Architecture: The Latest Architecture and News

From April 25th to May 1st, 2024, in the Spanish city of Logroño, Concéntrico prepares for its 10^th anniversary edition. Envisioned as a contemplation of changing urban environments and an opportunity to share insights about these processes, this year’s International Festival of Architecture and Design incorporates new formats to engage a wider audience and explore time as a catalyst for change in urban and social design. The festival expands its program, featuring 21 installations by designers of 20 different nationalities, in addition to several other initiatives and explorations.

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This article was originally published on Common Edge.

I am by no means an expert on public-private partnerships. But for about 10 years, as the University of California Berkeley’s campus planner and then campus architect, I watched these developments play out in higher education—sometimes from a front-row seat, sometimes as a participant. During that time, this strategy, promoted with great enthusiasm and optimism, was touted as the answer to whatever problem arose. And yet the definition of a public-private partnership was slippery. The concept itself seemed to be all things for all people, depending on what was needed, who was recommending it, and what equivalents (if any) existed outside the university. The bandwagon continues to play today, making it ever more important to nail down the pros and cons of this development strategy, not only for colleges and universities, but for all public decision-making.

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming May workshops in collaboration with our ArchDaily Supporters partner, Parametric Architecture. These workshops have been thoughtfully curated to empower architects, designers, and enthusiasts by providing them with the latest insights and skills in the dynamic realm of parametric design. Guided by industry experts and visionaries, these immersive sessions will explore cutting-edge techniques, innovative tools, and practical applications, creating an inspiring and dynamic learning environment where participants can take their design expertise to unprecedented levels.

Simone Farresin from the Italian studio Formafantasma talks about his practice, together with his partner Andrea Trimarchi, their work, and the different approaches to projects. He also tackles their participation in the Milan Design Week, and the political role of creatives in the world.

New York-based architecture office ODA has unveiled its design for Lorimer House and Copper Lofts, a development comprised of two residential buildings located in East Williamsburg in New York City. The design takes advantage of the triangular shape of the plot, employing rounded corners throughout the building to soften its image and create contextual references to its urban surroundings. Containing a total of 336 residential units, in addition to various amenities, the construction is slated for completion in 2024.

The question, "How can we control natural light in interior spaces?" is fundamental in architecture. Unregulated direct sunlight can cause discomfort such as visual strain and undesirable heat gains. Therefore, it is crucial to control its entry effectively. Some design solutions include installing shading devices, planning spatial orientation, and building forms for indirect natural light. Window treatments like films or heat-reflective glazing can also be used.

However, there are innovative strategies to control natural light more efficiently through advanced glazing panels like the Kalwall 175CW. This translucent insulated glazing unit is compatible with most third-party curtain wall systems. By manipulating the translucency of the glazed material, it's possible to influence the visual and thermal comfort of spaces. At the same time, this can enhance the architecture of modern spaces, adding substantial aesthetic and emotional value.

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In the early morning of April 16, a fire broke out in the capital of Denmark, engulfing Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange, one of the oldest landmarks in the city. In the fire, the 56-meter-tall Dragon Spire, shaped as the tails of four entwined dragons, collapsed. In just a few hours after the fire begun, half of the 17^th century Børsen building was destroyed according to authorities. The structure was undergoing renovation works at the time of the event. Emergency workers, staff members and passers-by collaborated to rescue the historic artworks housed in the former stock exchange.

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has just unveiled the competition details for the AlMusalla Prize, along with the shortlisted architecture studios and the jury. An addition to the Islamic Arts Biennale, this international architecture competition focuses on designing a musalla, a flexible space for prayer and reflection accessible to people of all faiths. Situated in the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the musalla will be an integral part of the Biennale’s upcoming edition. The winner of the competition will be announced later this year, and the opening of the musalla will be held on January 25th, 2025.

Art can be a catalyst for architects to see the built environment through a different lens. It provides a unique opportunity to delve into the viewpoints of trained architects who have transitioned into the visual arts and artists who explore cities and their inner workings through their personal stories.

Located in New York City, the Whitney Biennial is considered the most important and longest-running survey of contemporary art in the United States. Along with the Venice Biennale, it is considered one of the world's most important recurring art exhibitions. This year's theme, "Even Better Than the Real Thing," delves into concepts of identity and bodily autonomy, amplifying the voices of those historically marginalized. This includes looking at stories that study the connection between personal narratives and growing feelings of precariousness surrounding the constructed world. These are artists from this year's Whitney Biennial touching on topics related to architecture and cities.

As Milan Design Week begins, the Italian city is transformed into the grounds of one of the most expansive celebrations of global design, with its streets and venues brimming with cultural events, exhibitions, large-scale installations, talks and conferences. At Rho Fiera, the 62nd edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano brings together designers, architects, producers and leading figures of the design world, featuring over 1950 exhibitors which will remain open for the next 6 days. Additionally, across the city Fuorisalone opens up locations across the city with an engaging and varied cultural program.

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The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has opened in Los Angeles with a selection of large-scale art installations curated by the Public Art Company in collaboration with Paul Clemente. The festival grounds at the Empire Polo Field have been reimagined with three newly commissioned works by a diverse group of artists, architects, and designers. Challenging conventional norms and experimenting with new technologies and artistic expressions, these temporary interventions are an invitation for playful exploration, connection, and contemplation, enhancing the festivalgoer’s experience.

According to Raffi Lehrer, the founder of Public Art Company and Curatorial Advisor for Coachella's art program, the aim of these installations is not to simply adorn the festival but “to create environments that provoke thought, evoke emotion, and encourage a shared experience among all attendees.” By collaborating with artists from different fields, the music festival gains a new perspective, opening up its grounds for experimentation and play.

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