Among Hair Salon / Orosy studioSave this picture! Yongjoon ChoiArchitects: orosy studioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:198 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2025 PhotographsPhotographs:Yongjoon ChoiMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Among Hair explores the brand philosophy of "connection" through the idea of "interweaving," where individual lives and moments come together to create meaningful ties.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The space, transformed from an old house, blends aged, imperfect lines with clean, modern ones. A preserved brick column, embraced by a custom table, highlights the contrast of materials and symbolizes this interweaving.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A large column connects the first and second floors, with an open void around the staircase enhancing the sense of flow and spaciousness.Save this picture!Save this picture!The first floor offers a welcoming, open space for interaction, while the second floor provides a more private setting, featuring a custom metal-framed mirror and seating by a large window that frames the changing seasons.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:31, Yanghwa-ro 11-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South KoreaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeorosy studioOfficePublished on March 03, 2025Cite: "Among Hair Salon / Orosy studio" 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027258/among-hair-salon-orosy-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

LUME HAUS / STUDIO PRAKRUTHISave this picture! Saurabh SuryanArchitects: STUDIO PRAKRUTHIAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:4500 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2025 PhotographsPhotographs:Saurabh Suryan Lead Architects: Prakruthi Rao, Sharon John, Sitara Rao More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Lume Haus is a family office located on the terrace of a commercial building. This home-like office is a flexible space for meetings, discussions, and official get-togethers.Save this picture!Save this picture!The cumulative building footprint continues to grow rampantly in India's landscape. Every moment, we lose a natural ground cover to concrete plinths that lay the foundation for a 'glorious' building to satisfy the growing needs of the human population. As a young Architecture and Design practice that we are, we struggle in the grey area, with a constant dilemma about how we can contribute positively to this paradox of living. When the opportunity presented itself to us, to design an office space on the rooftop of an existing commercial building, we came upon a moment of sigh! A chance to design a building on an existing building a temporary shelter within which there will be a place of work.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Our design is such that it is merely a building upon an already existing building, that may be dismantled and moved elsewhere if the need arises. It is the peace of mind and balance that this idea brings to the soul that translates into the zen, natural, and meditative mood of the space.Save this picture!The composition of the temporary structure is as such an Aluminum grid clad with dark stained birch wood, held in place by recycled teak wood beading. We made a conscious decision not to use industrial-grade glue to bind the materials, we used steel nails hidden within the teak wood beading to keep the birch wood in place and the walls temporary in nature. The ceiling is natural green building-certified acoustic panels.Save this picture!Save this picture!With regard to the furniture, it is a combination of bespoke Studio Prakruthi objects and Danish classics. The furniture we design for each project is limited edition pieces, made specifically for the project and the client making them one-of-a-kind objects. The black-stained Sycamore and birch plywood executive desks, and marble top coffee tables inspired by mid-century aesthetics are some of the bespoke furniture that was made for this space.Save this picture!"In totality, there is a comforting repetition in the space, almost like breathing again and again. This draws parallel to the idea of finding success in relentless practice and consistency, what in essence is the philosophy I live by" by the architect.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Sankey road, Abshot layout, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052, IndiaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on March 02, 2025Cite: "LUME HAUS / STUDIO PRAKRUTHI" 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027250/lume-haus-studio-prakruthi&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Richter Center / ZDA - Zoboki Design and ArchitectureSave this picture! Dniel DmlkyArchitects: ZDA - Zoboki Design and ArchitectureAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:17000 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Dniel DmlkyManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Acromat, Argomex, Kemabo Kft, Lighting Embassy, Office Art & Design, Poziteam, SOS/Smart Office Solutions, Schal-Tech, Timbart, Zengvri Vilgtstechnikai, cera, do work! Lead Architects: Zoboki Gbor DLA habil. Contractor: More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Richter Centre reflects company's dynamism and community orientation. Designed by Zoboki Design and Architecture (ZDA), the new Richter Gedeon headquarters marks the beginning of a new era for the company. This building not only pays homage to Richter's history and tradition but also stands as an outstanding example of modern architecture, blending functionality, sustainability, and distinctive form. Richter's tradition and vision - The Richter Centre is located on the company's historical production site in Budapest, Hungary, that has been continuously expanded over the decades. Following a deliberate land use strategy, the company revitalizes its original factory sites, while gradually developing based on a long-term master plan created by ZDA 20 years ago. The new building, positioned centrally, next to the Chemical Research and Office Building, bridges the noble past of the company with its future developments.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The three pillars of the concept. The architectural concept is built on three main principles: Functionality: The initial phase of the design process focused on shaping the interior spaces to maximally support the efficiency and well-being of employees. Innovation: The building's form, appearance, and the modern architectural technologies and materials used all reflect the company's values and future-proof nature. Moderation: The building's exterior appearance is elegant and refined. The use of materials and the design of the faade are both modern and timeless.The architectural concept aimed to combine the highest level of interior functionality with a unique exterior appearance. The connection between the new Centre and the 2007 Chemical Research and Office Building, also designed by ZDA, is ensured by the conference unit. The central spaces of the buildings are linked by a generous bridge that unites research and corporate management both functionally and symbolically.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Iconic appearance and interior design - The faade reflects the two fundamental elements of research and development: invention and strict regulation. Each element is part of a rule-based system, yet they all take on unique forms. Viewed from a distance, the building appears as a unified work of art, while up close, the creativity and precision in the fine details are revealed. The louvers forming the undulating faade are all unique, yet they follow a uniform rule set, providing aesthetic and structural coherence. Achieving these virtuoso forms necessitated a new type of parametric tool-based collaboration between architects and engineers. Undulating forms run through both the interior and the exterior spaces. This sense of flow is also reflected in the grand central space of the building: with the virtuoso stair structures it not only serves circulation but it is also a place for communication and meetings. Overcoming design and construction challenges - Creating the expansive communal spaces required the development of several large-span structures, which were challenging from a structural perspective. The building's steel beams and glass pillars are of such dimensions that they required special technology to implement. Additionally, various technical challenges had to be overcome in terms of sustainability, such as the heat absorbed by large surfaces. Special and precise design was essential to ensure ideal and humane interior comfort.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Budapest, HungaryLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialGlassMaterials and TagsPublished on March 02, 2025Cite: "Richter Center / ZDA - Zoboki Design and Architecture" 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027257/richter-center-zda-zoboki-design-and-architecture&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Wooden Parking Garage Wendlingen / Herrmann + Bosch ArchitektenSave this picture! Roland HalbeArchitects: Herrmann + Bosch ArchitektenAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:10880 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Roland Halbe, Achim BirnbaumManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Lamberts, Carl Stahl ARC, IBC Solar, Schmitt + Sohn Aufzge, Sherpa, Zinco Steel Construction: SchmidMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Germany's largest wooden parking garage as a source of materials for the future. Designed by the Stuttgart-based firm herrmann+bosch architekten, this parking garage sets new standards in multiple aspects, combining high demands for design, user-friendliness, and sustainability. The parking garage is located along an important pedestrian route between the planned OTTO Quartier, which is being developed from the industrial monument of the former weaving company Heinrich Otto & Shne, and the train station. With 349 parking spaces across five levels, it plays a significant role in the traffic concept of the city of Wendlingen. It replaces the existing parking spaces located on the "Behr Areal" and promotes environmentally friendly mobility due to its favorable location near the train station, numerous electric charging stations for cars and e-bikes, as well as secure parking for 200 bicycles. Its Park+Ride function also helps alleviate traffic for the entire Stuttgart region.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The garage will stand out for its unusual oval shape, which is derived from the limited plot of land available and allows for maximum space efficiency. Additionally, its sustainable wooden construction is eye-catching. Instead of a typical steel or concrete structure, herrmann+bosch architekten has designed a forward-looking construction primarily made from cross-laminated timber slabs and glulam supports. Only the ramp floors and stairwells will be made of concrete for structural and fire safety reasons. The floors will feature a durable surface made of cast asphalt. A particularly high level of user-friendliness is achieved through column-free parking spaces, which can be adjusted in width at any time.Save this picture!Construction of the parking garage is straightforward, as all wooden elements are prefabricated and brought to the site, where they are assembled using simple plug-in systems. This guarantees a short construction time and high economic efficiency. The lightweight construction and minimal use of CO2-intensive materials like steel and concrete can save large amounts of CO2. To ensure the building's recyclability, no composite materials will be used, and nearly all connections will be bolted. This guarantees easy dismantling, clean separation, and thus the reusability of materials. The flexibility of the building is also ensured, with floor heights planned at a clear height of 2.35 meters and between the beams at 3.40 meters, rather than the conventional height of 2.10 meters in a typical parking garage. This height and the absence of columns enable easy conversion of the parking garage into a residential or working space with a pleasant, naturally lit courtyard instead of centrally located ramps.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The north side of the building will feature a soundproof facade made of translucent profile glass across all levels. This will effectively shield the planned residential development of the new OTTO Quarter from the noise of the parking garage, the adjacent railway line, and the road bridge. The south side will have an open facade, showcasing the wooden construction and incorporating green facades to enhance the building's attractiveness and that of its surroundings. The roof will also be greened, and a photovoltaic system mounted there will provide renewable energy. The aim is to cover the electricity needs of the charging stations entirely through the photovoltaic system. Natural ventilation will eliminate the need for troublesome, maintenance-intensive ventilation technology and fire protection systems, increasing the building's economic viability.Save this picture!The roof and facade greening are also part of a sophisticated rainwater management concept that considers the changes caused by the climate crisis. The project's rainwater management plan, designed to be highly resilient to heavy rainfall and climate-friendly, contrasts with conventional approaches that seek to quickly divert rainwater into sewer systems. The goal of this specially developed concept is to ensure a natural water balance, promoting groundwater replenishment and evaporation while only diverting excess water into the sewage system at a controlled rate. This complex plan includes various runoff-reducing measures (green roofs, green facades, infiltration basins, cisterns, tree pits, and permeable surfaces). It positively impacts existing vegetation, provides improved flood protection, and positively influences the local microclimate. The concept follows the forward-looking model of the "sponge city," which serves as the basis for the entire urban development project "OTTO Quarter."Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Wendlingen, GermanyLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on March 02, 2025Cite: "Wooden Parking Garage Wendlingen / Herrmann + Bosch Architekten" 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026856/wooden-parking-garage-wendlingen-herrmann-plus-bosch-architekten&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Sports Hall Wangen / Steimle ArchitektenSave this picture! Brigida GonzlezArchitects: Steimle ArchitektenAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3700 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Brigida GonzlezManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: JUNG, Duravit, Benz Sport GmbH, Hansa, LIGNOTREND, LTS Licht & Leuchten, Mosa More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. At first glance, the key function of the new sports hall may not be immediately apparent. Still, its role as an urban hinge on the heterogeneous area between the vocational school centre, the old town hall, the grammar school and the fairground is crucial. By opening up the hall on three sides through the spacious foyer and the integrated cafeteria, the new building not only creates a visual but also a functional network for the entire campus.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The urban positioning of the hall creates a sequence of open spaces with different qualities that merge seamlessly into one another. The campus square to the north in front of the main entrance faade, together with the neighbouring plane tree hall to the west and its remarkable old trees, welcomes students with an inviting gesture. This imposing spatial framework of the tree hall continues onto the campus square like a car-free plane, which visually connects with the neighbouring old town when looking eastwards. The positioning of the sports hall defines the fairground to the east of the building, which, together with the new square design to the south of the hall, opens up a generous open space for events. Six large gates open up the hall to the south towards this square and the hall is thus connected to the outdoor events.Save this picture!The compact two-storey cube of the three-court sports hall is based on the rational aesthetics of the neighbouring buildings in terms of its design language, materiality and simplicity. Defined by a restrained, calm architectural order, the sports hall integrates into the existing context as a new address in the centre of Wangen. The faade of the building follows the principle of an interplay between open and closed surfaces. While the exterior walls in the area of the sports hall are closed in front of the baffle walls in accordance with their use, with a continuous band of skylights above, the main entrance faade opposite reverses this principle with the continuous glazing of the foyer on the ground floor and the wooden louvre faade on the upper floor. The east and west faades reproduce this interplay with a central division.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The foyer, which is accessed at ground level via the campus square, is designed as a multifunctional, open and bright zone. In addition to the function of receiving and distributing, the foyer with its integrated cafeteria offers a catering service for students, teaching staff and external guests on campus, making the hall an important networking point. Between the sports hall with its three-pitch sport fields to the south and the foyer to the north, there is a space that runs along both sides with ancillary rooms such as the kitchen, changing rooms, equipment rooms, control room, technology, storage and access via two staircases to the upper floor. Here, two large, almost square gymnastics rooms provide additional space for sports activities and are orientated towards the north-west and north-east via the corners of the building. For sports activities, the hall is also accessed via a side entrance to the east with short routes to the changing rooms on the upper floor.Save this picture!The building structure is based on a hybrid construction method with a stiffening solid core and an enveloping timber supporting structure. The rhythm of the construction grid can be seen in the faade design. Timber frame elements with vertical and alternating tapered louvres were developed to clad the evenly spaced compartments between the load-bearing timber supports. Rooms that require daylight, such as the gymnastics rooms, are sufficiently lit by the faade design of the louvre construction and at the same time protected from outside views.Save this picture!The entire design and building concept is based on a climate-friendly and recyclable construction and was realised with regard to a sustainable environmental footprint in accordance with the guidelines for sustainable building of the district of Ravensburg and with the support of the Vorarlberg Energy Institute. The realisation was based on a holistic approach and took into account criteria such as building ecology, biodiversity and near-natural construction. The sustainability concept includes measures such as the use of regional building materials and local timber, as well as the avoidance of pollutants and the protection of species on the building, the creation and preservation of landscape-defining elements on the outside of the building, the minimisation of sealed surfaces and a green roof designed for biodiversity.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Wangen im Allgu, GermanyLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeSteimle ArchitektenOfficeMaterialsWoodConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on March 02, 2025Cite: "Sports Hall Wangen / Steimle Architekten" 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027299/sports-hall-wangen-steimle-architekten&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Graa Funicular / Atelier BugioSave this picture! Alexander BogorodskiyArchitects: Atelier BugioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:163 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Alexander BogorodskiySave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Following a logic of typological continuity, the mechanical solution of the funicular establishes the connection to the Graa hill. Lisbon's hills have a tradition of transport mechanisms for people, most of them electric, such as various elevatorsboth vertical and inclinedand, more recently, escalators, like the one connecting Rua Garrett to Largo do Carmo.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The typological reference for this funicular was, in many aspects, the Bica Elevator, which provided answers to many of the questions we posed regarding this equipment. At the lower level, continuing the faade of Rua dos Lagares, a building opens a large door onto the street. This public entrance allows access between the street and the funicular through a "station" building, where the equipment is stored when not in use and where passengers are received before beginning their journey. The funicular has only two stops to ensure the desired flow: one at the lower level, on Rua dos Lagares, and the other at the upper level, where it meets the end of Calada da Graa. This upper stop is slightly below the viewpoint level, allowing the funicular to stop on the streetsimilar to the Bica Elevatorbefore beginning its descent.Save this picture!SPATIAL SEQUENCE - At the lower level, on Rua dos Lagares, a small station building continues the streets faade and connects the funicular route to the street through a double-height space. The building houses the mechanism and creates a "gateway" to Graa. The funicular cabin is designed with an axis that divides it into two sections: the opaque section, which contains two doorsone emergency exit and one for passengersand the transparent section, which offers passengers a view of the interior of the Convents enclosure throughout the journey, as the route runs parallel to it. The enclosure is now being transformed into a public garden. The first part of the route runs alongside the enclosure, ascending continuously through the new garden. Then, the funicular enters a small curved tunnel that passes beneath the viewpoint, reaching the connection level with Calada da Graa. As it emerges onto the street, the funicular turns its back to the viewpoints retaining wall, opening up to Jardim Augusto Gil and the river, which unfolds on the horizon of Calada da Graa.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Lisboa, PortugalLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeAtelier BugioOfficePublished on March 02, 2025Cite: "Graa Funicular / Atelier Bugio" [Funicular Graa / Atelier Bugio] 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027156/graca-funicular-atelier-bugio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Educational Spaces as Cultural and Civic Hubs in the Middle East: 7 Projects Redefining Public EngagementSave this picture!Issam Fares Institute American University of Beirut / Zaha Hadid Architects. Image Luke HayesEducation has long been a driving force in the Middle East, shaping knowledge, encouraging innovation, and strengthening cultural identity. In recent years, educational architecture in the region has expanded beyond its academic function, evolving into public gathering spaces and cultural hubs. These institutions are designed not only for learning but also for dialogue, research, and collaboration, often integrating open courtyards, multi-use public areas, and architectural elements that reflect local heritage. Whether through their physical openness, adaptability, or connection to the urban environment, these spaces reinforce the idea that universities and research centers are essential to civic life.This shift is visible in built projects across the region. In Lebanon, the Issam Fares Institute at AUB provides accessible spaces for research and policy discussions, while the Sheikh Nahyan Centre for Arabic Studies serves as an intellectual and cultural meeting point. In Saudi Arabia, KAUST and Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University integrate research, education, and public engagement within expansive campuses. In Jordan, the International Amman Academy creates a village-like environment that blends learning with outdoor public space. In Egypt, the Jameel Center in Downtown Cairo, originally part of the American University in Cairo, has been reactivated as part of the GrEEK Campus, a hub for technology and entrepreneurship. Together, these institutions demonstrate how educational spaces in the Middle East are evolving into centers for social, intellectual, and cultural exchange.Read on to discover how these institutions are redefining educational architecture in the Middle East. Related Article Spaces that Educate: The Role of Architectural Design on International Education Day Issam Fares Institute / Zaha Hadid Architects Hamra, LebanonSave this picture!The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a research and policy center that integrates into the university's campus. The building is designed to be accessible, with multiple entry points that connect it to key circulation routes, making it a natural part of the daily movement of students and faculty. One of its defining architectural features is the cantilevered structure, which reduces its footprint and creates a shaded courtyard beneath, functioning as an informal gathering space. The building's layout is open and interconnected, with research lounges, seminar rooms, and a reading area arranged to encourage interaction. The double-height entrance courtyard acts as an extension of the surrounding landscape, providing a covered public space for casual meetings and discussions. Inside, transparent partitions and open circulation routes promote visibility and engagement between different working areas. The 100-seat auditorium is positioned to allow for larger public events and lectures without disrupting the daily functions of the institute. Through its design, the building encourages a fluid exchange of ideas, using spatial openness and circulation to support its role as a hub for research, discussion, and policy development.Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University / Perkins & WillSaudi ArabiaSave this picture!Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), designed by Perkins+Will in collaboration with Dar Al-Handasah, is the largest woman-only academic and cultural hub. It is designed exclusively for women's education and professional development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Serving 60,000 students, the campus integrates academic, medical, and recreational facilities along with a monorail system, creating a self-sufficient urban environment. Architecturally, the university incorporates regional design elements, such as mashrabiya-style latticework, which provides privacy while maintaining visibility in exterior spaces. The project was built as a fully realized master plan, ensuring all facilities were completed simultaneously rather than evolving over time. Beyond classrooms, the campus includes research centers, sports facilities, and gathering spaces, supporting both education and social interaction. Its design reflects a dedicated space for women's higher learning, creating both academic growth and public engagement within a structured and secure environment.IAA / Symbiosis Designs LTDAmman, JordanSave this picture!The International Amman Academy (IAA), designed by Symbiosis Designs, is organized as a "garden village" campus, integrating educational spaces with outdoor areas that encourage interaction. The layout consists of multiple buildings connected by open courtyards and gardens, rather than a single institutional block. The gardens are designed with thematic elements, ranging from playful areas for younger students to more reflective spaces for older students, creating different environments for gathering, movement, and learning outside the classroom. At the entrance, the administrative building includes an art gallery, providing a public-facing cultural space within the campus. A defining feature of the campus is the wind towers, which are integrated into the buildings to provide natural ventilation, daylight, and cooling. These towers also serve as visual markers, creating a rhythm across the school's skyline. Through its open circulation, public spaces, and layered architectural design, IAA acts as civic and cultural hubs, incorporating elements that extend beyond classrooms to create spaces for gathering, reflection, and cultural expression.The Abdul Latif Jameel Center / Dar Al-HandasahCairo, EgyptSave this picture!Save this picture!The Abdul Latif Jameel Center for Middle East Management Studies, designed by Dar Al-Handasah and completed in 1989, is an educational and cultural hub in Downtown Cairo. Originally built as part of the American University in Cairo (AUC), the center integrates modernist design with Mamluk architectural influences, featuring fair-faced concrete faades, wooden mashrabiyyas, and marble arches. These elements reference Cairo's historic architectural vocabulary while serving functional purposes, such as passive cooling and light control.Beyond its role in business education and management training, the Jameel Center has evolved into a key part of Cairo's innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Today, it is incorporated into the GrEEK Campus, a major technology and startup hub, extending its use beyond academia. Situated in the heart of Downtown Cairo, the center remains an active space for learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange, reflecting how educational buildings in the Middle East continue to adapt and serve broader societal needs.Gooyesh Institute / SATRAP Architectural StudioIsfahan, IranSave this picture!The Gooyesh Institute, designed by SATRAP Architectural Studio, is a multi-purpose educational and cultural hub that combines language training facilities with public gathering spaces. The four-story building, covering 918 square meters, houses classrooms, a library, administrative offices, an internet area, a bookstore, and a cafeteria, making it a space for both learning and social interaction. The faade design integrates Persian architectural references, featuring a 'Metal Amood' structure that wraps the building, creating a visual identity while filtering light and shadow throughout the day. The faade also incorporates engraved text, including educational quotes, reinforcing the institute's role as a space for knowledge exchange.Inside, the layout is designed for flexibility, with hybrid mechanical systems for climate control and intelligent energy management. The combination of educational functions, communal spaces, and an expressive architectural identity establishes the Gooyesh Institute as a gathering space that extends beyond its role as a language school, engaging with the urban environment and broader community.King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) / HOK Thuwal, Saudi ArabiaSave this picture!King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), designed by HOK, is a large-scale academic and research hub in Saudi Arabia that integrates educational, residential, and cultural functions. The campus and university town were planned together, providing facilities for students, faculty, and researchers in a connected environment. The main campus consists of ten buildings facing the Red Sea, housing administrative offices, student services, a library, a mosque, labs, and research centers. A coastal studies center is also part of the university's expansion.The architectural design incorporates passive cooling strategies, with large shaded walkways, perforated roofs, and fountains to regulate temperature. Open courtyards and circulation routes between buildings create gathering spaces, reinforcing KAUST as a place for both research and social interaction. The library and research buildings include open bridges and triple-height spaces, visually connecting different areas and encouraging collaboration. With its combination of academic, public, and residential spaces, KAUST is designed as an educational and cultural hub, supporting scientific research while integrating elements of traditional Middle Eastern architecture in a contemporary setting.Sheikh Nahyan Centre for Arabic Studies / Fouad Samara Architects Koura, LebanonSave this picture!The Sheikh Nahyan Centre for Arabic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue (CASID) at the University of Balamand, designed by Fouad Samara Architects, is a cultural and academic hub dedicated to intellectual exchange and research on Arabic heritage. Positioned on a sloping site with views of the campus, a walnut grove, and the Mediterranean Sea, the building is designed to be open and accessible from all sides, reinforcing its role as a platform for dialogue and learning. CASID follows the spatial logic of traditional Levantine courtyard buildings, but instead of enclosing itself, it integrates with the surrounding landscape. The eastern section is embedded into the terrain, reflecting traditional hillside construction, while the western section cantilevers out toward the campus, creating a prominent entrance. The rooftop serves as a public space, offering green areas and panoramic views. The use of local materials, such as rough shuttered concrete and honed basalt floors, connects the building to regional construction traditions, while aluminum sun baffles on the western faade reinterpret Arabesque patterns in a modern form. By combining educational spaces with public gathering areas, CASID functions as both a research institute and a cultural meeting point, supporting interdisciplinary exchange within the university and the broader community.This article is part of an ArchDaily curated series that focuses on built projects from our own database grouped under specific themes related to cities, typologies, materials, or programs. Every month, we will highlight a collection of structures that find a common thread between previously uncommon contexts, unpacking the depths of influence on our built environments. As always, at ArchDaily, we highly appreciate the input of our readers. If you think we should mention specific ideas, please submit your suggestions.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorNour FakharanyAuthorCite: Nour Fakharany. "Educational Spaces as Cultural and Civic Hubs in the Middle East: 7 Projects Redefining Public Engagement" 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027464/educational-spaces-as-cultural-and-civic-hubs-in-the-middle-east-7-projects-redefining-public-engagement&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

PAC Place-making / Nota ArchitectsSave this picture! Qian ShiyunShanghai City , ChinaArchitects: Nota ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:19000 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:ManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Lunawood, &Tradition, HAY furniture, Mets Fibre Oy, Sikkens, ToliMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. PAC is a commercial complexdeveloped by Keppel in Jing'an District, Shanghai. It is a lifestyle platform that connects nature, people, and community.The purpose ofPAC Place-makingis to help ownersdevelop Physical Spaces into Vibrant Urban Place. With Nota Modernology, Programming and Scenario Design are carried out through Co-creation with potential user communities. Installations and interventions are designed to optimize the spatial structure of the site and foster a deep connection between people and the site.Save this picture!Save this picture!Selected target audience, including nearby residents, business operators, and KOLs, were invited to engage in dialogue and co-creation. The discussions focused on lifestyle, the surrounding environment, and sustainability. These insights highlighted a strong desire for public green spaces and other subtle, "invisible" needs, which became key guiding principles for scenario development and program planning.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The journey of discovery begins with the central waterscape.From the terrace, the wooden rooftop comes into view, while the Ascending Mist of the Auditorium Hillsidesubtly leads visitors to the second floor. There, one discovers a tranquil jungle caf under the sunlit wooden lattice dome. Like an eggshell nestled in the grass, it offers tender shelter. White clouds drift across the lattice, while pets rest on wooden platforms. Following winding pathways, another wooden dome appearsa soft play area lies beneath, complete with swings for children, while parents sit around the edges, waiting for their turn. Familiar yet surprising, the misty staircase guides visitors back to the inner street entrance. Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The upper terraces and lower streets are connected through adaptive interventions guided by the principle of Adhocism. This approach emphasizes sustainable thinking, from design to construction and, ideally, throughout the operational phases. The design concept is rooted inThe iconic Eggshell Dome showcases the Zollinger timber structure,known for its minimal material consumption.It comprises over 700 uniquely crafted glued-lam straight tenon components, CNC-processed and meticulously spliced and assembled on-site.The primary material is Finnish spruce from sustainable sources, complemented by thermal wood. Both materials provide durability and comfort.Wherever possible, MEP facilities are creatively repurposedfor instance, electrical boxes are transformed into poster boards or dog walking signageunderscoring a commitment to sustainable design.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The conceived scenarios were refined following validation through user prospectives, guided by insights addressing diverse needs from daily activities to quarterly events. This approach enables management and operations teams to allocate resources more effectively, enhancing the overall value of the site. Additionally, research into streetscapesincluding displays and signageled to the creation of Tenant Guidelines designed to ensure a harmonious balance between visual order and dynamic vibe.Save this picture!Save this picture!Our goal is to create a neighboringSave this picture!Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialsWoodSteelMaterials and TagsPublished on March 02, 2025Cite: "PAC Place-making / Nota Architects" 02 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027225/discovering-fun-pac-place-making-nota-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save?PAC / NotaYou've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

ETHR Clubhaus Cafe Bakery / shell+coreSave this picture! Bianca StudioArchitects: shell+coreAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:250 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Bianca Studio Lead Architects: shell+core More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Designed by interior architecture firm shell+core, ETHR Clubhaus is a cafe/bakery space in Sharjah, UAE that represents an exclusive lifestyle where design, art, food, and wellbeing are celebrated in a zen, plant-filled setting.Save this picture!Upon entering a sunken garden lounge, across a narrow, light-filled retail/kitchen block to the main dining area, the space is wholesome and welcoming - set on multiple levels encouraging customer and staff interaction. The idea of 'openness' is pushed, with an engaging facade spanning the full length of the space, bound by a large central kitchen block made of plywood and textured glass, radiating a warm perimeter glow from within, creating a play of shadows during operational hours.Save this picture!Save this picture!Sustainable, recycled materials dominate the interior, including a re-purposed cork wallpaper in brown earthy hues contrasting a white travertine stone flooring. A feature green marble derived from rock formations present in Sharjah's local context allows for a cohesive layering of materials that reference its surroundings as part of its overall spatial narrative.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Overall, ETHR Clubhaus is an amalgamation of objects, volumes, materials, and textures coming together to explore the art of storytelling through design, gracefully navigating a spatial narrative around that and allowing it to unfold.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeshell+coreOfficePublished on March 02, 2025Cite: "ETHR Clubhaus Cafe Bakery / shell+core" 01 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027471/ethr-clubhaus-cafe-bakery-shell-plus-core&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

qiyu Hair Salon / FATHOMArchitects: FATHOMAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:45 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 Lead Architects: FATHOM Text description provided by the architects. A project to open a hair salon in Hiroshima by a couple who run a modelling and hairstylist business from two bases in Tokyo and Hiroshima. They live apart from each other and can only spend a short time together, so they wondered if they could project their lives between Tokyo and Hiroshima into the space of their shop, which is not their home.The property is located on the fifth floor of a small building facing Namiki-dori in Hiroshima City. It is inconspicuous from the street, with a small common space off the elevator. At first, we felt that it was a little inadequate, considering the potential the two of us had. So, we thought about whether it would be possible to create a space that would instantly convey to visitors the world view that the two of them have woven together the moment they open the door while keeping the building's design close to the approach and daring to shut out information about the shop.Save this picture!We secured four cutting spaces and two shampoo units, the maximum number that can be taken in a 45sqm space, and placed a large reception counter at the end of the entrance door to create a floating space. We named this space "the yuqi table" so that when the wife returns from Tokyo, she can try various things, such as a pop-up store. The cloakroom is made of acrylic to make its presence transparent and light, as the small space is filled with voluminous objects such as chairs and counters.An H-shaped timber frame made of wood, resembling an H-shaped steel frame, was devised for the skeleton of the restored building frame. The counter of the yuqi table is supported by this frame, which is connected to the husband's cutting space, where a mirror is suspended from the beam frame, and the pillars have a face stand and sockets attached to them. I hope that the electric current circulates through the frame like blood so that the two people, who live in different places and have different jobs, can work here as husband and wife, feeling connected to each other as if their blood is flowing under their consciousness.The moment you open the entrance door, you are immediately struck by the sight of a couple who live far away from each other being able to connect for a moment, a new business interwoven with a lifestyle that is still rare in Hiroshima. By creating a hub in the space where the couple work as they travel between Tokyo and Hiroshima, we believe that the lifestyle they weave together will become a unique culture, and if it can be derived and spread in various ways in Hiroshima, the city will become more interesting.Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeFATHOMOfficePublished on March 01, 2025Cite: "qiyu Hair Salon / FATHOM" 01 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027472/qiyu-hair-salon-fathom&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Vila do Chapu Square / Henry Teixeira Arquitetura e UrbanismoSave this picture! Felipe PetrovskyPublic SpaceSo Gonalo do Amarante, BrazilArchitects: Henry Teixeira Arquitetura e UrbanismoAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3775 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Felipe Petrovsky Lead Architects: Henry Teixeira More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. HT Arquitetura e Urbanismo has been designing and building a wide variety of projects and skateparks over the last few years. In this case, we have a very specific solution for the design of the central square of the "Vila do Chapu" gated development, located on Taba beach, 74 km from the city of Fortaleza, capital of the state of Cear, Brazil. The space has 2 skateparks, 2 beach tennis courts, communal toilets, 1 coconut grove, 1 children's playground and a gym.Save this picture!Save this picture!Morro do Chapu is one of the beaches of Taba, which is a tourist destination in the Brazilian state of Cear. It has 10 km of beautiful beaches, with a wide strip of sand, dunes and sandstone reefs, many cliffs, natural pools and is populated by a native population that exploits fishing and tourism. With this in mind, the design solution was inspired by the exuberant nature that exists there and seeks to integrate with it.Save this picture!The design solution focused on creating a meeting point for users to integrate with the space, as it is a famous surfing break. In this way, there was an integration between skateboarding and surfing, where the 2 tracks are designed for "carver skateboarding", but without restricting the use of all sports such as bmx or rollerblading. In this way we have a small track, focused on learning, in the wave format and a large track for the more advanced user in the snake format.Save this picture!Save this picture!To complement the sports for the users, two beach tennis courts and a gym were designed, which were made with sand from the land itself, using a natural transition from the site, in rolled pebbles, to the concrete floors that dominate the general setting. In the specific case of the gym, a wooden equipment solution was adopted, in this case for better performance against the sea air and to fit in with the natural style of the sand floor.Save this picture!Designed in the shape of a surfboard, the overall design also includes play areas such as a leisure slope, a children's playground, as well as open walks and a coconut grove. Together with the sports areas, these items complement the appropriation and use of the space by an entire family, given that the space is a tourist and leisure destination.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:, BrazilLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on March 01, 2025Cite: "Vila do Chapu Square / Henry Teixeira Arquitetura e Urbanismo" 01 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023349/vila-do-chapeu-henry-teixeira-arquitetura-e-urbanismo&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

15 Hudson Yards Building / Diller Scofidio + RenfroSave this picture! Timothy SchenckSkyscrapersNew York, United StatesArchitects: Diller Scofidio + RenfroYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2018 PhotographsPhotographs:Timothy Schenck, Brett BeyerManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Effisus, Fontana Showers Productstranslation missing: en-US.post.svg.material_descriptionMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. 15 Hudson Yards will be the first building with for-sale residences to open in Manhattan's new Hudson Yards neighborhood; the first residents are expected to begin moving in December 2018. Designed to LEED Gold standards, the 70-story, 900-foot-tall tower anchors the southeast corner of Hudson Yards East at 30th Street and 11th Avenue. Utilizing cold-bent glass to achieve its shape, 15 Hudson Yards softens the conventional expressions of glass towers, with its surface expressed as fluid and supple. The tower morphs into a quatre leaf at the top, shaped to maximize panoramic views in all directions.Save this picture!MAJOR FEATURES Lobby (Level 1) Accessible directly from the Public Square and Gardens, the grand twolevel lobby takes advantage of soaring ceilings and brilliant walls of glass, creating an inviting sun-filled space accented with artwork, a calming reflecting pool and elegant walls of travertine. A distinct lounge facing the High Line forms a luxurious respite with a warming fireplace and comfortable seating area.Back of House (Level 1-12) The Shed's back-of-house spaces, which include offices, mechanical spaces, dressing rooms, and storage have been integrated into the base of 15 Hudson Yards. This allows both buildings to maximize the efficiency of their mechanical systems.Save this picture!Amenity (Level 50-51) Residents can swim laps while enjoying expansive city views on the 50th floor, entirely dedicated to wellness pursuits including 12,000 square feet of spa, salon, and fitness facilities. One floor up, the 51st floor is a gathering space with lounges, private dining suites, a club room and a state-of-the art collaborative work space. Residential Units The design language of the residential units expands on the lobby's use of rich materials such as floors of Continental Oak in a natural oil finish and travertine stone from Italy. Five residence types (Plaza, Loft, Panorama, Penthouses, Duplex Penthouses) and two interior design schemes have been conceived to provide distinctive, uniquely New York homes. Amenity (Level 67) The 67th floor (the highest in the tower) has been conceived as a rooftop amenity that feels like an extension of a penthouse. Two flexible event spaces on the east and west sides of the floor are separated by a 2,000 square foot open-air lounge that will offer some of the most stunning sunset vistas in the city.Save this picture!TECHNICAL FEATURES Faade: The building's lobby is encased by 26' tall 2 1/2" thick laminated low-iron glass from Germany, framed by sculptural limestone column cladding fabricated in Carrara, Italy. The lobby is further trimmed and structurally supported by a sculptural stainless steel "strap" fabricated by master boat builders in the Netherlands. The shifting glazing pattern at the base of the building is produced by a digitally optimizing the distribution of glass and louver modules to accomodate a complex mix of technical and programmatic requirements on levels 1-19 including mechanical intake and exhaust air for both 15HY and the Shed. The subtly morphing form of the residential tower from Level 20 upwards is clad with a "cold-warped" unitized curtain wall system. Individual glazing units are pre-manufactured completely flat, and cold-warped on site within a bending tolerance prescribed by glass suppliers. When finished, 15HY will be the tallest cold-warped facade in North America. A monumental viewing terrace at the top of the building provides views to the Hudson River, utilizing a 65-foot tall freestanding steel facade with sculptural columns.Save this picture!Sustainability: 15 Hudson Yards has been designed to meet LEED Gold certification. From filtered fresh air, to Lutron home automation and a grey water recycling system that uses storm water runoff to support cooling, each home is equipped with state-of-the-art features. Hudson Yards will have a first-of-its-kind microgrid and two cogeneration plants generating electricity, hot and chilled water for the neighborhood with over twice the efficiency of conventional sources. This onsite powergeneration capacity will keep basic building services, residences and restaurant refrigerators running whatever the disturbance brown out, superstorm, etc.Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:553 West 30th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues, within the 28acre Hudson Yards neighborhood on the West side of Manhattan, United StatesLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialGlassMaterials and TagsPublished on March 01, 2025Cite: "15 Hudson Yards Building / Diller Scofidio + Renfro" 01 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/929912/15-hudson-yards-diller-scofidio-plus-renfro&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save?15 / Diller Scofidio + RenfroYou've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Pinewood International School-Anatolia College / A.N. Tombazis & Associates Architects + Micromega Architecture & StrategiesSave this picture! Giorgos SfakianakisEducational Architecture, SchoolsPylaia Thessaloniki, GreeceAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3800 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Giorgos SfakianakisManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: EGGER, Alumil, ABB, Abas, Abopart, Air Grilles, Airtechnic, Akritas, Aquatherm, Bauder, Belimo, Bisol, CBI, Cablel, Caparol, Courbi, Daikin, Duropal, EKA Hellas, Electrocanali, +39 More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Pinewood School in Anatolia Campus: blending contextual design and vibrant aesthetics into an inclusive experience. The new Pinewood School represents a contemporary architectural landmark within the historic Anatolia College campus in Pylaia, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki. Emphasizing experiential education and sustainable design, the building offers a vibrant learning environment tailored to prepare students for a globalized future.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Designed to serve students from grades 6 to 1, the school reflects a multicultural ethos, fostering social interaction and spontaneous gatherings. Its modern architectural expression combines bold colors, light steel structures, concrete elements, and expansive curtain walls. Despite its contemporary language, the design harmonizes with the campus's existing buildings and the historic garden.Save this picture!Located on a sloping site descending east to west, the school respects the campus's historic axis. This circulation axis connects the main building to the open stadium, passing through a preserved historic garden with centennial trees. To maintain the integrity of this axis, the school's primary functions are distributed across two wings, linked by an elevated promenade. This lightweight steel structure not only unites the wings but also offers sweeping views of the stadium and surrounding landscape.Save this picture!Save this picture!Each wing is further divided into two linear modules, ensuring optimal south-facing orientation for classrooms. This layout creates two atriumsone open and one enclosedthat enhance spatial flexibility and encourage seamless interaction between indoor and outdoor environments. The enclosed atrium features a striking canopy supported by steel columns resembling trees, evoking a playful metaphor for the "Pinewood" name.Save this picture!The gym, positioned on the lower level, connects seamlessly to both an outdoor courtyard and the stadium. Sustainability lies at the heart of the project. Bioclimatic principles minimize energy consumption while maximizing natural light and ventilation. Energy-efficient glazing, shading systems, and thoughtful landscaping contribute to thermal comfort and a pleasant year-round microclimate. The new Pinewood School exemplifies the integration of innovative design and environmental responsibility, creating a space that supports academic excellence and community engagement.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Pylaia Thessaloniki, GreeceLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialsWoodConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on March 01, 2025Cite: "Pinewood International School-Anatolia College / A.N. Tombazis & Associates Architects + Micromega Architecture & Strategies" 01 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026828/pinewood-international-school-anatolia-college-an-tombazis-and-associates-architects-plus-micromega-architecture-and-strategies&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Post Office House / Cidade Branco ArquitectosSave this picture! David PereiraArchitects: Cidade Branco ArquitectosAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:240 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:David PereiraManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Azulcer, Cantinho do Vintage, Viva Lamego, aNeves Lead Architects: Mariana Cidade, Ricardo Branco More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. This house is the result of a rehabilitation of a nineteenth century building that was once the post office of the town of Luso, in northern Portugal. Its main use was for services related to the post office, but it also contained a living space for the local director of the post office company, called CTT. The building was characterized by a timber frame construction and outstanding carpentry details. It had an air gap that protected it from humidity and helped preserve the original wood.Save this picture!Save this picture!The building has a simple, traditional faade and marks the main axis of the village by creating symmetry between two other public buildings (the Parish Council and the Tourist Office). In order not to de-characterize the characteristic entrance that marks it, while changing its use from a building that was public into a private one, it was opted to keep the language of the neighboring buildings and inspired by that idea it was designed the gate that we wanted to look like it had always been there.espao habitacional que era destinado ao diretor local dos Correios (CTT). O edifcio caracterizava-se por uma construo em tabique e detalhes de carpintaria que se destacavam, sendo provido de um desvo sanitrio (caixa de ar) que o protege de humidades e que ajudaram a conservar as madeiras originais. O edifcio provido de uma fachada de desenho simples e tradicional e marca o eixo principal desta vila, ao criar uma simetria entre dois outros edifcios de carcter pblico (a Junta de freguesia e o Posto de Turismo). De forma a no descaracterizar a entrada caracterstica que o marca, para tornar um edifcio que era pblico em privado, optou-se por continuar o desenho da guarda envolvente do terreno e inspirados nisso desenhmos o porto que queramos que parecesse que sempre ali esteve.Save this picture!It is respect for the building and, in a way, the special interest in its details that dictates the project's strategy. In the exterior, the changes are minimal, and the image of the building remains the same - except now it looks brand new, the design of the frames has been simplified so that we have a larger area of glass and more natural light. It is in the interior, through a single gesture, that the whole project comes together.Save this picture!With the design of a void in the center of the building, a double-height area that generously connects the two floors and brings a new spatiality. This gesture helps us highlight the carpentry details that the building already had, namely the wooden trusses that support the roof, which were hidden by a suspended ceiling that we chose to remove and through the void created become present in the multiple spaces of the building. This void also brings thermal benefits by creating the chimney effect, which helps with the natural ventilation of the space, its cooling and also its heating, as less equipment is needed to heat the house.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The house ends up living around this void, where on the ground floor we enter a wide space with different social spaces, namely a living room, reading room, dining room, and kitchen, and where we also have an accessible bedroom. On the first floor, the void divides the floor plan and provides a suite on each side in a symmetrical way, leaving space for an open space office area that connects to the double-height area. In both suites, the door to the bathroom entrance is hidden in the closet doors, resulting in a seamless way to conceal the entrance to the bathroom.Save this picture!Save this picture!The woodwork was painstakingly restored, particularly the skirting boards, shutters and stair railings - we obtain this environment by the use of a natural wooden tone and the white-linen colored walls. We have deliberately brought in color through the composition of dark green tiles in the kitchen, which brings contrast, color and brightness. We would also highlight the use of Estremoz marble stone in the bathrooms and on the kitchen island worktop.It is project that above all aimed to make the best and highlight the beauty that the building itself already had.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on March 01, 2025Cite: "Post Office House / Cidade Branco Arquitectos" [Casa dos Correios / Cidade Branco Arquitectos] 01 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027485/post-office-house-cidade-branco-arquitectos&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Shanxia Cultural Station / MUFU Architectural Performance StudioSave this picture! Chen Xi StudioArchitects: MUFU Architectural Performance StudioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:418 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Chen Xi Studio Lead Architect: Hu Zhenhang More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Located at the foot of Maoqian Mountain in Yongkang, Zhejiang, China, Shanxia (Mountain-Foot) Village has long been celebrated for its picturesque landscapes and rich culture. However, with the advent of modernization, the village's traditional charm has gradually faded. Despite this, the folk custom of the Bench Dragon Lantern has endured, and this annual ritual performance on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month remains a significant moment that brings the community together and strengthens the village. The project site is a residential plot, just north of which lies the field for the dragon lantern performance and the rocky hill known as Houyanta (Rear Rock Pagoda). Instead of replicating the homogeneous modern-style residences, a public-oriented cultural station was envisioned, rooted in the rural land, with the aim of enhancing the dragon lantern viewing experience and serving as a hub for various cultural activities.Save this picture!The village planning, traditional customs, and site conditions presented challenges for the design, and the strategic negotiations within the design process also introduced contradiction in the architectural form. According to local customs, the building must not be shorter than the residences to its south. Combined with the planar layout requirements of the village planning, this resulted in a building with considerable height and volume, which, from its southern view, closely resembled other newly built modern-style residences. On the northern side of the building, a sectional strategy of slanted cut was adopted to alleviate the visual pressure of the building on Houyanta Hill; meanwhile, a volumetric setback design transformed the narrow passage between the building boundary line and the sheer rock face into a courtyard. While the strategies reduced the building area, they fostered a more positive relationship between architecture and nature, as well as an enhanced spatial experience. The interplay of red terracotta bricks, pebble-dash, and glass bricks not only strengthened the connection between the building and the natural and cultural environment of the village but also helped establish an intrinsic formal and functional logic for the building.Save this picture!The building features two entrances, one to the south and one to the north. The southern entrance aligns with the traditional residential layout, while the northern entrance connects to the natural hillside. The first and second floors serve as public activity spaces, including a dining hall, a kitchen, a courtyard, and a multifunctional hall. The third to fifth floors are designated as an accommodation area, offering guest rooms to host resident artists and scholars. During the dragon lantern performances, the third to fifth floors can flexibly transform into public viewing platforms and rest areas, while the first and second floors provide supporting services. As crowds gather during the dragon lantern festivities, the new spatial order jointly established by the building and the existing landscape becomes increasingly prominent. Rather than merely serving a functional role in facilitating performances, this building holds greater significance: since its completion, it has become an incubator and venue for various public cultural activities, including exhibitions, theater workshops, and academic seminars, demonstrating its feasibility as a cultural hub. As a new landmark in the village, the building is prompting people to reexamine the village's cultural value and development potential, while also shaping a more optimized planned layout. Inspired by the Bench Dragon Lantern, the Shanxia Cultural Station, situated at the foot of Maoqian Mountain and Houyanta Hill, is fostering collective wisdom, injecting deeper vitality and new possibilities into the rural community.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on March 01, 2025Cite: "Shanxia Cultural Station / MUFU Architectural Performance Studio" 01 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027054/shanxia-cultural-station-mufu-architectural-performance-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save? / You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Amore - Omor Residence / ShatottoSave this picture! Junaid Hasan PrantoHousesNikunjo, BangladeshArchitects: ShatottoAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:145 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Junaid Hasan Pranto Lead Architects: Prof Rafiq Azam More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Amore, love of a lawyer couple. This residence has been designed as a place of carnation for two busy young lawyers coming back home after a hectic day and turns into music lovers, art connoisseur, nature, and pet lovers. Although the lot size is only around 200 sqm, the design effectively accommodates both tangible and intangible functions, meeting the couple's desires. The thoughtful arrangement maximizes space, balancing functionality and personal needs while ensuring comfort and practicality within the limited area.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The basement is basically housing the music practice area, with light coming from the sky with sounds of water. The ground floor is primarily dedicated to parking, but features a green patch and water elements, complemented by a naturally lit lobby. The walls display carefully chosen artworks, setting a poetic tone for the house's entrance and creating a welcoming, visually striking atmosphere. The entrance gate, designed for both pedestrians and cars, is painted by artist Anukul Chandra Majumdar.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!This new initiative seamlessly integrates art and architecture, reflecting their harmonious connection and adding an artistic touch to the functional aspects of the entrance, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the house. Breaking social conventions, the design places all formal spaces on the top two floors, rather than the traditional lower levels. This unique approach challenges norms and redefines spatial hierarchy, offering a fresh perspective on the layout and function of the home. These spaces are seamlessly connected to open sky terraces, where lush, untamed greenery flourishes under the warmth of the western sunlight, evoking a sense of joy.Save this picture!Save this picture!At the third level, a Delonex Regia (Krishnochura) tree has been planted, symbolizing the summer with its vibrant, fiery red blooms, adding a burst of color and energy to the environment, and celebrating nature's exuberance.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeShatottoOfficePublished on March 01, 2025Cite: "Amore - Omor Residence / Shatotto" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027218/amore-omor-residence-shatotto&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Stone House / Esquadra ArquitetosSave this picture! Joana FranaHousesBraslia, BrazilArchitects: Esquadra ArquitetosAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:580 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2021 PhotographsPhotographs:Joana FranaManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Florense, Ik Pedras, Light Design, Multipedras, Talentus Esquadrias, Tozetti, kings Lead Architect: Filipe Monte Serrat More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The house is located near the city of Braslia, in SMDB, a predominantly individual residences sector, with its plot neighboring a park, a preservation area of the cerrado biome that reinforces the bucolic scale adopted by the city for this purpose. The project takes advantage of its location and context to establish guidelines, being the last plot of the condominium with a road system that uses a cul-de-sac, transforming the access to the terrain by vehicles a lighter route with less flow.Save this picture!The design was built upon this smoother access, incorporating a portcochre and considering the immediate surroundings, allowing views of the neighboring park, and the solar orientation to open the house towards it, utilizing minimal protective elements. Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!In the garage, the use of the port-cochre allowed shelter for a greater number of vehicles, an open space that, besides its obvious use, enables various family activities. Within this area, a cabinet was designed for storage and housing some household equipment, alongside accommodating the eletric vehicles charging stations.Save this picture!The materiality of the house expresses through the use of natural elements, whose textures and colors draw natures purest forms, even within the concrete in its composition. The stone appears in the divisions between exterior and interior spaces, allowing glimpses through these areas at certain points in the house. Concrete is present in the houses volume and structural elements, forming its perception of rationalization through modulation. The wood is incorporated into protection panels, louvers, ceiling and deck flooring, its selective use aimed to achieve balance among the elements in the houses composition, highlighting each one of them at different moments.Save this picture!A large exposed concrete slab is supported by two inverted beams that stand out across the entire length of the house. A solid block upon these beams, resembling a massive stone, housing the office, of the predominantly single-story house, in a mezzanine with a view of the protection area.Save this picture!The rhythm proposed by the placement of wooden louvers translate the arrangement of the houses program, prevalent in bedroom areas and enclosed spaces, and open in the leisure area, allowing an unobstructed view of the garden and the park beyond. The shadows cast by these elements create diverse patterns throughout the day, offering new experiences in each period.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeEsquadra ArquitetosOfficeMaterialsStoneConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "Stone House / Esquadra Arquitetos" [Casa Pedra / Esquadra Arquitetos] 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1011664/stone-house-esquadra-arquitetos&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Herfst House Renovation / tweestroom architectenSave this picture! Nick ClaeskensHouses, RenovationBelgiumArchitects: tweestroom architectenAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:61 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Nick ClaeskensManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Sto, Koffie en Staal More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Designing is about creating order by narrowing down abundant possibilities into conscious choices. When approaching a building, we begin by considering what can be preserved, followed by quick wins. Major interventions are only made when they offer value on multiple fronts. Our focus is on balance, simplicity, and efficiency, intervening only when necessary. This approach reduces new material use and creates financial space for architectural creativity.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Creativity through limitation - Good elements should be given a second life. Despite the need for a full renovation, the clients agreed to limit our intervention to the ground floor, handling the rest themselves. This freed up budget for more creative decisions. Discovering untapped potential - The unused west-facing facade and the 6.45-meter building width, which were not fully utilized, were key to the design. The terrace, while in good condition, was too small to be functional. One intervention with high impact - The existing extension was replaced by a grid of beams and columns, with a glass facade in between. This intervention adds value by: reducing the interior-exterior divide, allowing more evening sun, expanding the terrace, and enhancing the connection with the garden. The sloping roof of the extension maximizes northern light without causing overheating, giving the house a serene, airy atmosphere.Save this picture!Save this picture!Balanced facade composition - The house forms the end of a row of similar homes, with subtle brick detailing around the front door. We chose not to disrupt the street's unity by adding external insulation. Instead, we made subtle changes to enhance the existing facade. We lowered the ground-floor window to improve connection with the neighborhood. The west-facing facade, shaded by trees from the nearby park, benefits from improved insulation, using a simple ETICS system with a finish that matches the texture of the front facade. Extension and joinery opaque and clear materials - The combination of steel and concrete in the extension's beams and columns balances the massiveness of the existing house with the lightness of the new glass facade. The joinery features grey anodized aluminum, complemented by red-brown wood accents, which add warmth to the design.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Limited interior finishes - The existing ceiling and walls were stripped to expose the raw concrete slabs and bricks. Together with the client, we carefully selected areas to plaster, leaving the new structure exposed. The floor was slightly raised to accommodate underfloor heating, finished in light grey Mortex. The kitchen materials follow a consistent color palette, with reinforced glass in the cabinet doors, interior doors, and garage door. The design maintains balance, with red-brown wood accents complementing the terrazzo countertop. The shapes are coordinated, with (semi)round door handles matching the curve of the island. The interior, a mix of new and secondhand items, was carefully curated by the client, with color accents that enhance the overall palette.Save this picture!Save this picture!Fun detail - The cat's dish and the front door pull are made from the cutouts of the terrazzo countertop.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "Herfst House Renovation / tweestroom architecten" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027261/herfst-house-renovation-tweestroom-architecten&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

The New Museum Expansion by OMA to Open in Fall 2025 with Exhibition on HumanitySave this picture!Rendering of the expanded New Museum. Image Courtesy of OMA/bloomimages.deThe New Museum is the only museum in New York City dedicated exclusively to contemporary art. From its beginnings as a one-room office on Hudson Street to the inauguration of its first freestanding building on the Bowery, designed by SANAA in 2007, it has evolved into a center for exhibitions, research, and documentation on international living artists. In 2017, Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas of OMA were selected to design the New Museum's expansion. The first design images were released in 2019. This year, the Museum announced that its 60,000-square-foot expansion, designed in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, will open in fall 2025 with an exhibition exploring the very definition of humanity.Save this picture!The OMA-designed expansion will complement the New Museum's existing SANAA-designed flagship building while doubling gallery space, improving visitor circulation, and providing a dedicated home for the Museum's cultural incubator, NEW INC. According to Shohei Shigematsu, OMA Partner and Director of OMA New York, the expansion embodies the Museum's openness as an incubator for new cultural perspectives and artistic production. The new OMA building will be named in honor of the late philanthropist Toby Devan Lewis in recognition to its contribution to the Capital Campaign. To date, the New Museum has raised $118 million toward its $125 million Capital Campaign goal, with $82 million allocated for construction costs.Save this picture!The seven-story expansion will appear distinct on the exterior while seamlessly integrating with the existing structure inside. It will align ceiling heights on the second, third, and fourth floors for uninterrupted connectivity between the two buildings. Improved vertical circulation will include an atrium stairway, offering neighborhood views and opportunities for site-specific art installations, as well as three additional elevators, two dedicated to gallery access. Related Article New York City Implements Traffic Congestion Pricing, the First in the US On the ground level, the Museum's expanded lobby will feature an enlarged bookstore and a full-service restaurant, while a new entrance plaza will provide an open-air venue for public art installations at the intersection of Bowery and Prince Street. The upper floors will house a dedicated studio for artists-in-residence, a 74-seat forum, and a new home for NEW INC, the first museum-led cultural incubator, equipping over 120 creative entrepreneurs annually with collaborative workspaces and production facilities.Save this picture!The Museum's seventh-floor Sky Room will double in size while maintaining its panoramic views of downtown Manhattan. The expansion will also include three additional terraces overlooking the Bowery. The building's exterior will feature laminated glass with metal mesh, creating a unified faade that complements the original SANAA structure while enhancing transparency. Imagined as a highly connected yet distinct counterpart to the existing museum's verticality and solidity, the new building will offer horizontally expansive galleries for curatorial variety, open vertical circulation, and a diversity of spaces for gathering, exchange, and creation. The building is further shaped to create an active public faceincluding an outdoor plaza at the ground, moments of transparency throughout the central atrium, and terraced openings at the topthat will openly engage the surrounding community and beyond. Shohei Shigematsu, OMA Partner and Director of OMA New YorkAccording to Lisa Phillips, Toby Devan Lewis Director of the New Museum, "The New Museum has always been a future-facing museumnot a place for preserving and recording history, but a place where history is made." Reflecting this vision, the inaugural expansion exhibition, New Humans: Memories of the Future, will explore how artists have grappled with the question of what it means to be human amid sweeping technological changes. Spanning the entire Museum, the exhibition will present works by more than 150 international artists, writers, scientists, architects, and filmmakers, tracing key moments when technological and societal shifts have reshaped conceptions of humanity and visions for its future.Save this picture!In addition to New Humans, the expanded New Museum will reopen with multiple site-specific commissions enabled by the new architectural spaces. Among them is VENUS VICTORIA by Sarah Lucas, the first recipient of the Hostetler/Wrigley Sculpture Award, a biannual juried prize supporting new work by women artists. The piece will be displayed on the Museum's public entrance plaza. Further details on new commissions, residencies, public programs, institutional collaborations, and exhibitions enabled by the expansion will be announced in the coming months.OMA is an international practice led by seven partners (Rem Koolhaas, Reinier de Graaf, Shohei Shigematsu, Iyad Alsaka, Chris van Duijn, Jason Long, and Managing Partner-Architect David Gianotten) with offices in Rotterdam, New York, Hong Kong, and Australia. Its recent projects worldwide include the exhibition scenography for the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; the renovation of the Gallery of the Kings at the Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy; and the Simone Veil Bridge in Bordeaux, France. Additionally, among the firm's urban-focused projects is the renovation of Perth Concert Hall in Australia, a 51-year-old heritage-listed venue, set to begin in early 2025.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorCite: Antonia Pieiro. "The New Museum Expansion by OMA to Open in Fall 2025 with Exhibition on Humanity" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027488/the-new-museum-expansion-by-oma-to-open-in-fall-2025-with-exhibition-on-humanity&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Can Early-Stage Design Flaws Be Fixed Before They Kill Profits?Sponsored ContentSave this picture!Courtesy of SnaptrudeOften admired for its simplicity and ability to clearly communicate via scribbles on an espresso martini-stained napkin, the napkin sketch is perhaps one of the most recognized forms of creative leadership in the industry. Not only is it iconic, but this type of early-stage, iterative sketch helps to set project direction in a fast, easy, and effective way. However, the work that follows to translate that sketch into design (and ultimately win work) often robs firms of a profitable early-stage design phase.In fact, this trend is so prevalent that the AIA reports nearly 15% of all work a firm does is done for free, causing design pursuits to become loss leaders for many prospective projects. Further compounding this issue is the fact that when asked, firms say that increasing profitability is the top concern.Save this picture!Save this picture!The Biggest Risk to ProfitImagine this for a secondthe process of ideating a beautiful building often costs firms money. Now, we could easily spiral into a tangent about the value of good design, but that's not the point here. Instead, it's about evaluating the work that happens immediately following the napkin sketch in the very early stages of design.Save this picture!Inherently, this phase carries the most risk. Firms pursuing work with new clients inevitably want to put their best foot forward, which results in high-effort deliverables with low fees. Factor in the sunk cost of lost pursuits, and suddenly, the early stages of design spin up the perfect storm for unprofitable conditions. So why is this phase so prone to inefficiency and financial risk? The answer lies in the tools architects rely onoutdated, fragmented, and fundamentally ill-suited to the speed and collaboration modern projects demand. These tools typically fall into two camps.The first group consists of tools that excel at 3D modeling but are industry-agnostic, often lacking the specific data required for AEC teams to make key design decisions. While the second group includes tools that are rich in AEC-specific data but lack advanced design modeling and form-finding capabilities.Save this picture!Bridging the Gap from Sketch to DesignThe solution to this challenge isn't simply telling teams to work fasterit's about giving them tools to help move seamlessly from idea to execution. Enabling transformation of those early sketches into validated, data-driven designs without adding friction to the creative process.Modern tools should enable architects to refine and iterate on their initial ideas effortlessly. Instead of forcing teams to jump between disconnected modeling and documentation software, the right tool should provide a direct pathway from concept to proposalallowing teams to ideate, analyze, and adjust their early-stage designs without losing momentum.Save this picture!This is where new tools like Snaptrude become invaluable. Being built off first principles, Snaptrude has never attempted to be anything other than a design tool specifically for AEC. With an intuitive 3D modeling environment, built-in area and solar analysis, and browser-based collaboration features, Snaptrude allows teams to iterate multiple design options easier, and make informed design decisions faster than ever beforeall without sacrificing creativity or precision.Ultimately, early-stage profitability is a multi-faceted challenge, but with modern AEC tools like Snaptrude that enable faster, more informed early-stage conceptualization and iteration, that challenge becomes much more manageableand frankly, more enjoyable. After all, designers should have tools that empower their workflows, enabling them to spend more time on design and less time wrestling with tools, rushing deadlines, and micromanaging budgets.Image gallerySee allShow lessCite: "Can Early-Stage Design Flaws Be Fixed Before They Kill Profits?" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027024/can-early-stage-design-flaws-be-fixed-before-they-kill-profits&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Saint-Jean-de-Luz Cultural Center / Dominique Coulon & associsSave this picture! Eugeni PonsArchitects: Dominique Coulon & associsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3250 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Eugeni Pons Acoustics: ESP-DB SilenceMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The environment in which this cultural centre emerged is both magnificent and complex. The building enjoys splendid views of Saint-Jean-de-Luz Bay, only 500 metres away. The structure is not considered a single unit, but rather a series of fragments in which the different functions of the architectural programme are based. This spatial principle reflects the site's dimensions. It made it possible to freely play around with the sizes of the building's different parts and to reach the right balance.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!An atrium stretches up, like a self-evident feature, between two parts: to its east, a vast theatre; to its west, three levels that contain superimposed sections a music school, theatre rooms and dance studios. This triple height gives the place a noble aspect. The atrium stands out as the centre's beating heart that unites all the functions of the architectural programme within a collective structure and a site for sharing a centre for togetherness and coexistence.Save this picture!Natural light floods the interior. The glazed portions are invitations to discover the different spaces. This place is designed to create bonds. And it offers beautiful views of its garden. Indeed, this garden embellishes the cultural centre, showcasing it wonderfully. A small open-air theatre has been made in this outdoor space and two large rooms for collective practice lead outside generously. The layout, at once simple and elaborate, has the advantage of making the whole place, organised in this particular way, pleasantly compact.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The centre combines practicality with poetic expression and the building's density ensures wonderful fluidity inside: to get around the interior, you cover short distances in hallways bathed in natural light. With its arrangement of rooms, put together in an abundance of light, this centre invites you to journey through it and underlines the different aspects of its rich architectural programme.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:12 rue Duconte, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, FranceLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "Saint-Jean-de-Luz Cultural Center / Dominique Coulon & associs" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027255/saint-jean-de-luz-cultural-center-dominique-coulon-and-associes&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Shell Restaurant / Pablo Luna StudioSave this picture! Tommaso RivaArchitects: Pablo Luna StudioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:265 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Tommaso Riva Lead Architect: Pablo Luna More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Shell Restaurant is an integral part of Intaaya Retreat, a project designed and built by Pablo Luna Studio on the cliffs of Diamond Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali. Conceived as an architectural response to its surroundings, it integrates seamlessly with the landscape while prioritizing sustainability. Every design decision was made with a commitment to minimizing environmental impactadapting the construction to the terrain and using locally sourced materials.Save this picture!The retreat is self-sufficient in water, drawing from a deep well and incorporating rainwater collection, efficient water appliances, and low-irrigation landscaping to reduce consumption. To ensure a regenerative water cycle, Waste Water Gardens, developed in collaboration with the Biosphere Foundation, treat all wastewater and redirect it for garden irrigation. Environmental responsibility also extended to the construction process, with a Sustainable Construction Plan in place to prevent pollution, control erosion, and manage waste. A large portion of the project's electricity demand is met by photovoltaic solar panels, reinforcing its commitment to energy efficiency.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Intaaya's design is deeply inspired by the ocean and the marine species that inhabit it. For the Shell Restaurant, marine shells and the movement of the waves served as direct inspiration to create an organic and welcoming structure. The curved roof of yellow Petung bamboo, evoking the ribs of a shell, emerges naturally from the ground at the rear of the building, with 13 structural axes composed of 13 trusses made entirely from Dendrocalamus asper bamboo. These trusses, arranged at alternating heights, serve as the foundation of the organic roof. The roof is crafted from a hand-woven bamboo weave, complemented by wood shingles that maintain the natural materiality of the design. The trusses extend toward the front, where they are supported by steel pillars complemented by tree-like columns composed of paired bamboo poles. These front columns not only provide structural support but also allow natural light to enter the space, enhancing the interior atmosphere and reducing the need for artificial lighting.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!From its entrance, the structure gradually expands both vertically and horizontally, following the span of the trusses and the increasing height of the front columns. This spatial progression provides a sense of openness and guides visitors seamlessly through the space. The curved trusses, oriented toward the oceanic horizon, establish a visual flow through their gentle lines, offering a gradual and harmonious experience as one moves through the building.Save this picture!The bamboo trusses enable an open and adaptable interior layout, free from intermediate supports, optimizing both functionality and the interaction between users and the surrounding environment. The tree-like columns at the front enhance the architectural rhythm, fostering a purposeful connection between the structure and its natural setting. This design reflects the principles of Intaaya Retreat: employing sustainable materials and thoughtful architectural strategies to create a structure that harmonizes with its natural environment.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Nusa Penida, IndonesiaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePablo Luna StudioOfficeMaterialWoodMaterials and TagsPublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "Shell Restaurant / Pablo Luna Studio" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027474/shell-restaurant-pablo-luna-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Residential Architecture in Ecuador: 8 Contemporary House Projects That Respect Their Natural SurroundingsSave this picture!Un hospedaje en el Pigue / Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura. Image Punto Dos StudioEcuador, though a relatively small country in terms of land area, boasts a vast and diverse range of ecosystems and natural landscapes, including the Andes mountains, the Pacific coastline, and the Amazon rainforest. This makes the natural environment a key player, shaping its relationship with the built environment and demanding that architecture seamlessly integrate with and respect its context.Over the years, Ecuadorian architecture has developed its own identity, successfully adapting to these diverse settings. Various construction techniques have been implemented, relying on locally sourced materials to create spaces and shelters in complete harmony with the landscape. Amid the growing trend of seeking a closer connection with nature, architecture in different regions of Ecuador has had to adjust to these conditions.Save this picture!In recent years, Ecuadorian architecture has gained recognition for its ability to integrate ancestral knowledge, community participation, and the use of local materials, combining them with contemporary technologies to create innovative and sustainable proposals. Various firms have led this evolution, demonstrating how these principles can be applied in diverse contexts. A notable example is Al Borde, which has developed high-impact projects with minimal resource use. Natura Futura, on the other hand, has worked in low-resource environments, achieving architectural solutions with strong local impact and international projection. Likewise, La Cabina de la Curiosidad was recently recognized with the ArchDaily Building of the Year 2025 award for its Chaki Wasi project, reaffirming the value of these approaches. These types of initiatives have not only enriched Ecuadorian architecture but have also influenced new generations of architects in the country. Related Article Craftsmanship Made Architecture: The Chaki Wasi Project by La Cabina de la Curiosidad Save this picture!Save this picture!On this occasion, we will specifically focus on residential architecture immersed in the natural environments and landscapes of Ecuador, where the combination of vernacular constructions with contemporary techniques is evident in adapting to current needs. Vernacular constructions, which use local materials and ancestral methods, have endured over time and have been enriched with contemporary design innovations. This approach has allowed for the development of solutions that respect the environment and meet the demands of the present, ensuring that the homes are fully integrated into the surrounding natural landscape. An example of this is the use of earth walls, stone partitions, and eucalyptus wood structures, among others, which reflect an intriguing fusion of traditional construction techniques and modern technologies.A Shelter in the Forest / Espacio & Luz ArquitectosSave this picture!Save this picture!A Lodge in the Pige / Mestizo Estudio ArquitecturaSave this picture!Save this picture!House 1.5-3 / Baquio ArquitecturaSave this picture!Save this picture!Guabo House / Ese ColectivoSave this picture!Save this picture!Cantera House / Taller GeneralSave this picture!Save this picture!Irori Refuge / Baquio ArquitecturaSave this picture!Save this picture!House El Pastizal / Diez + Muller ArquitectosSave this picture!Save this picture!House of the Forest / Abel Guzman Larriva + Juan VintimillaSave this picture!Save this picture!Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorPaula PintosAuthorCite: Pintos, Paula. "Residential Architecture in Ecuador: 8 Contemporary House Projects That Respect Their Natural Surroundings" [Arquitectura residencial en Ecuador: 8 proyectos de casas contemporneas que respetan su entorno natural] 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027473/residential-architecture-in-ecuador-8-contemporary-house-projects-that-respect-their-natural-surroundings&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Zaha Hadid Architects Unveils Napoli Porta Est Masterplan to Revitalize Eastern Naples in ItalySave this picture!Naples Porta Est / ZHA. Image Brick VisualZaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has been announced as the winner of the international design competition for the Napoli Porta Est masterplan, a large-scale urban regeneration project in Naples, Italy. The project, which includes the new Campania Region headquarters, aims to reconnect fragmented urban areas and revitalize a district that has long been considered isolated and unsafe due to inadequate public spaces and physical barriers.Located in the eastern part of Naples, the masterplan seeks to address the challenges posed by the decommissioning of heavy industries in the area over past decades. By integrating sustainable infrastructure, the proposal envisions the transformation of this former industrial zone through the creation of new public spaces, an urban park, and the reclamation of disused railway yards. The project also aims to improve mobility and access, alleviating congestion at one of the city's major transport interchanges and facilitating better connectivity between the east of Naples and the historic center.Save this picture!A key aspect of the masterplan is the redevelopment of over 30 hectares of abandoned industrial land, including the former Manifattura Tabacchi factory and derelict structures in the Feltrinelli industrial zone. Additionally, the proposal outlines the potential for further conversion of more than 100 hectares of obsolete industrial land, including the Q8 oil depot, into a new city quarter featuring civic spaces and community amenities. Related Article Henning Larsen Restores and Revitalizes Bolzano's Industrial City in Italy The design strategy prioritizes pedestrian movement and multi-modal transport connections while integrating new green spaces. The proposal includes a 10-hectare urban park designed in collaboration with landscape architect Martha Schwartz, incorporating native trees and landscaped plazas. The masterplan also aims to reintegrate historically disconnected areas such as the Centro Direzionale (CBD), the Mercato, and the Oriental Zone, creating a more cohesive urban experience. The Campania Region's new headquarters will serve as a civic hub, featuring public amenities such as a conference center, cinema, commercial spaces, and regional government offices.Save this picture!The project incorporates sustainable and climate-responsive strategies, including extensive pedestrian areas, biodiverse landscaping, and flood risk mitigation measures. A photovoltaic system covering 7,000 square meters is planned for rooftops and canopies, alongside a significant reliance on geothermal energy. Water recycling systems will help reduce potable water consumption by 60%, and 'sponge city' principles will be applied to absorb excess rainwater and prevent flooding. The bioclimatic design of the towers optimizes natural light, ventilation, and energy efficiency, with a LEED Platinum certification targeted for the buildings.The headquarters will be constructed using a hybrid concrete-steel system sourced from local suppliers, ensuring efficient construction timelines and cost management. The phased development approach is intended to allow for the gradual activation of completed areas, minimizing disruptions. Designed as a flexible and adaptable space, the new headquarters will integrate tree-lined squares leading to the urban park, creating a seamless transition between built and natural environments.Save this picture!With a focus on resilience, sustainability, and improved connectivity, the Napoli Porta Est masterplan aims to transform a long-neglected district into a dynamic urban environment, contributing to Naples' ongoing urban development and enhancing its role as a civic, cultural, and economic center in southern Italy.Also in Italy, Zaha Hadid Architects has also begun construction on the Center of Mediterranean Culture, a project that "will be an international reference point for cultural exchange in the region." Additionally, ZHA is set to transform a historic industrial paper mill in Belgrade into a cultural center, described as a landmark development preserving the site's heritage while introducing modern public spaces. In China, the firm has unveiled designs for the River Culture and Art Center, which aims to establish a vibrant cultural hub along the riverside, integrating art, performance, and public engagement.Save this picture!Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorNour FakharanyAuthorCite: Nour Fakharany. "Zaha Hadid Architects Unveils Napoli Porta Est Masterplan to Revitalize Eastern Naples in Italy" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027491/zaha-hadid-architects-unveils-napoli-porta-est-masterplan-to-revitalize-eastern-naples-in-italy&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

11 Social Houses in Palma / Carles Enrich StudioSave this picture! Adri GoulaArchitects: Carles Enrich StudioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:832 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Adri GoulaMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The project is located on a narrow and small plot, previously occupied by a mars stone quarry, at the intersection of Rut Street and Darwin Street, in the neighborhood of El Coll d'en Rabassa, right at the boundary of Palma municipality. Aiming to complete the irregular urban fabric and respond to the climate emergency, the proposal suggests the construction of eleven homes that integrate into the site, adapting to the pre-existing conditions.Save this picture!The decision to separate the building from the party wall and preserve the existing geological remnants defines a dual strategy in the project's form factor: on one hand, the exterior facades present a compact and regular volume oriented towards the southeast, while the interior facade is set back, avoiding the maximum allowed occupancy. This volumetric configuration enhances the building's passive performance by generating shadows and variable surface courtyards that offer multiple outdoor spaces associated with the homes.Save this picture!The ground floor homes feature patios with permeable paving, while the first-floor homes have terraces. The residential units are designed under a non-hierarchical spatial concept, eliminating circulation areas and maximizing usable space. Three basic typologies (one, two, and three bedrooms) have been defined, with different variations that allow adaptation to the pre-existing conditions. The homes are configured as variations of a non-hierarchical housing system that eliminates circulation spaces while maximizing usable area.Save this picture!Save this picture!The project includes three base typologies (one, two, and three bedrooms) with various adaptations to fit the pre-existing conditions. It emphasizes versatility and convertibility, allowing most spaces to have interchangeable uses, except for the kitchens, which are located next to the bathrooms to minimize the length of installations.Save this picture!Save this picture!Adaptation to climate change. The homes are designed to adapt to climate change through passive strategies typical of vernacular architecture. Cross ventilation is ensured in all rooms through openings in opposite facades and skylights in the stairwells that act as solar collectors and thermal dissipaters. The volumetric setback on the western facade helps shade the homes in their least favorable orientation.Save this picture!Save this picture!The draining gardens on the ground floor and the use of native low-water-demand vegetation allow for a reduction in ambient temperature. Rainwater is collected in a storage tank for reuse in irrigation.Save this picture!Save this picture!The arrangement of openings and the reduced depth of the interior spaces significantly decrease the need for artificial lighting and optimize solar gain management throughout the year. The facade is finished with a lime render (jabelga) that guarantees waterproofing and seals the joints. Its white color, along with the protruding elements of the facade, minimizes overheating of the envelope.Save this picture!Finally, an underground gallery runs through the central part of the building, facilitating the maintenance of installations and functioning as a passive cooling system that provides tempered air to the homes. This set of strategies reduces the energy demand of the building and eliminates the need for artificial air conditioning systems, except for ceiling fans that reinforce natural convection.Save this picture!Constructive economy. The project proposes standardization of constructive solutions and dimensions to facilitate construction through the prefabrication of some elements, such as wooden slabs. The selection of materials is based on criteria of proximity, durability, economic efficiency, and low environmental impact.Save this picture!Save this picture!The structure consists of load-bearing walls made of Mallorcan ceramic blocks (H20), forming a grid of equal spaces of 10 m and technical modules that house the staircases, bathrooms, and solar chimneys. The masonry incorporates vertical perforations filled with earth from the excavation to improve thermal inertia and acoustic insulation between party walls.Save this picture!The prefabricated slabs rest on a laminated wood perimeter beam, which resolves the lintels of the interior openings and facades, allowing for dry disassembly and future recycling of all horizontal partitions. A 5 cm compression layer and a polished concrete floor complete the slabs, ensuring acoustic insulation between floors.Save this picture!Save this picture!Each home has direct access from the street, transforming the building into a series of attached homes, eliminating the need for elevators and promoting an efficient and sustainable housing model.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Palma, Mallorca, SpainLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeCarles Enrich StudioOfficePublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "11 Social Houses in Palma / Carles Enrich Studio" [11 Viviendas sociales en Palma / Carles Enrich Studio] 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027362/11-social-houses-in-palma-carles-enrich-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Huang Pu Cultural Centre / IFRASave this picture! 3000 imagesChinaArchitects: IFRAAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:45436 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:3000 images Lead Architects: Frederic Rolland More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Huangpu Cultural Center occupies a site area of 6,360 square meters, with an above-ground area of 21,744 square meters and an underground area of 23,692 square meters. The building stands at a height of 60 meters. Located at the southern edge of the old city wall in Huangpu District, Shanghai, the project's design must balance functionality and symbolism, ensuring that it becomes a distinctive cultural landmark in the heart of Huangpu while accommodating diverse usage scenarios.Save this picture!The stark contrast between the low-rise, layered Shikumen alleyways to the north and the modern high-rise residential buildings to the southeast creates a sense of fragmentation and conflict. In this highly contrasting environment, a surreal architectural form is needed to allow this cultural landmark to stand out from the surrounding chaos and disorder.Save this picture!Save this picture!The complex and diverse internal functional requirements, combined with the relatively compact site, have led to the development of a freely upward architectural style. The expressive curves and enveloping materials imbue the building with a sense of vitality and creativity. The unique white form distinguishes itself from the surrounding forest of high-rises and the alleyway neighborhoods. The expressionist and organic style extends from the exterior landscape into the interior, further reinforced by the use of curves and free-form designs. Additionally, the overall plan adopts an elliptical shape, echoing the outline of the Ming Dynasty old city wall.Save this picture!The building's volume tapers as it rises, with a stepped terrace design that creates accessible terraces and sky gardens on each level. This design engages in a dialogue with the low-rise residential buildings of the alleyway neighborhoods, ensuring that they receive ample natural light and are not negatively impacted by the project's scale.Save this picture!The interior lobby space is connected to the urban square and distant cityscape through a transparent facade. In the audience lounge, the gradually unfolding grand staircase and horizontal corridors along the facade dramatize the flow of audience movement during entry and exit, significantly enhancing the richness and fun of the space.Save this picture!Save this picture!The design of the main theater's interior features horizontal, ribbon-like lines as the primary design element. These flowing horizontal light strips extend seamlessly to the ceiling, integrating elements such as side lighting, front lighting, and balconies into a unified interior space.Save this picture!The building is enveloped in a series of segmented and textured white facades. The rhythm and gradient patterns created by the perforated and continuously curved metal cladding produce a subtle play of light and shadow. This effect allows the building to exhibit a shimmering, ever-changing appearance at different heights and angles, mirroring the dynamic, diverse and inclusive, and endlessly evolving charm of Shanghai itself.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:No. 980, Zhonghua Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeIFRAOfficeMaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "Huang Pu Cultural Centre / IFRA" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027188/huang-pu-cultural-centre-ifra&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save?/ + + You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Somes River Park Regeneration / PRCTICASave this picture! Imagen SubliminalArchitects: PRCTICAAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:332 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Imagen SubliminalManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: iGuzzini, KRIN KG, Urbidemis, Woodcore Lead Architects: Jaime Daroca, Jos Mayoral, Jos Ramn Sierra More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Spanish architectural firm PRCTICA has developed a project for the regeneration and renaturation of the banks of the Somes River as it crosses through the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The 15 km intervention passes through diverse urban conditions, including the historic center, industrial areas, and residential neighborhoods of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The regeneration and citizen activation of the banks of the Somes stems from an open international competition, organized by the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca in 2017. It has been implemented with funding from the European Union.Save this picture!The competition was won by the Spanish architectural firm PRCTICA, composed of Jaime Daroca, Jos Mayoral and Jos Ramn Sierra. PRCTICA coordinated an extensive group of interdisciplinary and international collaborators with whom they have implemented the architecture, landscaping, engineering, and urbanization along the river's course.Save this picture!The project understands the Somes River as a green corridor capable of connecting other nearby public spaces thanks to the incorporation of a network of paths, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian bridges. The course of the river acquires thickness, giving rise to a set of new public spaces: parking lots converted into squares overlooking the river and riverbanks with integrated beaches and bleachers. Thus, the riverbanks are activated as collective spaces for accessing the river and engaging with its fauna and flora.Save this picture!The project recovers the natural character of the river banks, expanding and modifying the pre-existing narrow and hard edge into a softer and more natural environment. Thus, the intervention promotes biodiversity, microclimate formation, CO2 absorption, and invasive species control. The project redesigns the river as a new social space that functions at different scales and with different programs, a new green infrastructure, and a meeting and exchange space between the various communities that inhabit the city of Cluj-Napoca, with over 300,000 inhabitants.Save this picture!Save this picture!The Somes River crosses the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, for 15 kilometers, encountering diverse urban conditions: the historic center, industrial areas, and housing neighborhoods. During the second half of the 20th century, its banks were modified with concrete walls, which established a drastic difference in height and limited the visual and physical connection between the city and the river.Save this picture!Save this picture!This project stems from an open international competition in 2017. It is an example of urban regeneration and renaturalization, which revalues the role of the Somes for the city, as well as the link between the two. The river is conceived as a green corridor that, through a network of sustainable mobility paths, connects multiple public spaces and green areas. In turn, a system of natural terraces is designed to renaturalize the environment, transforming the hard boundary between the city and the river into a wider and more permeable riverbank that allows for biodiversity.Save this picture!Save this picture!The river as a green connector and a dignified public space. The project understands the Somes as a green corridor capable even of connecting with other nearby green spaces, which were functioning in isolation such as the Simion Brnuiur Central Park or the Cetuia Park, thanks to the incorporation of a network of pedestrian paths and bike lanes. Its course acquires thickness due to the activation of a set of new public spaces: parking lots converted into squares overlooking the river and banks incorporating beaches and bleachers. The riverbanks are, thus, activated as collective spaces to contemplate, enjoy, and access the course of the river, its fauna, and its flora.Save this picture!Save this picture!Renaturalization. While it was important to transform the Somes into a connecting spine of public spaces, it was also essential to enhance its context and ecological values. The project recovers the natural character of the river banks, expanding and modifying the pre-existing thin and hard edge into a softer and more natural environment. This is achieved by widening the river section, which supports a system of terraces. It allows the banks to become a more diverse ecosystem that hosts different species of local vegetation, rocks, sand, and biorolls. Biodiversity, microclimate formation, CO2 absorption, and invasive species control are promoted.Save this picture!Pole of community attraction and interdisciplinary collaboration. The project redesigns the river as a new social space that functions at different scales and programs, a space of encounter and exchange between the diverse communities that inhabit the city. The recovery of the riverbanks has multiple benefits, beyond social strata and physical boundaries. It acts as a new participatory infrastructure that addresses both local and global contexts. It proposes a new framework for dialogue and coexistence through architecture and brings together the efforts of a broad multidisciplinary team, Spanish and local, made up of professionals in architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, urban planning, as well as government agencies and everyday users of the site.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Cluj-Napoca, RumaniaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePRCTICAOfficePublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "Somes River Park Regeneration / PRCTICA" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027331/somes-river-park-regeneration-practica&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Safety with a View: How Transparent Guardrails and Windscreens Let You See It All?Sponsored ContentSave this picture!South Marine Private Residence. Image Adam Potts PhotographerGuardrails and windscreens play an essential role in contemporary architecture, combining safety, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. These systems are crucial for protecting elevated spaces like balconies, terraces, and staircases, incorporating materials such as tempered laminated glass, stainless steel, aluminum and innovative fastening systems. This allows for transparency and unobstructed views without compromising safety. They also feature customizable options, including top caps, handrails and integrated lighting, enabling architects to create unique, visually striking spaces that meet both practical and aesthetic goals.Essentially, a guardrail system is a carefully designed assembly of components, each playing a vital role in ensuring safety and aesthetics. Beyond the desired visual impact, these systems must be highly reliable and safe to fulfill their primary function. At the core of the system is the guardrail components, providing support and guidance, with infill options, including, glass panels, bar/tube or cables balancing safety and style. Base shoes, a type of guardrail system, anchors glass infill panels to the structure, ensuring durability and precision. Optional handrails, can either be post mounted or mounted directly to the glass, while top rails provide an aesthetic touch while protecting the top edge of the glass and helping with glass alignment.Save this picture!Solutions stand out for their minimalist designs, harmoniously blending into various architectural contexts. Beyond the basic structural elements, features like integrated lighting systems, exemplified by Q-light, and decorative finishes enhance both functionality and aesthetics into diverse architectural projects. For instance, in the Waterline Square project, striking geometric shapes combine, wood, steel and glass to achieve a balance of safety, modernity, and transparency. Similarly, the South Marine Private Residence project showcases how systems can seamlessly integrate architecture and landscape, offering an immersive experience with panoramic coastal views while withstanding adverse weather conditions. The following solutions exemplify Q-railing's commitment to innovation, functionality, and high-standard design.Save this picture!Save this picture!Sleek Solutions for Curved Designs:Easy Glass Prime is ideal for commercial & larger scale projects, such as corporate buildings, hotels, multi-residential properties, high rise buildings requiring greater robustness and durability. Supporting laminated glass up to 17.52 mm (11/16") thick, the system can withstand design pressures up to 62psf for a 42" high exterior guardrail systems. Thus is ideal for residential or light commercial environments like indoor stairs and architecturally curved balconies. The system also uses a dry set wedge system, which allows for easy access to glass at any time for adjustment during installation and replacement of glass as part of long term maintenance.Save this picture!Practical and Versatile Balustrades:Easy Glass Smartsafety, and aesthetics. It supports laminated glass up to 17.52 mm (11/16") thick while withstanding design pressures up to 88 psf for top mount applications and 118 psf for fascia mounted guardrails systems up to 42" high. The system is ideal for interior guardrails and staircases, and balconies within low to mid rise buildings with moderate wind conditions.. Its compact aluminum anodized base shoe can be installed on concrete, steel or wooden substrates. The system features a Q-disc, ensuring for quick and precise glass placement & alignment during installation.Save this picture!Durable Elegance for Commercial Spaces:Easy Glass Primesafety standards.Save this picture!Safety and Style for High-Traffic Areas:Easy Glass Strong base shoe system is engineered for high wind loads, making it appropriate for coastal regions and accommodates glass panels up to 33 mm thick ( 1 5/16"). Its frameless design ensures unobstructed views and incorporates the same intelligent Q-disc glass clamping system as Smart & Prime, allowing for precise glass alignment during installation. Easy Glass Strong is also designed to handle design pressures exceeding 200 PSF for 42" guardrail heights and can used within windscreens over 8 feet high, making it ideal for a variety applications.Save this picture!Compliance and CertificationsEasy Glass base shoe systems are designed to meet safety and performance standards, including IBC and IRC codes (2021, 2018, and 2015), and more stringent local codes like the Florida Building Code and Los Angeles Building Code. The glass guardrails incorporate panels which have been tested to meet ASTM C1172 and ANSI Z97.1 standards ensuring impact resistance and durability. Slim, Smart, Prime & Strong base shoes systems have been tested and certified by the International Code Council with an ICC-ES Evaluation Report, ESR-4688. Easy Glass Prime & Strong also have a Miami-Dade NOA certification, validating their use in regions prone to extreme winds, such as hurricane zones. Metallic components like base shoes and fasteners are made of anodized aluminum and stainless steel, materials known for their corrosion resistance, even in high-salinity coastal environments. Installation follows specific technical guidelines, accounting for factors such as lateral impact and wind resistance.Save this picture!By adhering to these certifications and prioritizing durable materials, Easy Glass systems ensure not only functionality and safety but also harmonious integration into architectural designs, even in challenging environmental conditions. These systems transcend their practical function to become integral elements of architectural design. Whether for residential or large-scale commercial projects, these products offer solutions that blend safety, durability, and aesthetics. The models highlighted demonstrate the flexibility and innovation of the range, enabling architects to create functional and visually impactful spaces while complying with the highest safety standards.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorEduardo SouzaAuthorCite: Eduardo Souza. "Safety with a View: How Transparent Guardrails and Windscreens Let You See It All?" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024032/engineering-excellence-for-guardrails-and-windscreens-merging-safety-and-innovation&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Flower on Hillside Community Library / STEPS ArchitectureSave this picture! Ji ZhangNujiang, ChinaArchitects: STEPS ArchitectureAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:36 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Ji Zhang Lead Architects: Wu Yu, Ji Zixiao More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The project is located in Qiunatong Village of Bingzhongluo Town of Gongshan County of Nujiang Prefecture of Yunnan Province, deep inside Nujiang Grand Canyon. Due to high altitude, complicated terrain and isolation of Gongshan county, the traditional dwellings of Nu nationality and other ethnic groups are preserved. But with migration for infrastructure and environment, lots of such dwellings are being damaged and abandoned.Save this picture!Moreover, as Gongshan County only recently got rid of poverty in 2020, local children have less opportunities for good education. Born in Gongshan, Mr. Gan wants to make it more convenient for local children to acquire knowledge of greater world and finally step into it, for which he converted several dwellings of his family into community library for children to read and learn. Since 2016, "Flower on Hillside" community library has been the only library within a radius of 140 miles, and the number of book collection grows from 100 to more than 40,000 nowadays.Save this picture!Save this picture!To accommodate more books, Mr. Gan wanted to renovate one of the dwellings, turning it from classroom and kitchen into one reading room. The building is in the center of the village, which makes it also community center for the village. We were commissioned the task of architectural design.Save this picture!The old dwelling falls into the category of stacked wooden house with platform [1], a traditional type of dwelling of Nu nationality. This kind of dwelling is featured with two layers of structure: 1. roof structure, double pitch roof with stone plate roof tile directly touches ground with wood column, inclined beam, horizontal beams and purlin; 2. log cabin construction, round logs are stacked to create walls, which support a second-layer roof with crossing wood beams on walls and a center column. The two layers of structure are rather independent with each other, the space between the two layers of roof is used for drying crops and piling up farm tools, and the setback of log cabin wall creates grey space under the roof. Plan size is approximately 5mx5m, which is the original single-use type of space [2], with two small windows on west wall. The main functional problems with this type of dwelling are daylighting and ventilation especially for reading room, poor daylighting are bad for children's eyesight and books would become mouldy due to insufficient ventilation.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!During on-site inspection, we could speculate what Mr. Gan did in later renovation. From the perspective of plan, he divided the space into two rooms, and a separate room on the exterior side, which blocks the grey space under the roof; And from the perspective of vertical structure, he removed the second-layer roof, canceling the space between the two layers of roof, but preserved the wood beams for second -layer roof and had ceilings attached to them. He also filled the triangle-shaped gaps on two gable walls with wood boards to seal the envelope. We speculate that the reasons for him to cancel the space between the two layers of roof are the lack of need of drying crops and more vertical space on interior side, but this does not improve daylighting and ventilation. Moreover, as stone plate roof tile is no longer being made locally, he changed it into asbestos tile, which is cheaper and more popular locally, but there are gaps between tiles for water leaking.Save this picture!Save this picture!Subject to extremely low budget of 60,000 RMB and construction period of two weeks, this latest round of renovation must be very practical, spending money only on what's really important. First, in light of the good condition of the original wood structure, we removed the walls and ceilings that Mr. Gan added in later renovation, restoring the space into the state of original dwelling. This creates a 5mx5m space of comfortable and flexible reading room, restores the grey space under the roof, and protects the styles and features of the original dwelling. Because of the removal of the second-layer roof, we removed the center column that lost the function of load-bearing, and kept the crossing beams for installation of eye-protection LED tubes.Save this picture!Second, we need to deal with daylighting and ventilation. We inserted high windows along the top of the log cabin walls. Roof is the key, we preserved the inclined beams, replaced the purlins and added a sky window. The high window on the wall and sky window on the roof improve daylighting significantly. Different with the high window that is sealed with transparent PC sheets, the sky window is hollow without sealing, which serves as ventilation shaft. To prevent fallen leaves entering interior space, white gauze mesh is installed on sky window.Save this picture!The new wood structure is completely made of 4x8 lumber that are common in local building material markets, and is quickly built in several days with skilled and proficient local construction workers. Roof material is also replaced with long resin tile that are less likely to leak. The red resin tile, along with red metal gutter, visually detach the new roof from the old wood structure. For interior space, red furniture and wood structure form warm and harmonious atmosphere.Save this picture!Save this picture!This little house reminds us of "The Primitive Hut" concept brought up by Laugier, who points out the simple yet essential core of architecture: a man in nature and the need for shelter, with only what is really necessary to build.[1] Ji Jing. A study on the traditional dwellings of the Lisu nationality in Nujiang, Yunnan Province[D]. Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2016: 72-74.[2] Liu Ke. Study on the renewal design of traditional wooden house in Nujiang Prefecture of Yunnan Province[D]. Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 2021:17Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Yunnan, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeSTEPS ArchitectureOfficeMaterialWoodMaterials and TagsPublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "Flower on Hillside Community Library / STEPS Architecture" 28 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027318/flower-on-hillside-community-library-steps-architecture&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save? / STEPSYou've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

QUAN NHN House / TOOB StudioSave this picture! Triu ChinArchitects: TOOB STUDIOAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:45 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Triu ChinMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Quan Nhn Street belongs to the old Quan Nhn village in the K Mc area, carrying deep historical and cultural traditions. Despite rapid urban development, this place still preserves many historical sites and famous temples.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Quan Nhn House is built on a modest plot of land that is located on the narrowest section of Quan Nhn Street and surrounded by a bustling area of shops and services. The house is divided into two main parts: Living Space and Rental Space. The living area is elevated to a certain height to minimize exposure to noise and dust, while also creating an open and airy space for commercial activities on the ground floor.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Regardless of the fact that the house has limitations in size and view, it does not lack large voids that bring in natural light and energy. Seemingly, the sky is the only thing that sets no limits for the house.Save this picture!Traditional materials such as red clay tiles and well-fired bricks, which are deeply familiar to old villages in Vietnam, help create a warm and intimate atmosphere. Their presence connects the daily life of a newly settled family with the cultural essence of the surrounding neighborhood.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeTOOB STUDIOOfficePublished on February 28, 2025Cite: "QUAN NHN House / TOOB Studio" 27 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027310/quan-nhan-house-toob-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream