In the south of France, a 40-minute drive east of Montpellier, lies the otherworldly resort town of La Grande Motte. Named after a nearby sand dune, the city is characterized by futuristic, pyramid-shaped apartment blocks in various relief forms, adorned with diverse vegetation including pines, planes, olives, poplars, and cypresses. Artists Charly Broyez and Laurent Kronental describe this unique character as "a fairy-tale vision of a land emerging from the uncharted territories of our psyche, loaded with memories, images, sounds, colors, history." Through their meticulous images, they reveal the city's distinctive architecture.
Showering is one of the most physically sensational rituals we commit to on a daily basis—often, when time allows, even multiple times between morning and night. It represents the transformative power of water on the body, offering a cascade of bliss and well-being. It is elemental as much as it is routine and purification. The new Serenity Sky designs from Dornbracht have been developed with a focus on elevating the rainshower experience, maximizing every aspect of it, while also incorporating nuance and options for each user. The new product takes one of the simplest concepts integral to our lives and enhances it with a personalized touch.
https://www.archdaily.com/1022770/follow-your-bliss-the-serenity-of-rainshower-experienceMark C. O'Flaherty
Every innovation brings with it frictions, disruptions, and, above all, learnings. In the construction industry—a sector historically resistant to change—new construction systems are often met with some skepticism, requiring careful analysis of the challenges that arise. The wood frame system, widely adopted in countries such as the United States, Japan, and Germany, has yet to gain significant popularity in Brazil due to factors that keep the sector labor-intensive and strongly tied to conventional masonry and concrete methods.
However, with the decreasing availability of labor and new demands for efficiency and sustainability, the construction sector has gradually begun to explore innovative alternatives. In this context, the Parkside Carvoeira building in Florianópolis stands out as a landmark of innovation, being the tallest wood frame building in Brazil. Developed in partnership with Desterro Arquitetos, Parkside, and the local construction company Tecverde, this pioneering project adopts the system as a sustainable and efficient solution to meet the needs of contemporary construction in the country.
Located on an estuary of Prien Lake, straddling the Louisiana/Texas border, Pelican House exudes an elevated cabin aesthetic. Clad in Western red cedar and embellished with Texas Lueder limestone columns, broad overhangs, and exposed wood beams, it's a stunning bayou home anchored by glass walls that connect it to the surrounding landscape – and keep it safe when Mother Nature rages.
"It's a very picturesque location, but as you would imagine, it's also a very stormy one," says architect Winn Wittman, who designed the home for indoor-outdoor living in the Gulf Coast climate. Embraced and hammered by nature, Pelican House has withstood four hurricanes, both during and after construction. "The only evidence of the hurricanes is that the wood, which was initially smooth, now has a sandblasted appearance," Wittman says.
The middle of the Twentieth Century saw the independence of most countries on the African continent. Those euphoric times brought forward-looking sentiments and a wish to break with the past. As an architectural movement, Modernism was ideal for the day, and newly independent countries had extensive building programs to assert themselves as fully functioning nations.
Hotels are one type of building that illustrates the complex architectural and political history of the times. Some were built specifically to host international delegations, others to boost tourism, while some were built as strong leaders' wishes. Although a marginal building type, several hotels across Africa stand as physical records of important parts of their respective country's history. Following an exploration of the histories of West Africa's Modernist Hotels, this second article turns to East Africa to uncover the ways in which this understated typology relates to larger histories of independence and national identity.
Architecture holds power beyond the creation of buildings - it is a practice that shapes how people live, interact, and thrive within their communities. Architecture can also be a tool for social innovation. Through an understanding of human-centered processes, participatory design, and social sciences, practitioners can address societal challenges such as loneliness, inequality, and public health to equip spaces as vehicles for social equity and engagement. Architecture's role in shaping the future of communities is a direct response to human needs and activated social change.
Every year, design competitions unwittingly push the creative envelope, setting new benchmarks for architects and designers worldwide. These contests don't just celebrate innovation—they fuel it, inspiring the next wave of boundary-breaking projects. Thanks to such platforms, we get to witness the extraordinary fusion of beauty, ingenuity, and craftsmanship that ripples through the creative industry.
The German Design Council has certainly joined the fray, recently revealing the winners of the prestigious ICONIC AWARDS 2024: Innovative Architecture—and the results were nothing short of spectacular. This coveted competition honors the full spectrum of architectural and creative disciplines, from visionary spatial concepts and groundbreaking building projects to cutting-edge product design, remarkable brand communication, and inventive uses of materials.
With the heightening of ecological and social crises all around the world, architects have had to re-evaluate their role, impact, and design approach. As the "new needs" of people arise, new architectural processes must be explored to answer them. However, this still comes with much resistance from the standing practices and push for financial gain that often makes it difficult to implement more comprehensive solutions. These notions led the CCA (Canadian Center for Architecture) to launch their new 3-part film and exhibit series called " Groundwork", curated by the associate director, Francesco Garutti. Through this project, the CCA selected and followed three renowned contemporary architects/practices as they developed their concepts and field research, which allowed them to engage respectfully with their site and residing communities. It's an up close and personal look into what motivates the selected architects to examine alternative ways of designing and the challenges they go through as the three parallel stories unfold.
The first exhibit opening and movie screening was held in May 2024, followed by an in-conversation event with the program curator and architect, where the question of "What is architecture today" was discussed. The exhibit and its many showcased elements, channels visitors along to the first site exploration with DnA's Xu Tiantian as she ventures "Into the Island" of Meizhou, China, in the summer of 2022.
Our contemporary society has been witnessing a surge in skyscraper construction in urban centers worldwide for various reasons—including engineering advancements, increased urban density, space constraints, and, arguably, a competitive drive for building the tallest structures. The allure of all-glass facades and the pursuit of curtain walls with larger panes of continuous glass have often come at the cost of functionality.
In these towers, operable windows are sacrificed for aesthetics and expansive views, with a central core layout that maximizes 360-degree views while creating architectural "solar heat-gain monsters." Without natural or cross ventilation, these glass skyscrapers trap significant heat from solar radiation within habitable spaces, relying almost exclusively on mechanical HVAC systems to cool these spaces. This raises the question: is passive ventilation strategy becoming obsolete in high-rise design, or can operable systems be integrated effectively into our high-tech towers?
When designing and lighting a space, is the goal to fulfill a specific requirement or to be creative? Both perspectives hold merit; however, a unifying principle should always prevail: people must remain at the center of everything we do. Today, it is well understood that our environment significantly influences our well-being, affecting mood and performance, even in challenging contexts such as outer space. While this standpoint has encompassed anthropometric and biological aspects, new approaches are expanding design beyond the tangible. Lighting is now used to shape atmospheres that resonate deeply with our emotions.
https://www.archdaily.com/1022444/shaping-atmospheres-with-lighting-a-human-centered-approach-to-emotional-designEnrique Tovar
Community Development Center in Tapachula / Laboratorio de Acupuntura Urbana. Image
How do community centers emerge? Why do they often represent a need for the appropriation and development of society? In the pursuit of improving the quality of life in the most vulnerable communities, community centers present themselves as an alternative capable of providing healthcare, educational, cultural, and recreational services, along with spaces that contribute to the present and future development of communities. In Mexico, numerous community centers are created and supported by government institutions, civil foundations, or private companies, as well as co-management initiatives that aim to integrate children, youth, adults, and older adults into spaces for gathering, socializing, and recreation, where they can engage in activities from learning to developing individual and collective skills.
Designing for children is certainly not child's play. While adults lead the design process, the end-users are often children, as seen in kindergartens, schools, and parks. Architects have the responsibility to create built environments that provide children with opportunities to play, explore, and learn, even in today's digital age.
The relationship between art and humanity dates back to the origins of civilization. Museums have become spaces where vast collections of art and artifacts narrate the history of time, humankind, cities, and countless stories about cultures and societies. Over the years, the museum's role has evolved, taking on different forms and scales, including the modern-day art gallery. The importance of art and culture in contemporary cities and neighborhoods is undeniable. However, galleries serve multiple roles in integrating art and culture into daily life. Why are these spaces valuable to communities? How do they support emerging artists? How can galleries revitalize neighborhoods?
Can you imagine a learning experience where traditional architectural knowledge merges seamlessly with gaming, AI, simulation, and augmented reality (AR)? This is exactly what SCI-Arc's MA2 curriculum offers. This innovative blend not only equips students with essential skills in traditional design, theory, and practice, but also provides them with the tools to delve into cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping the design industry.
At the turn of the millennium, the world was gripped by the looming threat of the Y2K bug, a potential failure of computerized systems that could disrupt everything from banking to aviation. As midnight approached on December 31, 1999, people withdrew their savings, major corporations issued warnings, and governments scrambled to prevent public hysteria. But as the sun rose on January 1, 2000, the feared bug had no material impact, and the crisis faded as quickly as it had emerged. However, this era left its mark in unexpected places — particularly in architecture. Amid the anxiety surrounding digital technology, one of the most iconic concert halls of our time, Casa da Música in Porto, was born. Designed by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), its origins can be traced to a much smaller project: the Y2K House. What began as an exploration of private domesticity during the digital scare evolved into a grand public structure — an architectural transition from home to a performance hall.
Standing out among the array of cultural programs, the opera and theater typology is often understood as encompassing the luxurious and elitist spirit of a bourgeois society focused on entertainment. Across the Soviet Union, this represented the opposite of the principles to be promoted. However, despite the opposition of the political class, the program remained widely popular. As the historical structures, symbols of the previous regime could no longer be promoted, the search began for a new image of the Opera House, one aligned with Socialist ideals and the concept of "art belonging to the masses."
This is the case of Soviet Lithuania, which, in the 1940s, began the process of developing a new Opera and Ballet Theater in Vilnius to replace the theatre in Pohulianka. The process resulted in an unusual commission, as young architect Elena Nijolė Bučiūtė won the 1960s competition for architectural design, turning the initial socialist realist proposals into a welcoming and expressive design, blending elements of early and late modernism. This also represents a surprising accomplishment for a young architect who was a woman and not a member of the Communist Party. The project is featured in the program of Open House Vilnius, focused on the theme "People who create the city."
Pietra Tiburtina - Campidoglio. Image Courtesy of Casalgrande Padana
Travertine —known as lapis tiburtinus by the ancient Romans— has endured for centuries as one of the most iconic materials in Italian design heritage. This limestone has left a lasting mark on architectural history, from the monuments of the Roman Empire to contemporary works like the Church of 2000 and the Ara Pacis Museum. Over time, its aesthetic has evolved alongside art and design, adapting to technical advancements while preserving its essence and relevance in modern architecture.
https://www.archdaily.com/1022299/carving-pietra-tiburtina-a-contemporary-approach-to-classic-travertineEnrique Tovar
Motivated by the shared goal of creating a better, greener future, architects, designers, and sustainability enthusiasts from all over the world came together to exchange ideas and skills regarding the future of bamboo as a construction material. Titled Bamboo U, the 11-day course included teaching participants how to grow bamboo, treatment methods, bamboo design and model making, engineering, carpentry, and construction. The ArchDaily team participated in the workshop, which ran from August 16 - 27, 2024, and documented the full course from start to finish.
Greenways, as a typology of urban design, have become an essential element in the planning of modern cities. They emerge in response to the increasing fragmentation of urban landscapes by elements such as highways. They usually integrate natural and constructed spaces, providing much-needed connections across various parts of the city. At the same time, they promote pedestrian accessibility, recreation, and social interaction. The Rose Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston, United States, exemplifies this human-centered approach to design. The project, which began construction in 1991, showcases the potential of greenways to reconnect urban environments and enhance community life. As a series of parks designed by various architecture firms, it aims to create physical links and meaningful spaces that foster social development and a sense of place.
Creating an unbroken line between floor and ceiling is one of the most elegant ways to manipulate the spatial qualities of a contemporary interior. Floor-to-ceiling glass is a recurrent motif in the modern high-rise home, offering views out to some of the most spectacular skylines in the world. Full-height doors, meanwhile, are just as contemporary and sensational, but have more nuance and engineering involved. They don't draw the eye outside and beyond a space; instead, they create an immediate impact when you enter it. Instead of creating a frame to pass through, from room to room, these doors rise vertically and occupy the whole span of a wall. They represent cutting-edge holistic interior architecture, creating a sweeping, art-directed shift as you glide through them.
https://www.archdaily.com/1022530/flush-to-wall-transforming-doors-into-architectural-chameleonsMark C. O'Flaherty
As Kharkiv embarks on the long road to recovery following the devastating conflict in Ukraine, a global design competition has been initiated by the Norman Foster Foundation and Buildner to reimagine one of the city's most significant landmarks—Freedom Square. A symbol of Soviet-era urban planning, the square, along with the Regional Administration Building, was heavily damaged by a missile strike on March 1, 2022. The attack left the building in ruins and the square scarred by conflict.
In recent years, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have become a significant model for delivering large-scale infrastructure projects around the world. These partnerships bring together the strengths of both the public sector, represented by governments or municipalities, and the private sector, combining their resources, expertise, and investment power. In the context of architecture and urban development, PPPs are increasingly being used to address the complex needs of growing cities, helping to finance, build, and maintain critical projects that would be difficult for either sector to accomplish alone. But what exactly are PPPs, and how do they function in the built environment? This article explores the concept of PPPs, providing examples from across the globe to illustrate how these partnerships are shaping the future of urban spaces, sometimes beyond commercial gains. Furthermore, by exploring the different projects, the article aims to develop a framework around PPPs' positive and negative potential impacts.
In the Czech river valley of the Berounka near Prague, Stempel & Tesař Architekti have created an extraordinary private residence. The elongated structure is primarily made of steel and glass, featuring oversized air-lux sliding windows. The entire volume juts out into the landscape like a pier.
Villa Sidonius embodies the purest form of view and overview. For good reason—the landscape along the Berounka River is characterized by the flora and fauna of various nature reserves. The town of Černošice, located on the southwestern outskirts of Prague, is also nestled in greenery. This environment inspired Stempel & Tesař to design this single-family home, resembling a pier stretching out into the landscape from a hillside.
