In this short video interview from the Louisiana Channel, Marc-Christoph Wagner interviews architect David Chipperfield in Galicia in April 2024, exploring his connection to the sea. The 2023 Pritzker Prize laureate speaks of his experience living for 30 years in a fishing village in Spain, delving into his connection to the place and the people's attitude towards the strength of the natural elements surrounding them.
Design With Nature: The Latest Architecture and News
From the Greek Seaside to the Fjords of Norway, Discover 9 Nature-Bound Villa Concepts from the ArchDaily Community
Residential architecture within natural settings presents a distinct departure from urban design. Unlike the densely populated, man-made environments of cities, the context shifts to a pre-existing, often subdued, natural landscape. This necessitates a more responsive and integrated approach, prioritizing harmony with the environment rather than dominance over it. Exploration of conceptual projects in this realm can help foster a deeper understanding of sustainable building practices, material selection appropriate to the ecological context, and the sensitive integration of human habitation into pre-existing ecosystems.
Each month, ArchDaily's editors select a collection of conceptual projects centered around a theme or program, submitted to ArchDaily. These projects are developed by small and large-scale architecture offices from around the world and submitted openly to the ArchDaily platform, thus forming a worldwide community of practitioners sharing their work, be it purely conceptual, a competition entry, or an early-stage design phase. Submissions are open to everybody. If you wish to contribute, send in your work by following the instructions here.
https://www.archdaily.com/1024373/from-the-greek-seaside-to-the-fjords-of-norway-discover-9-nature-bound-villa-concepts-from-the-archdaily-communityMaria-Cristina Florian
Courtyards, Gardens, and Terraces for Seniors: Residences that Integrate Community Life into the Natural Environment
Faced with the aging of the global population, one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century is anticipated. The design of patios, gardens, terraces, and other green areas in facilities for the elderly presents an opportunity to foster interaction, participation in various collective activities, and the establishment of gathering spaces aimed at reducing loneliness among older adults while enhancing well-being and social interaction in connection with nature. How can built environments be created to adapt to the needs of older adults?
https://www.archdaily.com/1021735/courtyards-gardens-and-terraces-for-seniors-residences-that-integrate-community-life-into-the-natural-environmentAgustina Iñiguez
Discovering Remote Retreats: 20 Projects Showcasing the Appeal of Nature-Set Accommodations
Today's population lives in large, vibrant, and sometimes chaotic cities. That’s why the most popular options involve escaping to natural settings such as remote forests, tropical jungles, or pristine beaches when choosing places to take a break from daily responsibilities and routines. For those seeking to disconnect completely from city life while staying closely connected to nature, small-scale hotels, cabins, and lodges are excellent options. Whether it’s a private vacation home or a cabin hotel, these accommodations are designed to make their natural surroundings their most important asset, allowing the buildings to blend seamlessly into the landscape.
https://www.archdaily.com/919366/16-hotels-and-cabins-surrounded-by-naturePaula Pintos
BIOSIS Reveals Design for Minimal-Impact Housing in Nuuk, Greenland
Copenhagen-based multidisciplinary studio BIOSIS has revealed the design for a new housing complex in Nuuk, Greenland. The project aims to create a minimal-impact and climate-driven design by integrating the intervention in the area's natural terrain and adapting the solutions to the local conditions. The Qullilerfik housing project consists of five prism-shaped residences created to complement the sloped site, initially considered unsuitable.
https://www.archdaily.com/1020912/biosis-reveals-design-for-minimal-impact-housing-in-nuuk-greenlandMaria-Cristina Florian
Urban Spaces for an Overheated Planet: 12 Projects that tackle this Global Challenge
Due to climate change, heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, and they present a critical challenge for the design of urban spaces. Elevated temperatures exacerbate public health issues, increase energy consumption, and diminish cities' overall quality of life. Urban design must adopt strategies that promote resilience to mitigate these effects rather than merely replicating traditional formats that do not address the thermal stress experienced by many.
For quite some time, we have recognized the positive effects of urban green spaces, interaction with nature, water, and soil, and the associated health and well-being benefits for residents living next to parks. The significance of this matter has been further underscored, particularly in the aftermath of the panic induced by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the present moment once again highlights the influence of our urban models on modern life, now grappling with unprecedented extreme temperatures.
https://www.archdaily.com/1010387/urban-spaces-for-an-overheated-planetCamilla Ghisleni
Turning Water into Land: Major Landfill Projects Around the World
The idea of transforming water into land has captivated humanity for centuries. The Netherlands, for example, is a pioneering nation in this field, where approximately 20% of the territory has been reclaimed from the sea or lakes using dikes to control water flow and dry the surfaces. As technology has advanced, this practice has become more widespread. Today, China leads the way, joined by urban centers in the global south, such as cities in West Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East.
These megalomaniacal land reclamations are primarily undertaken in areas with extensive coastlines but insufficient landmass to meet their needs. In this regard, the newly reclaimed areas serve many purposes, ranging from the development of luxury residential complexes to an entertainment archipelago featuring hotels, restaurants, theaters, and shops.
https://www.archdaily.com/1016218/turning-water-into-land-major-landfill-projects-around-the-worldCamilla Ghisleni
Floods in Rio Grande do Sul: The Tragedy of Non-Resilient Cities
The world has changed, and accepting this fact is no longer a matter of choice but survival. Our rainfall patterns, periods of drought, average temperatures, sea levels—everything is in constant flux. The denialist stance of many countries, including Brazil, has led to catastrophic situations like the one we are facing now.
The floods that devastated the southern region of the country in recent days cannot be considered isolated incidents. Due to global warming, climate events like this will become increasingly frequent. In other words, unfortunately, we cannot prevent them from happening, but we can—and must—make our cities more resilient to these situations.
https://www.archdaily.com/1016509/floods-in-rio-grande-do-sul-the-tragedy-of-non-resilient-citiesCamilla Ghisleni
Amazonian Cities: What It Is Like to Live Close to the Largest Tropical Rainforest on the Planet
The world has its eyes on the Amazon. Geographical data about this vast territory, spanning 6.74 million square kilometers across eight countries in Latin America, is constantly featured in national and international media. Headlines often highlight its sheer magnitude as the largest tropical rainforest in the world, home to 10% of the planet's biodiversity, and responsible for 15% of the Earth's freshwater. However, little attention is paid to what transpires beneath its canopy, on the ground where people live.
https://www.archdaily.com/1015837/amazonian-cities-what-it-is-like-to-live-close-to-the-largest-tropical-rainforest-on-the-planetCamilla Ghisleni
4 Homes in Brazil that Encourage Indoor-Outdoor Living
The early 20th century marked a pivotal era in Brazilian architecture with the advent of the modernist movement. Architects like Oscar Niemeyer or Lúcio Costa introduced avant-garde designs characterized by sleek lines, reinforced concrete, and a focus on functionality. What's more: residential projects of the era, in particular, blurred the lines between indoor and outdoor, flawlessly merging interior and exterior spaces to reflect a lifestyle that harmonizes with nature. Fast forward to the present day, and contemporary architects and designers in Brazil continue to embrace the challenge of creating indoor-outdoor homes that nod to the country's tropical climate. These residences often feature open floor plans, expansive glass walls, and strategic positioning of courtyards, gardens, or terraces with a design philosophy that emphasizes natural light, ventilation, and the incorporation of greenery for increased well-being. We take a detailed look at four recently completed residential projects in Brazil that fuse contemporary architecture, sustainable living, and a deep appreciation for their natural surroundings.
https://www.archdaily.com/1009873/new-homes-in-brazil-that-encourage-indoor-outdoor-livingClaire Brodka
Indoor-Outdoor Homes in Lithuania: 20 Projects with Oversized Windows that Invite Nature
Lithuania's architectural narrative is a mosaic of diverse influences and styles, representing its historical evolution, cultural heritage, and resilience through changing times. Despite a focus on traditional craftsmanship, functional minimalism, and sustainable materials, the country's design language has been profoundly influenced by its geopolitical position and historical events, resulting in a blend of styles from different periods. A key factor that cuts across all expressions, however, is Lithuanian architecture's seamless connection with its natural surroundings.
https://www.archdaily.com/1009749/indoor-outdoor-homes-in-lithuania-20-projects-with-oversized-windows-that-invite-natureClaire Brodka
Architecture as Collaboration Between Human and Non-Human Species
Nowadays, much is said about the importance of collaborative design processes that involve joint creation, affirming a context in which there is less and less room for individual work and much more for the logic of collective and co-creation. Therefore, the idea that the work is created exclusively by the architect is already understood as a distortion of the complex reality of designing a project, going beyond the technical staff and also adding the community and its users.
https://www.archdaily.com/994659/architecture-as-collaboration-between-human-and-non-human-speciesCamilla Ghisleni
Stefano Boeri Architetti Reveals Design for the International Forest Stadium in Milan, Italy
Stefano Boeri Architetti, together with a multidisciplinary team including ARUP, Fabio Novembre, and Balich Wonder Studio, has unveiled the design for the new Milan Stadium, named the International Forest Stadium. The project, located in the San Siro area of the city, was presented to the public on the occasion of the competition announced in 2019 by the Inter and Milan teams. The stadium is envisioned as an integral part of the “Sport and leisure district” system, an extensive masterplan measuring over 800 hectares, planned to transform the San Siro district into a center for excellence in the context of European sports.
https://www.archdaily.com/992155/stefano-boeri-architetti-reveals-design-for-the-international-forest-stadium-in-milan-italyMaria-Cristina Florian
Cities of the Future: Julia Watson on Nature-based Technologies and Radical Materials
Looking ahead to the future of our built environment, a one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t do. Issues like rising sea levels, temperatures, and water scarcity in urban communities need localized solutions that take into account questions of sustainability, culture, and public health. Having investigated vernacular infrastructure across indigenous communities for her book Lo-TEK. Design by Radical Indigenism, designer Julia Watson is an expert in local, nature-based technologies that are inherently adaptable and resilient. We talk to her about the future of our cities, building materials, and her latest project for Our Time on Earth – a five year, world-touring exhibition that just opened at London's Barbican Centre to investigate how radical, collaborative ideas for the way we live can get us to a much improved place by 2040.
https://www.archdaily.com/982141/cities-of-the-future-julia-watson-on-nature-based-technologies-and-radical-materialsClaire Brodka
Healing Architecture in China: Through a Sensorial and Spatial Experience
What elements and qualities does space need for a well-balanced physical and spiritual recovery? How to design spaces that are healthy for both our minds and our bodies? What makes an environment livable and sustainable in the long term?
These are the questions we need to address in the era of the rapidly developing real estate market. Why do we tend to inhabit more and more high-density residential towers? Are we necessarily more mentally secure? If not, what are the spatial solutions or cures for the current urbanites’ anxiety? In this article, we will explore ways of unwinding and finding cures in space.
https://www.archdaily.com/958330/healing-architecture-in-china-through-a-sensorial-spatial-experienceScarlett Miao
How Will We Live Together With All Other Species?
Hashim Sarkis, the curator of the 17th International Architecture Exhibition organized by La Biennale di Venezia, launched a striking visionary theme at the beginning of this year: “How will we live together?”. This fundamental question finally transcends all disciplines and opens an existential portal for humanity. It does not refer only to humans but all species, the nonhuman organisms as well.
https://www.archdaily.com/937776/how-will-we-live-together-with-all-other-speciesMarko Brajovic
Ian McHarg's Legacy Spurs "Design With Nature Now" Initiative 50 Years Later
Fifty years have passed since the publication of influential landscape architect Ian McHarg’s book, Design With Nature in 1969. Throughout the United States, an environmental movement was taking place, into the center of which McHarg’s book was thrust. The 1970s and ‘80s were a time of much landmark legislation surrounding ecological concerns, and McHarg argued that landscape architecture alone was able to integrate all the disparate fields involved.
https://www.archdaily.com/919892/ian-mchargs-legacy-spurs-design-with-nature-now-initiative-50-years-laterMegan Schires