As 2024 comes to an end, a dynamic year that questioned knowledge, tradition, and innovation, we take a look at how global events and trends influenced the design of interior spaces. Last year, architecture practices sparked worldwide discussions, challenging norms and tradition, and embracing overlooked regions. Interior design, on the other hand, took a more reserved, modest approach, favoring simplicity and individuality. Fast forward a year later, the overall architecture and design themes of 2023 remain the same - reinforced if anything - but have embraced "crafted experimentations" through subtle, acupuncture-like interventions.
Wood: The Latest Architecture and News
Mario Cucinella Reimagines Palazzo Citterio in Milan, Italy
Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA) has reimagined the architectural design of Palazzo Citterio in Milan, Italy, integrating historical and contemporary elements to create a dynamic cultural space. As part of the Grande Brera initiative, which seeks to unify key cultural institutions such as the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Braidense National Library, the palazzo now stands as a hub for modern and contemporary art. Ultimately, the project aims to reestablish Palazzo Citterio as a significant cultural and social landmark, fostering community engagement and interaction.
A Biomimetic Revolution Driving Sustainable Construction Today and Beyond
For some, the perfection of nature reveals the signature of a divine force, something that defies rational explanations. The result of millions of years of adaptation and evolution, natural structures and organisms operate with an efficiency that is hard not to admire. Every form seems to have a precise purpose, showcasing ingenuity where functionality and beauty harmoniously coexist. From leaves to the smallest organisms, nature follows an impeccable logic of economy and precision, eliminating waste. It demonstrates that simplicity is often the purest expression of sophistication. Trees, for instance, grow to maximize strength and stability while minimizing resource use. This structural efficiency is achieved by aligning fibers along paths of maximum tension and shaping trunks and branches to optimally distribute loads. It's a testament to the fact that nature, above all, is a masterful engineer.
A Continuous Dialogue between Wood and Design through John Pawson's Work
John Pawson is a renowned British architect and designer, widely recognized for his minimalist approach, which values simplicity, proportion, and material authenticity. In his work, he explores space and light with depth, refining each element to its essence to create environments that promote tranquility and focus. His portfolio spans private homes, galleries, churches, and monasteries, each exemplifying his dedication to material purity and spatial harmony. By balancing clean lines, natural textures, and understated details, Pawson establishes a modern elegance and timeless quality that make him a pioneer of architectural minimalism.
The Essential Role of Modern Building Envelopes in Balancing Sustainability and Aesthetics
Traditionally, architecture's role has been to create a barrier between inhabitants and the elements, providing protection and security. Even with material and technological advances over time, this function remains fundamental. We still rely on our building envelopes to keep us dry, safe, and comfortable, allowing us to live our daily lives with ease. Nowadays, high-performance building envelopes expand this protective function by using advanced materials and technology, transforming into essential elements of sustainable and resilient design. They not only protect interiors from external factors—such as heat, humidity, and pollutants—but also contribute directly to the building's energy efficiency, durability, and aesthetics. Consisting of facades, solar shading systems, and windows, these envelopes define the building's character and play an essential role in its overall performance.
Smart, Eco-Conscious Architecture and Décor Inspired by Nature’s Finest Materials
A new generation of sustainable practices is transforming the architectural landscape. What is its 'secret'? The combination of innovation, ecological awareness, and, fundamentally, the revaluation of natural resources that have accompanied humanity since its earliest days. While this knowledge was never truly lost, the techniques associated with these materials have long remained in the background. Today, they are making a resurgence, adapting to modern challenges, and reestablishing themselves as essential, timeless elements in tomorrow's architecture.
Building Methods in Focus: The Solid vs Hollow Partitioning Debate
Two primary building approaches are commonly identified in architecture and design: solid versus hollow construction. These methods vary significantly across different cultures and regions, specifically for interior partitioning systems, when they appear interchangeable. Each has its own established practices influenced by local materials, labor preferences, climatic conditions, and cultural traditions. When architects and designers focus on their local context, it is easy to overlook the broader construction assumptions, limiting design flexibility and methodology. This raises an important question: How do these two building approaches differ?
Focusing mainly on interior systems, the distinctions between solid and hollow construction largely stem from the availability of materials and workforce preferences. For example, in the United States and Japan, stud walls, both wood and metal, are frequently used for partitioning. Conversely, brick remains the predominant material for partition walls in regions such as Hong Kong and southern China. Why do we build differently, and what are the benefits and challenges of each building methodology?
Where Italian Style Meets Wellness and Serenity: The Case of Villa Apua
Italy's influence on contemporary design has been profound and captivating, with Italian architecture consistently bridging cultural heritage and innovation, from advancements in construction techniques to the evolution of the neoclassical style. A prime example of this integration is the Italian villa typology, which reached its zenith during the Renaissance with groundbreaking innovations. Villa Almerico —designed by Andrea Palladio and inspired by Alberti's treatise De re aedificatoria— exemplifies this evolution. Renowned for its centralized and symmetrical plan, its construction marked a turning point with classical proportions and the incorporation of courtyards and gardens as extensions of the living space, highlighting a remarkable contextual relationship.
Although Palladio's influence was so profound that his style defined much of European and American architecture in subsequent centuries, the concept of the Italian villa has endured and evolved. Its ability to combine functionality, aesthetics, and respect for the environment has allowed its fundamental principles to remain in force, now merging with new currents of contemporary design. A clear example is Villa Apua, a project by PAN Architetti inspired by the Versilian concept of buen ritiro. The house's meticulous design addresses the needs of its inhabitants while fostering an intimate, thoughtful connection with the landscape and the memory of Forte dei Marmi, a town nestled between the Mediterranean coast and the Apuan Alps. This harmony is further enhanced by the great flexibility of the antoniolupi collections, whose rich finishes and materials seamlessly integrate the living space with its furnishings and the surrounding environment.
Track to Completing Málaga Cathedral: The Role of Timber in Designing the New Gable Roof
Like a musical composition, there is a particular category of buildings whose history might be compared to an unfinished symphony. Alternating between high notes and moments of silence, these structures are intermittent narratives that have spanned centuries. One of the most emblematic cases is the Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction for over a century and is on track to be completed this decade. While a hundred years of construction is no small feat, another building in this group surpasses that range: the Cathedral of Málaga, located in southern Spain, has been in the making for over five centuries.
Driven by Renaissance influences, the cathedral began construction in 1528. Since then, it has experienced periods of interruption throughout its history, resulting in an unfinished landmark. The cathedral is still missing one of its towers, has incomplete elements on its facade, and its vaults are exposed to the weather due to the absence of a covering structure. Over the years, various works have been undertaken—including the recent adaptation of tourist access to the domes—but one major task remains: the gable roof. Originally proposed in 1764 by Ventura Rodríguez, its design has been reimagined and will now be executed using contemporary wooden construction techniques.
How to Use Fluted Cladding on Interior Walls
How we perceive space is a crucial aspect of architecture and interior design, profoundly influencing our interaction with the environment. Consequently, spatial perception is shaped by elements such as furniture arrangement, lighting, color choices, and materials. The latter is particularly significant, as the same material can be employed in various ways, resulting in atmospheres with unique characteristics.
Fluted cladding is a good example of the potential for variations in material use. These are milled MDF surfaces with a linear pattern designed to decorate interior walls and ceilings. They can be applied to a variety of surfaces, though they should only be used in areas not exposed to humidity. The system is notable for its ability to accentuate space through different configurations. Depending on their arrangement and type of fluting, these configurations can modify the spatial experience by highlighting, directing, enveloping, and achieving visual balance in homes, offices, commercial spaces, and more.