The world is not enough for Foster + Partners, whose designs for a speculative lunar habitation were unveiled as part of the special EARTH to SPACE Festival taking place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.from March 30th through April 13th, 2025.The British firm's contribution, titled From Earth to Space and Back, speculates a four-person habitation built using lunar regolith soiland erected underneath the surface of the moon to protect against gamma radiation and meteorites. The base will comprise an inflatable dome structure that is then covered in layers of the dense (1.5 g/cm3) material in situ.This is being presented also to posit a similar Mars human habitat and is part of the firm's involvement with both NASA and theEuropean Space Agency that extends to 2012.

The opening of the new, $300 million Rafael Violy-designed National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, has drawn praise locally from critic Mark Lamster, who reviewed it as a unifying "sublime force" whose "uncompromising assertion of abstract form" is an answer to conservative proponents of Neoclassicism and its ability to communicate Americas values. "What could easily descend into a jingoistic celebration of American militarism keeps its focus squarely on the valor and sacrifice of its subjects," he added simply.Photo: Corey Gaffer, courtesy of the National Medal of Honor MuseumThe austere design comprises 102,000 square feet and features a box-like, aluminum-clad primary exhibition hall that hovers 40 feet above the ground, supported by stainless steel pylons that tell the individual stories of over 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients dating to the awards inception during the Civil War.Two projects in coastal Uruguay will follow it as the last Violy designed before hi...

Total US construction starts were 19% lower in February 2025 versus February 2024, according to a new report by ConstructConnect. Total nonresidential construction starts last month were 10% lower than February 2024, while total residential starts last month were 31.2% lower than February 2024.Higher inflation elevates borrowing costs for owners and developers, erodes the profitability of future construction projects, and with it, hobbles new construction demand, the platform said, analyzing the findings.The report also identifies a West-East divide in construction activity. Construction spending in the West and Mountain regions is down 40% from one year ago, though California is only down 9%. Meanwhile, Eastern and Southeastern regions are down approximately 20%. Spending is most substantial along the East Coast between Maine and New Jersey, the report notes, with the New England and Middle Atlantic regions both reporting year-to-date growth of over 25%.The report comes one we...

Research from Oklahoma State UniversityProfessor of Interior Design Tilanka Chandrasekera has decisively shown multiple ways in which AI-enhanced design tools can help students better tap into the creative process. In an article he submitted to the International Journal of Architectural Computing, AI software was shown to accelerate learning when compared to a control group of students who were assigned a similar task without the aid of technology.Image credit: Oklahoma State University, CC BY-NDImage credit: Oklahoma State University, CC BY-NDThough encouraging, Chandrasekera admits that his students may still be overreliant on AI to a fault in terms of their critical thinking capacities. The research comes on the heels of a new AIA study that suggested professional architects are still reluctant to catch on despite its widespread industry acceptance. You can learn more about the adoption of AI in architecture by reviewing our extensiveArchinect In-Depth: Artificial Intelligenc...

In a city that quickly moves on to the next big thing, continuously and often irreverently erasing its history, block by block, Mr. Scofidios contribution to the reimagining of the High Line now feels obvious, something we can all take for granted. Over a hundred projects inspired by the High Line have surfaced all over the world. Many have succeeded on their own terms, but the ones that try to just imitate the High Line dont work.InfluentialHigh Linedeveloper and Friends of the High Line co-founder Robert Hammond penned an op-ed in remembrance of his friend and collaborator Ricardo Scofidio after the well-admired architects passing earlier this month at the age of 89. In describing a vision that might have included a transparent concrete swimming pool cantilevered above 14th Street, he says Scofidio and his team "gave us something entirely new that was inspired by the abandoned landscape that wed started with, while not showing off." The High Line celebrated the tenth anniversary of its final phase completion last year.

More evidence attesting to the performance of recycled concrete construction and demolition waste as an alternative to traditional Portland cement mixtures has been advanced in a new research paper from scientists at the University of So Paulo and Princeton University. They found that their proprietary mix demonstrated strength gains and workability that were comparable with current industry standards, saying its widespread implementation has the potential to cut emissions by up to 61%. The new research adds to recent discoveries made by researchers in Germany. (h/t ScienceDaily)

Following our previous visit toAAHA Studio, we are keeping ourMeet Your Next Employer seriesin Los Angeles this week to explore the work ofColega Architects.Based in Culver City, the firm specializes in high-quality custom homes and multi-family developments. Our design philosophy grows from the intention to celebrate life through the expression of space and its function, the firm says about its approach. We believe that appropriateness grows out of process and that process is collaborative.Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm iscurrently hiringfor a Project Architect/Designer to join their Culver City team. For candidates interested in applying for a position or anybody interested in learning more about the firms output, we have rounded up four residential projects by Colega Architects that exemplify the firms ethos.BH International. Image courtesy of Colega ArchitectsBH International, Beverly Hills, CALocated on a corner lot in a high-end Los Angeles neighborhood, BH I...

OJB Landscape Architecture has revealed details of their 4.7-acre park component for the upcoming Freedom Plaza development at the United Nations headquarters designed by Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG) inNew York City.The largest main green space component of the total 6.3-acre master plan, the park offers stormwater resilience while establishing Freedom Plazas 18,000-square-foot central lawn at its 'heart,' surrounded by 350 trees and other plantings that will contribute to its biodiversity.Image credit: OJB Landscape Architecture /Soloviev GroupIn total, there will be 1.2 miles worth of pedestrian paths interlinked with a variety of garden rooms and overlooks onto the East River with a 700-foot promenade that frames the latter.Image credit: rendering by BucharestThe program also includes a 7,000-square-foot childrens play area and 6,000-square-foot water garden. A new museum dedicated to freedom and democracy frames the northern approach to the park, featuring an outdoor amphit...

Bidding has started for the important project management role for the 'North Pole' central business district that will accompany Foster + Partners design for a 2-kilometer (appx. 1.2-mile) megatall towerthe worlds tallestin Riyadh. According to Global Construction Review, likely bidders include heavyweights Aecom, Bechtel, Jacobs, Parsons, Mace, and Turner Construction (the latter having just been announced for the same role in the shorter Jeddah Towerto which it is considered a competitor).The outlet also reported that the project is to be named 'Rise Tower' and located near King Khalid International Airport, which was also master planned by Foster + Partners.

Australian designer Robbie Walker has designed an elevated, steel cabin, inspired by trees, in Australias Victorian High Country.Image: Earl CarterCalled Sawmill Treehouse, the structure is the result of the clients desire for a small dwelling for family and friends. The project site lies at the beginning of a gully where street water was discharged, with one apparent flat area in the space, surrounded by tall trees. As a result, Walker decided to situate the building up amongst the trees and out of the water.Image: Earl CarterSawmill Treehouse was built with non-flammable corten steel and lined with Tasmanian Oak timber. The structures design was inspired by the trees. Its four stilt-like columns represent tree trunks, while its faade of slatted steel panels capture light more randomly and organically than a flat panel, like the leaves on trees.Image: Earl CarterThese slats function to help the building breathe and stay cool during the summer by providing shade. In addition,...

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Working Spaces.Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles! Success Academy Offices in New York, NY by MBB Architects; Photo: Magda Biernat Zuellig Pharma Head office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by Bloom Architecture; Photo: Robert Kleiner Once Once in Tijuana, Mexico by Design Opera Architects Tailong Bank Technology Software Development Office in Hangzhou, China by Damai Interior Design; Photo: Hanmo Vision DOTS Office in New York, NY by Two Street Studio; Interior Design: Sheep+Stone; Photo: Nicole Franzen Primarc Office in Kolkata, India by groupDCA Pearl Izumi in Louisville, CO by Arch11; Photo: Raul Garcia | Astula Bestseller Hangzhou Live Stream Space in Zhe...

MVRDVs longstanding relationship with its home city of Rotterdam will usher in a new chapter this week with the opening of the new Portlantis visitors center and exhibition space for the Port of Rotterdam.Photo: Ossip van DuivenbodeAppearing as a stack of five rotated volumes, the upper half of the building's program entails a top-floor restaurant with operable windows and a fourth-floor exhibition gallery dedicated to the ports future adaptation to Paris Agreement benchmarks, topped by an accessible rooftop that culminates the journey for users with vistas of the city, dunes, and port terminals below.Photo: Ossip van DuivenbodeThe lower half begins with a ground floor caf framed by a dramatic 72-foot unifying atrium. From there, visitors will emerge into the first of three exhibition floors focused on the ports operations, local environmental and economic impact, constituent role in global trade, and influence over the daily lives of Rotterdamers.Photo: Ossip van Duive...

The annual Winter Stations installation in Toronto has opened for its eleventh edition and will remain on view until March 30th. Following the release of selected winners details and project statements back in January, organizers have shared new images depicting each of the six participants who have responded to this years theme of 'Dawn,' which they say envisages the "beginning of a new era."As a "fresh chapter in its creative journey," the exhibition positions architecture as an attentive social practice in dialogue with the moments of profound change that redefine and shape our existence, highlighting the delicate process of shedding old layers to emerge as something new."Each design team has to work with budgets of $5,000 CAD (appx. $3,500USD), with another $10,000 CAD ($7,000 USD) limit on the amount spent for design and construction labor.Ascolto by Ines Dessaint, Tonin Letondu (France)'Ascolto' by Ines Dessaint, Tonin Letondu (France). Photo: Joel Gale imaging 'Ascol...

The amount of new building permits has been shown to have declined across the country in February, according to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau and theDepartment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).With a total of 1,456,000 new permits, the index has decreased 6.8% from February 2024 levels. This confirms a trend in the building industry that began in 2023 and has continued through last year to produce declining figures recently in the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index and Dodge Construction Networks survey of construction starts as a projected turnaround has been threatened by the imposition of steep new tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China.Related on Archinect: U.S. construction starts to grow in 2025 after 2024 decline, new analysis forecastsThe number of new housing starts was 1,501,000. This total represents an increase of 11.2% over Januarys tabulation of the same category but is 2.9% below February 2024 totals.Single-family housing starts in Febru...

If you're in search of new, exciting architecture and design competitions, take a look at the latestcurated picksof challenges listed on Bustler.Featured below are four briefs seeking those who have made significant efforts to preserve and reuse modern buildings in the United States, design proposals for the revitalization of theDaejeon Regional Government Complex in South Korea, the best pre-construction residential projects, and exceptional student-edited design journals.For the complete directory of newly listed competitions, clickhere.

The competition to redevelop Torontos 70-acre former Downsview Airport Lands (known as YZD) has named CCxA, Field Operations, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Sasaki, and SLA to its shortlist. The project forms the 'cornerstone' of a new 370-acre mixed-use development, one of North Americas largest.It is aimed at creating a new landscaped pedestrian corridor out of the airport's former runway and will be animated by year-round cultural programming and other public uses. A winner is expected to be announced by mid-summer this year. The entire redevelopment will reportedly cost $22 billion.

Studio Daniel Libeskind has updated the progress of their forthcoming Pas de Deux mixed-use design in Shanghais Dishui Lake development. Each building stands at over 336,000 and 338,000 square feet, respectively. It is one of two new projects taking shape in the city, joined by the two-building Shanghai Infinity Tower in the citys Free-Trade Zone that we updated in February.

Von Gerkan, Marg & Partners (gmp) has shared new images from their 2019 prefabricated K-12 design for Frankfurts diverse Westend community that now stands as one of the EUs and worlds largest modular timber school buildings.Photo by Marcus Bredt, courtesy of gmp.The fully demountable 175,000-square-foot school building temporarily accommodates 2,000 students while their new permanent building was being completed nearby. It was built in under 24 months using 350 prefabricated modules and 176,000 cubic feet of wood taken from Central European forests.Photo by Marcus Bredt, courtesy of gmp.The firm says the combination of strategy and material results in a 30% improvement of Energy Conservation Regulations (EnEV) metrics, with another 60% reduction in terms of the time spent on construction.Photo by Marcus Bredt, courtesy of gmp.The design's compactness responds to the relatively confined site while reducing the distances traveled within the high school and the elementary school...

PBS SoCal has picked up on an effort by a group of 24 students from Utah Valley University to help in the recovery effort after the Eaton fire destroyed some 9,400 homes and other structures in Altadena and Pasadena. Architect and Assistant Professor Gordon MacKay is leading the group and tells the outlet: "What I think it should do for an architect is allow them to give these homeowners a better price because the design portion is done. This will give them a really good, scaled drawing of what they had so that they can hopefully get what they deserve from their insurance companies."More of our coverage of rebuilding efforts following theLos Angeles Fires can be found here:AIA Pasadena & Foothill launches 'Ask an Architect' program for residents impacted by recent firesSoCalNOMA supports rebuilding historically Black communities of AltadenaL.A. offers waivers to homeowners affected by wildfires to access to their building plans

This week's edition of ourcurated career roundupfrom theArchinect Job boardfeatures 9 architecture schools in search of faculty,academic leaders, staff, and fellows.Preparing for a new job? Be sure to follow ourArchinect Tipsseries to improve your portfolio, resume, and interviewing skills and increase your chances of getting that next job.Teaching PositionsUniversity of Pennsylvania seeks an Assistant (or Associate) Professor, Architecture and aProfessor of Practice (or Associate Professor of Practice)inPhiladelphia, PAAssistant (or Associate) Professor, Architecture details:"The successful candidate will have a proven track record in teaching design studios, as well as demonstrated leadership potential, critical thinking skills in design, and a commitment to professional development. The ideal applicant will engage actively with contemporary issues in both teaching and research. The position involves teaching at undergraduate, graduate, and post-professional levels,...

Admissions decisions are rolling in for the 2025 cycle of M.Arch I & II applicants, and we're using the opportunity to invite the community to participate in the discussion for a snapshot of trending schools, acceptance rates, and overall sentiments of the process. This year, we want to know which architecture schools were among your top choices, where you applied, and the amount of financial aid/scholarship offers you are or are not receiving.In this very active Archinect Forum thread with nearly 300 comments on the topic, there has already been an uptick in responses from outside the United States. Some are receiving aid offers above $30,000. Others are sharing useful tips and candid reflections on their personal statements and academic backgrounds that will be useful to compare, along with other strategies that individually made their applications stronger, more compelling, and competitive to admissions committees.Come and join the discussion and share your application result...

Thegrand prize winner of the $10,000Forge Prizefor 2025has beenannounced as an underutilized space in dense urban neighborhoods into new communities in New York City by theAmerican Institute of Steel Construction(AISC).

This post is brought to you by Architect'25Reflect on the journey of Thai architecture from past to present at the Architect'25 exhibition, which embraces the theme "Past Present Perfect". This exhibition blends past techniques and culture with contemporary social environments and needs, besides, it helps to connect things in different time periods related to people and architects' identities, while also providing a vision for the future of Thai architecture.Architect25 serves as a platform to promote activities and professional work of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA), as well as a medium for showcasing, gathering, and educating about materials technologies and innovative construction products to promote the architecture profession. It also provides academic services to the public and students. The highlights of this exhibition are as follow:Main Exhibition of Architect25ASA ExhibitionThe ASA Exhibition is divided into 7 sections:Main Exhibit...

This post is brought to you by Pratt InstituteThis summer, immerse yourself in the world of art and design with Pratt Institute's School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) Summer Credit Intensives. Whether you're a college or graduate student seeking to expand your skills, or a working professional seeking to be immersed into your passions, Pratt SCPS has something for you.Why Pratt SCPS?Accelerate your academic and creative journey this summer with Pratt Institute's credit-bearing courses. Whether you're pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, or are a working professional, Pratt offers diverse programs that offer a unique opportunity to delve into fields like architecture, graphic design, media studies, fashion design, and fine arts. Learn from expert faculty in state-of-the-art studios and labs, and benefit from flexible scheduling options to fit your summer plans. Earn college credit, explore your passions, and gain a competitive edge with Pratt's intensive ...

Rick Caruso has initiated a new legal action attempting to halt the now-approved $1 billion CBS Television City redevelopment in Los Angeles' Fairfax district led by RIOS andFoster + Partners.More details from The Hollywood Reporter include the reasoning of Caruso, who is importantly the owner of The Grove shopping center next door to the site. His attorneys say the plan will violate the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Other groups have levied their own suits against the developer Hackman Capital Partners, who have decried their actions as an "unfortunate but predictable abuse of CEQA."CBS sold the William Pereira-designed property to the developer back in 2018. Support for the plan, which has been amended to include more sound stages, offices, and support areas, has mostly come from its ability to allow the film/TV production industry to keep a foothold in LA amidst years of uncertainty.

The journal Construction and Building Materials has published findings of a German Universitt der Bundeswehr Mnchen investigation into the recycling of infra-lightweight concrete (ILC) into aggregates (or RLCAs) to produce a new building material called recycled ILC (RILC) that has properties comparable to the original material.Researchers manually and mechanically processed large ILC elements, categorizing the resulting RLCAs by particle size before conducting compressive strength tests after a curing period of 28 days.By this method, they found that RILC made from RLCAs demonstrated similar strength, elasticity, and thermal conductivity as the original ILC, despite a 31.6% increase in dry density. Perhaps more importantly, the RLCAs showed a "significant"CO absorption potential equaling about 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions of the original ILC.

CHYBIK+KRISTOFhas debuted a new mass timber design for the headquarters of the Czech Republics National Forestry office.The 12,000-square-meter (around 130,000 square feet) design is marketed to be the future largest wood structure in the region and will serve as a blueprint for the use of low-carbon materials in construction.Image courtesy PlompThe Forestry in the Forest concept stages the design, which is located outside the city of Hradec Kralove, to embrace the woodlands surrounding its site, reaching outward to the tree line with five decoupled volumes containing the National Forestrys respective departments connected by a central main hall.Image courtesy CHYBIK+KRISTOF ARCHITECTS (CH+K)Image courtesy CHYBIK+KRISTOF ARCHITECTS (CH+K)Offices are distributed surrounding deeper interior communal spaces to establish a dynamic "learning landscape." Outside, landscape courtyards provide additional space for workers in between each wing. Overall, this will be a very eco-frien...

This week,Harvard Universitys President Alan M. Garber announced that Harvard College would be free to undergraduate students whose families earn less than $100,000 beginning in the 2025-26 academic year (this includes tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs, according to the university). Additionally, students from families earning less than $200,000 will be tuition-free.This does not affect the Graduate School of Design or any of Harvards other graduate and professional schools. Roughly 60% of Harvards undergraduate learners come from public high schools. The median household income for American families in 2024 was just over $80,000.

Februarys AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has shown a continued weakening of billings across the country. The new score of 45.5 can be seen as an indicator of an unfavorable economy for architecture, as newly signed design contracts have now decreased for the past twelve consecutive months.Billings were soft in every region, with business conditions remaining weak in every area of specialization. This is also the fourth consecutive ABI to record a decline."Conditions in the broader economy were generally positive in February, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increasing by only a modest amount, long-term interest rates easing from January levels, and healthy job growth," AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker stated. "However, uncertainty surrounding the impact of recently announced tariffs may lead to a rise in building material prices in the coming months while immigration policy may put even more pressure on an already undersupplied construction labor market."Relate...

Februarys AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has shown a continued weakening of billings across the country. The new score of 45.5 can be seen as an indicator of an unfavorable economy for architecture, as newly signed design contracts have now decreased for the past twelve consecutive months.Billings were soft in every region, with business conditions remaining weak in every area of specialization. This is also the fourth consecutive ABI to record a decline."Conditions in the broader economy were generally positive in February, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increasing by only a modest amount, long-term interest rates easing from January levels, and healthy job growth," AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker stated. "However, uncertainty surrounding the impact of recently announced tariffs may lead to a rise in building material prices in the coming months while immigration policy may put even more pressure on an already undersupplied construction labor market."Relate...