Active Matter

The past few decades brought a revolution in computer software and hardware; today we are on the cusp of a materials revolution. If yesterday we programmed computers and other machines, today we program matter itself. This has created new capabilities in design, computing, and fabrication, which allow us to program proteins and bacteria, to generate self-transforming wood products and architectural details, and to create clothing from “intelligent textiles” that grow themselves. This book offers essays and sample projects from the front lines of the emerging field of active matter.

Active matter and programmable materials are at the intersection of science, art,

Creek House / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter

Creek House  / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter - Exterior Photography, Houses, GardenCreek House  / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter - Exterior Photography, Houses, Facade, DoorCreek House  / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter - Exterior Photography, Houses, FacadeCreek House  / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter - HousesCreek House  / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter - More Images+ 13

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  285
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2013
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Grohe, Ash from Torkat Trägolv AB, Preconal, Torkat Trägolv AB, Veg Tech, +3
  • Professionals: KE Gruppen

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters / HOK

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters / HOK - Institutional Buildings, Facade, CityscapeAbu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters / HOK - Institutional Buildings, Facade, ColumnAbu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters / HOK - Institutional Buildings, FacadeAbu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters / HOK - Institutional Buildings, FacadeAbu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters / HOK - More Images+ 12

  • Architects: HOK
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  175300
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2016
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Bradley Corporation USA, ASCON, Bethel White Granite, CIP concrete, Guardian Glass, +6

How Real-Time Rendering Can Reduce Your Time and Effort in Architectural Design

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Architects are always trying to be more efficient and adding more value for clients. But with most software, rendering is very time-consuming, impairing efficiency significantly. It is exhausting for designers when the process of visual processing uses energy that would be better invested in design and architecture itself.

With the Enscape plugin, real-time rendering and virtual reality can help to remedy this situation. The plugin integrates as a toolbar in the popular design platforms Rhino, Revit and SketchUp, with a version for Archicad also currently in development. Because the software is a plugin for these popular programs, architects do not need to learn to use new software, but work in their familiar system with some additional features. And since the software runs on the local graphics card, projects do not have to be uploaded to the cloud.

Yangcheng Lake Villas / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

Yangcheng Lake Villas / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office - Housing, Courtyard, Facade
© Pedro Pegenaute

Yangcheng Lake Villas / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office - Housing, FacadeYangcheng Lake Villas / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office - Housing, Facade, BenchYangcheng Lake Villas / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office - Housing, Stairs, Handrail, FacadeYangcheng Lake Villas / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office - Housing, Facade, DoorYangcheng Lake Villas / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office - More Images+ 14

Suzhou, China

Room Without Roof
 / HYLA Architects


Room Without Roof
 / HYLA Architects
 - Exterior Photography, Houses, Facade
© Derek Swalwell

Room Without Roof
 / HYLA Architects
 - Exterior Photography, Houses, FacadeRoom Without Roof
 / HYLA Architects
 - HousesRoom Without Roof
 / HYLA Architects
 - Drawings, Houses, FacadeRoom Without Roof
 / HYLA Architects
 - Interior Photography, Houses, Stairs, HandrailRoom Without Roof
 / HYLA Architects
 - More Images+ 21

Exhibition Center of Zhengzhou Linkong Biopharmaceutical Park / WSP ARCHITECTS

Exhibition Center of Zhengzhou Linkong Biopharmaceutical Park / WSP ARCHITECTS - Offices, Facade, Handrail, FenceExhibition Center of Zhengzhou Linkong Biopharmaceutical Park / WSP ARCHITECTS - Offices, LightingExhibition Center of Zhengzhou Linkong Biopharmaceutical Park / WSP ARCHITECTS - Offices, Facade, ArchExhibition Center of Zhengzhou Linkong Biopharmaceutical Park / WSP ARCHITECTS - Offices, FacadeExhibition Center of Zhengzhou Linkong Biopharmaceutical Park / WSP ARCHITECTS - More Images+ 14

  • Architects: WSP ARCHITECTS
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  4872
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2017

Montoro Wines Cellar Door / Source Architects

Montoro Wines Cellar Door / Source Architects - Store, FacadeMontoro Wines Cellar Door / Source Architects - Store, Patio, Table, ChairMontoro Wines Cellar Door / Source Architects - Store, Facade, BeamMontoro Wines Cellar Door / Source Architects - Store, Facade, Chair, TableMontoro Wines Cellar Door / Source Architects - More Images+ 17

Is This Yeezy Home 1.0? Kanye West Collaborator Teases Affordable Housing Project on Instagram

A post shared by Jalil Peraza (@jalilperaza) on

A month after Kanye West announced his intention to open an architecture venture, at the time named Yeezy Home, off the back of his fashion brand, it seems we may have the first glimpse of the type of buildings the rapper is hoping to create. Yesterday Jalil Peraza, a previous collaborator with West's design company DONDA and designer of the "Face Modules" pop-up retail concept, posted two images to his Instagram showing a building render alongside the caption "Low income housing scheme, made of prefabricated concrete in collaboration with Petra Kustrin, Jalil Peraza, Kanye West, Nejc Skufca."

Infiltrated Patio / PLUG Architecture

Infiltrated Patio / PLUG Architecture - HousesInfiltrated Patio / PLUG Architecture - Exterior Photography, Houses, Facade, ForestInfiltrated Patio / PLUG Architecture - HousesInfiltrated Patio / PLUG Architecture - HousesInfiltrated Patio / PLUG Architecture - More Images+ 9

Mérida, Mexico
  • Architects: PLUG Architecture
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  130
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2016
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Blanco, Cemex, Escenium HAUS, Helvex, Tecnolite, +4

75 Types of Wood Ranked by Hardness

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Ever wondered about the hardest and softest woods in the world? As architects, we're all pretty familiar with the softest: Balsa. Its material qualities are what make it so attractive to make models. But what about the the strongest wood in the world? Ever pondered just how many pounds or kilos of force they can withstand?

Manuel Herz to Design Curvilinear Expansion of Rural Senegal Hospital

Manuel Herz has been chosen to design the expansion of the Tambacounda Hospital in rural Senegal, conceived and funded by the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation and American Friends of Le Korsa.

The extension is viewed as an urgent project to address overcrowding in the vital facility, with the demands of 20,000 annual patients resulting in hot, overcrowded communal spaces, and children sharing beds in wards. The Foundation described Manuel Herz as the “unanimous choice” with an approach showing “a mix of visual flair, practical understanding, and profound humanitarianism.”

Manuel Herz to Design Curvilinear Expansion of Rural Senegal Hospital - Image 1 of 4Manuel Herz to Design Curvilinear Expansion of Rural Senegal Hospital - Image 2 of 4Manuel Herz to Design Curvilinear Expansion of Rural Senegal Hospital - Featured ImageManuel Herz to Design Curvilinear Expansion of Rural Senegal Hospital - Image 3 of 4Manuel Herz to Design Curvilinear Expansion of Rural Senegal Hospital - More Images

Gores Group Headquarters / Belzberg Architects

Gores Group Headquarters / Belzberg Architects - Interior Photography, Institutional Buildings, Stairs, Facade
© Benny Chan/Fotoworks

Gores Group Headquarters / Belzberg Architects - Institutional BuildingsGores Group Headquarters / Belzberg Architects - Institutional BuildingsGores Group Headquarters / Belzberg Architects - Institutional BuildingsGores Group Headquarters / Belzberg Architects - Institutional BuildingsGores Group Headquarters / Belzberg Architects - More Images+ 6

CTBUH Reveals Best Tall Building Worldwide and Winners of 2018 Tall Building Awards

The Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat have announced the winners of the 16th edition of the CTBUH Tall Building Awards. From over 48 finalists in 28 countries, the best buildings from four regions – the Americas, Asia & Australasia, Europe, and Middle East & Africa – were selected, along with recipients of the Urban Habitat Award, the Innovation Award, the Construction Award and the 10 Year Award. From these finalists, the CTBUH has also awarded the Best Tall Building Worldwide to the Oasia Hotel Downtown by WOHA.

The towers were chosen by a panel of architects from world-renowned firms and were judged on every aspect of performance, looking in particular for those which “have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and that achieve sustainability at the highest and broadest level.”

CTBUH Reveals Best Tall Building Worldwide and Winners of 2018 Tall Building Awards - Imagen 1 de 4CTBUH Reveals Best Tall Building Worldwide and Winners of 2018 Tall Building Awards - Imagen 2 de 4CTBUH Reveals Best Tall Building Worldwide and Winners of 2018 Tall Building Awards - Imagen 3 de 4CTBUH Reveals Best Tall Building Worldwide and Winners of 2018 Tall Building Awards - Imagen 4 de 4CTBUH Reveals Best Tall Building Worldwide and Winners of 2018 Tall Building Awards - More Images+ 6

San Francisco Ranch / AE Arquitectos

San Francisco Ranch  / AE Arquitectos - Hospitality ArchitectureSan Francisco Ranch  / AE Arquitectos - Hospitality ArchitectureSan Francisco Ranch  / AE Arquitectos - Hospitality ArchitectureSan Francisco Ranch  / AE Arquitectos - Hospitality ArchitectureSan Francisco Ranch  / AE Arquitectos - More Images+ 14

  • Architects: AE Arquitectos
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  915
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2017
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Canteras San Andrés, Construlita, PISOS FORTE

The Perks of Dating an Architect

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If you’re reading this post then it's likely that you are either an architect, or you’re dating one. If you belong to the former group, we salute you and all your hard work. But if you belong to the latter, this list might serve as a reminder of how lucky you are to be with somebody with the unique talents and traits of the architect—and that's not to mention the obvious fact that you could end up living in a beautiful house with the most beautiful furniture.

Animo South Los Angeles High School / BROOKS + SCARPA

Animo South Los Angeles High School / BROOKS + SCARPA - High SchoolAnimo South Los Angeles High School / BROOKS + SCARPA - High SchoolAnimo South Los Angeles High School / BROOKS + SCARPA - Exterior Photography, High School, FacadeAnimo South Los Angeles High School / BROOKS + SCARPA - Interior Photography, High School, Stairs, FacadeAnimo South Los Angeles High School / BROOKS + SCARPA - More Images+ 38

Los Angeles, United States
  • Architects: BROOKS + SCARPA
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  18000 ft²
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2015
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  C.R. Laurence, Lutron, USG, Vitro®, Grohe, +59

Cloud Pergola: The Croatian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale

As part of our 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale coverage, we present the completed Croatian Pavilion. Below, the curatorial team describes the exhibition in their own words.

Cloud Pergola / The Architecture of Hospitality at the Croatian Pavilion is a collaborative site-specific environment conceived by the pavilion curator, Bruno Juričić. as Cloud Pergola is an installation crossing the boundaries of architecture, art, engineering, robotic fabrication, and computational models. The exhibition is structured through an interplay of three interventions: Cloud Drawing by Alisa Andrašek in collaboration with Bruno Juričić, To Still the Eye by Vlatka Horvat, and
Ephemeral Garden by Maja Kuzmanović.

Cloud Pergola: The Croatian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale - Image 1 of 4Cloud Pergola: The Croatian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale - Image 2 of 4Cloud Pergola: The Croatian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale - Image 3 of 4Cloud Pergola: The Croatian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale - Image 4 of 4Cloud Pergola: The Croatian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale - More Images+ 14

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