Master plans are comprehensive design strategies that guide the future development of cities, districts, or large-scale projects. From a design and architectural perspective, they strive to balance the need for flexibility, long-term vision, and the integration of infrastructure with the public realm. Key themes in master planning often include sustainable development, urban connectivity, and cultural integration. Master plans shape not only the physical environment but also the social fabric of communities by emphasizing walkability, mixed-use spaces, and the blending of natural and built environments. These large-scale frameworks showcase the role architecture plays in shaping the future of urban life.

This curated selection of Unbuilt Architecture, submitted by the ArchDaily community, illustrates a range of visionary urban strategies. Whether it’s the revival of the village of Ad-Damun in Palestine, reconnecting with a rich historical past, or the bold reconstruction of the Al-Nouri Complex in Iraq as a cultural and spiritual hub, some of these projects engage with complex narratives of memory and restoration. From the sustainable design of Mokolo Green Scarf City in Cameroon to the marine research center in Yemen, these projects showcase diverse approaches to architectural challenges, focusing on community, environment, and the preservation of cultural heritage. By addressing unique regional contexts, these proposals reflect a broader commitment to rethinking how architecture can foster resilience and inclusivity.

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Greek and Roman cultures laid the foundations for modern civilization, leaving a lasting legacy in philosophy, literature, mathematics, and art. Although their contributions in these areas are significant, they are sometimes overlooked. However, in disciplines such as sculpture and architecture, their influence has remained almost unchanged, deeply rooted in the classical ideals of beauty. This is exemplified by canonical works such as the Parthenon, the Roman Pantheon, and the Discobolus, which continue to captivate with their proportion, symmetry, and detail. Consequently, it is unsurprising that Greco-Roman classicism remains significant due to its aesthetic timelessness, revitalized throughout different periods, from neoclassicism to contemporary proposals.

In this modern context, the Greco-Roman mythology, epic tales, and classical architectural concepts inspire a fresh perspective on reimagining interior aesthetics. Embracing an avant-garde take on neoclassicism, a new wave of modern interiors adopts sharp strokes to define figures and details, such as pilasters and capitals, echoing the sinopia of historic wall frescoes. These designs transform monumentality into cozy and elegant atmospheres. By blending historical and contemporary references, they provide innovative figurative solutions that craft poetically scenic spaces. Arcadia collection exemplifies this approach, standing out as a tribute to classicism and presenting a unique visual narrative through its wall coverings.

The Graham Foundation, based in Chicago, has allocated $390,000 in grants to support 33 innovative projects worldwide. These initiatives include exhibitions, publications, and presentations aimed at enriching the discourse in architecture and its role in society. The projects, undertaken by architects, artists, curators, and educators, span various cities such as Johannesburg, New York, Chicago, and others, reflecting a global perspective on contemporary architectural issues.

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The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. has just announced Walter Hood as the 26th recipient of the prestigious Vincent Scully Prize. Walter Hood is a celebrated landscape designer working in public spaces and urban environments. Established in 1999, this award honors outstanding contributions in architecture, historic preservation, and urban design through practice, scholarship, or criticism. Hood now joins the ranks of past notable winners like Theaster Gates, Dolores Hayden, and Mabel O. Wilson.

This summer, over one million visitors, spectators, and athletes are expected to gather in the streets of Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The preparation for the event included massive investments into upgrading infrastructure, venues, and public spaces throughout the city and country. In addition to the restoration of Grande New de I'Île-des-Vannes venue, the Georges-Callerey Swimming Pool, and the Poissonniers Sports Center, the city has revealed new typologies of public services and a master plan for the Olympic Athletes Village by Dominique Perrault Architecture.

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Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, founders of the renowned architecture firm SANAA, have been announced as the recipients of the 2025 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand by the Créateurs Design Awards. Announced today in Paris, France, the award honors exceptional contributions to modern architecture and design. Sejima and Nishizawa, known for their minimalist designs that integrate form, function, and the environment, continue to be recognized as innovators in the field, having been previously recognized with the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2010. Sejima and Nishizawa will accept Le Prix Charlotte Perriand at the Créateurs Design Awards ceremony in Paris on January 18, 2025.

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The Chile Pavilion, recently revealed by Constructo Architects for Expo Osaka 2025, blends contemporary industrial design and traditional Mapuche textile artistry. Constructed using industrialized wood (CLT) and featuring handwoven textiles, the pavilion emphasizes both innovation and cultural heritage. The structure is designed to be a "nomadic pavilion," easily assembled and disassembled, allowing it to travel from Chile to Japan and back.

Fire is a primordial force of nature, possessing both destructive and protective power throughout human history. Capable of devastating landscapes, crops, and entire cities, it also provides heat, enables cooking, and is used to generate energy. This duality highlights the importance of balancing its use and control, especially in construction, where fire safety is crucial. Building codes for fire protection are strict, often complex and restrictive, but essential to ensure the safety of occupants.

Copenhagen-based multidisciplinary studio BIOSIS has revealed the design for a new housing complex in Nuuk, Greenland. The project aims to create a minimal-impact and climate-driven design by integrating the intervention in the area's natural terrain and adapting the solutions to the local conditions. The Qullilerfik housing project consists of five prism-shaped residences created to complement the sloped site, initially considered unsuitable.

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Coop Himmelb(l)au has been selected to lead the architectural design for the new Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Working in collaboration with Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) and Dar Al-Handasah, the design integrates advanced structural solutions, energy efficiency, and modern technologies to create a facility of global significance.

Architects often enjoy viewing projects through floor plans, and some landscape architecture works are so large that they’re hard to appreciate without this view fully. Seeing them from above lets you understand their full essence and admire the entire design. We’ve selected a series of aerial photographs of Roberto Burle Marx’s works, provided by the Spanish company Deimos Imaging, offering a rare perspective you may not have seen before.

This article was originally published on Common Edge.

"O beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, has there ever been another place on earth where so many people of wealth and power have paid for and put up with so much architecture they detested as within thy blessed borders today?"

Tom Wolfe wrote this in his 1981 book From Bauhaus to Our House. The conflict between modern and traditional design has barely abated since, as is evident in this recent article. In the U.S., modern buildings are often met with community aversion, for familiar reasons: their perceived coldness and lack of contextual sensitivity, the impact on local character, and the loss of historical continuity. But on another level, the critique against modern design finds even more purchase on the larger scale: the city. Modern U.S. cities reek of traffic congestion and pollution, social inequality and gentrification, a loss of community and cultural spaces, and a lack of usable open space.

Wood is undeniably an elegant choice for architectural projects, offering a natural and welcoming aesthetic that enhances any space. However, when exposed to the elements, this same wood demands a high level of maintenance. Sun, rain, and temperature variations can compromise its appearance and integrity over time, requiring regular care to preserve its original beauty. For many, this is the price to pay for the irreplaceable aesthetics of wood, but the search for alternatives that combine natural beauty with durability has grown, allowing the charm of wood to be enjoyed with less effort.

The VELUX Group is proud to announce that the projects ‘Solar Sinter’ by Anders Eugen Lund (Denmark), and ‘The Light Filter’ by Wan Zilin, Poon Gin Yong & Zang Jiayou (China), have been selected as the global winners of the International VELUX Award for Students of Architecture 2024.

Situated in Hangzhou's Central Business District, the Euro American Innovation City is a mixed-use development designed by Foster+Partners to become a dynamic addition to the city. The 346,450 square-meter project includes two 200-meter-high office towers and four high-rise apartment buildings, complemented by a public plaza, an IT incubator, and a retail mall on the lower levels. Construction is currently progressing in phases, with the first phase nearing completion next month and the second set to finish by year-end, while the entire project aims for completion in September 2025.

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Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) has just unveiled its 2045 Campus Vision for the University of Birmingham, a plan designed to shape the future of the institution. This framework evaluates the university’s portfolio of over 300 buildings, identifying areas for retention, refurbishment, transformation, or replacement to support its goal of becoming a net-zero, future-ready university. Developed in collaboration with Ayers Saint Gross, the 2045 Campus Vision leverages data on building conditions, operational costs, environmental performance, and space utilization. In fact, this data-driven approach aims to help the university achieve its long-term objectives while maintaining its historical legacy.

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Water architecture has always been important throughout human history. From the aqueducts in ancient Rome to the grand canals of Venice, water has not only sustained life but also played an important role in shaping the urban environment. It has facilitated trade, nourished agricultural lands, and provided a sense of place and identity to different communities. Despite water's historical role, during the 20th century, many cities chose to bury their waterways underground, primarily for safety and hygiene reasons, as these channels often served as open sewers.

In today's rapidly urbanizing world, where cities dominate the landscape, water is being rediscovered as a means of ecological regeneration. There is a growing movement to reopen and re-naturalize urban waterways to restore them as vital ecological corridors within the city. More and more cities are now looking towards the water in an attempt to reconnect with nature and create spaces where urban life and natural ecosystems can coexist harmoniously. This growing trend reflects a deeper understanding of water not just as a resource, but as a bridge to a more sustainable and resilient future for our cities.