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Architects: Comte/Meuwly
- Year: 2023
As the construction industry intensifies its efforts towards sustainability, architects and developers are actively seeking innovative solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings. Trimo, a global leader in architectural façade and roofing solutions, is at the forefront of this transformation with its NEXT product range—Qbiss One NEXT and Trimoterm NEXT—which are setting new standards in sustainability. Designed to support the global shift to net-zero carbon construction, these products embody cutting-edge technology, lower carbon emissions, and high recyclability, all while delivering superior performance and aesthetics.
"Living Scaffolding" is the name of the proposal selected to represent Peru at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Curated by architects Alex Hudtwalcker, Sebastián Cillóniz, and Gianfranco Morales, along with historian José Ignacio Beteta, the exhibition tells the story of a totora reed raft that, in 1988, embarked on a sea journey to other ports in South America and Polynesia. Its unprecedented expedition began on the Peruvian coast south of Lima and lasted 54 days at sea. The raft was the result of a collective, handcrafted effort and a significant structural challenge. The exhibition aims to highlight the importance of ancestral knowledge in addressing such challenges, celebrate materials essential to Peruvian cultural heritage, and expose the value of collective intelligence.
MVRDV has just released its design for LuLa Light Mall, an open-air shopping center under construction in Chengdu's Luxelakes Eco-City, China. The scheme consists of stacked boxes with open spaces between them, creating terraces, walkways, and staircases that integrate the natural surroundings and provide views of the nearby lake. Luxelakes Eco-City, a developing district in southern Chengdu, spans 5.5 square kilometers and features 1.4 square kilometers of lakes and green spaces. The mall's location, positioned between the natural landscape to the southeast and high-rise buildings to the northwest, serves as a transition between urban and natural environments.
Named one of ArchDaily's Best New Practices in 2024, MEAN* (Middle East Architecture Network) is redefining the architectural landscape of the region by merging computational design, digital fabrication, and material research with local heritage. Founded in 2016, the studio takes a forward-thinking approach, developing site-specific architectural solutions that balance technological innovation with cultural continuity. Their work spans projects of various scales, from experimental furniture like the Mawj Chair to urban-scale interventions such as The Adaptive Majlis, a digitally fabricated reinterpretation of traditional cooling and social spaces. By integrating advanced tools like parametric design, AI, and 3D printing with local materials, MEAN* is crafting a new architectural language that reflects both the aspirations of the future and the depth of the past.