October Architecture Billings Update!The ABI score hit 50.3 in October, signaling stabilization after a 20-month decline. While client caution remains, firms are forecasting brighter days ahead for 2025. Key Highlights: Regional Strength: South (52.1) leads the way Top Sector: Institutional at 50.5 Inquiries Index: A strong 54.1https://bit.ly/417z1sp#Architecture #DesignIndustry #EconomicOutlook #AIA #ABIReport #ArchitectureInsights The AIA ABI reaches 50.3, signaling balanced activity, but clients remain hesitant on new projects.

The holiday season is here, and if you're looking for the perfect gift to celebrate, it's time to take a peek at Archinect's curated 2024 gift guide with items selected personally by our editorial team.Whether you're an architect, student, or just a straight-up fan of all things design, we've got you covered. This year, our recommendations ranged in scope from must-see documentaries to home goods to architect-designed timepieces and everything that falls between. The list is broken down into broader categories for your convenience. Now, let's take a look, vet some of the gift ideas, contemplate, test, choose, and enjoy!Watches designed by (some Pritzker-winning) architectsImage credit: Louis VuittonFrank Gehry for Louis Vuitton: Tambour Moon Tourbillon Poinon de Genve Sapphire Sold here What's better than Frank's longstanding collaboration with the luxury retailer? The watch is part of a unique collection inspired by the architecture of Gehry's Fondation Louis Vuitton in Pa...

Brengues Le Pavec architectes has completed a rural home in Hrault, France as a space of refuge and fulfillment. Built on a sloping site at the end of a valley, the homes design seeks to emphasize integration and subtlety.Image credit: Florence AlzondaImage credit: Florence AlzondaStructured between two horizontal plateaus, the house reflects the topography of the land, creating a floating effect that respects the delicate landscape. Large glazed sections dominate the faade, inviting the outdoors in and establishing uninterrupted views.Image credit: Florence AlzondaImage credit: Florence AlzondaTo think of a living space as a dwelling is to think of a space of refuge and fulfillment, the team notes. The site here has an exceptional character, it is an exclusive place, where the notion of integration into a landscape takes on its full meaning.Image credit: Florence AlzondaImage credit: Florence AlzondaThe home is divided into two distinct zones. The open and transparen...

The Main Entry Deadline for Architizer's 13th A+Awards is Friday December 6th! This season we're spotlighting the talent of architects who expertly balance global challenges with local needs. Start your entry.Recently, I came across an article that criticizes, in the most innovative way, the use of the word iconic in architectural practice. A hidden trap lies when writers (including myself) characterize a building as iconic: it implies a sense of excess, dominance and false idealization. It goes back to the figure of the starchitect, where a sole designer is deemed responsible for the inception and materialization of a contemporary architectural monument, a rather problematic idea since architecture is by default a group endeavor. What is more, iconic buildings are often detached from their immediate context, since their aim is to stand out, provoke and make a grand statement of their greatness.Fortunately, the optimists in architecture claim that the starchitect era is gradually fading, and that the focus now shifts on architectural collectives, thus prioritizing the team over the individual to effectively navigate this post-iconic world. In addition, recent highlights promote projects that incorporate local practices, blending seamlessly in the immediate setting without having to live up to the requirement of becoming contemporary monuments within that specific place. An architecture that is deeply rooted in context.Danjing Pavilion of Longquan Mountain Urban Forest Park by Chengdu Architectural Design and Research Institute, Chengdu, ChinaMoving away from the cities that are considered global melting pots, such as London, New York, Chicago or Dubai, most other countries with smaller markets are very dependent on their local architects. This may not have been the case a couple of decades ago, when smaller cities would employ famous architects to boost their urban regeneration schemes and attract global attention. Today, however, the prevailing philosophy is to often combine forces and utilize both a globally renowned name with local expertise to deliver the most appropriately tailored result. The following cities are great examples of how a synergy between international and local firms can produce designs that respect cultural heritage, cater to the unique needs of the community, and elevate the citys profile on the world stage.Three following examples showcase the power of blending global and local talent, where iconic gives way to collective practice. This year, Architizers A+Awards prioritize context and locality by introducing two new categories: Architecture +Localism and Best Local Firm, in order to celebrate designs that reflect the unique identity, culture and community values of their locations. These categories underscore a shift in the industry towards recognizing architecture that not only embodies aesthetic excellence but also strengthens a citys connection to its roots. By honoring projects and firms that prioritize local relevance, the awards highlight a growing movement toward responsible, place-sensitive architecture that seeks to enhance and respect the character of its surroundings rather than imposing a singular vision.Start SubmissionAthens, GreeceThe Ellinikon Metropolitan Park and Coastal Front by Sasaki, Athens, GreeceMixed Use Tower Hellinikon by Aeter Architects, Athens, GreeceThe Hellinikon is the biggest coastal redevelopment project in Athens. After the decommissioning of the original Athens International Airport, the 650 acre (263 hectare) plot remained vacant for almost twenty years, until a proposal was approved and funded by Lamda Development in 2020. The project is one of the largest urban parks in Europe, massively contributing to the Greek capitals ecological restoration. Additionally, the plot will include an array of public and private programs such as a government park, educational facilities, museums, entertainments spaces, health centers, housing as well as large, open urban spaces. Foster & Partners were responsible for designing the primary masterplan of the project, while the design firm Sasaki was appointed to redesign the metropolitan park.Nevertheless, the number of Greek architecture offices that were involved, and continue to work on the project, is immense, bringing to the table an abundance of local expertise. One example is the Mixed Use Tower Hellinikon by Aeter Architects: a 500-foot-high (150 meter) structure as part of the Hellinikon Commercial District that will include hospitality services, branded residencies, as well as offices, and which will combine the highest sustainability standards and conservation strategies.Cape Town, South AfricaZeitz MOCAA by Heatherwick Studio, Cape Town, South AfricaBattery Park by dhk Architects, Cape Town, South AfricaSince the 1920s, the prominent grain silo on Cape Town stored and graded corn from all over South Africa, located in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. In the 1990s however, it was decommissioned, and thus required ideas for adaptation and redevelopment. In parallel, the Zeitz Foundation was seeking a new permanent home for their collection of African art, leading to the transformation of the grain silo into a new museum for contemporary art, Zeitz MOCAA, which was designed by the Heatherwick Studio and completed in 2017.A year later, the Battery Park (1.2 hectare) project situated at a key entranceway to the V&A Waterfront had also materialized. It was developed by South African firm dhk Architects as a park and a piazza, while preserving the remnants of one of the citys oldest structures a coastal fortification named the Amsterdam Battery. The project became part of an urban design framework that stitches a new district into the surrounding city fabric.Tirana, AlbaniaPyramid of Tirana by MVRDV and IRI Architects, Tirana, AlbaniaThe Pyramid of Tirana is located in the heart of Albanias capital city and was originally built as a museum for communist dictator Enver Hoxha. The building has now been dramatically transformed by Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, becoming a new kind of cultural hub for the city. The complex features a cluster of small village cafes, studios, workshops and classrooms as well as a plethora of green, open spaces. Key to this transformation was the contribution of the local firm IRI Architects, who acted as consultants to the project and ensured that the building redevelopment would preserve as well as celebrate its roots and local character.The Main Entry Deadline for Architizer's 13th A+Awards is Friday December 6th! This season we're spotlighting the talent of architects who expertly balance global challenges with local needs. Start your entry.Featured image: Pyramid of Tirana by MVRDV and IRI Architects, Tirana, AlbaniaThe post Living in a Post-Iconic World: Architecture in the Age of Localized Design appeared first on Journal.

The latest edition of Architizer: The Worlds Best Architecture a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe is now available. Order your copy today.There is no shortage of Medieval archways, Baroque faades and Gothic spires in the historic city of Prague. Built with towering proportions, adorned with intricate moldings, and piercing the skyline with striking silhouettes, each is regarded as typical of the Central European region; together, they form the basis of Pragues distinctive aesthetic. Yet there is another side to Pragues architecture, one that draws admirers to its lesser-known quarters. Its a style that has somehow, despite its short-lived presence, become an essential part of Pragues architectural heritage.In the early 20th century, while cities across Europe were embracing the naturalistic, ethereal forms of Art Nouveau, a group of Czech architects in Prague chose a different path. Inspired by the groundbreaking geometric art of Picasso and Braque, architects like Josef Gor, Pavel Jank and Vlastislav Hofman took a unique approach: Cubist architecture. Unlike the flowing lines and floral motifs of Art Nouveau, Cubism introduced angular, crystalline forms. When integrated into building design, it became a radical departure from the citys medieval and Baroque surroundings.The Cubists believed that objects had an inner energy that could be released by splitting open or slicing horizontal and vertical surfaces. For Pragues architects, Cubism was an opportunity to release that energy and redefine their national identity. At the time, the city was still under the Austro-Hungarian Empires rule, and the Czech avant-garde saw Cubism as a way to assert cultural independence. Through the abstraction and fragmented shapes of Cubism, they believed architecture could provoke new emotions and thoughts while creating a uniquely Czech visual language that contrasted sharply with the oppressive imperial styles of the time.House of the Black Madonna by Josef Gor, Prague, Czech Republic (VitVit,Dm U ern Matky Bo 03,CC BY-SA 3.0)The result was striking. In 1912, Gor designed the House of the Black Madonna, a building whose angular faade and Cubist interiors showcased this new approach. The building became an icon, as it remains today, housing the citys first Cubist caf and challenging European design conventions like never before. Other buildings soon followed. The Kovaovic Villa in Vyehrad, with its bold geometries and diagonal lines, is a beautiful example of this unique design style. While one structure that is impossible to overlook is the triplex house on Ranovo Embankment, built according to a design by Josef Chochol. Particularly striking is the buildings entryway, with its polygonal gable and dominant bay window that sits proudly above the main door.Despite its short lifespan, approximately fifteen years, Cubist architecture left a lasting imprint on Prague, mostly in the Vyehrad neighbourhood, making it one of the only places on earth where Cubist design reached its most complete form. Even today, Pragues Cubist buildings stand out in part for their unusual angular facades but also for the depth of detail that carries the Cubist vision from exterior to interior. Unlike traditional Cubism the kind found in painting, which aims to expose unseen perspectives despite a two-dimensional medium, Cubist architecture engages the third dimension walls, windows, doors and even staircases are designed to shift, refractand shape space itself.Cubist Museum at The House of the Black Madonna by Josef Gor, Prague, Czech Republic (Thomas Ledl,Prag Kubismus Schwarze Madonna 5,CC BY-SA 4.0)The key to the language of Cubist architecture is a reliance on geometric forms, particularly triangles, hexagons, prisms and diamonds. These design choices give Pragues Cubist buildings a depth that catches visitors unawares while warping light and shadow in new and interesting ways. The House of the Black Madonna, for instance, has a faade that projects forward in layered planes, creating a visual depth that was new to the era and remains unusual in modern architecture, too.Inside the buildings, distinctive, jagged furnishings chairs, tables and even light fixtures were also included, and their geometric forms meticulously supported the architectural style. In this way, these buildings are one of the most excellent examples of unified aesthetics in architecture. Kovaovic Villa is a fine example of this cohesion, with its Cubist furniture designed specifically to fit the houses unique architectural lines.Kovaovicova Vila by Josef Chochol, Prague, Czech Republic (VitVit,Vyehrad Sequensova a Kovaovicova vila 3,CC BY-SA 4.0)To live in a Cubist building in Prague is to immerse oneself in an environment where everyday function meets a kind of geometric experimentation. Unlike traditional homes, these spaces feel slightly disorienting at first glance walls are angled, surfaces are faceted, and the light behaves differently as it hits sharp corners and fractured surfaces yet they work as traditional homes, no different to any other.It is emotionally that Cubist spaces had and still have the most profound effect. They create an entirely different atmosphere from Pragues Baroque or Gothic interiors. Theres a sense of intentional tension; a feeling that, with its tight angles and bold lines, the space is shifting, revealing more of itself in each experience, becoming a space that invites curiosity and engagement. For many, living within these fractured forms prompts a fresh appreciation of space itself, as each room subtly nudges the occupant to move, observe, and interact with its architecture in a way that is quite theatrical.Keystone Office Building by EM2N, Prague, Czech Republic | Photo by Simon Menges.In all, the influence of Pragues Cubist experiment is visible not only in its direct descendants, like the uniquely Czech form of Rondocubism a blend of Cubist structure with national folk motifs but also in the modern architecture that celebrates this bold design style and inventive form, the Keystone office building is a prime modern example as even today, Pragues contemporary architects cite Cubism as an inspiration, not necessarily in its angular motifs but in its willingness to push the boundaries of architectural convention.Preservation efforts for Pragues Cubist architecture reflect the movements cultural significance. The remaining buildings are carefully maintained and celebrated as part of the citys architectural heritage as museums, galleries, and cultural centers, inviting locals and visitors alike to engage with this piece of Czech history. The continued public interest in these spaces has sparked a sense of pride in their preservation, making Cubist architecture not only a point of historical curiosity but a thriving part of Pragues unique and daring identity.The latest edition of Architizer: The Worlds Best Architecture a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe is now available. Order your copy today.The post Cubist Prague: The Geometric Architectural History of Eastern Europe appeared first on Journal.

Street photography captures the essence of everyday life, and when shot in black and white, it gains a timeless, raw quality that emphasizes the mood, texture, and contrast of the scene. By focusing on the interplay of light and shadow, human interaction, and the urban environment, you can create compelling and dynamic street photographs. Heres how to make your black-and-white street photography stand out.Emphasizing contrast and textureIn black-and-white street photography, contrast plays a key role in defining the subject and creating depth within the frame. Without color to distract, the focus shifts to the textures and tones that make up the scene.High contrast for impactStrong contrast between light and dark areas can create drama and intensity in your photos. Look for scenes where bright sunlight casts deep shadows, or where artificial light from street lamps or shop windows creates strong highlights. High-contrast images, especially in bustling urban environments, can convey a sense of energy and movement. Capturing textureUrban landscapes are full of rich textures, from the roughness of brick walls to the smoothness of glass windows. In black-and-white photography, these textures become more pronounced, adding visual interest and complexity to your images. Pay attention to surfaces and patterns that might otherwise be overlooked in color photography, and use them to enhance the feel of your photo.Playing with light and shadowStreet photography often relies on natural or available light, and black-and-white photography excels at capturing the dynamic range between light and shadow.Silhouettes and shadowsLook for opportunities to capture silhouettes or dramatic shadows cast by people, buildings, or objects. Shooting against the light, such as during sunrise or sunset, can turn your subjects into striking silhouettes. Shadows, on the other hand, can add layers to your composition, guiding the viewers eye and creating depth. Using reflectionsPuddles, windows, and mirrors offer opportunities to play with reflections, which can add complexity to your street shots. In black-and-white photography, reflections create interesting shapes and contrasts, especially when combined with the starkness of urban light sources. Capturing emotion and interactionOne of the most powerful elements of street photography is its ability to capture candid moments of human emotion and interaction. Black and white helps strip away distractions, focusing the viewer on the expression, gesture, or moment at hand.Candid momentsLook for spontaneous interactions, whether its a conversation, a shared laugh, or even a fleeting glance. These moments tell a story and add emotional depth to your image. Since black and white emphasizes contrast, pay attention to how expressions and body language are highlighted by light and shadow. Framing the sceneUse your surroundings to frame your subjects and enhance the story youre telling. Doorways, windows, or the spaces between buildings can serve as natural frames, drawing the viewers attention to the human interaction happening within the scene.Movement in street photographyStreet photography is often dynamic, with people, cars, and city life in constant motion. Black-and-white photography allows you to capture this movement in creative ways.Freezing the actionTo capture fast-moving subjects like pedestrians or vehicles, use a fast shutter speed to freeze the action. In black and white, the stark contrast between a sharp subject and blurred background can emphasize the energy of the moment. Long exposuresAlternatively, you can experiment with slower shutter speeds to blur motion, creating a sense of fluidity. Moving subjects, like passing crowds or vehicles, will appear as streaks of light or shadow, giving your image a dynamic, dreamlike quality.Mastering black-and-white street photography is about observing the subtleties of light, shadow, and human interaction. By focusing on contrast, texture, and movement, you can capture the energy and raw beauty of everyday life in the city. Experiment with different techniques and be ready for those unplanned, candid moments that make street photography so captivating. Not on 500px yet? Sign up here to explore more impactful photography.The post Dynamic street photography in black and white appeared first on 500px.

Listening for early signs of Alzheimer's diseaseLearn morehttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241120122700.htmImage: Berit Kessler/Shutterstock.com

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Why use augmented reality for live sports production? Dreamwalls Thibault Baras, our long-time partner from Belgium, tackles this question at the Exclusive Talk Session titled "Enhancing Visibility and Reducing Costs with AR in Sports Coverage" at IBC Show.Special thanks to our partner for sharing their expertise and continuing to deliver great projects across countries in different applications such as sports, news, or weather.Dreamwall Entire presentation: https://youtu.be/B_eAlYlWRe4#VirtualProduction #AR #SportsBroadcast #LiveEvents

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