seek guidance from technical support teams to select products that ensure such an end is reached.

With the onset of COVID-19, we have had to adapt to a different way of living, which has been reflected in our work style. Where and how do we work today? Many people have begun working from home, provided their circumstances allow it. While this has been comfortable for many, for others it has meant a radical change, entailing new needs for space and resources. For architects, engineers, builders, and contractors, this challenge has been quite complex, as a large part of their work involves handling large, high-cost devices.

In this article, we present 3 innovative solutions that replace the traditional, bulky plotter, allowing us to print in large formats from our own homes.

When we hear headlines like "the city must have fair density" or "15-minute neighborhoods," time and density are just numbers. However, it is essential to understand that they remain only numbers until they are contextualized within the lived experience of people in their territory. We can no longer postpone the obvious reality that a number, a standard, a benchmark, or a goal is merely a tool to facilitate the necessary conversations regarding the management and governance of our territorial environments.