Almost a century after the iconic aesthetic emerged, Art Deco is finally having its comeback. As seen in new projects, interior spaces, and furniture around the globe, the glitz and glam that makes us long for the Roaring 20s of the early 20th century is now giving us a small taste of the Roaring 20s revival in the 21st century. As the distinct identity of Art Deco architecture and design has continued to inspire the world, what can we expect from new designs, and the preservation of existing ones?
Delfino Sisto Legnani and Marco Cappelletti
The Revival of Art Deco: Exploring New Designs and Preserving Existing Ones
Tents: An Architectural Language
It’s a ubiquitous architectural form. An architectural typology that spans centuries and borders, a staple across cultures. The tent. In its simplest form – it’s a shelter, with material draped over a frame of poles. It’s an architectural language that is intrinsically linked to nomadic living. Yurts, for instance, functions as an easily portable dwelling for the Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples. At the same time, tents have proved a popular stylistic precedent for architects, the lightweight structures of German architect Frei Paul Otto being a case in point. The tent is a complicated architectural language – one that straddles the line between temporary and permanent, and one that also functions as a symbol of wealth and a symbol of scarcity.
Building Boom: Qatar's Monumental New Architecture
Qatar has been radically reshaped by growth and development. The sovereign state transformed since the second half of the twentieth century after the discovery of the Dukhan oil field in 1940. Capitalizing on over 70 years of economic development, Qatar now has the highest per capita income in the world. Reflecting the country’s wealth, its modern architectural projects are being built at a monumental scale.
Galeries Lafayette Champs-Èlysèes / Bjarke Ingels Group
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Architects: Bjarke Ingels Group
- Area: 6800 m²
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: Les Durcisseurs Francais
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Professionals: Theater Project, AR-C, BIG Interiors, Cabinet Vanguard, Setec, +1
The First "Maidan Tent" is Built to Aid Refugees in Greece
In an effort to aid the plight of refugees around the world fleeing war and persecution, two young architects in 2016 embarked on a project designed to improve the mental health of refugees in camps. Led by Bonaventura Visconti di Modrone and Leo Bettini Oberkalmsteiner, and supported by the UN International Organization for Migration, “Maidan Tent” allows refugees to benefit from indoor public space – a communal area to counteract the psychological trauma induced by war, persecution, and forced migration.
Two years on, the first tent has been installed at the Ritsona refugee camp in Greece, currently hosting more than 800 refugees. The camp which now hosts the inaugural Maidan Tent was also the subject site where the design team made eight visits to throughout the past two years.
BLOX / OMA / Ellen Van Loon
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Architects: OMA
- Area: 28000 m²
- Year: 2018
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Professionals: AECOM, Arup, van SANTEN & Associés, COWI, Les Eclaireurs, +2
Fondazione Prada Torre / OMA
Qatar National Library / OMA
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Architects: OMA
- Area: 45000 m²
- Year: 2017
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Manufacturers: Andreu World, KEIM, UniFor, Cricursa
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Professionals: Arup Acoustics
15 Facades That Push Conventional Limits: The Best Photos of the Week
New technological developments in construction have given architects great freedom when designing. Innovations in construction materials and their properties allow for the creation of increasingly original and surprising facades. The buildings constructed as a result can even inspire people to travel thousands of kilometers just to see these masterpieces. This week, we present 15 of most ground-breaking facades through photos by prominent photographers such as Paul Ott, Peter Bennetts and Laurian Ghinitoiu.
OMA’s Rijnstraat 8 Redesign Brings Transparency and Light to a Government Building in The Hague
In addition to their videos, #donotsettle’s Wahyu Pratomo and Kris Provoost tell extended stories about the buildings they visit through an exclusive column on ArchDaily: #donotsettle Extra. In this installment, the duo brings you to the newest design by OMA, Rijnstraat 8 in The Hague, The Netherlands. Saskia Simon and Kees van Casteren from OMA explained the architecture of Rijnstraat 8 to #donotsettle while touring the building.
This project, which houses a variety of Dutch government agencies, is an example of a spatial alteration that occurred as result of political and organizational changes. However, given the existing structure by architect Jan Hoogstad, OMA has transformed the architectural experience of the building from within.
RIJNSTRAAT 8 / Ellen van Loon / OMA
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Architects: Ellen van Loon, OMA
- Area: 90913 m²
- Year: 2017
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Manufacturers: De Groot en Visser, Interalu, Lighting ETAP, MOSTERT DE WINTER