View from the urban road. Image Courtesy of Architectural Design & Research Institute of Scut
The “Peace Pavilion,” located in Sédhiou in southern Senegal, is the winning proposal of the KAIRA LOORO International Architecture Competition, organized by the Balouo Salo Association. The organization's team of architects and engineers, in collaboration with Senegalese authorities and institutions, will conduct a construction evaluation of the winning design to assess its financial and technical feasibility. The project is situated in a particularly delicate urban environment, on a flat clay site along the Casamance River. It serves as a multifunctional venue for hosting permanent and temporary art exhibitions, sharing the values of peace and memory.
https://www.archdaily.com/1070466/chinese-team-wins-peace-pavilion-international-competition-finding-serenity-between-the-city-and-the-river舒岳康 - SHU Yuekang
According to announcements on the UNESCO website, the World Heritage List represents an invaluable legacy of monuments, natural beauty, and cultural treasures belonging to all humanity. The sites inscribed on this list serve as milestones on our planet, symbolizing regional and national awareness of the significance of place and shared wealth, while preserving this collective heritage for future generations.
Founded in the 1970s by Rem Koolhaas, Elia Zenghelis, Madelon Vriesendorp, and Zoe Zenghelis, the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) is one of the world's most renowned practices. While the firm has realized numerous projects and built iconic works across various countries, its work is not limited to architectural design alone. Instead, OMA frequently transcends strict disciplinary boundaries to engage with other areas of practice.
The relationship between the human body and architecture has always been a fundamental element of architectural design and practice, yet it was only in recent history that this connection was formally documented, let alone fully accepted. The question today is: how is the human body interpreted in the contemporary era, and how do these perceptions shape the way we design buildings and spaces? Ergonomics is often viewed as a discipline that highlights the separation between body and object; in reality, however, it not only bridges the two, but also serves as a blueprint designed to maximize and synchronize efficiency between them. At its core, ergonomics is a technical discourse concerning an increasingly mechanized human habitat.
At the 2019 AIA Conference on Architecture, Turkish architect Emre Arolat (EAA) shared insights with ArchDaily regarding architectural technology, how the future role of the architect will evolve, and the significance of building materials in his projects.
China's unique social development has provided a distinctive breeding ground for contemporary Chinese architecture. As one of the country's primary design hubs, Shanghai can be seen as an ideal entry point to understanding this landscape. Shanghai-based architect Liu Yuyang, who was born in Taiwan and raised in the United States, has forged a unique architectural trajectory shaped by his rich life experiences and multicultural background. Through an extensive portfolio of built work, he has established a distinct voice within the broader professional landscape. In the following excerpt from an interview with author Zhang Yifan (YF), Liu discusses his design approach, the origins of his philosophy, and his professional ethos.
The concept of “resilience” is widely applied across many disciplines. In scientific terms, resilience is the capacity of a material or object to recover its shape after undergoing some form of trauma. In other words, it is quite different from resistance, as it fundamentally concerns the ability to adapt and recover. In ecology, resilience refers to an ecosystem's capacity to respond to disturbances, resist damage, and recover quickly. In architecture, however, integrating resilience into design can yield a wide range of solutions. Resilient design is inherently site-specific, making it essential to anticipate potential building use scenarios, and even disasters that could threaten the structure and its occupants. Beyond this, there is a growing focus on using adaptive structures and materials that can continuously learn from and modify themselves in response to the environment. If we already have software and algorithms that learn from their surroundings, why not apply the same approach to the building process?
We have selected 10 adaptive materials and design solutions developed under the concept of architectural and construction resilience—innovations that may one day become mainstream, or perhaps remain temporary experiments.
Introduction: This interview is part of the “Echoes for the Future” exhibition, which primarily features video interviews with architects. In 2008, architect Che Fei and international curator Yao Jing co-initiated a series of interviews themed “The Beijing Olympics in Architectural Discourse.” In 2018, we revisited the same nine architects, bridging the fields of media, research, and education to illuminate reflections on the built environment and future visions. For this first installment, we delve into the “past, present, and future” of Li Hu, founding partner of OPEN Architecture.
https://www.archdaily.com/1070691/past-present-future-li-hu-have-chinas-cities-bloated韩爽 - HAN Shuang
Project Background As a strategic pivot of the national "Belt and Road" Initiative and the core engine for innovative cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Qianhai is set to become a futuristic, world-class bay area city center. On January 17, 2019, the Qianhai Authority officially launched the global call for proposals for the "Qianhai Public Space Design" project, attracting applications from 42 consortia representing over a hundred leading design firms worldwide.
The primary objective of the "Qianhai Public Space Design" project is to establish a unique bay area city center. Grounded in human-centric design, the project aims to enhance public well-being and the region's overall appeal through the creation of a beautiful, inviting network of public spaces.
https://www.archdaily.com/1070540/qianhai-public-space-design-bid-selection-results-announcedMilly Mo
Over the past 20 years, the role of representation and rendering has shifted dramatically across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. New rendering technologies, techniques, and software, such as Lumion, have driven this evolution. By integrating 3D rendering tools, architects and designers can leverage intuitive, versatile visualization technologies to enhance creativity rather than stifle it.
Among the various measures cities can implement to become more pedestrian-friendly, developing a comprehensive signage system is a highly efficient, straightforward improvement that delivers transformative results—as demonstrated by initiatives like Legible London, New York's WalkNYC, or Rio on Foot in Rio de Janeiro.
Yesterday, the Changjiang Art Museum, designed by Vector Architects, opened in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. Simultaneously, the museum inaugurated three exhibitions: "Backbone: Four Chinese Architects," featuring the work of Dong Gong, Hua Li, Li Xinggang, and Cheng Yanchun; "Reshaping the Block: Qiandu·Dongshanqing Architectural Practice Exhibition"; and "Changjiang Village: A History/Space Exhibition."
https://www.archdaily.com/1070562/interview-with-dong-gong-changjiang-art-museum-an-architectural-practice-of-emotional-response韩爽 - HAN Shuang
Great gems of modern Paulista architecture are located in the Higienópolis neighborhood of São Paulo. Predominantly occupied by residential buildings, the curiosity to imagine what their apartments and floor plans look like arises in the minds of those with even a passing interest in these projects. With this in mind, we have gathered ten projects that are the result of renovations in famous buildings—such as the Lausanne and the Louveira—as well as others located in the same vicinity.
Preservation and renewal are constantly unfolding in our cities. Against the backdrop of rapidly evolving lifestyles and the transition of China's economic development to a "new normal," urban renewal and regeneration are gradually superseding new construction as crucial aspects of Chinese urban development. This exhibition focuses on the theme of urban renewal, gathering outstanding projects from home and abroad to comprehensively review successful experiences across various regions, scales, typologies, and stakeholders. In doing so, it showcases the achievements, dilemmas, reflections, practices, current conditions, and futures within the urban development process, contributing diverse voices to the ongoing discourse on China's urban renewal.
We interviewed Zhu Xiaodi, co-curator of the exhibition “Born of the Old,” to discuss the significance of the theme, the rationale behind its unique exhibition design, and the stories behind the project.
https://www.archdaily.com/1070561/interview-with-zhu-xiaodi-how-can-old-building-stock-generate-the-new韩爽 - HAN Shuang
July 20, 2019, marked the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 departed Earth, touching down on the lunar surface four days later. This historic milestone continues to prompt reflection on how technological advancements are making life on other worlds increasingly viable.
Aided by the evolution of 3D printing and fully automated construction technologies, we have compiled 15 architectural projects that demonstrate how life on the Moon and other celestial bodies is no longer a distant fantasy.
Netflix is much more than a platform for casual entertainment—it is also an excellent resource for learning about architecture and urban planning. We have curated ten architecture-related documentaries that allow you to expand your design horizons while winding down. Below are the trailers for these ten titles, which can be viewed in full on Netflix.
https://www.archdaily.com/1070354/10-must-watch-netflix-documentary-trailersMilly Mo
Past, Present, Future is an interview project by Itinerant Office that invites prominent architects to share their perspectives on the constantly evolving world of architecture. Each interview is divided into a three-part video series—Past, Present, and Future—where interviewees discuss their architectural philosophies and experiences. The project's first installment featured 11 architects from Italy and the Netherlands, while the second edition comprises interviews with 13 architects from Spain, Portugal, France, and Belgium.
The aim of this interview series is to study these successful firms and understand their methodologies. The videos seek to offer a clear picture of what it means to be an architect in the 21st century, while serving as inspiration for the next generation of emerging architects and students entering the field.
https://www.archdaily.com/1070596/stephane-beel-on-architecture-and-technologyMilly Mo
Gerbert Rappaport, director. Still from the film Cherry Town (Cheryomushki), 1963.
Flying Panels: How Concrete Panels Changed the World is the latest exhibition at ArkDes. Designed by Swedish studio Note Design Studio, it is co-curated by Pedro Ignacio Alonso and Hugo Palmarola, creators of the Monolith Controversies exhibition, which won the Silver Lion at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014.
The exhibition brings together an array of models and material culture—such as posters, paintings, films, toys, cartoons, and opera sets—reflecting how concrete panels influenced culture to build a new society.
Unlike when they were seen merely as spaces for sleeping and showering, today hotels must enhance the travel experience to attract guests and offer a competitive edge against direct rivals or even new lodging models like Airbnb. Consequently, beyond room quality, leisure areas, restaurants, landscape, and architecture are key factors in the success of a development.
In countries like Brazil, which feature diverse landscapes and a varied population, one encounters a wide range of solutions when designing hotels. For this reason, we have gathered ten national examples where architecture stands out, lending a unique identity to each of these buildings.
Designing the spatial quality of public space and allocating its program for the population is one of the greatest challenges for architects and urban planners. Urban developments, parks, and plazas are some of the interventions these professionals encounter when creating places for democratic use—spaces that often become symbols of the city. To illustrate these projects, we have gathered ten Brazilian examples that explore different contexts and scales.
On December 20, 2019, the opening press conference for the eighth **Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Shenzhen)** (hereinafter "UABB") was held at the **Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAPE)**, marking the official launch of this year's biennale.
Under the theme of "**Urban Interactions**," this year's UABB is chief-curated by architect and director of the MIT Senseable City Lab **Carlo Ratti**, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering **Meng Jianmin**, and renowned curator and art critic **Fabio Cavallucci**. The South China-Turin Joint Lab (Politecnico di Torino and South China University of Technology) serves as the academic curator. The exhibition **opens on December 21, 2019, at the main venues—the Shenzhen Futian High-Speed Railway Station and the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning—and will officially open to the public on December 22**. In addition, **nine sub-venues** across various districts of Shenzhen will interface with the main venues, establishing an organic network of interaction throughout the city.
The exhibition comprises two main sections, "**Eyes of the City**" and "**Ascending City**," each exploring the evolving relationship between urban space and technological innovation from distinct perspectives. **The main venues showcase over 140 works, bringing together more than 280 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions**. These include renowned international and domestic architects, artists, and institutions such as MVRDV, Liam Young, Stefano Boeri, Sou Fujimoto, Thomas Heatherwick, Ryoji Ikeda, Wang Shu, Yung Ho Chang, Dominique Perrault, Philip F. Yuan, Liu Cixin, and Academicians Cui Kai and Wang Jianguo.
On December 20, 2019, the opening press conference for the 8th Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Shenzhen) (UABB) was held at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAPE), marking the official launch of this year’s exhibition.
The theme of this year's UABB is "Urban Interactions." It is chief-curated by architect and director of the MIT Senseable City Lab Carlo Ratti, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Meng Jianmin, and renowned curator and art critic Fabio Cavallucci. The South China-Torino Collaboration Lab (Politecnico di Torino and South China University of Technology) serves as the academic curator. The exhibition opened on December 21, 2019, at the main venues—Shenzhen Futian High-Speed Railway Station and the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAPE)—and officially opened to the public on December 22. Concurrently, nine sub-venues across various districts of Shenzhen will collaborate with the main venues, forming an organic interactive network throughout the city.
The exhibition features two main sections, "Eyes of the City" and "Ascending City," which explore the evolving relationship between urban space and technological innovation from distinct perspectives. The main venues showcase over 140 works, bringing together more than 280 participants from 24 countries and regions, including MVRDV, Liam Young, Stefano Boeri, Sou Fujimoto, Thomas Heatherwick, Ryoji Ikeda, as well as renowned domestic and international architects, artists, and institutions such as Wang Shu, Yung Ho Chang, Dominique Perrault, Philip F. Yuan, Liu Cixin, Academician Cui Kai, and Academician Wang Jianguo.
https://www.archdaily.com/1070656/2019-uabb-ascending-city-section-guide舒岳康 - SHU Yuekang