Frank Lloyd Wright first came up with the concept of the open-plan office in 1906, in the Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York, United States. The innovative nature of this approach, at the beginning of the 20th century, contrasted with the norm of closed offices and probably stunned those who first used it. Fast-forwarding to the 1950s, the concept of an open-plan office –Bürolandschaft or Office landscape– originated in Germany, with the objective of eliminating spatial hierarchy through shared spaces. The architects strategically designed the office layout to improve communication and teamwork, removing solid barriers and replacing rows of desks with work areas that were organized based on functions and workflows, with a mentality aligned with the precepts of the time, especially related to the European post-war reconstruction effort.
A few years ago, the architects at Studio Bark, in collaboration with Structure Workshop and Cut and Construct, began to develop the idea of a circular kit of parts designed so that anyone with reasonable DIY skills could build their own structure. This is U-Build, a modular system made of wood panels crafted with the precision of a computer-controlled cutting machine (CNC). The panels are delivered to the construction site in a compact box, ready to be assembled, stacked, and screwed to shape the walls, floors, and ceilings. Only a few tools are needed, such as a rubber mallet, a drill, a tape measure, and a level.
While this system allows the construction of various types of buildings, its high level of customization finds particular utility and effectiveness in housing projects of all scales. From a tiny house for a couple opting for simplicity to an off-grid cabin in the woods, a Georgian cottage extension, and a 3-bedroom efficiency home, U-Build has brought extraordinary prefabricated wooden homes to life.
Collaboration challenges happen in any construction project; with so many stakeholders and disciplines needing to be heard, agreeing on something and making it happen can be mired in delays, misalignment, and frustration. For architects, one of the greatest challenges involves dealing with inconsistent or lengthy inter-team workflow processes, overburdened staff and worries over litigation risks. It results in duplications, needless delays, and unclear communications, all of which risk the most important asset any architecture firm has: its reputation.
The term "rede" in Portuguese traditionally conveys the idea of an interweaving of wires. In a contemporary context, it takes on a broader meaning related to connection, collaboration, and integration, whether among ideas, people, or processes. Not coincidentally, these are the core principles of Rede Arquitetos, a collaborative architecture studio founded in 2011 in Fortaleza, Ceará, by architects Bruno Perdigão, Epifanio Almeida, Igor Ribeiro, and Bruno Braga. Presently, the team is led by Braga, Luiz Cattony, and João Torquato, with their main approach emphasizing collective work and valuing encounters over the domination of ideas as a strategy for achieving the best solutions.
Ever since humans first looked up towards the heavens, we’ve wondered what is up there. From 1923 when Edwin Hubble first discovered galaxies beyond our own, our hunger and obsession for knowledge of the cosmos has grown almost as quickly as the universe itself.
As our technology advanced throughout the 20th century, we realized that ‘space’ is, in fact, filled with a huge array of ever more colorful galaxies, gasses, and stars. And the world’s leading product designers were taking note.
Few building materials stand the test of time as well as copper. Unlike other materials that have been replaced over the years –either due to lack of longevity, sustainability issues, or simple aesthetic preferences– copper can continue to be present in a huge variety of applications and its appeal has evolved over the years. Whether in façades and key building elements or in detailing and accessories, it continues to be a solid favorite for architects, designers and the public in general.
The terms resiliency and sustainability, although similar in meaning, refer to different design approaches in the context of architecture and cities. Sustainability involves the preservation of natural resources to uphold ecological equilibrium, while resiliency entails the ability to rebound, adapt, and persist in moments of adversity. These concepts greatly influence and complement each other, especially in cases of designing disaster-resilient buildings. Conventional design processes relating to resilient infrastructure have been based on principles of structural robustness and integrity as a measure against anticipated natural disasters. However, sustainable resiliency points at the opportunity of reinforcing buildings by embedding them in biological and ecological systems.
‘Carbon2Business’ utilization project at Lägerdorf cement plant, Germany. Image Courtesy of Holcim
We live in an increasingly urbanized world. Housing, hospitals, schools, and roads –the foundations of everyday life– require strong, durable materials. The AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry therefore relies heavily on cement, the main component in concrete, to build these elements. Yet for architects, the versatility and resistance of concrete don’t always go hand in hand with sustainability credentials.
Amid our ongoing battle against climate change, the need for authentic decarbonization strategies has never been more urgent. Professions, companies, and organizations worldwide face mounting pressure to integrate sustainable practices into their operations, particularly in response to recent climate challenges. The realm of architecture and urban planning is no exception. Phrases such as "sustainable architecture" and "green architecture" have gained widespread popularity, accompanied by various certifications, products, and advertising, all promising transformative advancements in the field that should align with our global aspirations for a sustainable future.
However, amidst this growing environmental awareness, another phenomenon has emerged: greenwashing. It refers to practices adopted by various sectors, especially those related to marketing strategies that present initiatives that convey a false impression or provide misleading information about how a company's products or projects are more environmentally friendly than they are when analyzed from a more critical and careful perspective.
In the dynamic landscape of contemporary urban development, public architecture is an essential force in reshaping cities. In fact, this element of urban regeneration can revitalize economies and reactivate surrounding commercial schemes. In this transformative era, cities across China have evolved into financial hubs, attracting world-renowned firms and architects who are redefining these skylines. In turn, these metropolises become embodiments of future innovation and lifestyle.
China's cities have become centers of modernity as a result of its explosive prominence in the world economy. These cities have become magnets for architectural marvels that go beyond simple functionality, from Shanghai's ceaseless reinvention to Beijing's cultural renaissance and Shenzhen's undeniable emergence as a global center in technology, research, manufacturing, business, economics, finance, tourism, and transportation, complete with the Port of Shenzhen, the world's fourth busiest container port. Overall, these cities are a crucial gateway in understanding the developing dynamics in metropolitan environments.
Brick beams have been widely used in construction due to their strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal. By embedding steel reinforcing bars into a series of bricks arranged in a specific pattern, these elements form horizontal load-bearing structures that distribute the weight and forces that act on a building. However, it is difficult to find brick beams with excessively large spans, in order to avoid long-term structural problems. Instead, they mostly come in the form of simple lintels, which can be easier to handle.
With a length of 16.2 meters and an impressive clear span of 15.8 meters, CEBRA architects have collaborated with the Randers Tegl group, the largest brick supplier in Scandinavia, to complete the construction of probably the longest brick beam to date. This exterior beam is accompanied by a 13-meter-span interior "sister" beam and is located above the main entrance to the Danish Crown's new headquarters in Randers, Denmark, extending freely between two of the building's wings. The longest beam is made up of almost 4,200 bricks – its height is made up of 25 rows of bricks, equivalent to 1.6 meters, and its edge consists of 4 bricks.
Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge / Atelier O'Reilly. Photo: Jean Dallazem
The architecture of indigenous peoples is deeply rooted in their surroundings, in the sense that materials are locally sourced and empirically tested, to discover the construction techniques and dwellings that best respond to the values of the community and their understanding of housing. The situation in the Amazon is no different. Many different groups of people have settled on the land and water, developing many unique building skills that attract a lot of architects working in these regions. As a result, there is an exchange of knowledge, combining native cultures and novel architecture.
“New ideas must use old buildings,” said Jane Jacobs in her seminal book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, championing the reuse of existing building stock as a means to catalyze positive change and foster diverse urban environments. Inserting new activities within an existing framework is increasingly becoming a defining aspect of contemporary architecture, as the need for sustainable alternatives to building anew turns more urgent. From an urban perspective, adaptive reuse is a valuable strategy for revitalizing post-industrial cities, creating density and mitigating urban sprawl, or helping shrinking cities redefine their urban fabric.
Rammed earth is one of the oldest methods of constructing walls and still holds great potential for modern earth construction. One aspect of this potential is the gift of its colors and layers, which become visible as the formworks are removed, revealing a layered character. As a process that involves the layer-by-layer compression of gravel, sand, silt, and clay, its resulting appearance is a horizontal stratification of earth tones, material content, and curing procedures. This colorful appearance of rammed earth walls can be controlled and explored through patterns, texture, pigmentation, and natural clay colors, offering an opportunity to push its boundaries within architecture.
UN Headquarters in New York. Photo by the blowup, via Unsplash
In 1945, the declaration of the end of World War II brought a wave of euphoria to the streets, and optimism permeated the atmosphere with the promise of brighter days. Inspired by this newfound hope, the United Nations Organization (UN) was established in the same year. The vibrant city of New York was chosen as the headquarters location, and an international team of carefully selected and invited architects was tasked with conceiving the project.
For this ambitious and truly international project, eleven renowned architects were brought together from various corners of the world. These architects, often known for their inflated egos, a common trait in their profession, were accustomed to exercising full control over their architectural designs and even their respective countries. They had to coexist in the same space and collaborate on a single project. The successful collaboration on this project would be a compelling demonstration of the possibility of achieving world peace.
It has been a bull market for downbeat urban reporting since the pandemic arrived in town. And it isn’t hard to see why. In 2020, central U.S. cities went from “comeback” success stories to ghost towns; transit lost nearly all ridership; tens of thousands of stores and restaurants shuttered; and many of the affluent decamped to the suburbs and distant Zoom towns.
For an industry that contributes 6 per cent to the global GDP, the fainting voice of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is something to ponder. The global AEC market was reported at USD 8.9 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 16.5 billion by 2030. However, pessimism is rampant across the industry. Professionals oblivious of their options and the industry's trajectory are in a vicious cycle where the lack of access to awareness and opportunities limits their growth. While statistics forecast an optimistic prophecy, there’s a flip side to it.
Home is not just a physical structure defined by its materials and spatial characteristics. It is the result of everyday habits, routines, and fond memories blending into the very essence of the place through its walls, textures, and aromas. This is why a true home cannot be instantly created; it demands time, and a sense of continuity, as it reflects the ongoing adaptation of both the family and the individual within that space.
With the high population density of cities and voracious appetite of the market for every square meter, it is not uncommon for urban vegetation to be forgotten. For this reason, forests, vegetable gardens, and vertical gardens have aroused much interest and figured into a variety of different innovative proposals. Using the vertical plane to maintain plants in an urban setting is a coherent and common-sense solution, especially when there is little possibility of bringing green to the level of the people on the streets.
museum of a rainforest. Image Courtesy of Ralph Appelbaum Associates
This article is the sixth in a series focusing on the Architecture of the Metaverse. ArchDaily has collaborated with John Marx, AIA, the founding design principal and Chief Artistic Officer of Form4 Architecture, to bring you monthly articles that seek to define the Metaverse, convey the potential of this new realm as well as understand its constraints.
Artificial Intelligence is at the genesis of creating fundamental changes in the way we design and construct buildings and cities. Some of these changes will be abrupt and disruptive to normative practice. Others will take more time to feel the effect of this new technology, but the change will be pervasive. When combined with the Metaverse, AI will also offer vast opportunities for the profession to expand and grow. The kinds of spaces and environments we design in the Metaverse will be, in some aspects, very different from what we currently design in the physical world alone. AI evolves every day, and we are compelled to learn while we innovate. AI has proven it is a powerful tool to assist designers and offers the potential to challenge us to alter our design process. Combining AI with narrative design is one of those challenges.
Humanity has become obsessed with breaking its limits, creating new records only to break them again and again. In fact, our cities’ skylines have always been defined by those in power during every period in history. At one point churches left their mark, followed by public institutions and in the last few decades, it's commercial skyscrapers that continue to stretch taller and taller.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has developed its own system for classifying tall buildings, stating that the Burj Khalifa (828 m.) is the world’s tallest building right now. Read on for the 25 tallest buildings in the world today.
The city of Mendoza, Argentina, hosted the international event known as the "Feria de América," an industrial and continental exhibition that took place from January to April 1954. To provide a suitable setting for the exhibition, 30 hectares of land were allocated around the perimeter of Lake Parque General San Martín. Here, 93 pavilions and nearly 20 facilities were set up, including the Allegorical Tower, an open-air theater, and bars. The American countries represented with their own pavilions were Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Paraguay. There was also a large pavilion that housed various Latin American countries such as Colombia, Cuba, Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico, along with stands for Chilean and local Mendoza-based companies and provincial pavilions for Mendoza, San Juan, Misiones, La Rioja, Eva Perón (now La Pampa), Juan Domingo Perón (now Chaco), Córdoba, Corrientes, Santa Fe, Tucumán, and Buenos Aires. Additionally, there were stands and premises for various trade chambers (Quiroga, 2012). The fair embodied the government's aspiration to showcase a thriving, prosperous Argentina that was connected to regional countries and at the forefront of industrial development.
https://www.archdaily.com/1008478/modernity-in-mendoza-pavilion-24-at-the-feria-de-america-international-exhibitionPablo F. Bianchi
Recent statistics suggest that if someone lives until they are 80, around 72 of those years will be spent inside buildings. This makes sense if we bear in mind that, when not at home, humans are working, learning or engaging in fun activities mostly in enclosed, built settings. Contemplating current events, however, this number is expected to grow. In an increasingly chaotic and uncertain world, marked by the ongoing effects of climate change and the global pandemic, the desire to stay indoors in a protected, controlled and peaceful environment is stronger than ever. Architects face an important challenge: to create comfortable, productive and healthy interiors with well-regulated parameters, considering factors like indoor air quality, daylighting and biophilic features from the initial stages of design. Of course, this involves choosing materials sensitively and accordingly, whether it be by avoiding certain health-harming components or by integrating non-toxic products that soothe and promote wellness.
Image created using AI under the prompt: An expressive illustration of an urban environment with a lush landscape that exemplifies the decarbonization of architecture. Image via Via DALL.E 2
Architecture encompasses multiple processes, starting with identifying needs and transforming them into habitable structures through thoughtful design. Historically, construction-related processes like resource extraction and end-of-life disposal were often overlooked. However, it is essential to recognize that buildings have a lifecycle with significant impacts on carbon emissions. Emphasizing sustainable practices is vital to minimize our ecological footprint and positively impact the planet.
https://www.archdaily.com/1004300/how-to-reduce-the-carbon-footprint-through-architecture-three-approaches-across-the-building-lifecycleEnrique Tovar
