By using ArchDaily, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

If you want to make the best of your experience on our site, sign-up.

By using ArchDaily, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

If you want to make the best of your experience on our site, sign-up.

  1. ArchDaily
  2. Market

Market: The Latest Architecture and News

MVRDV’s “Market Cube” Reimagines the Urban Market as a Flexible Vertical Hub in Zhubei, Taiwan

Dutch architecture firm MVRDV has won the competition to design a new multifunctional market and food hall in Zhubei, Taiwan. Developed in collaboration with local firm EKUO, the project, referred to as the "Market Cube" or "River Bank 1," aims to redefine the traditional market building through a vertically layered, highly adaptable structure. Positioned along the Touqian River at a prominent gateway between Zhubei and neighboring Hsinchu, the building is set to become a major civic destination.

MVRDV’s “Market Cube” Reimagines the Urban Market as a Flexible Vertical Hub in Zhubei, Taiwan - Image 1 of 4MVRDV’s “Market Cube” Reimagines the Urban Market as a Flexible Vertical Hub in Zhubei, Taiwan - Image 2 of 4MVRDV’s “Market Cube” Reimagines the Urban Market as a Flexible Vertical Hub in Zhubei, Taiwan - Image 3 of 4MVRDV’s “Market Cube” Reimagines the Urban Market as a Flexible Vertical Hub in Zhubei, Taiwan - Image 4 of 4MVRDV’s “Market Cube” Reimagines the Urban Market as a Flexible Vertical Hub in Zhubei, Taiwan - More Images+ 1

Newly Completed Market Halls That Revitalize Their Urban Communities

Market halls have long held a prominent position in the rich tapestry of architectural history, serving as vibrant hubs for commerce, community, and culture. Characterized by their imposing structures and bustling interiors, they have played an integral role in shaping urban landscapes and facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas throughout the centuries.

From ancient agoras and bazaars to the grand marketplaces of the Renaissance and the modern-day food halls that have undergone a renaissance of their own, market halls stand as a testament to the enduring synergy between architecture, economic activity, and the social fabric of society. These four newly completed projects from around the globe are proof that the highly specialized structures have lost none of their appeal– and exemplify how they can revitalize communities by bridging commercial and cultural functions as well as the past, present, and future.

Commercial and Public Spaces: Aerial Photographs and an Interactive Map Help to Explore the Tianguis of Mexico City

Commercial and Public Spaces: Aerial Photographs and an Interactive Map Help to Explore the Tianguis of Mexico City - Image 1 of 4Commercial and Public Spaces: Aerial Photographs and an Interactive Map Help to Explore the Tianguis of Mexico City - Image 2 of 4Commercial and Public Spaces: Aerial Photographs and an Interactive Map Help to Explore the Tianguis of Mexico City - Image 3 of 4Commercial and Public Spaces: Aerial Photographs and an Interactive Map Help to Explore the Tianguis of Mexico City - Image 4 of 4Commercial and Public Spaces: Aerial Photographs and an Interactive Map Help to Explore the Tianguis of Mexico City - More Images+ 1

Commerce has seen many changes over the past few years, especially as people worldwide have found new ways to connect and work with one another. In spite of this rapid progress, traditional commerce and cultures remain strong in Mexico City's tianguis, derived from the Nahuatl word tianquiz(tli) for “market." These open air spaces have operated since before European invasion and colonization, when bartering was the primary means of commerce and transactions were done in large public areas like plazas and corridors. Eventually, products derived from copper and cacao became a form of currency with which to purchase basic necessities.

Koichi Takada Architects Designs Biophilic Marketplace Inspired by Shanghai's Forests

For its latest design in China, the Australian firm Koichi Takada Architects takes inspiration from Shanghai's forest-rich landscape and creates a series of architectural "trees" that branch out, forming a canopy above a new marketplace. Through its open, biophilic design, the Solar Trees Marketplace will be an extension of the outdoor public space, reinterpreting the traditional Chinese market as a community place.

Koichi Takada Architects Designs Biophilic Marketplace Inspired by Shanghai's Forests - Image 1 of 4Koichi Takada Architects Designs Biophilic Marketplace Inspired by Shanghai's Forests - Image 2 of 4Koichi Takada Architects Designs Biophilic Marketplace Inspired by Shanghai's Forests - Image 3 of 4Koichi Takada Architects Designs Biophilic Marketplace Inspired by Shanghai's Forests - Image 4 of 4Koichi Takada Architects Designs Biophilic Marketplace Inspired by Shanghai's Forests - More Images+ 6

MVRDV Reveals Glass Mural, an Office and Retail Building in Detroit’s Active Food Hub

MVRDV was commissioned the design of Glass Mural, a new 3,716-square-meter office and retail building with a custom glass façade that integrates colorful murals by artists DENIAL and Sheefy McFly. Located in Detroit’s Eastern Market neighborhood, the project will be MVRDV’s third mixed-use project in the United States and first in the Midwest.

MVRDV Reveals Glass Mural, an Office and Retail Building in Detroit’s Active Food Hub - Image 1 of 4MVRDV Reveals Glass Mural, an Office and Retail Building in Detroit’s Active Food Hub - Image 2 of 4MVRDV Reveals Glass Mural, an Office and Retail Building in Detroit’s Active Food Hub - Image 3 of 4MVRDV Reveals Glass Mural, an Office and Retail Building in Detroit’s Active Food Hub - Image 4 of 4MVRDV Reveals Glass Mural, an Office and Retail Building in Detroit’s Active Food Hub - More Images+ 4

Lessons from UN-Habitat: How to Design Spaces For and With the People?

The Un-Habitat or the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development, whose primary focus is to deal with the challenges of rapid urbanization, has been developing innovative approaches in the urban design field, centered on the active participation of the community. ArchDaily has teamed up with UN-Habitat to bring you weekly news, article, and interviews that highlight this work, with content straight from the source, developed by our editors.

Discover in this feature the first lesson to learn from UN-Habitat, on how to design with and for the people. In order to create great public spaces, the only secret is listening to the community. Questioning “how can we design together”, this article presents cases in Ghana, Brazil, and India, focusing on street, market, and open public spaces implementation projects, where interventions took on participatory approaches and involved local residents from the beginning of the process.

Lessons from UN-Habitat: How to Design Spaces For and With the People? - Image 1 of 4Lessons from UN-Habitat: How to Design Spaces For and With the People? - Image 2 of 4Lessons from UN-Habitat: How to Design Spaces For and With the People? - Image 3 of 4Lessons from UN-Habitat: How to Design Spaces For and With the People? - Image 4 of 4Lessons from UN-Habitat: How to Design Spaces For and With the People? - More Images+ 43

Shift Architecture Urbanism Creates Hyperlocal Micro Markets that Operate During COVID-19 Shutdowns

Shift architecture urbanism developed micro-markets that can operate on a hyper-local scale during coronavirus shutdowns. The research elaborated on a scheme allowing traders to provide fresh food in a safe way to the self-quarantined inhabitants of the city.