Muta House / Emilio López Arquitecto
Is There Anything More Natural Than Nature? Our Readers Weigh In On "Green" Houses
In many cases, I haven't been able to decide whether a building full of trees fits into the "sustainable" category. In fact, I've often had to make the argument that such a building is far from it.
It seems that the vast majority of contemporary marketing for sustainable architecture operates under the guise of greenwashing. What's more, the line between what truly creates healthier and more sustainable living spaces and what doesn't is often a blurred one.
To see just how blurred this line is, we asked our readers to weigh in on just what makes a house "green". Is it being able to trace the source of your building materials and knowing the people who harvest, process, and sell them? Is it the ability to fulfill the day-to-day needs of the inhabitants using renewable resources?
Post-Earthquake Prototype – Rural Dwelling / AL BORDE + El Sindicato Arquitectura
How To Take Advantage of High Ceilings in Renovations
The height of the ceiling of a space heavily influences our perception of it. Generally, local building codes regulate the minimum dimensions for ceiling height, which are calculated to ensure adequate quality of life in the environment. But the exact height of the ceilings is often defined by the dimensions of other materials that make up the building, the height of the constitutive slabs, or even by rounding the dimensions of the stair steps. It is common, with the densification of cities aimed at increasing profitability, for entrepreneurs to design with minimum ceiling heights in houses and offices, reducing construction costs. On the other hand, in older structures, more generous ceilings can be observed, which generally enable a greater degree of design freedom. But how can architects make the most of these spaces?
Mocoli House / Orense Arquitectos
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Architects: Orense Arquitectos
- Area: 4951 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: AV Solutions, Life Space Journey, Tecnodonoso
Tea Room / Natura Futura Arquitectura
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Architects: Natura Futura Arquitectura
- Area: 32 m²
- Year: 2021
House of the Flying Beds / AL BORDE
Houses in Ecuador: 10 Homes Designed Around Courtyards
Inner courtyards and gardens can provide many benefits, such as natural light, better ventilation, and increased contact with nature without losing privacy.
Meet the Winners of the 2020 Panamerican Architecture Biennial of Quito
On November 20, the 2020 Panamerican Architecture Biennial of Quito (BAQ 2020) announced the winners of the present edition. Every other year, the BAQ "invites to discuss contemporary production of the built environment, aiming to improve the practice of our profession" in the Americas.
Huaira 01 / Javier Mera Luna + Diana Salvador
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Architects: Diana Salvador, Javier Mera Luna
- Area: 40 m²
- Year: 2019
República Rosa Boutique Hotel / nicolas&nicolas
House Between Blocks / Natura Futura Arquitectura
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Architects: Natura Futura Arquitectura
- Year: 2017
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Manufacturers: Alumt, Maderas Pedro, Marriott
NB2 Skatepark / Siente Espacios - Arquitectura (SEA)
UEPM Quito Classrooms / Espinoza Carvajal Arquitectos
Architecture and Masks: A Visual Representation of Time
The Avions Voisin C7 was manufactured between 1924 and 1928 and featured a groundbreaking design for the time. The extensive use of glass, aluminum bodywork, and sharp angles hinted at the shapes of an aircraft. This was the car that Le Corbusier liked to park in front of his buildings - the architect considered this car to be the ultimate translation of modern age and technology combined into a single object. He was convinced that architecture had much to learn from this machine.
With 3 gears and a 30-horsepower engine, it is hard to imagine anyone using this car today since the automobile industry has experienced countless innovations since that time. Corbusier's architecture, however, doesn't seem so outdated, but the cars pictured alongside the brand new buildings are actually what reveals how old the photograph is. Locating elements that can point out the time period of a photograph is very effective, especially in architecture. Some elements can make this task much easier, for example, household appliances, computer monitors, or other particular details.