The municipality of Cunha, located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, is a region known for its inland landscape, hilly terrain, and, especially, a major production of nationally renowned ceramics. It is within this context that the office messina | rivas has been working since 2017, with a set of projects located on a farm. Their work, which integrates design and construction in an indissociable manner, results in interventions that reveal a sensitive approach to pre-existing conditions and their surrounding environment.
The relationship between the office, led by architects Francisco Rivas and Rodrigo Messina, and the site began with a small renovation of a guest house for hosting friends. The project resulted in the transformation of two existing bedrooms into suites and the creation of an external kitchen. Since then, growing demands and the need to adapt existing buildings have driven the design of other projects distributed across the same site.
Giardino delle Sculture / Carlo Scarpa. Image by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra [Flickr under license CC BY-NC 2.0]
When we think of Venice, familiar images come to mind: Piazza San Marco, winding canals, and the reflection of Byzantine domes on still waters. Few, however, imagine that among those reflections lies a discreet chapter of Italian modernity — the architecture of Carlo Scarpa.
As the late urban planner Jaime Lerner once argued, the future of architecture lies not in building new cities but in updating those that already exist. In a world where resources are finite and urban space is increasingly saturated, his statement feels more urgent than ever. It calls for architects to look inward, to rethink what truly needs to be built, and to recognize the creative potential of what is already there. Within the constraints of existing structures lies an opportunity to design differently: to repair, adapt, and reuse. Or, as French poet Louis Aragon would have it, to reinvent the past to see the beauty of the future.
This month, ArchDaily exploresBuilding Less: Rethink, Reuse, Renovate, Repurpose, a theme that examines the growing shift in architecture toward working with what already exists. As urban spaces grow denser and land becomes scarce, architects are rethinking the impulse to build anew. Instead, they are extending the life of existing structures, embracing retrofit and adaptive reuse as strategies for sustainability and creativity. The question guiding this exploration is simple, yet urgent: How can architecture redefine urban futures by building less?
Concrete, steel, wood, glass. Every year, millions of tons of construction materials are discarded, piled up in landfills, and silenced beneath the weight of the next building. Entire structures disappear to make way for others, restarting a voracious cycle of resource extraction, material production, and replacement. Along with the debris that accumulates, something deeper is also lost: time, human labor, stories, and the collective memory embedded in matter. At a time when climate goals demand reducing emissions and extending the lifespan of what already exists, demolition is increasingly recognized as a form of urban amnesia, one that erases not only cultural continuity but also the embodied energy of buildings. And even though it is often said that the most sustainable building is the one that already exists, that principle rarely survives when other interests come into play.
Theaters serve as cultural and social institutions, shaping society by providing spaces where stories of identity, race, and justice are brought to life. These venues foster community through shared, live experiences, sparking conversations that resonate beyond the stage. Architecturally, theaters are more than performance spaces—they are landmarks that embody both the history and future of the arts. Their design often reflects the cultural importance of storytelling, while their refurbishments ensure they remain relevant in a modern context.
In this week's AD Interior Focus, ArchDaily explores how the refurbishment of iconic theaters like the Royal Opera House in London, United Kingdom, and Sydney Opera House in Australia goes beyond modernizing comfort and accessibility. It delves into how these projects preserve the architectural integrity of these historic landmarks, ensuring their design continues to serve as a backdrop for both artistic expression and social discourse.
Foster + Partners has completed the modernization of Manchester United's men's first team building at the Carrington Training Complex. The project rethinks the 1999 structure to create a high-performance, collaborative environment for players and staff, integrating new facilities while retaining much of the original building's structure. The refurbishment introduces large windows and rooflights to bring natural light deep into the floor plate, complemented by timber panelling that adds warmth and a sense of permanence. Integrated MEP systems improve the building's operational performance, energy efficiency, and overall user experience.
Humanity rarely embraces major transformations right away, often held back by fear, skepticism, or attachment to what already works. Gutenberg's press raised fears of misinformation; urban electrification drew warnings from doctors; and office computerization sparked concerns over the devaluation of human experience. Such ruptures often provoke resistance, but they tend to open space for critical reflection and innovation.
Today, with the rise of artificial intelligence and the rapid succession of technological innovations, we are living through another of these inflection points. The debate is broad, inevitable, and, as always, necessary. At the TRUE Conference 2025, hosted by Midea Building Technologies (MBT), this discussion takes on practical and strategic dimensions by linking digital advancements with tangible goals for sustainability, efficiency, and quality of life.
Creating an atmosphere that enhances exhibitions and enriches the visitor and user experience requires a thoughtful balance between preserving a space's unique character and adapting it to meet the needs of artistic and cultural production. The challenge lies in maintaining a building's industrial atmosphere while accommodating the specific requirements of exhibition design or the various uses the new building will require. This delicate task involves careful consideration of spatial layout, material choices, and lighting solutions, all of which play a significant role in shaping the new environment.
Courtyards have long been a fundamental aspect of traditional Chinese architecture, serving as central spaces around which domestic life is organized. These spaces play a vital role in creating a harmonious living environment, offering benefits that range from regulating indoor temperatures to enhancing social interactions and fostering a close connection with nature.
For decades, the life cycle of buildings was a simple formula: planning, design, construction, demolition, and, of course, the great villain in this history: the landfill. Over time, architectural practice began embracing concepts like reuse, disassembly, and circular demolition, but often as secondary elements, part of the gradual shift toward a circular economy in construction. But what if these principles were no longer exceptions? What if we crafted or chose every building component to maintain value and purpose beyond its original use? The truth is, there is life after demolition. This transition—from demolition to practices focusing on reuse, repurposing, and sustainable dismantling—is edging closer to reality. By the time 2030 arrives, we could fundamentally reshape how we approach processes, buildings, and the market itself. As these changes unfold, we must assess how our strategies align with the evolving goals and challenges related to sustainability—and, of course, the new opportunities they bring.
https://www.archdaily.com/1025567/what-if-every-brick-had-a-future-rethinking-demolition-and-material-reuse-in-the-circular-economyEnrique Tovar
The architectural practice of reusing and refurbishing should be the first consideration when designing and reshaping our already overbuilt cities. Good architecture prioritizes this approach over demolition, as it can reduce costs, enhance environmental efficiency, and preserve functional structures that can continue serving their purpose for years.
However, despite their enclosed design appearing to be an obstacle for new uses, recent decades have seen initiatives that embrace and repurpose these structures. These projects integrate silos into the urban environment, emphasizing their significance as part of the local collective memory.
Why demolish when you can embellish? A collaboration between ArchDaily and ICEX highlights the most outstanding remodeling, reuse, extension and renovation works recently built in Spain. This competition focuses on how Spanish architecture values the revitalization of historic buildings and centers, and recovers existing structures promoting a more balanced urban development. In Spain, old casonas become boutique gems, and factories like Madrid's Matadero morph into cultural havens—a clever mix of tradition and modern flair. After all, good design isn't built—it's built upon.
Aramco Stadium / Populous (Al Khobar). Image Courtesy of FIFA / Saudi Arabia 2024 Bid
Saudi Arabia was officially announced as the 2034 FIFA World Cup host. The country plans to build 11 new stadiums and refurbish four of its existing venues. The proposed host cities include Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and the yet-unbuilt Neom, a 170-kilometer-long linear city proposed to be built on the Red Sea coast. Additionally, the plan involves 134 training sites across the country, with 73 newly built facilities.
Released on December 11, 2024, the announcement came as no surprise, given that only one bid was submitted for each of the 2030 and 2034 World Cup tournaments. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco have been confirmed as joint hosts for the 2030 event, while Saudi Arabia has been chosen to host the 2034 edition.
New York City is a place of constant transformation. Since the late 18th century, when it became one of the world's largest ports, it has established itself as a hub of innovation, commerce, and cultural diversity, attracting immigrants from all over. The rapid industrialization of the 19th century spurred a proliferation of factories, warehouses, and working-class neighborhoods, like Brooklyn and the Lower East Side, which shaped the city's urban and economic growth.
In densely populated cities, the demand for more living space has led to a growing trend in home extensions. With limited opportunities for new construction and a desire to preserve historical urban fabric, homeowners are increasingly looking for innovative ways to expand their homes. Home extensions offer a practical solution to modern needs, allowing residents to stay in familiar neighborhoods and maintain their ties to the community.
There are several approaches to these renovations. Home additions take various forms, ranging from isolated rooms with specific functions near the main house, to volumes directly attached to the original structure. These extensions can be built on the ground floor or take advantage of vertical space by constructing additional levels on the existing building.
Proposal for the Roof of the Málaga Cathedral. Image Courtesy of Marina Uno Arquitectos
Like a musical composition, there is a particular category of buildings whose history might be compared to an unfinished symphony. Alternating between high notes and moments of silence, these structures are intermittent narratives that have spanned centuries. One of the most emblematic cases is the Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction for over a century and is on track to be completed this decade. While a hundred years of construction is no small feat, another building in this group surpasses that range: the Cathedral of Málaga, located in southern Spain, has been in the making for over five centuries.
Driven by Renaissance influences, the cathedral began construction in 1528. Since then, it has experienced periods of interruption throughout its history, resulting in an unfinished landmark. The cathedral is still missing one of its towers, has incomplete elements on its facade, and its vaults are exposed to the weather due to the absence of a covering structure. Over the years, various works have been undertaken—including the recent adaptation of tourist access to the domes—but one major task remains: the gable roof. Originally proposed in 1764 by Ventura Rodríguez, its design has been reimagined and will now be executed using contemporary wooden construction techniques.
https://www.archdaily.com/1020754/track-to-completing-malaga-cathedral-the-role-of-timber-in-designing-the-new-gable-roofEnrique Tovar
Retrofit has become a key practice in contemporary architecture, standing out for its ability to revitalize existing buildings without the need for demolition while offering significant economic and social benefits. This approach is gaining ground in the architectural field, driven by iconic projects and public and private initiatives.
