Shelley McNamara is one-half of the renowned Irish-based Grafton Architects studio, together with Yvonne Farrell. Pritzker Prize 2020 Laureates founded their practice in 1978 and are well-known for their co-curation of the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. In this interview with Louisiana Channel, McNamara talks through her design theories, direction, inspirations, and the studio’s approach to “humanism.”
Architecture News
"Architecture Is About Humanism": In Conversation with Shelley McNamara
https://www.archdaily.com/1007273/architecture-is-about-humanism-in-conversation-with-shelley-mcnamaraNour Fakharany
Cross-Laminated Timber Reaches new Heights: Why use CLT in Construction?
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The growth of the world's population has led to an increase in housing and building construction around the globe. Considering that today the construction industry is responsible for 40% of the planet's CO2 emissions, and according to the Chilean Chamber of Construction, by 2035, Chile will need housing for 2.6 million people, it is necessary to guide this sector toward an environmentally friendly alternative. The answer to this challenge can be found in nature itself, where there are various efficient and sustainable construction solutions. Such is the case with wood: a noble and renewable material capable of capturing CO2 and contributing to a better environmental future.
Today, thanks to technological advances, engineered wood or laminated wood, composed of layers of structural wood oriented perpendicularly to each other, has positioned itself as a trending construction material worldwide, and Chile should not be the exception.
https://www.archdaily.com/1006603/cross-laminated-timber-reaches-new-heights-why-use-clt-in-constructionCamila Prieto
Bridging Boundaries: An Interview with Ahmadreza Schricker of ASA North
Based between Tehran, Iran, and New York City, ASA North has emerged as an example of an architectural practice based on malleability and adaptability. Chosen by ArchDaily as part of our 2023 New Practices, ASA North stands at the forefront of melting the boundaries between architecture and art. ArchDaily had the chance to interview Ahmadreza Schricker, its founder delving into the evolution of his life, career, and practice.
Ahmadreza Schricker is an architect whose journey was shaped by his work with Herzog & de Meuron and his time with the well-renowned OMA. His studio ASA North, is well known for its award-winning adaptive reuse of the Argo Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Center, a former distillery that was awarded at the 2020-2022 Aga Khan cycle. It is a testament to the work ASA North does, bridging gaps between past and future, traditional and contemporary. The interview also goes beyond ASA North, looking into its sister company, ASA South. Based in the virtual world, ASA South challenges conventional boundaries and reimagines architectural practice in the digital age.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007005/bridging-boundaries-an-interview-with-ahmadreza-schricker-of-asa-northNour Fakharany
Architecture Guide: 10 Must See Gaudí Buildings in Barcelona
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In this Barcelona guide, we have rounded-up the architecture of probably the best known and most influential architect from the beginning of the century in Spain, Antonio Gaudí. Gaudí spent most of his life in Barcelona and the city boasts the largest concentration of his works in the world. His style is unique, often imitated but never matched.
https://www.archdaily.com/877599/10-must-see-gaudi-buildings-in-barcelonaMiguel Picado
The Second Studio Podcast: Should Architects Sell Floor Plans Online?
The Second Studio (formerly The Midnight Charette) is an explicit podcast about design, architecture, and the everyday. Hosted by Architects David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet, it features different creative professionals in unscripted conversations that allow for thoughtful takes and personal discussions.
A variety of subjects are covered with honesty and humor: some episodes are interviews, while others are tips for fellow designers, reviews of buildings and other projects, or casual explorations of everyday life and design. The Second Studio is also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.
This week David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design discuss whether or not architects should sell their floor plans online. The two cover the financial benefits of selling plans, making good floor plans accessible to more people, the downsides of selling partial services, quality concerns, the future of the profession, prioritizing speed and efficiency in design, why architects are often not used on projects, and more.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007008/the-second-studio-podcast-should-architects-sell-floor-plans-onlineThe Second Studio Podcast
How Far Should Your Sofa Be From The TV?
There are a series of multiple factors to take into account when deciding where to place a TV, including —but not limited to— the dimensions of both the furniture and the TV, image resolution, height, design, and so on.
In this article, we share some recommendations to achieve the comfort and well-being of the users avoiding possible problems of visual fatigue or unfortunate body postures.
https://www.archdaily.com/967899/how-far-should-your-sofa-be-from-the-tvAgustina Iñiguez
ArchDaily New Practices 2024 Open for Nominations
For the fourth consecutive year ArchDaily is running a global survey to detect and showcase those who are taking architecture in a new direction: the ArchDaily New Practices 2024 ranking. Our team is already surveying and curating through hundreds of practices from around the world, of all types and sizes: architects, architecture offices, designers, build-tech startups, curators, exhibition designers, collectives, interior designers, software developers, material scientists, new media platforms, think tanks, entrepreneurs, critical writers, activists, performers, media designers, landscape architects, and anyone whose work is in an early or developed stage, on a clear decisive path to reshape architecture. For this call, new doesn’t necessarily mean just young, but innovative, fresh and forward-thinking.
From build-tech startups that are scaling architecture to achieve a low carbon economy, 3d printing on the moon, creating practical experiments on reassembly, to activists who visualize social challenges in the worldwide stage, or researchers literally going down the rabbit hole to unearth the impact of climate crisis.
We invite you to help us widen our global perspective by nominating practices that have the potential to be part of the ArchDaily New Practices 2024 ranking, using the form below. To have a better idea on what we are looking for, you can see the winners of 2020, 2021, 2023.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007227/archdaily-new-practices-2024-open-for-nominationsDavid Basulto
Rethinking the Roles of Small-Scale Informal Wood Industries in Tropical Africa
Tropical Africa boasts vast forests that cover 3.6 million square kilometers of land in West, East, and Central Africa. These forests provide valuable timber resources that significantly impact sectors, such as the furniture, fuel, and paper industries. However, interestingly, timber is seemingly absent in the contemporary architecture of the countries in this region. While architectural taste plays a role, the main reasons for this absence can be attributed to the wood industries' inability to meet the requirements of availability, affordability, aesthetic appeal, durability, and climatic and structural performance of timber. The wood industry in tropical Africa is mainly composed of informal and small-scale operations, focused primarily on sawing logs rather than refining wood for architectural or structural purposes. Despite this, the large number of informal enterprises in the region presents an opportunity to reshape the wood industry and utilize the local forestry resources to construct timber buildings.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007159/rethinking-the-roles-of-small-scale-informal-wood-industries-in-tropical-africaPaul Yakubu
An Architect’s Guide to Copenhagen: Anders Lendager and the Essence of the Sustainable City
Copenhagen was founded in the 12th century and has undergone numerous transformations to establish itself as an urban benchmark of the 21st century. Its dynamic urban environment stands as an exemplar of architecture's importance and crucial role in shaping a sustainable future for cities. Confronting global challenges like mobility, urban development, and eco-friendly construction, the city is an inspiring model. This is why in 2023, the Danish city was named the World Architecture Capital by UNESCO-IUA, positioning Copenhagen as a platform for discussions on climate, sustainable solutions, and livability.
In this context, Danish architects such as Anders Lendager have been asked about their perception and interaction with their favorite places in the city, providing valuable insight into what makes Copenhagen unique. Lendager, the CEO and founder of Lendager Group, has been the designer behind eco-village projects, the Danish Pavilion in Milan, and a skyscraper built from recycled materials. Collectively, these projects showcase the capacity to translate the core principles of sustainable cities into tangible components, prioritizing human well-being and fostering circular economy models.
https://www.archdaily.com/1006184/an-architects-guide-to-copenhagen-anders-lendager-and-the-essence-of-the-sustainable-cityEnrique Tovar
MoMA's “Emerging Ecologies” Exhibition Explores the Ecolution of Environmental Architecture
The Museum of Modern Art New York has announced the opening of an exhibition focused on the first realized and unrealized projects that address ecological and environmental concerns. Featuring works by architects who practiced mainly in the United States from the 1930s through the 1990s, the exhibition titled “Emerging Ecologies: Architecture and the Rise of Environmentalism” is on view from September 17, 2023, through January 20, 2024. The over 150 works showcased reveal the rise of the environmental movement through the lens of architectural practice and thought.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007224/momas-emerging-ecologies-exhibition-explores-the-ecolution-of-environmental-architectureMaria-Cristina Florian
Mario Cucinella Architects Reveals Design for Italian Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025
Mario Cucinella Architects has just revealed the design of the Italian Pavilion for Expo Osaka 2025. Envisioned as a dynamic entity, the pavilion aims to foster knowledge and innovation through the interplay of different generations and cultures. It will serve as a collaborative repository of Italian expertise, encompassing artistic, scientific, entrepreneurial, and social experiments. The display is designed around Italy's cultural treasures and aims to highlight, deconstruct, and then reinterpret them in a contemporary manner.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007212/mario-cucinella-architects-celebrates-italian-expertise-at-expo-2025-osakaNour Fakharany
More than Parking lots: Can Parking Facilities Provide new Spaces to Cities?
While most cities around the world seek to implement more sustainable and environmentally friendly modes of transportation, encouraging new urban mobility habits in their residents, the use of automobiles still persists, occupying significant parking spaces in urban centers. Finding a way to integrate these uses, provide new spaces for their citizens, and leverage their facilities for ecological, productive, and other purposes is the challenge faced by many professionals in architecture and urban planning.
https://www.archdaily.com/1006870/more-than-parking-lots-can-parking-facilities-provide-new-spaces-to-citiesAgustina Iñiguez
Money and the Conundrum of Architects Who Don’t Build
This article was originally published on Common Edge. If you’ve been in the profession of architecture long enough, you come to know a certain rarified subset of fellow professionals: Those who call themselves “architects,” who have a degree, and who may even be licensed and members of the AIA, but who do not practice architecture. They simply like being an “architect.”
https://www.archdaily.com/1007211/money-and-the-conundrum-of-architects-who-dont-buildDuo Dickinson
Redrawing Boundaries: The Three Principles of Minimalist Windows
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In the context of WWI and to address the massive housing shortage resulting from the conflict, the Dom-Ino modular structure, one of the most significant contributions of functionalism and designed by the Swiss designers Le Corbusier and Max Dubois, established concrete premises for a new vision of a lightweight structural model that optimizes the construction process. Thanks to the use of a reinforced concrete slab and column system, the Dom-Ino structure allowed for the flexible arrangement of elements in the floor plan and freed the facade from the limitations imposed by load-bearing walls.
This condition prompted the creation of architectural designs that not only integrated windows as functional elements but also as compositional. Thanks to technological innovations, windows with slender framings and wider openings were achieved, as exemplified in works such as Villa Savoye and Farnsworth House. While these proposals redefined the aesthetics of architecture, the technological limitations of the time presented challenges. Nowadays, the continuous development of windows with improved technical characteristics has led to the concept of the minimalist window, which has inspired three fundamental principles derived from this concept, conceived by Vitrocsa. These principles —transparency, functional variations, and advanced mechanisms— incorporate technological innovations while simultaneously blurring spatial boundaries. Each of them plays a key role in the design of spaces and together they significantly redefine the aesthetics of buildings and interiors.
https://www.archdaily.com/1006485/redrawing-boundaries-the-three-principles-of-minimalist-windowsEnrique Tovar
From Tradition to Innovation: How Modern Technologies are Transforming the Potential of Wood
Wood, one of the oldest building materials, has been continuously reinvented throughout history. As contemporary architecture becomes more and more concerned with sustainability and environmental responsibility, the popularity of the material has also increased. As trees absorb carbon dioxide during their growth, their wood stores that carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere. The materials derived from wood are thus associated with less greenhouse gas emissions on the condition of trees being harvested from sustainably managed forests. But in order to capture the full potential of this material, a plethora of techniques and modifications have evolved with the purpose of adapting and customizing wood’s characteristics to the demands of modern design and construction. From thermal modification to engineered wood or versatile particle boards, these methods not only enhance wood’s suitability for the rigors of contemporary architecture but also expand the usability of this sustainable material to an unprecedented scale.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007164/from-tradition-to-innovation-how-modern-technologies-are-transforming-the-potential-of-woodMaria-Cristina Florian
Architects vs. AI: Who Will Design the Future?
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to shape the future of architecture. As the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry rapidly evolves, AI matches the momentum. With these simultaneous evolutions, a burning question arises: will architects continue to be the primary creators of our built environment, or will AI dominate?
According to AIA, “90 percent of [architecture] firms anticipate they will be using or increasing usage of AI over the next three years.” This futuristic technology is now more than a subplot of science fiction, offering unprecedented capabilities for optimizing design and automating tasks. However, can the depth of an architect’s creativity and context outweigh machines?
https://www.archdaily.com/1006681/architects-vs-ai-who-will-design-the-futureRene Submissions
Rome Architecture City Guide: 30 Sites that Celebrate the City's Rich Culture and History
Spanning over 3 millennia with one of the highest concentrations of architecture in the world, Rome is a transcendental influence on the world's culture. Often called “The Eternal City,” it developed as the capital and seat of power of the Roman Empire, regarded by many as the first Imperial city and among the first ancient metropolises. As a city continuously occupied for over 28 centuries, Rome has maintained its countless layers of history to become a perfect depiction of old meets new. Rich in history, academia, and art, the Italian capital is now one of the most visited cities in the world.
Rome's historic center, which stretches from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia and from the east bank of the Tiber up to Piazza di Spagna, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with its historical significance, the presence of renowned contemporary architects and designers in the city has made Rome an influential design destination. In 2019, it was the 14th most visited city in the world, welcoming over 8.6 million tourists seeking to discover the ways in which the history of the Ancient Romans blends with contemporary life, making it the third most visited city in Europe and the most popular tourist destination in Italy.
https://www.archdaily.com/981140/rome-architecture-city-guide-30-sites-that-celebrate-the-citys-rich-culture-and-historyDima Stouhi
ASA North Presents "Remembrance of Things Present" Exhibition in Tehran, Iran
In 2020, Ahmadreza Schricker (ASA North) completed the Argo Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Center design. Previously a 1920s beer distillery in the heart of Tehran, it has now been converted into a contemporary art center and is now the new home of the Pejman Foundation. ASA North is a studio based in Tehran that was chosen by ArchDaily as part of the 2023 New Practices. ArchDaily selects those practicing within the broadest definition of architecture and its exercise to share their innovative, fresh, and forward-thinking mission with the community. In the summer of 2023, the foundation hosted an exhibition featuring selected works from ASA North while documenting the transformation of the Argo Factory. The exhibition explored the studio’s practice, developing a commentary on their projects and their self-awareness.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007156/asa-north-presents-remembrance-of-things-present-exhibition-in-tehran-iranNour Fakharany
Energy Efficiency Now Offers a Technical Justification for Colors
Colors have played an essential role in the history of modern architecture - from Le Corbusier's theory of polychromy to the aesthetic conceptions of the Bauhaus. However, we find ourselves at the beginning of an era where the interpretation and implementation of colors in architecture are undergoing a transformation based on their impact on the built environment.
Throughout the month, we conducted an open call to listen and learn from our readers, exploring their predictions and thoughts related to the future of colors in architecture. After reviewing an immense number of comments and opinions, it was surprising to discover commonalities regarding the importance of considering energy efficiency in color choices. Check out the main viewpoints below.
https://www.archdaily.com/1006605/energy-efficiency-now-offers-a-technical-justification-for-colorsFabian Dejtiar
Textures, Skyscrapers, and Urban Landscapes: When Anime Meets Architecture
World War II left a profound influence on the evolution of society, introducing significant changes in the fields of urban planning and architecture. During the 1930s, the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne (CIAM) promoted modernism on an international scale. After the war, this architectural movement became firmly established as the dominant one, driven by the imperative of reconstruction and technological advancements. Influential figures like Le Corbusier and Alvar Aalto spearheaded this movement.
In 1959, the same year as the final CIAM meeting, Japanese architects like Kenzō Tange, Kishō Kurokawa —the designer of the Nakagin Capsule Tower—, and Kiyonori Kikutake began to explore new approaches to urban design and architecture, known as the Metabolist movement. This exploration was particularly significant in the context of Tokyo's rapid repopulation after the war and the scarcity of resources for reconstruction. Innovative concepts such as Marine City, The City in the Air, and the 1960 plan for Tokyo emerged, which proposed the city as a constantly evolving organism and emphasized the relationship between humans and their built environment. These ideas shaped the concept of "megacities" and reflected Japan's creative response to its challenging postwar situation.
https://www.archdaily.com/1007021/textures-skyscrapers-and-urban-landscapes-when-anime-meets-architectureEnrique Tovar
Embodied Carbon in Real Estate: The Hidden Contributor to Climate Change
The window for solving climate change is narrowing; any solution must include embodied carbon. The Sixth Assessment Report published by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) concludes that the world can emit just 500 gigatonnes more of carbon dioxide, starting in January 2020, if we want a 50 percent chance of staying below 1.5 degrees. In 2021 alone, the world emitted about 36.3 gigatonnes of carbon, the highest amount ever recorded. We’re on track to blow through our carbon budget in the next several years. To quote the IPCC directly: “The choices and actions implemented in this decade will have impacts now and for thousands of years (high confidence).”
https://www.archdaily.com/1007157/to-solve-climate-change-the-real-estate-industry-must-address-embodied-carbon-and-legislation-is-here-to-drive-actionAnneli Tostar
A Maximum Sliding Window: Redefining Transparency and Aesthetics in Architecture
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When an architect conceives the opening of a space, the primary objective is to create a frame that enhances the views, optimizes the entry of natural light, and makes the most of the illumination it provides. In this context, we often seek to maximize the proportion of glass, reducing the presence of frames and profiles to a minimum, thus expressing the growing desire for perfect integration between indoor and outdoor environments. To adequately meet this demand, architects and manufacturers are constantly searching for solutions that minimize the visual obstruction caused by structures, pushing the boundaries of what is technically and statically feasible toward minimalist window frames and profiles.
https://www.archdaily.com/1006828/a-maximum-sliding-window-redefining-transparency-and-aesthetics-in-architectureEduardo Souza
Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI: A Research and Preservation Project for Uzbekistan's Architectural Heritage
Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, stands as one of the most populous cities in Central Asia. Situated in the northeastern part of the country, near the border with Kazakhstan, Tashkent has been profoundly shaped and influenced by diverse cultures throughout its history. The most significant transformation of its urban landscape occurred during the Soviet era when the city was rebuilt as a model Soviet city, following the 1966 earthquake that caused substantial damage. During this reconstruction, architects from various regions of the Soviet Union collaborated with local experts, resulting in a unique form of architectural modernism that harmoniously integrated elements of Islamic architecture, indigenous creativity, and cutting-edge engineering achievements of that era. At that time, Tashkent held the esteemed status of a prominent international city in the East.
In an effort to preserve the modernist architecture and heritage in the Uzbek capital, while raising awareness of its importance, the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) has announced its inaugural conference, "Where in the World Is Tashkent", scheduled to take place on October 18-19, 2023, as part of the Tashkent Modernism XX/XXI research and preservation project. The project was initiated and commissioned by ACDF and coordinated by Grace, a Milan-based architecture studio.
https://www.archdaily.com/1006530/preserving-tashkents-unique-modernist-architecture-the-importance-of-heritage-conservationChristele Harrouk
"We Have Abdicated as a Profession Our Responsibility Towards the Planet:" In Conversation with Yasmeen Lari
While attending the 2023 UIA World Congress of Architecture in Copenhagen, ArchDaily had the chance to discuss with Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan’s first female architect and the winner of the 2023 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for Architecture. Yasmeen Lari gained international recognition for her heritage conservation and humanitarian activism efforts, demonstrating the possibilities of practicing architecture within disadvantaged communities. Her innovative and socially conscious approach, a concept known as ‘barefoot social architecture,’ has had a significant impact both in her home country and internationally. By designing for resilient communities, her work also aligns with the intentions behind the UIA World Congress of Architects and the ways in which architecture can contribute to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
https://www.archdaily.com/1007077/we-have-abdicated-as-a-profession-our-responsibility-towards-the-planet-in-conversation-with-yasmeen-lariMaria-Cristina Florian
