Blending in with its urban context or standing out to draw attention, a façade tells a building’s story. It is an expressive medium through which we engage with architecture, defining first impressions and setting the tone for the interior by experimenting with transparency, movement, texture and color, among other aesthetic possibilities. Of course, the envelope also plays a crucial functional role, acting as a protective barrier against extreme weather conditions and directly impacting light transmittance, energy efficiency and acoustic comfort. Architects therefore face an important challenge: to achieve a balance between an attractive look and performance. To do so, it is pivotal to specify the right materials during the design stage.
Angled Metal Panels for Modular, Creative and Sustainable Façades
Phew Offline Store / say architects
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Architects: say architects
- Area: 90 m²
- Year: 2022
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Professionals: Hangzhou Youban Decoration Co., Ltd., Say Architects
9 Cremorne St. Office Building / Fieldwork
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Architects: Fieldwork
- Year: 2020
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Professionals: Cobild, Bryce Raworth Heritage
Ningxia Art Museum / CCTN Design
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Architects: CCTN Design
- Area: 29992 m²
- Year: 2022
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Professionals: Anlan Lighting Design (Shanghai) Co., LTD, Tongkun Design Beijing, ChinaCUC
Darwin Bucky Gallery and Theatre / andblack design studio
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Architects: andblack design studio
- Area: 116 m²
- Year: 2021
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Professionals: Schafbock design+workshop-Shehzad Irani
Boathouse / Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
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Architects: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
- Area: 634 ft²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: Louis Poulsen, Carlisle Wide Plank flooring, Dynamic Fenestration, Element4 , Taylor Metal Products
Zapiola 301 Apartment Building / Cottet Iachetti Arquitectos + Cabrera Pieretti Arquitectos
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Architects: Cabrera Pieretti Arquitectos, Cottet Iachetti Arquitectos
- Area: 860 m²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: Huup, IDEA, Moltrasio, Roca Argentina, thin compact
Fischgold House Renovation / BLOCO Arquitetos
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Architects: BLOCO Arquitetos
- Area: 5920 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: Lumini
Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko
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Architects: Schindler Seko
- Area: 1650 m²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: JOKL STEEL, OPIRSTAV INVEST, Sollus metal, TERACO LITÉ, Vipax
Half Void / Full Moon Pavilion / Piovenefabi
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Architects: Piovenefabi
- Area: 350 m²
- Year: 2022
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Manufacturers: Reprocentro, Zeppelin Santiago
Tapachula Station / Colectivo C733
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Architects: Colectivo C733
- Area: 77500 ft²
- Year: 2021
Interiors That Look as Good as They Sound: Acoustic Design to Enhance Comfort
The noisier the environment, the harder it is to concentrate on the sounds we really want –and need– to hear. We spend about 90% of our time indoors, either at home or at work, often with little concern for acoustic qualities, making our body remain in a constant warning state. In offices this is an even more critical issue. While traditional open plan working spaces encourage teamwork and effective communication, many professionals face the challenge of being able to concentrate with the frequent noises, whether from a nearby conversation, the construction site next door, or a noisy espresso machine. Among the problems that noise pollution can cause in the human body are stress, accelerated heartbeat, increased blood pressure, insomnia, and a constant state of vigilance. Studies also show that poor acoustics negatively affect productivity.
This can be further amplified by the environment itself, often composed of "hard" surfaces (masonry, concrete, glass) that reverberate sound several times over, making it necessary for people to raise their voices to be understood. Furthermore, acoustic devices are generally perceived as accessories that are not very aesthetically pleasing, often with clumsy designs and with little or no flexibility.
A New Digital Tool Allows Users to Investigate Spatial Equity across New York City’s Communities
The Transportation Alternatives and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have initiated a new digital tool, Spatial Equity NYC, to help users understand how space is distributed and restricted across the neighborhoods of New York City. The tool asses the use of streets, sidewalks, and public spaces, as they are key factors that influence data such as pollution, traffic fatalities, accessibility, or air quality. The data collected shows a direct correlation between neighborhoods with low-income communities and communities of color and the detrimental ways in which public space is used, leading to health and mobility issues in those communities.
HENN Develops Master Plan for City University of Hong Kong
International architecture office HENN developed a 300,000m² master plan for the City University of Hong Kong in the province of Guangdong. The construction will be split into two phases: the central library is planned for 2023 and the academic amenities, including student residences, are scheduled for completion in 2025. As the City University of Hong Kong's third mainland site, "CityU Dongguan" will connect researchers and industry collaborators across the Greater Bay Area Technology Innovation Corridor and create a multifaceted university district in the Pearl River Delta region. Moreover, the complex will be home to the Faculty of Science, Engineering, Business, and Medicine.
Partisans Reveal Design for Cloud-Inspired High-Rise in Downtown Toronto
Architecture office Partisans have recently revealed the design of a new high-rise planned for downtown Toronto, on 15-17 Elm Street. The shape of the tower takes inspiration from the process of cloud formation, more specifically from the cirrocumulus, a meteorological term describing the curl-like shapes that form cloud systems. The 32-storey building will accommodate 174 residential units equipped with personal balconies and necessary amenities.
Powerful Crowd Simulation Software for Human-Centered Design
From smartphones to space rockets and self-driving cars, the power of technology in this modern digital era is enormous (and practically limitless). It has impacted every aspect of our lives and will continue to open up endless possibilities that today we cannot even begin to fathom. When applied in a socially and environmentally responsible way, technology has the power to enhance productivity, communication and sustainability, enabling global communities to function efficiently, addressing people’s everyday needs and improving their quality of life. Simply put, good technology serves humanity. And just as the healthcare or manufacturing industries have taken advantage of this, the architecture, design and construction world cannot fall behind.
Can Local Architecture Help Cure the Ills of Globalism?
The global pause of the COVID pandemic has provided an opportunity to assess present-day globalism and the architecture that has emerged alongside it. Stemming back to the broad expansion of free trade in the 90s at the end of the Cold War, globalism’s cultural promise was simple and aspirational: integrating markets globally would increase the interaction between and learning of different cultures. By normalizing such experiences in our daily lives, we would become global citizens liberated from our previous prejudices–all well-intentioned objectives.