The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) has appointed Christine Tohmé as the curator for the 18th Istanbul Biennial, which will take place in three phases over three years from 2025 to 2027. According to the Biennial Foundation, this edition was postponed from 2024 by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). This Biennial remains Türkiye's largest international exhibition dedicated to contemporary art, offering a significant platform for artists globally.
On October 24, 2024, the Rogelio Salmona Latin American Architecture Prize award ceremony took place, honoring works that have significantly created meaningful, open, and collective spaces for the public in the region. During the event, held at the Virgilio Barco Public Library auditorium in Bogotá, Colombia, the winners of this prestigious award were announced. This year marked the fourth cycle, titled "Open Spaces/Collective Spaces," with participation from 47 projects.
The jury, composed of international figures such as Sol Camacho (Brazil-Mexico), Nicolás Campodonico (Argentina), Carlos Campuzano (Colombia), and Mauricio Rocha (Mexico), first shortlisted 26 selected works, from which two were awarded the first prize in the Latin America and Colombia categories.
The 2024 European Prize for Urban Public Space has announced the overall winners for the 12th edition: For the General Category, the "Park at the Warsaw Uprising Mound" in Poland by studios topoScape and Archigrest received recognition its ability to honor the site's historical significance; while the Seafront Category prize was given to the "Beach Improvement and Redevelopment of the Harbour Edge" in Porto do Son, Spain, designed by CREUSeCARRASCO and RVR Arquitectos for its careful integration of natural and manmade elements. Selected from a list of 10 finalists, the projects were appreciated for their sensible response to local memory and an understanding of the interplay between various elements that interact with urban life.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that its new David Geffen Galleries designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor will open to the public in April 2026 in Los Angeles, United States, according to LACMA's publication, Unframed. The galleries, whose final design was approved in 2019, represent a significant new phase in LACMA's ongoing campus redevelopment, bringing expanded gallery space and updated facilities to the museum.
In recent weeks, a series of significant architectural developments have been announced, showcasing the varied work of renowned firms from around the globe. These projects, revealed between late September and October 2024, emphasize the transformative potential of architectural design in rehabilitating historical structures, revitalizing urban areas, and proposing new facilities to meet the evolving needs of communities. Notable names such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), and Studio Egret West are among those leading ambitious projects, from the waterfront residences on Qetaifan Island in Qatar to the reimagining of London's Earls Court. This collection of recent announcements provides a glimpse into the ongoing evolution of urban landscapes and community-centric architecture.
Snøhetta has won an international competition for the design of the new stations for the city cable car in Koblenz, Germany. Given that the location is within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the project necessitates a sensitive and respectful approach to the historical context. The proposed stations are designed as contemporary architectural statements that harmonize with the existing heritage, blending into their surroundings.
The Western Australian Government has announced the upcoming renovation of the Perth Concert Hall, a 51-year-old heritage-listed venue known for its significant role in the city's cultural landscape. Originally designed by architects Jeffrey Howlett and Don Bailey, the concert hall will undergo extensive upgrades led by OMA's Australian office in collaboration with Perth-based WITH Architecture Studio. The project is set to begin in early 2025, aiming to provide a modern home for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) and improve visitor facilities through new public spaces, upgraded amenities, and improved seating.
WXCA Architectural Design Studio has unveiled its design for a new museum aiming to honor the 1918-1919 patriotic uprising and victory of the people of Greater Poland. Situated near the historic St. Adalbert's Hill, home to an 800-year-old church, the museum is set to become a significant cultural and historical site. In addition to its preservation of history, the museum aims to offer the people of Poznań a contemporary public space to highlight this collective heritage. WXCA architects won the 2019 competition for the museum design and urban concept. The project began construction in early 2024 and is expected to open to the public in 2026.
The Monaco Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka explores the fusion of Mediterranean and Japanese landscapes, creating a unique cultural dialogue through architecture and landscape design. The pavilion's design, centered around a harmonious blend of Mediterranean and Japanese garden elements, embodies Monaco's global initiatives and its commitment to environmental stewardship. Reflecting the Expo's theme, "Take Care of Wonder," the pavilion invites visitors to experience a captivating and serene environment that celebrates both nature and culture.
Snøhetta has revealed its design for a new building dedicated to a well-loved institution, the Omaha Children's Museum. Located just a few blocks from the Kiewit Luminarium and overlooking the river, this new facility is designed following best practices in early child development, providing exhibits and programming aimed at fostering joy, curiosity, and connection for young children and their caregivers.
Chapman Taylor's Saadiyat Beach District Residences project has moved to the construction phase, marking a new development within Saadiyat Island's expanding cultural and residential landscape. This waterfront project, part of the broader Saadiyat Island masterplan for Nael & Bin Harmel, situated near Abu Dhabi's urban center, will introduce a range of residential options, including apartments, townhouses, and villas.
Saadiyat Island, planned by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, is a cultural and residential development covering 27 square kilometers. Designed to support a community of over 150,000, it combines urban spaces with natural landscapes, hosting cultural institutions such as Ateliers Jean Nouvel's Louvre Abu Dhabi, which presents an international art collection, and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Other upcoming projects include the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners and anticipated to open to the public in 2025, offering insight into the UAE's cultural heritage, and the Mecanoo-designed Natural History Museum, dedicated to global biodiversity, also expected to be completed by 2025.
Over 5 years after a devastating fire threatened to destroy Paris' most famous cathedral, Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen to the public on December 8, 2024. The heritage building has been undergoing an extensive and, at times, controversial restoration process aiming to rebuild its timber roof and reconstruct the collapsed spire, a 19th-century addition to the gothic cathedral designed by French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's design. In preparation for the grand reopening, France's culture minister, Rachida Dati, has proposed introducing a €5 entrance fee to contribute to a fund aimed at protecting the country's historical churches and monuments.
Iceland has announced its National Pavilion for the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, presenting Lavaforming, a project led by architect Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, founder of s.ap architects. This pavilion, commissioned by Iceland Design and Architecture, will showcase an innovative approach to creating sustainable building materials from controlled lava flows.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) have announced plans to redevelop the 95th and 96th floors of the iconic 875 N. Michigan Avenue, formally named the John Hancock Center. The building, originally designed by SOM in 1967 and completed in 1970, is recognized as the world's first mixed-use skyscraper, having become a recognizable feature of Chicago's skyline. The redesign endeavor aims to reimagine the two floors, measuring 30,000 square feet, into an observation deck and an attractive destination in the city.
The Indonesia Pavilion at Expo 2025, Osaka, showcases a combination of tradition and forward-looking vision, aligned with the Expo's theme, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," and symbolizes the philosophy of "Diversity in Unity." Drawing inspiration from Indonesia's rich maritime history, the pavilion's structure takes the form of a stylized boat hull, representing progress and resilience. The rising shape of the design reflects Indonesia's optimistic outlook—moving forward, facing challenges with determination, and striving to achieve ambitious goals.
The Tamayouz Excellence Award has announced George Arbid, Lebanese architect and educator, and the founding director of Beirut's Arab Center for Architecture, as the recipient of the prestigious Mohamed Makiya Prize for Architecture 2024. Also known as the Middle Eastern Architectural Personality of the Year Award, this accolade honors Arbid's efforts in documenting, researching, and advocating for the modern architectural heritage of the Arab region. The Mohamed Makiya Prize, established in 2014 to honor the eminent Iraqi architect Dr. Mohamed Saleh Makiya, celebrates those who have profoundly influenced architecture and the built environment across the region.
In an interview with Louisiana Channel, Liz Diller, co-founder of the renowned architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, reflects on her unconventional journey into architecture and her innovative approach to design. Starting her career with aspirations of being an artist, Diller never initially intended to become an architect. Her artistic background, which included painting, sculpture, and filmmaking, continues to influence her work today. What drew her into architecture was a combination of curiosity and practicality, driven in part by concerns about the viability of a career in the arts.
The mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, along with the Future of Fifth Partnership, announced plans to transform Fifth Avenue, between Bryant Park and Central Park, into a pedestrian-centered boulevard. The project includes expanding sidewalks by 46%, reducing traffic lanes, improving pedestrian safety with shorter crosswalks, and adding greenery and lighting. The initiative begun with the Future of Fifth public-private partnership, which selected Arcadis, Sam Schwartz Engineering, and Field Operations to lead the design and study, and schematic design, scheduled to be completed by summer 2025.
