When talking about energy efficiency in buildings, it is inevitable to mention thermal insulation. We rarely see it in a finished building and, even in the technical drawings, the insulating layer appears as a thin hatch. But this is an element that is of vital importance, as it acts as a barrier to the flow of heat, hindering the exchange of energy between the interior and the exterior, reducing the amount of heat that escapes in winter and the thermal energy that enters in the summer. In a building with good thermal insulation, there is less need for heating to keep the house at a pleasant temperature, also reducing its carbon footprint. Currently, there are many countries that require a minimum level of thermal insulation for buildings, with increasingly strict parameters. But how should this issue be dealt with in the near future, with the worrying climate crisis forecast?
As Climate Becomes Extreme, How to Deal with the Building Envelope?
Hybrid Houses: 15 Projects that Explore the Variations of the Home Office
It's not uncommon to see housing complexes integrate commercial spaces at the ground level, but the challenge of mediating between the private and public realm on a smaller scale, especially with the rise of the home office, has forced architects to explore all aspects of the structure, from the topography it sits on, to the direction of light and wind, to the design and organization the domestic space. This interior focus explores different design solutions that show how architects and interior designers transformed their projects from a living space into a mixed-use typology, taking into account privacy, flexibility, functionality, and predefined spatial requirements.
The Rise of Co-Living: Designing for Communal Life
Communal living is nothing new. Throughout history, housing has long been tied to both shared needs and a concentration of resources. Today, between population growth and an increase in urban density and real estate prices, architects and urban planners have been pursuing alternatives for shared living. These new models explore a range of spatial and formal configurations with a shared vision for the future.
Ivan Navarro and Courtney Smith Art Studio / Scalar Architecture
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Architects: Scalar Architecture
- Area: 5000 ft²
- Year: 2021
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Professionals: GNS, BDM Engineer
tini Pavilion / tini + delavegacanolasso
Multiple House / P+S Estudio de Arquitectura
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Architects: P+S Estudio de Arquitectura
- Area: 45 m²
- Year: 2021
Villa Icaria House / Arquitectura al descubierto
Avizor Logistics / FRPO Rodriguez & Oriol
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Architects: FRPO Rodriguez & Oriol
- Area: 3700 m²
- Year: 2020
House in Güemes / Zooco Estudio
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Architects: Zooco Estudio
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: Hisbalit, Arkoslight, Hermet 10, Thermochip, Torre Prieto
Amaya Headquarters / RuizEsquíroz
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Architects: RuizEsquíroz
- Area: 1957 m²
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: Lino Alonso, M40 Equipamiento
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Professionals: KAPANA Obras y Reformas, GEA estudios geológicos, Construcciones metálicas Áriz, Humiclima
Spanish Red Cross Headquarters / Burgos & Garrido arquitectos
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Architects: Burgos & Garrido arquitectos
- Area: 992 m²
- Year: 2019
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Professionals: San José
Claudio Coello 121 Residential Building / Arenas Basabe Palacios
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Architects: Arenas Basabe Palacios
- Area: 53819 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Uponor, panoramah!®, Alu-Stock, Cypecad, +7
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Professionals: CEIDER SL
Natural Ventilation Isn't the Most Efficient Solution in All Cases
Ventilation serves two main purposes in a room: first, to remove pollutants and provide clean air; second, to meet the metabolic needs of the occupants, providing pleasant temperatures (weather permitting). It is well known that environments with inadequate ventilation can bring serious harm to the health of the occupants and, especially in hot climates, thermal discomfort. A Harvard University study demonstrated that in buildings with good ventilation and better air quality (with lower rates of carbon dioxide), occupants showed better performance of cognitive functions, faster responses to extreme situations, and better reasoning in strategic activities.
It is not difficult to see that ventilation plays a vital role in ensuring adequate air quality and thermal comfort in buildings. We have all felt it. But when we talk about ventilation, a light breeze from the window might come to mind, shifting through our hair and bringing a pleasant aroma and cooling temperature that brings fresh air and comfort. In mild climates, this experience can even be a reality on many days of the year. In harsh climates or polluted spaces, it could be quite different.
Baker’s Dozen: 13 Sweet Projects Filled with Delight
Few architectural typologies are as timeless as bakeries. A practice spanning thousands of years, the art of baking has diverse roots. Today, bakeries combine areas to gather, socialize, shop, and work. While industrialization and commercialization transformed the art of baking and baked goods, bakeries remain important community spaces for gathering and defining neighborhood identity.
OMA House / Sanz Arquitectos
From Playful Methodologies to Fictional Possibilities: 5 Emerging Practices in Europe
Five emerging architecture studio profiles from Portugal, Spain, France, and the Czech Republic have been chosen by New Generations, a European platform that analyses the most innovative emerging practices at the European level, providing a new space for the exchange of knowledge and confrontation, theory, and production. Since 2013, New Generations has involved more than 300 practices in a diverse program of cultural activities, such as festivals, exhibitions, open calls, video-interviews, workshops, and experimental formats.
From Architecture as a Civic Task to an Interest in Materials: 4 Emerging Practices in Europe
Four emerging architecture studio profiles from Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, and Poland were chosen by New Generations, a platform that analyses the most innovative emerging practices at the European level, providing a new space for the exchange of knowledge and confrontation, theory, and production. Since 2013, New Generations has involved more than 300 practices in a diverse program of cultural activities, such as festivals, exhibitions, open calls, video-interviews, workshops, and experimental formats.