The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.Community centers play an important role in cities, offering spaces for individuals to learn, connect and share experiences. More than just physical structures, they shape how people interact with their surroundings and one another. Thoughtfully designed community centers not only meet practical needs but also foster sustainability and social well-being.Typically, these spaces serve as public hubs where community members gather for group activities, social support, public information and various other purposes. While some cater to the broader community, others focus on specific subgroups. Community centers can be community-owned, religiously affiliated, government-operated, sponsored, or commercially managed.Good architecture transforms these spaces from purely functional buildings into welcoming environments. Thoughtful use of materials, light, and spatial design enhances how people experience and engage with these places, encouraging interaction and a sense of belonging.Here, we explore seven community centers that go beyond being simple gathering spaces. These projects adopt innovative design, inclusive planning, and sustainable principles to create meaningful public spaces that bring people together in new ways.Nunawading Community HubBy fjcstudio, Nunawading, AustraliaJury Winner, Community Centers, 12th Annual A+AwardsThe community hub is built on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People of the Kulin Nation. The place is designed as a space for sharing knowledge, gathering, and celebrating the collective memories of the people who spent their childhood there. The building is interlinked with the football oval and Tunstall Park within Nunawading Primary School. The design strategy focuses on creating a space that is open and inviting to the public, providing equitable access for all. The architecture connects with the landscape and surroundings through its simple form.Kula Vocational Training & Community CenterBy BE_Design, RwandaPopular Choice Winner, Architecture +For Good, 12th Annual A+AwardsKula Vocational Training & Community Center in northern Rwanda supports female entrepreneurs and farmers. Built from local volcanic stone on a steep hill in the Virunga range, the centers design retains the slope, avoiding costly retaining walls. A covered area made from eucalyptus hosts community events, while a kitchen provides meals. Inside, there are tailoring classes and farming seminars for women. Natural light enters through a skylight and large windows, showcasing views of the volcanoes. The design is inspired by traditional Rwandan Imigongo art, featuring a tapering glass facade that offers space for administration and a counseling room for young womens health needs program.Habitat on JuersBy REFRESH*DESIGN, Brisbane, AustraliaThe community centers is at the heart of Habitat on Juers, creating a shared space where residents can come together while still maintaining options for privacy. Juers is one of 20 social housing demonstration projects being delivered by the Queensland Government. Through its learning-by-doing approach, it offers a chance to consider what lessons might be transferable to effect systemic change by contributing to the new design guidelines for future social housing. This central area includes communal amenities that encourage social interaction and foster a sense of belonging. Each home faces the garden, providing both a connection to nature and a feeling of safety. The design encourages residents to build strong community ties, supporting a way of life where people can work, socialize, and grow older in a comfortable and welcoming environment.Arverne East RISE Community Hub and Nature Preserve HouseBy WXY architecture + urban design, Queens, New YorkBuilt in 2023, the design of the Arverne East RISE Community Hub and Nature Preserve House includes gender-neutral public restrooms that are accessible for the Nature Preserve and Community Farm, as well as for visitors to Rockaway Beach and the community during operating hours. Additionally, it features new administrative offices for the staff of the Nature Preserve and Community Garden, along with the Department of Parks and Recreation Rangers, and offers a versatile meeting space for local community gatherings.Arboretum Community CenterBy ISTUDIO Architects, Washington, DCThe community center merges heritage and innovation with principles of community enrichment, a sustainable ethos, and the preservation of historical heritage. Its master plan integrates architecture and landscape to provide spaces that are multi-faceted and functional. Most importantly, the design team led a series of community meetings to discuss the recreation center. These meetings yielded a rich tapestry of requests, ranging from amenities such as a senior room to the inclusion of boxing facilities and a half-court gymattesting to the vibrant diversity within the neighborhood. Additionally, these efforts involve collaboration with the Historic Preservation Office and the Commission of Fine Arts to oversee renovations and improve historic structures; this process helps to reimagine structures and meet users expectations.Veterans Home at Chelsea, Community Living CenterBy PAYETTE, Chelsea, MassechusettsThe community center is a long-term care facility for the Commonwealths veterans. This transformative new facility features 154 private rooms organized around shared community spaces and surrounded by generous courtyards. The design and interior planning decisions were based on research, including workshops. This includes centralized dining and living rooms within the houses, bright lighting with circadian tuning, a home-like environment with positive sensory and safety enhancements, and features that allow for personalization by residents.Erlebnis-Hus St. Peter-OrdingBy Holzer Kobler Architekturen Berlin, Sankt Peter-Ording, GermanyErlebnis-Hus St. Peter-Ording, built in 2023, aims to serve visitors of all ages and backgrounds as an inclusive meeting point. The construction features five oversized solid wood cubes that are positioned at various heights. Each of these five cubes serves a distinct purpose: they house an analog game venue, an information center and shop, a restaurant, a staff office, and sanitary facilities. A large number of terraces and stairs make the building accessible and functional on multiple outdoor levels, while a reinforced concrete core with an elevator and utility rooms stabilizes the iconic wooden structure.The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.The post More Than Bingo Nights: 7 Community Centers Raising the Social Standard appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.When one sees the words France and balcony together, a specific image comes to mind: wrought iron railings, a pair of doors that might not open all the way and just enough room to lean out with a coffee or a cigarette (in the true spirit of the French). While we all love the charm of a classic French balcony, France also excels at larger terraces with a real presence and more versatile uses (though some might argue that the original French balcony serves its purpose just fine).From wide planted platforms and stepped rooftops to deep loggias and layered facades, these outdoor spaces are no longer just decorative. Theyre functional, generous and central to the architecture. To capture that shift in scale and intent, this collection features nine projects across the country where terraces shape the building, frame the view and give users room to live beyond the walls.EmblemBy Hamonic+Masson & Associs, Lille, FranceAt the edge of Parc Matisse, Emblem rises between roads, rail lines and the city. The building steps up gradually, starting low near the park and reaching 50 meters at its tallest point. This shift in height brings light into the site and opens up views in every direction. Its most striking feature is the residential towers continuous balconies, which wrap the building in curved lines of perforated metal.These terraces extend the apartments and provide shade, airflow and outdoor space throughout the tower. The perforated metal screens filter light and add a fine texture to the curved faade. Finished in an earthy tone, the balconies pick up on the colors of the nearby park and local buildings. They shape how the tower is seen from a distance and how it is experienced by the people living inside.ARBORESCENCE Winner of Imagine AngersBy WY-TO Group, France Located between Angers historic center and the banks of the Maine, Arborescence introduces a layered design that brings nature into every part of the building. A mix of housing, senior living, childcare and co-working spaces makes it a place for all generations.Terraces define the projects identity. They shift and grow across the faade like branches, shaped by wind and light. Deep planters and green edges soften the concrete and create privacy without closing residents off from their surroundings. These outdoor spaces add texture and variety, offering different ways to live with the seasons.The building wraps around a planted courtyard, where shared spaces and gardens bring people together. Every unit opens to light, air and views of the evolving landscape.Apartments in Illkirch GraffenstadenBy tectne architectes, France In a car-free woodland near the Rhine-Rhne Canal, this six-story housing project is shaped by its calm setting and careful densification. The structure follows a compact rectangular form, allowing space for gardens and shared areas at ground level.Each of the 31 apartments includes a private loggia, framed by a concrete exoskeleton that wraps the entire building. These terraces act as sheltered extensions of the interiors, offering fresh air and outdoor space while preserving privacy. Beveled pillars and wooden guards filter views and sunlight, giving the faade a quiet rhythm. A shared rooftop terrace crowns the building, offering residents a place to meet, relax or enjoy the surrounding trees from above.LArboretumBy Leclercq associs, Nanterre, France Set along the Seine in Nanterre, Arboretum reimagines the office campus with a focus on sustainability and sensory comfort. Spanning 1355 square feet (126,000 square meters), the complex is built almost entirely from cross-laminated timber and organized around a curved central path that follows the rivers slope.Terraces play a key role in the campus design. Every office opens onto outdoor extensions some for meetings, some for quiet work, others simply for fresh air. These planted spaces vary in size and purpose but all support a connection to the surrounding landscape. The scent of wood, access to light and changing views offer a calmer work rhythm. Together, the terraces and gardens bring nature into the workday without losing sight of the sites industrial past.Tale of Transformation La Fantaisie Hotel, ParisBy PETITDIDIERPRIOUX, Paris, France Tucked between dense city blocks in Paris 13th arrondissement, Hotel Rosalie transforms a former hotel into a garden-focused retreat. The renovation keeps the original structure while introducing a new faade of pre-patinated zinc that shifts in tone with the light. At the rear, terraces open out toward a reimagined courtyard garden.These outdoor spaces extend the hotel experience beyond the rooms, offering guests a quiet place to pause, read or have a coffee. The terraces connect directly to a ground-level restaurant beneath a wide glass roof, where diners overlook dense plantings that change with the seasons. More than a simple refresh, the project is shaped by a clear goal: to give city guests a reason to slow down and step outside.Tolbiac ApartmentsBy Atelier Architecture Vincent Pareiram, Paris, France On a corner site in Paris 13th arrondissement, Les toffes de Tolbiac builds on the areas layered history, replacing former workshops with housing, retail and generous outdoor space. The project is shaped by a striking grid of balconies that stretches across three volumes, tying them into a single architectural gesture.These balconies are not just repetitions however as they they shift slightly on each floor, expanding outward as the building rises. This subtle movement increases outdoor space and creates a rhythm that softens the scale of the concrete and timber structure. On the courtyard side, shared terraces and raised walkways link the blocks, offering spaces to gather, rest or look out over the city. A rooftop garden completes the network, giving all residents access to the Paris skyline.I ParkBy NBJ architects, Montpellier, France Facing Montpelliers new city hall, I Park explores how housing can adapt to the Mediterranean climate. The eight-level building is made up of shifting horizontal bands, each one adjusted to optimize shade, airflow and outdoor living.Terraces are central to the design. Every apartment opens onto an outdoor space, with planted faades that bring greenery to the edges of each floor. These terraces vary in depth and layout, shaped by solar exposure and wind conditions. The result is a building that reads like a series of stacked gardens.Designed in close collaboration with local specialists, the project uses vegetation not as decoration, but as an essential part of daily comfort. The terraces make space for both privacy and connection, shaped by climate and site.Ateliers VaugirardBy Hamonic+Masson & Associs, Paris, FranceStretching 425 feet (130 meters) along a busy street, this housing project aims to replace repetition with variety. Ninety-six apartments are divided into 37 distinct layouts, each shaped by a generous terrace or garden. The buildings stepped form opens up views and sunlight, while breaking down the scale of its long volume.Terraces are wide and deep, averaging 215 square feet (20 square meters) per unit. These outdoor spaces give residents room to grow plants, eat outside, or simply pause between indoors and out. The planted terraces also act as visual filters, softening views between neighbors and creating a layered edge to the street. Above, the skyline rises and dips. On the ground, shops and public paths invite life to spill into and around the building.BEAUPASSAGEBy Franklin Azzi Architecture, Paris, France In Paris 7th arrondissement, a formerly hidden industrial block is carefully brought back to life through a mix of rehabilitation and new construction. Franklin Azzis design respects the sites patchwork of buildings, preserving historic faades and structures while introducing modern uses.Terraces are carved into the architecture with precision. Inserted between existing frames and new additions, they act as quiet thresholds between the homes and the city. These outdoor spaces vary in scale, responding to the irregular geometry of the site. Some open to shared courtyards, others are tucked above street level, catching light where it falls.The project stays close to the original materials and proportions, using terraces to invite daily life into a place long kept out of view.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post Beyond the Balustrade, Balconies Gone Wild: How French Architecture is Expanding Outside appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Theres a moment in Doctor Strange where the Ancient One flicks Stephen Stranges astral form out of his body, and suddenly, hes tumbling through alternate dimensions. Skyscrapers bend, cities multiply and infinite versions of himself spiral past, each slightly different, each existing at the same time. In some of the more recent Spider-Man adaptations, Peter Parker (or Miles Morales, depending on what youre watching) swings across New York only to realize hes not the only one there. There are many of him, each from a different universe, each experiencing the same city in a completely different way. The idea is simple. One place, multiple realities, all unfolding at once.In this world of overlapping timelines, somewhere, there would be another version of you reading this article but with slightly better posture. This is the closest analogy to whats happening in architecture right now.You step into a museum to see a particular exhibition. Another visitor, walking the exact same path, experiences a completely different exhibition. You check into a hotel where the lobby, the lighting, and even the artwork on the walls shift based on who is present and their preferences.For all our lives, buildings have played by certain rules. A space was one thing at a time. A store was either open or closed. A stadium was either full or empty. A park and its various plant life were defined by the seasons. Even flexible spaces, like multi-use theaters or pop-up retail, operate within a single physical reality. That assumption is now collapsing.The rise of phygital architecture where physical space blends with digital augmentation has shattered the idea that a building or place must exist in just one form at a time. Digital overlays, seen through devices, screens and headsets, mean that it could be winter where we are, but our display allows us to experience a space as though it is the height of summer. Mori Art Museum by Gluckman Mayner Architects. TokyoThe Mori Art Museum in Tokyo has experimented with digital-physical exhibition hybrids, such as MAM Digital: Imaginary Landscapes, which merged real-world exhibits with interactive, AR-enhanced digital layers. While the museum itself remains a physical space, exhibitions are increasingly integrating real-time digital augmentation that allows visitors to experience different layers of content depending on how they interact with the space. In spaces like this, its possible for remote audiences to access a completely different version of the same show, with alternate sequencing, enhanced visuals, and interactive digital layers that respond to their engagement. Unlike during COVID-19 times when these types of exhibitions first started gaining traction, becoming online experiences when visits to the physical sites were restricted, now, you can still experience the architecture in person while the exhibition is shown on screen. Incorporating user data can take this idea even further. Nikes House of Innovation in Seoul is designed as a shape-shifting retail experience. The store isnt simply designed to showcase products; it reacts to its visitors. RFID tags track which items a customer picks up, adjusting nearby screens to display product details, styling suggestions, or limited-edition drops available only at that moment. In some areas, mirrors transform into interactive displays so shoppers can customize their purchases in real-time. The store adapts to who is in it, what theyre doing, and even what they might like based on their previous purchases. Opus by Zaha Hadid Architects,Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Photos by Laurian GhinitoiuHotels, always spaces that have analyzed guest data to curate seamless experiences, are beginning to apply similar ideas. At the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay in Singapore, digital installations throughout the hotel, such as sensors, make changes in things like temperature and lighting based on guest movement and hotel occupancy levels. Nowhere is it clearer than at ME Dubai, housed inside the Opus by Zaha Hadid Architects. From the moment guests check-in, AI-driven concierge systems personalize their stay, while the buildings smart rooms also adjust lighting and temperature based on individual preferences. We could soon see this personalization develop into artwork and material surfaces that change per guest. All of this points to a shift in architectural thinking and a larger trend in which spaces are being designed to operate in parallel states. But this evolution of our spaces raises the question: if two people can experience the same space in completely different ways, is it still the same place?Cities are already embedding these real-time responsive elements, too. Singapores pedestrian tracking system adjusts lighting, wayfinding and traffic flow based on density if certain areas become overcrowded, digital signage redirects foot traffic to alternative routes. While in Seoul, AI-driven kiosks allow street vendors to book and reconfigure public space, meaning the citys commercial landscape is constantly reshaping itself to what visitors need and want most but meaning no two visits would likely be the same.The Edge by PLP Architecture, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Photos by Ronald Tilleman PhotographyWith all this, it looks as though the next evolution of phygital architecture wont be more digital layers or overlays. Designing buildings that actively learn, evolve and optimize themselves over time is the new goal.The Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi, designed by Aedas Architects, was one of the first to feature a kinetic faade that responds to sunlight, automatically opening and closing to reduce heat gain and glare. The panels adjust throughout the day, optimizing internal temperatures without additional energy consumption.While in Amsterdam, The Edge, designed by PLP Architecture, is one of the most advanced self-optimizing office buildings in the world. It uses a network of over 28,000 sensors to track desk usage, air quality and occupancy, automatically adjusting lighting, temperature, and workspace assignments in response to real-time data. Employees work in an environment that continuously adapts to their needs.For architects, the change demands a completely new approach. Design form and function are not necessarily intertwined or static any longer, how space behaves, adapts, and reconfigures itself will depend upon the realities of individual participants and designing to accommodate that is incredibly complex.None of this is speculative. The next generation of cities and buildings are already being built. And just like in the multiverse, there is no going back.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post Shapeshifting Spaces: How Phygital Design Is Reshaping Reality and Architecture appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.In January, Kendall Jenner of the Kardashian-Jenner clan shared a tour of her at-home tequila bar. As the founder of the award-winning tequila brand 818, it makes sense for the model slash TV star slash influencer to have one. The space itself is textbook contemporary luxury: exquisite marble surfaces, rich dark timber, stools sourced from Galerie Half, and a vintage Ralph Lauren cocktail shaker, all perfectly set up for both sipping aejo and taking selfies. Predictably, after posting the video, half the internet promptly searched for the custom home bar. Jenners carefully styled space highlights something that is becoming increasingly prominent in residential design. The home bar.Joining wellness rooms or outdoor kitchens as markers of sophisticated contemporary living, the personal bar is popping up everywhere, with the trend going deeper than celebrities promoting their various liquor companies. Economic uncertainty is nudging even the most affluent of households towards hosting intimate gatherings at home, architects and designers are responding with creativity and flair as home entertaining spaces now incorporate craftsmanship and functionality, whether its concealed cocktail stations or discreet wine rooms behind pivoting doors.The six designs that follow demonstrate how architects are cleverly and, yes, sometimes quite literally raising the bar for staying in.Upper HouseBy KOICHI TAKADA ARCHITECTS, South Brisbane, AustraliaPopular Choice Winner, Multi Unit Housing High Rise (16+ Floors), 13th Annual A+AwardsPhotos by Tom Ferguson and Mark NilonIn recent years, the word amenity has become property marketing shorthand for a windowless gym or a tokenistic co-working space. However, at Upper House in South Brisbane, communal living gets a lavish rethink. Koichi Takada Architects have included not just a rooftop lounge bar but a wine cellar and tasting room too. With fluted marble, warm timber, and thoughtful lighting design, the atmosphere feels simultaneously relaxed and refined. Designed to foster interaction and build a sense of community, they are spaces residents genuinely want to spend time in.Residence WBy fws_work, Taoyuan City, TaiwanPopular Choice Winner, Apartment, 12th Annual A+AwardsPhotos by fws_workResidence W belongs to an airline pilot whose daily commute involves more airport lounges than living rooms. Its only fitting then that the home feels like a first-class cabin. Designed by fws_work, this apartment renovation in Qinpu centers around both tranquility and craftsmanship by layering oak, woven cane, ribbed glass and earthy encaustic tiles into a sophisticated pallet.The centerpiece of the space is a moody yet inviting kitchen and bar area, darkened with black-stained millwork and ceramic tiling from 41 zero 42. Suspended shelves show off bottles as though they were artifacts in a museum by gently illuminating them. This approach highlights the subtle textures and hues of the premium whisky the owner enjoys. A considered home bar that invites slow evenings and the perfect pour.Galeria ApartmentBy ARCHITECTS OFFICE, So Paulo, BrazilPhotos by Andr KlotzGaleria Apartment isnt the sort of home youd describe as cozy, exactly. More like curated. The space, designed by French architect Gregory Bousqueta, who is known for carefully balancing Brazilian warmth with European restraint, has a relaxed elegance that encourages slowing down and staying awhile.The dedicated bar and lounge space neatly illustrates this thoughtful approach. A Wyllis sideboard by Arthur Casas gives the otherwise plain room a sense of structure, and paired with Cassinas mid-century Tre Pezzi armchairs, upholstered in burnt-orange velvet, there is a warmth that is needed for the otherwise neutral palette. Meanwhile, Adalfan Filhos playful Tapioca tea cart introduces a charm that keeps the mood from becoming overly serious. Look up, and the Skygarden lamp from Dimlux casts a soft, even glow. Its the kind of room where a cocktail could easily last an entire evening because the conversation and the furniture is just that good.Urban MetamorphosisBy Brengues Le Pavec architects, FrancePhotos by Zo ChaudeurgeTurning a warehouse into a home is always a tricky business. If you keep too much industrial grit, you risk living in perpetual gloom; smooth it out too much, and youre stuck in a sterile box. Brengues Le Pavecs solution in southern France strikes an ideal balance, embracing the buildings original metal structure while slicing open generous courtyards that flood every room with Mediterranean sunlight.Inside, two walnut-clad volumes cleverly hide away lifes more mundane necessities like laundry, storage, and services but free up space for a glass-fronted wine cellar integrated neatly into the kitchen. This tasting area, flanked by sleek black cabinetry and framed with warm wood, becomes the informal center of the home.Tyra HouseBy FIALA ARCHITECTS, Trinec, CzechiaPhotos by Luk LegierskiAt first glance, you could mistake Tyra House for a particularly bold Bond villains lair. But hidden beneath the Moravian-Silesian Beskids landscape is a thoughtfully designed, ecologically sensitive retreat. Architects FIALA has cleverly placed most of the structure underground, softening the buildings visual footprint with a lush, green roof that blends into the hillside.Beneath this serene surface, however, lies a subterranean hideaway. The dedicated wine cellar has illuminated shelving and geometric timber cabinetry that create an atmosphere similar to that of an upscale lounge. Materials such as Welsh quartzite and raw stone give the space a natural and textural backdrop, echoing the surrounding landscape. Lighting is integrated and dynamic to transform the cellar and adjoining club area into spaces built to host lively gatherings and intimate evenings.Lark HouseBy SHED Architecture & Design, Seattle, WashingtonPhotos by Rafael SoldiAs more people rethink their relationship with alcohol, the home bar doesnt necessarily need to be cocktails and wine fridges. At SHED Architecture & Designs Lark House, instead of shelves stocked with spirits, the Seattle-based project features a meticulously detailed coffee bar framed in warm white oak and accented with delicate tilework and Nero Marquina marble. Respectful of Al Bumgardners original 1958 vision yet confidently contemporary, this space in Seattle, where coffee is something of a sacred ritual, the bar becomes an intentional gathering space for slow mornings, good conversation, and perhaps the occasional philosophical debate.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post Raising the Bar: 6 Home Bars Perfecting the Domestic Drink Station appeared first on Journal.

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.Oscar Wilde clearly had some thoughts on shades. Most of us do. But what does todays distinctly monochrome palette say about where weve got to as a species?Last September, Finnish Architectural Review published its fourth issue of the year. On high-grade paper, it should not have been as daring as it was. Yet even the editorial acknowledged dedicating a magazine to color at a point in history when hues have all but vanished from an architects toolbox was pretty bold.The publication is not alone in perceiving a prevailing sense of greyness about the world. In the UK, the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) tracked the color of objects over time and found a substantial rise in the use of grey. The results, published in 2021, also revealed a significant decline in the prevalence of browns and yellows.Sugamo Shinkin Bank / Nakaaoki Branch by emmanuelle moureaux architecture + design, Kawaguchi, JapanThe work, led by Britains Science Museum Group, examined over 7,000 photographs, identifying the shade of every pixel to create a catalogue of colour. Or lack thereof. Dark charcoal grey was the most common, which staggeringly appeared in over 80% of all pictures. The contrast of a wooden telegraph machine from the mid-1800s, ornate communications cabinet rich in reds, yellows and browns, and a late-noughties silver, black and grey iPhone, casts the decline in sharp relief.Materials drive design. Or at least feasible design. And this counts for aesthetics as much as things like durability and ergonomics. In the 21st century, we make things from other things which are much less adaptable in terms of color, and, against the infinite rusty hues of trees, way less colorful to begin with. Nevertheless, the slide into greyscale is evident across the board, including products which could easily be toned to exacting specifications. Cars being one. Buildings another.1140 Formosa Ave. by Lorcan OHerlihy Architects [LOHA], Los Angeles, CaliforniaIn his piece, Coil Coatings: Architects Secret to Brighter Metal Building Faades, architecture and communications specialist Eric Baldwin offers some hope that contemporary resources and materials are not binding us to a grey future by presenting a number of examples of bright coatings applied to modern exterior walls. Apparently, its possible to recreate almost any color or effect. And in her collection, 10 Buildings Making Bold Statements with Color and Form, Architizers Nidhi Upadhyaya offered more eye-candy counterpoints celebrating the countless shades architects have at their disposal.Colorful backdrops and quirky aesthetics are accumulating millions of likes and saves on social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, she wrote at the time. Given the power of digital networks to make or break governments, let alone inspire design, the apparently-subconscious move to a more monochrome side of life is even more jarring. Were making things people are not naturally conditioned to notice.Wolf Creek Library by Leo A Daly, Atlanta, Georgia, an example of bright coil coatings on metal building faadesWriting for PULP, the University of Sydneys student magazine, Simon Harris threw his hat into the greyness conversation with an op-ed, Greyness. A pervasive phenomenon in contemporary Sydney buildings, which is both vernacular and pedigreed. The view that architectural conversations consistently fail to talk about the majority of architecture humans interact with daily is omnipresent our tendency to focus on capital A projects by practitioners who defined the image of Architecture through each age rather than most buildings.Februarys cover story in The Atlantic,The Anti-Social Century, shed some light on modern architectural priorities for the majority of what we build (or what gets built in the publications US homeland). For every landmark, there are thousands of off-the-shelf houses finished to meet our needs. Discussing an age of solitude and isolation, where points of connection are rarer and narrower than ever, the feature explained how were spending more time at home than any other point in recent history. So homes have become bigger, and weve filled them with more to fill the hours we would have spent out in the world.ARCA Wynwood Design Center by Esrawe Studio, Miami, FloridaAccording to a US real estate broker quoted in the piece, contemporary house design now reflects this with a demand for television-mountable walls in every room. This necessity often comes before fundamentals like the amount of light allowed into a space. Its thoroughly depressing rooms are getting darker, save for the flicker of flatscreens showing films and series, which in 2022 led Vox to ask why do so many TV shows and movies look like they were filmed in a grey wasteland?The point being, by taking our eyes off the look of the everyday, by focusing so much on monochrome modern materials, architecture has become the basic design of assets. An idea legitimized by a global housing crisis of our own making and an economic obsession with breakneck growth rather than solution-focused development. The sad fact is, the market demands building are built fast. And that means, for the most part, putting limited effort into designing a scheme because we need to move on to the next. In this environment, uniformity will always be the easiest option. Which isnt a declaration of architectures death, but an admission that urbanscapes are increasingly lacking differentiation. And were now so bored of what we see, we want Netflix and Prime at every possible point in our washed out worlds.The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.The post Color Optional: How Grayscale Became the Default Design Setting appeared first on Journal.

Philippine architecture is caught between the East and the West, with American, Spanish and Japanese colonial occupation rapidly transforming its built environment. Many architects were influenced by the countrys intercultural identity. Most notably, the national Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin, was known for his distinct style, crafting masterpieces like the Cultural Center of The Philippines.During the 1920s, architect Juan Nakpil paved the way for environmentally conscious construction techniques. He utilized bamboo as a locally sourced component for his designs instead of relying on imported materials such as stone and brick. Conversely, cities like Makati or Manila have now been transformed into bustling urban centers, filled with high-rise structures incorporating solar framing and rainwater collection systems, thus responding to the challenging tropical climate. Filipino architects have reveled in the countrys intercultural, diverse nature. By creating new assemblies between architectural typologies and practices, they are constantly progressing the countrys built environment without sacrificing its cultural heritage.With so many architecture firms, its challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in the Philippines based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.How are these architecture firms ranked?The following ranking has been created according to key statistics demonstrating each firms architectural excellence level. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firms ranking in order of priority:The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025)The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Project of the Day (2009 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Featured Project (2009 to 2025)The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025)The foot of this article explains each of these metrics in more detail. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account the new achievements of Philippine architecture firms throughout the year.Without further ado, here are the 8 best architecture firms in the Philippines:8. hearthgroup hearthgroupWe provide residential and commercial architectural design services to families and business people.Some of hearthgroups most prominent projects include:HB Mausoleum, Bulacan, PhilippinesEco Life Seaweed Plant, Central Visayas, PhilippinesQ Square, Quezon City, PhilippinesChapel of the Nativity, Santa Maria, Philippines The following statistics helped hearthgroup achieve 8th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 4 7. Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates Jorge Yulo Architects and AssociatesSince its inception, JYAA has accumulated a few hundred projects of various types, from high-rises to luxury residences. The company survived the Asian Financial crisis by fortifying its interior design services, which currently make up a sizeable portion of its portfolio.JYAA is an efficiently sized architectural firm that offers Comprehensive Design Services from Concept/Schematic Design to Construction/Coordination/Supervision. The company is affiliated with select technical consulting firms to support the comprehensive technical services offered.Some of Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates most prominent projects include:The Hacienda Community House, Santa Rosa City, Philippines The following statistics helped Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates achieve 7th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 6. DST Design + Build DST Design + BuildWe are a new breed of individuals from different fields who are very passionate about the fields of architecture, interior design, furniture and landscaping.We strive to modernize Filipino architecture and interior design and harmonize all other design elements. Moreover, the firm remains steadfast in its advocacy to adapt principles and dynamics of building green. At DST Design Lab, we generally work on the key concept of creating quality avant-garde architectural + design and workmanship. We aim to design and build high-quality and world-renowned projects that will put Filipino architecture in the forefront.Some of DST Design + Builds most prominent projects include: (Multi Level Residential house), San Mateo, Philippines (BOUTIQUE RESORT COMPLEX), San Mateo, Philippines ( ) 2 Storey Family Villa, San Mateo, Philippines ( ) 2 Storey Villa Honeymooners, San Mateo, Philippines , San Mateo, Philippines The following statistics helped DST Design + Build achieve 6th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 15 5. DEQA Design Collaborative DEQA Design Collaborative (formerly DDC Architectural Studio)We create impactful sensory experience ecosystems that use the power of design to inspire and innovate our everyday. We are a design partner for ambitious clients and bold businesses. DEQA designs through our ideas, objects, places, buildings, and communities. We focus on research-driven, human-centric, and sustainably concentrated design.In our practice, we integrate planning, architecture, interior design, product design, and branding to maximize interdisciplinary cross-pollination. We design at all scales, from the micro to the macro, in powers of 10 to create value and innovation. Our process is highly collaborative. We work closely with our clients to understand their visions, values, and needs. DEQA Design Collaborative was formerly known as DDC Architectural Studio.Some of DEQA Design Collaboratives most prominent projects include:Rizal Eco Center, Rizal, Calabarzon, PhilippinesHyve, Taguig, PhilippinesHyphys, Pasig City, PhilippinesContemporary Museum of Art and Design Competition Entry, Taguig, PhilippinesVyne, Taguig, Philippines The following statistics helped DEQA Design Collaborative (formerly DDC Architectural Studio) achieve 5th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 21 4. LLG Architects Design Studio LLG Architects Design StudioLLG Architects is a Cebu-based interdisciplinary design firm that practices architecture and interior architecture. The firm strongly believes that form coexists with function, that one should not do without the other to be able to achieve that perfect harmony of aesthetics and functionality.The firm, established over 12 years ago, is led by the dynamic husband and wife team, Architects Lendel and Leizle Go, who are also the principal architects of the fir.a Their vast experience in their respective practices propelled them to establish LLG Architects Design Studio with a clear vision to holistically approach every design challenge through story-telling, attention to detail, and client-centric service.Some of LLG Architects Design Studios most prominent projects include:The Rise at Monterrazas, Cebu City, Philippines The following statistics helped LLG Architects Design Studio achieve 4th place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 3. Jim Caumeron Design Jim Caumeron DesignManila-based architectural design firm with projects focusing mainly on residential architecture.Some of Jim Caumeron Designs most prominent projects include:Panorama House, Tagaytay, PhilippinesViewpoint House, Quezon City, PhilippinesTop image: Through House, San Fernando, Philippines The following statistics helped Jim Caumeron Design achieve 3rd place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 3 2. TJSO ARCHITECTS TJSO ARCHITECTSArch. T. Jordan Ong graduated B.S. in Architecture from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (Now College of Architecture) at the University of Santo Tomas. He has worked in various reputable architectural firms and has always risen among the top key employees. He has handled hundreds of residential and high-rise projects in one of his previous firms, where he worked as department head for construction. But having the drive and passion to pursue his goal, he humbly started his own practice in the summer of 2007. He has since expanded his portfolio, designing various projects ranging from high-end residential projects, townhouses, mid-rise buildings, high rise buildings, restaurants and commercial buildings. He embraced the modern minimalist style, which shows in all his works, but has added his own style in the process.Some of TJSO ARCHITECTS most prominent projects include:SCRAP HOUSE: BICYCLE FRAME HOUSEMODERN TROPICAL HOUSE, Pinamalayan, PhilippinesYu house, Quezon City, PhilippinesUno resort hotel, Puerto Princesa, PhilippinesCogeo Commercial Building The following statistics helped TJSO ARCHITECTS achieve 2nd place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 7 1. WTA Design Studio WTA Design StudioWe believe in and socially relevant practice architecture. Architecture that relates to the community promotes urbanity and develops society. We are curators and proponents of the urban realm, and we are in the business of creating places. Places that live and breathe. Places that are a critical part of peoples lives and play a vital role in defining their sense of self and community.Our studio is a place of ideas and possibilities. A place where design and architecture create new and exciting opportunities for our clients and the communities we serve.Some of WTA Design Studios most prominent projects include:The Book Stop, Manila, PhilippinesEl Museo del Prado En Filipinas, Manila, PhilippinesThe Oriental Legazpi, Legazpi City, PhilippinesThe Oriental Leyte, Tacloban City, PhilippinesNew Taipei Museum of Art, Taipei, Taiwan The following statistics helped WTA Design Studio achieve 1st place in the 8 Best Architecture Firms in the Philippines: A+Awards Winner 3 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 161 Why Should I Trust Architizers Ranking?With over 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the worlds largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the worlds best architecture each year.Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlightedA Guide to Project AwardsThe blue + badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizers Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a projects likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:Project completed within the last 3 yearsA well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphsArchitectural designwith a high level of both functional and aesthetic valueHigh quality, in focus photographsAt least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the buildingInclusion of architectural drawings and renderingsInclusion of construction photographsThere are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizers Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.Were constantly look for the worlds best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please dont hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.The post 8 Best Architecture and Design Firms in the Philippines appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.At its peak, the global textile industry accounted for over half of all factory workers worldwide, fueling the rise of industrial architecture from Manchester to Mumbai. The sheer scale of production demanded innovations in building design like we had never seen before. Multi-story brick mills expanded the use of cast-iron frames; sawtooth roofs optimized daylight; and vast floor plate prefigured the open-plan logic of modernism. The architecture of the textile mill was very much the blueprint for the contemporary factory and even the modern office model as we understand it today.However, it isnt just what was on the outside of a textile mill that has influenced architects for decades, whats on the inside has equally inspired some incredible designs. From Gottfried Sempers theory that weaving gave us the first walls to mosaics that mimic materials. Architects have pleated panels, embroidered entryways, and stitched steel all in the tradition of textiles. For something inherently soft, textiles have had an unexpectedly firm grip on the architecture industry, and the following nine projects show the stunning results that can be achieved when architects draw their creativity from cloth.Herning Museum of Contemporary ArtBy Steven Holl Architects, Herning, DenmarkPhotos by Iwan Baan A museum designed with textiles in mind makes perfect sense for Herning. The roof, shaped like folded shirt sleeves, nods to the towns history as a hub for garment production. Even the concrete walls pick up the theme, their fabric-like texture created by pressing truck tarps into the formwork. Inside, solid gallery walls give the art its due, while curved ceilings soften the light. Outside, sculpted mounds extend the buildings geometry into the landscape, tying everything together with a careful attention to material and form.The Veil HouseBy Paperfarm Inc, Kaohsiung City, TaiwanPhotos by Daniel YaoBuilt in a dense neighborhood where privacy is scarce, The Veil House takes its name quite literally. Its brick faade is arranged like a woven textile, changing in density to control light, air, and visibility where required. Inspired by the districts historic brick kilns, the design uses floating clay bricks to create its tapestry-like faade, becoming a screen that is both structural and stunning. Behind it, a central atrium pulls as much light as possible deep into the house, carefully finding the balance between openness and enclosure.Brick Weave HouseBy 4site architects, KA, IndiaPhotos by Shamanth Patil J.Cubbon Peth historically housed Bangalores oldest handloom silk weavers colony. But post industrial revolution, handcrafted silk weaving art was lost. With the intent of preserving the idea of a traditional weaving, the facade of Brick Weave House is a woven screen of bricks, threaded onto steel rods and rotated at precise angles to balance light, ventilation, and privacy. By day, the screen scatters shifting patterns of light through the interiors. By night, the house glows, casting its intricate weave pattern back onto the street.Ferrum 1By TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten, Saint Petersburg, RussiaPhotos by Ilya IvanovThe Corten steel faade of Ferrum 1 is designed as a woven grid, with horizontal and vertical bands appearing to thread through one another, creating the illusion of warp and weft. The material choice is no accident. The deep rust-red patina is a reference to the sites industrial past, once home to the Rossiya factory, while the name itself (Latin for iron) reinforces its connection to the citys manufacturing heritage. At the corners, structural glazing cuts through the steel, juxtaposing the weight with moments of lightness and transparency. Inside, the theme shifts. Gold-toned finishes replace the raw exterior, creating a deliberate tension between industrial and refined: Rust on the outside, gold on the inside.Paul Smith, MayfairBy 6a architects, London, United KingdomPaul Smith built his reputation on sharp tailoring and attention to detail. His Mayfair store does the same, only in cast iron. Borrowing inspiration from woven hats and finely drawn gold ingots alongside the soft fall of cloth, the intricate facade uses interlocking circles to create a surface that appears woven. The pattern, abstracted from Regency architecture, catches the light at different angles, shifting between depth and opacity. Up close, the texture of the casting process is visible, giving in the imperfections it needs. Paul Smiths own drawings are embedded in the metal too, adding a playful touch.VICUTU Concept Flagship StoreBy AntiStatics Architecture, Beijing, ChinaPhotos by UKStudioVICUTU is one of Chinas leading menswear brands, specializing in precision tailoring and technical fabrics. Its flagship store brings that same idea to its architecture. The faade is made from bent aluminum sheets, interlocked to form a patterned outer skin. Inside, a woven diagrid motif runs through floors, pedestals and partitions to create a unified design language. Display counters are moulded to the ground, while curving walls direct movement through the space. Spanning two floors and housing multiple brand lines, the store translates the technical craftsmanship of tailoring into the built environment.Jinke Hanwang Tingquan Xiaozhen lifestyle and arts loungeBy Le Brand Strategy, Xuzhou, ChinaPhotos by Sun XiangyuAt Jinke Hanwang Tingquan lounge, the designers drew directly from the regions Han dynasty heritage, particularly its celebrated woven textiles fabrics famously described as thin as cicada wings. Interior partitions are designed to replicate this tradition, formed from transparent mesh and layered screens, they divide spaces, tea rooms and quiet areas without fully separating them. The suspended wooden ceiling also references the iconic curved rooftops of Han palaces, giving the space a sense of historical depth. Throughout, saw-marked timber and raw steel accents keep the space restrained and contemporary, offering a balance between ancient craftsmanship and modern design.Ceramic HouseBy Studio RAP, Amsterdam, NetherlandsPhotos by Riccardo De VecchiStudio RAP used its own custom-built 3D-printing technology to create the faade of Amsterdams Ceramic House. Inspired by knitted textiles, the ceramic tiles are algorithmically designed and individually printed. Each is entirely unique. At street level, large tiles glazed by Royal Tichelaar in pearl-white with hints of yellow provide illuminating texture up close, while higher up, bricks in varying shades of red blend comfortably with the original masonry. The faade maintains the familiar structure and proportions of P.C. Hooftstraat, yet brings a truly unique aesthetic to one of Amsterdams historic streets.CASA MYMBy Numero 26 Studio, Murcia, SpainPhotos by David FrutosCASA MYM borrows directly from Murcias textile tradition. The ceramic tiles that cover the faade replicate patterns found on local farmers embroidered workwear. This connection grounds the building naturally to its setting. Divided into three separate volumes, the house angles towards views of the surrounding orchards and mountains. While, inside, simple materials like unfinished clay walls, galvanized metal doors and pine joinery keep the design practical and straightforward.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post Threading the Line Between Fabric and Form: Architecture Inspired by Textiles appeared first on Journal.

For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in ourTech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.There are many reasons to love Rome: the food, the art, the history. For architects, it is home to some of the most inspirational buildings in the world: the Colosseum, Vittoriano, and St. Peters Basilica, to name but a few. However, there is another lesser-known visual spectacle in Rome that has architects around the world talking: massive flocks of starlings. For centuries, these tiny birds have been drawn to Romes deeply textured faades and intricate stonework, creating nesting spots in the many cracks and crevices of its ancient buildings. Romes dense mix of historic structures, sheltered courtyards, and warm microclimate have allowed these birds to thrive for generations, delighting locals and tourists alike with their stunning murmurations for many winters.However, the urban landscape is changing dramatically. Restoration projects and modern construction throughout the city are increasingly favoring smooth materials like polished concrete, steel and glass, none of which offer sheltered spots for nesting. Renovations to historic sites, such as the cleaning and sealing of travertine stone, have further reduced nesting spaces. The city continues to host significant murmurs of starlings in its skies, but their ability to roost and breed within the built environment is diminishing, and its not just Rome thats the problem.The Tip of the Iceberg: Bird-Safe GlassThe Hub at Prairie Shores by Gensler, Chicago, Illinois | Photo by Kendall McCaugherty Hall + Merrick PhotographersStarlings arent the only species losing ground. Urban expansion frequently disrupts airborne wildlife. Take New York City. Each year, roughly 230,000 birds collide with reflective skyscraper windows, mistaking mirrored glass for open sky. These fatalities present one of the largest killers of birds in the world. In Sydney, the pressures of urbanization on bats, particularly the grey-headed flying fox, are coming to light. As natural forests have been cleared for housing developments and commercial centers, these bats, key pollinators for native eucalyptus trees, have been forced into smaller roosting sites within city parks and green spaces. Unlike many birds, which can nest in artificial structures, flying foxes require large, interconnected tree canopies to live happy lives.In both instances, architects and designers are being brought in to consult on finding solutions. Bird-safe glass, for example, that features ultraviolet coatings and subtle etchings, which break up reflections in ways that birds can detect but remain nearly invisible to the human eye, is becoming more and more popular with many champions of the technology campaigning to make it essential in buildings of heights above 75 feet (23 meters), or the primary flight zone for many bird species. In New York, regulations now require bird-safe glass for all new construction up to 85 feet (26 meters) to reduce the number of collisions.Vertical Forests and Green Corridors100 VandambyCOOKFOX Architects, New York City, New YorkSydneys architects and urban planners are introducing vertical forests and green corridors, effectively extending the citys canopy through high-rise structures covered in vegetation. It is an initiative that not only supports displaced wildlife like the grey-headed flying fox but also as a way of mitigating urban heat, controlling air pollution, and enhancing stormwater management.Undoubtedly, green roofs and living walls contribute to biodiversity, though much of their effectiveness depends on plant selection and placement. Monarch butterflies in North America, for example, rely on milkweed and other native plants as larval host species, but often green developments will choose aesthetics over function, planting non-native species. For pollinators, these non-native plants actually offer little value and do nothing to help increase biodiversity numbers. Studies by Cornell University have shown that butterfly populations thrive in cities that integrate native vegetation into rooftop gardens and green infrastructure projects. Their research indicates that urban spaces with native plantings can increase pollinator activity by up to 50% compared to ornamental plantings. The importance of ecology-driven design choices by architects and designers cannot be overstated.From Lighting to Swift Bricks100 Vandam by COOKFOX Architects, New York City, New YorkLighting is another crucial, often-overlooked factor that affects urban wildlife. Artificial light pollution disrupts the circadian rhythms of nocturnal species and confuses migratory birds that navigate using celestial cues. Studies in Toronto, where thousands of birds die each year due to disorientation caused by excessive lighting, have led to the implementation of bird-friendly lighting guidelines. These measures include motion-activated lighting, downward-facing fixtures, and warmer-colored LED bulbs, all of which help reduce avian casualties without reducing functionality.One of the simplest and most effective interventions for avian conservation in cities is using swift bricks. These are specially designed nesting boxes that are built into the masonry of modern buildings, mimicking the deep crevices found in older stonework. Unlike traditional birdhouses, swift bricks are designed to be unobtrusive, blending into contemporary structures as part of the overall design. They have been successfully incorporated into new residential developments across the UK, where local planning regulations encourage their inclusion in new build properties after the species was added to the red list of endangered birds in 2021, when its population fell by 58% from 1995-2018. Typically placed at least five meters above ground level, swift bricks provide safe nesting sites without too much crossover between the nesting birds and the homeowners.Learning From the PastHAUT Amsterdam by Team V Architecture, Amsterdam, Netherlands.History often offers essential lessons for todays architects. Romes textured faades, built for their beauty and grandeur, once unintentionally housed a diverse array of bird populations. From those earliest architectural wonders, it has been clear that material choices shape urban ecology for better or worse. Sadly, many of todays modern architects have forgotten, and our preference for glossy, seamless buildings has led to substantial ecological losses in cities worldwide. Yet, there is always time to turn things around, and by choosing to incorporate varied surface textures, modular nesting elements, and considered lighting solutions, architects can design a world where humans can live harmoniously with our avian neighbors. Romes starlings are a reminder that urban wildlife is deeply linked to the built environment. Their decline makes it clear that how we design buildings must evolve to prioritize animal-safe materials, habitat-conscious design, and an awareness of ecological impact. In doing so, we can actively reverse the increase in biodiversity loss across the world, and the Starlings can continue to delight Romes visitors for generations to come.For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in ourTech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.Top image: The Muse & CasaNova by Barcode Architects, Rotterdam, Netherlands.The post Concrete Jungles, Empty Skies: How Smarter Design Can Bring Wildlife Back to Cities appeared first on Journal.

The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.When we appreciate architecture, it often comes from a place of feeling. Just like with art, the tilt of the head or a momentary squint reveals our attempt to understand the emotions woven into a space by the designer. Color and emotion in architecture are deeply connected, shaping how we experience and interact with our surroundings from vibrant public areas to more intimate spaces. Through careful consideration of color, architects shape the aesthetics of a space, influencing not just its mood and functionality but also the deeper connections people form within it.These seven projects use bright hues to cultivate connection, spark creativity, and enhance the experience of their occupants across different scales. Each demonstrates how color can serve as more than just decoration it can shape identity, inspire activity and transform spaces into emotionally engaging environments.Die Macherei MnchenBy HWKN Architecture, Munich, Germany The faades dynamic color gradient transitions from an energetic red through a creative orange to a cheerful yellow. More than just an aesthetic feature, this gradient plays a critical role in reshaping the sites industrial identity. This bold choice of colors now serves as an emotional light bulb to an area that was once barren and utilitarian. It now radiates warmth and has transformed into a vibrant, welcoming neighborhood filled with energy and emotion.NeighboursBy ZAV Architects with Next Office, Fardis, IranWorking alongside shapes and massing, the designers used color to break the monotony of post-disaster construction in Fardis. A vibrant palette of coral reds, warm ochres and deep teals creates a dynamic landscape, giving each cellular-shaped unit its own identity. This intentional use of color fosters individuality and strengthens the sense of ownership within the community. It also introduces warmth and optimism, counteracting the impersonal feel that mass-produced housing developments often create. In a space where rebuilding is more than just physical restoration, color becomes a tool for emotional recovery and renewal.Publicis Groupe, Le TrucBy Architecture Plus Information (A+I), New York A+I infused the spaces with vibrant hues and shades to ignite creativity across the organization, making them the heart of Publicis creative culture. Colors like pink, green, yellow, orange and blue mark key stages in the organizations creative process; each color choice serves a functional and psychological purpose. For example, the pink meeting room fosters collaboration by creating a sense of openness and encouraging dialogue. The green break room promotes relaxation, allowing employees to recharge between tasks. Meanwhile, the orange hallway injects energy and dynamism into circulation spaces, ensuring that movement through the office feels inspiring rather than routine.Arts District ProjectBy Perkins & Will, Los Angeles The buildings faade features aluminum louvers wrapping around its concrete frame. Painted in bright colors, they enhance energy efficiency as solar filters while doubling as large-scale murals. The color palette echoes the sites industrial past, drawing from the textures of brick, concrete, and steel, as well as the bold murals and wheat-paste posters that characterize the districts streetscape.This fusion of color and function makes the facade more than just an aesthetic statement it becomes a storytelling element, connecting the building to its urban fabric. By reflecting the neighborhoods artistic character, the project honors the Arts Districts legacy while promoting sustainability and energy efficiency.Charles Aznavour conservatoire of music, theatre and danceBy Dominique Coulon & Associs, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France The designers infused the academys faade with dynamic dichroic films that create colors whose hues depend on where a person stands and the suns movement. This kaleidoscopic effect ties the interiors together, reinforcing the academys artistic identity. Inside, bold colors heighten the dramavivid blacks and striking reds bathe some rooms, sparking creativity, energizing performers and immersing them in an atmosphere of expression.Beyond aesthetics, this use of color and light influences how performers and students experience the space. The changing hues create a sense of movement, reflecting the rhythm and emotion of the performing arts. Just as music and theater rely on shifts in tone and intensity, the conservatoires colors evolve throughout the day, reinforcing the dynamism of artistic expression.Haus 2+By Office ParkScheerbarth, Berlin, Germany The bold red faade of Haus 2+ serves as a striking entrance to Holzmarkt 25, injecting life just like blood into the cultural quarter. As an entry point, its evolving tone throughout the day reinforces the buildings progressive nature, making a bold statement amidst its eclectic surroundings. The combination of red and larch wood adds contrast and mirrors the creative energy of the diverse tenants who also bring the space to life.Wonderland Elementary School Kindergarten Classroom, Play Areas, and Learning GardenBy John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects (JFAK), Los Angeles, California Designed for children, the kindergarten integrates color and form to spark wonder and discovery. The colorful louvers that trace the playful swoops of the facade create a sense of movement and energy, while polycarbonate fins above a large roof opening cast multi-colored hues of light into the space.Inside, the thoughtful application of color extends into the classrooms, where the designers infused different pops of color to enhance the environment and foster curiosity. Each shade contributes to a unique atmosphere softer hues create a calming effect for focused activities, while bolder tones inspire creativity and play.The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.The post Pigment of Imagination: 7 Bold Designs That Color Outside the Lines appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The Sagrada Famlia remains a major tourist attraction even though its still under construction. Its work in progress nature is precisely one of its most distinctive and appealing aspects, drawing visitors worldwide who are eager to witness its ongoing evolution. In 2024, the Sagrada Famlia achieved a record 4,833,658 visitors, the highest number to date.Although the basilica is unfinished, it has been recognized for its architectural and cultural significance. In 2005, UNESCO designated the Nativity faade and the Crypt, parts completed by Gaud before he died in 1926, as World Heritage sites.Over time, construction has faced numerous challenges, including the devastation of Gauds workshop during the Spanish Civil War, political and economic instability, and, more recently, delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, advancements in modern technology have accelerated construction in recent decades, making the 2026 completion goal attainable.Aerial view of the Sagrada Famlia. Barcelona, Spain. | Photo by Archie McNicol via Pexels.1. After over 140 years of construction, the Sagrada Famlia remains unfinished. Its complex design and reliance on private donations contribute to the extended timeline. It is expected to be completed in 2026, marking 100 years since Gauds death.2. During the Spanish Civil War (19361939), anarchist militias set fire to Gauds workshop, destroying original drawings, models and design plans, making it difficult for future architects to interpret and continue his vision. After the war, architects had to painstakingly reconstruct Gauds designs using surviving photographs, sketches and model fragments, striving to remain faithful to Gauds vision while interpreting missing details.3. Antoni Gaud initially used siliceous sandstone from Barcelonas Montjuc hill for the Sagrada Famlia. However, as the quarries quickly became depleted, alternative sources became necessary. Nowadays, stone is sourced from other Spanish regions, such as Galicia and Cantabria, and from other countries, including England, Scotland and France.Left: Angels Nativity Facade Sagrada Famlia Barcelona 2014, Photo by Jos Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro via Wikipedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 | Right: Passion Faade (Sagrada Familia West Facade 4) by Wiki ktulu via Wikipedia Commons, CC BY 3.04. The Sagrada Famlias Nativity and Passion faades, depicting different aspects of Christs life, present a striking contrast in style.The Nativity Faade was designed mainly by Gaud. It is heavily decorated and highly organic, celebrating Christs birth. Its elaborate carvings feature natural motifs, including plants, animals, and flowing forms, symbolizing life and creation.In contrast, the Passion Faade, designed by sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs, features a stark, skeletal design symbolizing Christs suffering and crucifixion.5. Gauds design for the Sagrada Famlia embodies his belief that nature is the ultimate inspiration, integrating organic structure and ornamentation. For instance, the basilicas interior columns branch out like trees to support the vaulted ceiling, evoking a forest canopy. Also, visitors can discover intricately carved plants and animals, including turtles at the base of columns, eagles, lions and other natural motifs throughout the building.Sagrada Famlias arboriform columns. Barcelona, Spain. | Photo via PxHere.6. Gaud engineered a self-supporting structure using hyperboloid and paraboloid columns. This technique eliminated the need for traditional buttresses. Today, the basilicas construction continues to honor his vision by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technologies like prefabrication, prestressed stone panels and parametric design tools.7. Traditional techniques remain central to the Sagrada Famlias construction. Skilled stonemasons hand-carve sculptures, timbrel Catalan vaulting enhances structural integrity and trencads mosaic decorates surfaces. These techniques complement modern technologies (beginning with aeronautic softwares in the early 1990s and later embracing parametric design) balancing tradition with innovation to preserve authenticity while accelerating construction.8. When completed, the basilica will have 18 towers, representing the 12 apostles, 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.Twelve Apostles towers: These towers range from 98.5 to 120 meters (approximately 323.16 to 393.70 feet) in height. They are positioned in groups of four on each of the three faades: Nativity, Passion, and Glory (main faade).Four Evangelist Towers: They stand at 135 meters (approximately 443 feet) tall, making them the third tallest structures within the basilica. These towers encircle the central Jesus Christ tower. Dedicated to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, each tower is crowned with a tetramorph: a man (Matthew), a lion (Mark), an ox (Luke), and an eagle (John). Virgin Mary Tower: This tower, standing at 138 meters (approximately 452.76 feet), is topped with a twelve-pointed star, symbolizing the morning star.Jesus Christ Central Tower: Upon completion, this will be the tallest of all, reaching 172.5 meters ( approximately 565.94 feet), surpassing the current tallest church, Ulm Minster in Germany, which stands at 161.5 meters (530 feet). It will be surmounted by a four-armed cross, designed to serve as a viewing platform, offering panoramic views of Barcelona.Renovation of two cloisters in the Sagrada Famlia Basilica by COMA Arquitectura. Barcelona, Spain. Interior view (top); floor plan and section (bottom) | Photo by Fundaci Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia.9. Some temporary spaces have been designed to accommodate the large influx of tourists, even though they were not part of the original plans. Once the construction is completed, these areas will revert to their original uses. For instance, Gaud originally designed two cloisters as ambulatory spaces connecting the Nativity Faade and the Passion Faade to the sacristies at the corners of the basilica. These cloisters were intended to serve as meditative pathways, providing circulation and acoustic separation from the city. However, they have been repurposed as multi-purpose spaces for visitor services and other temporary functions during construction.10. A controversial aspect of the Sagrada Famlias original design is its grand plaza, intended to provide a monumental approach to the basilica. However, when Gaud developed this scheme in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Barcelona was not as densely built as it is today.Numerous residential and commercial buildings occupy the site originally intended for the grand plaza leading to the Sagrada Famlias main entrance. Implementing Gauds vision would require demolishing several properties, which has sparked significant opposition from residents. Moreover, the plaza would need to be constructed above Mallorca Street, a major traffic thoroughfare, further complicating the project.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Top image via PEXELS.The post 10 Facts About Barcelonas Soon-To-Be-Completed Sagrada Famlia appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.At first, there were drawings, then photomontages and hand sketches, followed by renders, and now AI-generated visuals. The power of image in architectural representation has played an immense role in its dissemination, especially when it comes to addressing a non-architectural audience.From intricately detailed sections of cathedrals to comic-like imagery serving as critical statements and now with digital tools have become a game-changer in architectural visualization, and the perception of unbuilt buildings has evolved throughout time. Idealized renderings have long served as a powerful marketing tool, generating excitement for future projects but often leading to disappointment when the final built reality fails to live up to its visual promise. Especially with the emergence of AI, the distinction between truth versus fiction is now more pressing than ever, posing the ethical question of where is the line between inspiration and deception?Unknown author, Photograph of architectural rendering of Palace of Education for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, ca. 1902, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia CommonsProjects such as Londons Walkie-Talkie building or the Hamburgs Elbphilharmonie for instance, both fell short of their visuals, facing immense criticism in terms of their environmental impact, cost overruns and contextual disassociation. Additionally, there have been various unfinished or abandoned mega-projects such as the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia or the Ryugyong Hotel (or the Hotel of Doom) in North Korea that have caught the public eye through their stunning visualization but were never realized due to an array of economic, political and social factors. This inability for proper implementation, reveals how architectural representation can create unrealistic expectations, influencing public perception as well as investor confidence, thus raising ethical concerns about transparency in visualization.Paul Rudolph creator QS:P170,Q1277977, LOMEX,Rendering of streetscape, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia CommonsStill, what is acceptable in terms of embellishment? By tweaking light settings and adding greenery and people, renders immediately become more appealing. In parallel, by manipulating context, for example omitting surrounding building and removing real-world urban clutter or even providing misleading scale and proportions to spaces, can greatly influence the real-world expectation. Who should take responsibility for such misleading practices: The architect? The developer? The visual artist? What happens when renders do not align with cultural or environmental realities? And finally, if we take it a step further, could AI be used to fabricate entirely fictional projects, which are then presented as scams or speculative ventures?Even through digital visualization has been around for at least three decades, its ethical implications are somewhat covertly addressed. Due to its immense popularity and usefulness, digital imagery has become the bread and butter for architectural communication as well as its most powerful marketing tool. Nevertheless, there are possible strategies that can help untangle the confusion and perplexity of the CGI versus reality dilemma.Prod. Library by By Ferras Coulibaly / Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Vision A+ Awards, 2023, Photorealistic Visualization, Student WinnerFor instance, an honesty rating system could be introduced, using phrases such as conceptual, approved design or finalized construction phase, thus providing a metric against the likely building outcome. Furthermore, mandatory disclaimers like the added lighting effects, greenery and public activity are purely illustrative as well as respecting and accurately representing the surrounding context, can help clarify what is real and what is fictional. Finally, by providing multiple levels of visualization and including not only idealized marketing images but also technical diagrams, material references as well as disclosing when AI tools are used to generate visuals, can offer a clearer understanding regarding the amount of automation involved in the production process.As technology continues to evolve, so does the need for greater ethical responsibility. Specifically, through clearer communications, architects can manage expectations and alleviate any disappointment that arises between what people expect and what is ultimately built. In fact, by utilizing other emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR), people can experience a project in real-time rather than relying on static, stylized images.Cloud Peak Hotel above the Rainforest Mist by FTG Studio / Zhiwei Liu, Xianfang Liu, Vision A+Awards, 2023, Ai Assisted Visualization, Special MentionPersonally, I believe that the AI boom provides a unique opportunity to revisit the ethical implications of technology, creative expression and marketing. It challenges architects and designers to establish strong foundations of practices and a mindset that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and honesty in architectural representation. But perhaps this also leads to a broader question: should AI-enhanced renderings prompt us to rethink not only how we present architecture but also how we perceive and engage with the built environment? More broadly, has architecture become way too reliant on images, which in turn obstruct reality rather than enhancing our understanding of it? Are we prioritizing aesthetics over functionality, or spectacle over substance, leading to a built environment that often fails to live up to its visual promises?Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Featured Image: Fusion of Eras by Drew Gilbert, Vision A+ Awards, 2023, Ai Assisted Visualization, Special MentionThe post Fake it Till You Build it? The Pitfalls of Architectural Representation appeared first on Journal.

How does one transform a home into a lens for nature?The Notch House in New Hampshire, designed by Paul Designs Project, reexamines the concept of traditional cabin design by proposing a house that mimics the surrounding landscape whilst framing breathtaking views from all angles. While the residence is highly modern, it features the materiality, strategic site orientation and warm, welcoming feel of a traditional cabin in the woods. Yet, the most prominent feature of the space is glass.Dramatic Marvin Modern floor-to-ceiling windows were key to realizing a house with contextual harmony that fulfills the demands of the client, all while pushing the boundaries of expansive glass.The Notch House by Paul Designs Projects; image courtesy of Marvin.Looking from afar, the profile of the roofline perfectly reflects the ridgeline of Mt. Lafayette, the way it dips down for the Franconia Notch and eventually rises back up for the outline of Cannon Mountain hence the name Notch House. Spatially, the notch is a threshold, a glass-bridge hallway that connects the primary suite with the main living space. Constructed solely from glazing, this passageway slows down the movement within the house, forcing an intentional pause to enjoy the outside views.On the other side, an impressive glass enclosed staircase leads to the upper floor. I still get a kick out of this tower that the stairway is in, the homeowner recalls. Its basically all glass. That just tickles me to no end, every time I use it. In parallel, backlit Corten steel panels become the primary feature of the faade. White pine boughs are used as a pattern that evokes the New Hampshire Mountains, creating a welcoming symbol for the owners upon their arrival.The Notch House featuring glass-bridge hallway; image courtesy of Marvin.Axonometric and elevation drawings of the Notch House; image courtesy of Paul Designs Projects.This interplay between solid and transparent volumes constructs a modern line that compliments the organic line of the surrounding terrain. Fittingly, the Marvin Modern collection enables the construction of large windows with very thin profiles an ideal product for the principal architect Paul Lewandowski to achieve his uninterrupted views-at-every-turn vision.Faade details; image courtesy of Paul Designs Projects.Following a discussion with Marvin architectural project manager Matt LeGeyt, Lewandowski set a personal bet: to use the largest window size possible for the project. Consequently, upon entering the living room, three huge windows measuring 8 by 12 feet each capture the stunning views, while the meticulous frame construction uses internal covers to disguise the fasteners and concealing rubber gaskets, thus minimizing visual distractions.Additionally, the Modern collection of windows are complemented with Marvin Ultimate Sliding doors, offering even more natural light and airflow to the space. Upon the projects completion, the homeowners stated: Modern windows made all the difference in the world. It allowed us to get the floor-to-ceiling views that we wanted. And for Lewandowski? Challenge completed: I guess we used the largest size that could be made.Notch House interior; image courtesy of Marvin.Apart from the visual and spatial properties of glass, it was also important to consider the products functional performance. Located in a region known for its inhospitable and unpredictable weather, the Modern collection had to perform efficiently in both the cold winter as well as the hot summer months.Made out of High-Density Fiberglass construction, the window frame is strong, durable and non-conductive, and does not require any additional material to aid its thermal performance. Furthermore, fiberglass is a relatively lightweight material, allowing for the manufacturing of large-scale windows while consciously keeping material usage to a minimum.Notch House glass-bridge hallway details; images courtesy of Marvin.When it came to the projects implementation, the trusting relationship between the architects and Marvins project manager played a crucial role for the designs precise execution. Acting primarily as a consultant, LeGeyt provided advice on the correct window installation for their effective performance and became an invaluable resource for technical information. He also coordinated the assimilation of the two collections Marvin Modern and Marvin Ultimate providing solutions to achieve the same finishes and heights throughout the space.Plan drawings courtesy of Paul Designs Projects.The project successfully redefines the principles of the traditional cabin typology through the use of cutting-edge technology, thoughtful collaboration and a highly intensive consideration of context. Additionally, the use of glass as both a structural and experiential element balances solidity and transparency as well as protection and openness. Marvin Modern windows provide a high-functioning solution that enhances both the aesthetic and environmental performance of the home. As a result, the Notch House is ultimately not just a place to live, but a place to truly see.For architects seeking to elevate their projects and bring the outdoors in, visit Marvin.com to explore the new series.The post Framing Nature: How the Notch House Redefines Cabin Design with Extraordinary Glass Details appeared first on Journal.

These annual rankings were last updated on March 21, 2025. Want to see your firm on next years list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studios ranking.From its origins as a humble fishing village to its transformation into a global economic powerhouse, the architectural landscape of Shanghai mirrors the citys rapid evolution and cutting-edge innovation. Historical neighborhoods such as the iconic Yu Garden, the legendary Bund waterfront and the Former French Concession are some of the most architecturally rich areas in the city, as well as testaments of the diverse cultures that have shaped its urban fabric.In the last decade, Shanghai has attracted the works of famous western architects such as Zaha Hadids Sky SOHO airport as well as the Shanghai Cultural Arts Centre with its intricate faade design, completed by Foster and Partners and Heatherwick Studio in 2017. As a city with one foot constantly set on the future, Shanghai showcases a forward-thinking approach to urban living. By employing smart city technology and integrating sustainable design methods into their practices, Shanghai architects stretch the profession into new realms of invention.With so many architecture firms to choose from, its challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Shanghai based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.How are these architecture firms ranked?The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firms level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firms ranking, in order of priority:The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025)The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Project of the Day (2009 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Featured Project (2009 to 2025)The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025)Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Shanghai architecture firms throughout the year.Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Shanghai:30. XISUI Design XISUI DesignXISUI Design Brand was founded in Shanghai, China in 2018. We focus on using cutting-edge digital design and construction technologies to provide services such as space design, childrens playgrounds, technology landscapes, landscape construction, installation art, public sculpture, etc. We offer solution design, strategic planning and construction guidance.We aspire to create designs with rich expressive means that are at the forefront of the times, coupled with a continuous exploration of the inner essence. We aim to allow users of different ages, families and cultural backgrounds to feel the sincere emotions, local culture and genuine concern for life behind the design.Some of XISUI Designs most prominent projects include:Digital Design of a Thin-shell Metal Woven Pavilion, Hefei, ChinaNatural and Organic: Red Dunes Playtopia, Guangzhou, ChinaJungle Tribe: A Children Space Returning to the Nature, Chengdu, ChinaHandan Cishan Tribe: Where 8000-Year Cultural Relics Encounter Public Childrens Space, Handan, ChinaOld Beijing Bus: The Public Childrens Space with a Bus Theme on the Streets of Changping, Beijing, China The following statistics helped XISUI Design achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 2 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 6 29. Domain Architects Domain ArchitectsEstablished in Shanghai, Domain Architects is a studio led by Mr. XU Xiaomeng, operating within the boundaries of architecture, urbanism, landscape, interior and product design. Our practice strives to reform architectural experience with innovative site strategy. In our opinion, designing architecture is not about drawing physical things, but to create unique and attractive experiences. Then the architecture would naturally grow up to enable the experience.China has been undergoing vast scale construction in the past decades, while replicability is usually prior to experience. The situation is improving but many new projects are still no more than a few pretty images.Some of Domain Architects most prominent projects include:Lakeside Teahouse, Jiaxing, ChinaBeijing MM Farm, Beijing, China The following statistics helped Domain Architects achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 2 28. HDD HDDShanghai HuaDu Architecture & Urban Design (HDD) is a comprehensive design company with first-rate architecture and engineering qualification issued by State Construction Ministry. It has established 8 sub-companies in Singapore, Banglandesh(Dhaka), Zhengzhou (Henan), Yangzhou (Jiangsu) and Urumqi (Xinjiang), Wuhan (Hubei), Hainan, Guangzhou (Guangdong). Its projects are located in Americas, Europe and Asia. In China, HDD blooms in large-sized and middle-sized cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Qingdao.Some of HDDs most prominent projects include:Mulan Weichang Vistor Centre, Hebei, ChinaSu Shanghai community art museum, Shanghai, ChinaAPEC summit hotel Beijing Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing, ChinaVertical garden _ Chinese Garden meets ultra compact apartment, Shanghai, ChinaTRANSFORMABLE SMART HOME/Zhang Haiao , Beijing, China The following statistics helped HDD achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 6 27. TheY Architects TheY ArchitectsZZYY Studio is an international young design team full of vigor and creativity, currently chaired by Yao Yuan and Liu Yuze.The outside world is unknown. We believe that the most attractive state of design is to create unknown possibilities in the known environment, and stimulate the imagination and business of each space. By responding to the unknown possibility of the site, jumping out of the already known design of the site, creating an unexpected space-time experience in the situation.Some of TheY Architects most prominent projects include:Station in the FieldNature Workshop The following statistics helped TheY Architects achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 3 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 2 26. Shanghai United Design Group Co., Ltd. Shanghai United Design Group Co., Ltd.United Design Group or UDG is a comprehensive service design company with A-grade architectural design certification, A-grade urban planning certification and B-grade landscape design certification thus, providing reliable and quality services in completing projects in China.Some of Shanghai United Design Groups most prominent projects include:Dysis Church of Poly Shallow Sea, Sanya, ChinaWOWDSGN Shanghai MixC Store, Shanghai, ChinaZaozhuang Stadium, Shandong, China The following statistics helped Shanghai United Design Group Co., Ltd. achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 3 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 3 25. COORDINATION ASIA COORDINATION ASIACOORDINATION ASIA is an award winning agency for design and architecture, specializing in creating high impact environments in museum, exhibition, retail and hospitality design. We are driven by the quest for fresh ideas and extra-ordinary design solutions. Like a concept laboratory, we bridge creative energy and professional realization. From cultural to commercial projects, at COORDINATION ASIA we believe that content precedes aesthetics and that great design is more than simply styling. Our clients like us for our content-driven approach, as well as for our dedicated and reliable way of working. From understanding the needs of the client to drafting ideas and final realization, we make sure every step of the process is met with the highest of standards.Some of COORDINATION ASIAs most prominent projects include:Rainbow Chapel, Shanghai, ChinaNike Studio Beijing, Beijing, ChinaShanghai Museum of Glass, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Film MuseumGaga Coastal City, Shenzhen, China The following statistics helped COORDINATION ASIA achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 12 24. RoarcRenew RoarcRenewRoarc Renew is an architectural atelier specializes in urban space renovation. The atelier focuses on urban renewal, space reengineering, remodeling of old districts, trying to create a sustainable urban space, while following the concept of revolutionary design and the history of architecture. Its members and consultants come from Shanghai, Israel and New York. The current design projects include urban renewal, architectural design, interior design, product design and other categories, distributed among Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Jakarta and other cities.Using working space and residential space as the starting point, the atelier intends to explore the possibilities of the lifestyles in the Internet Age, which facilitates co-working project as one of the major ways to carry out architectural practice.Some of RoarcRenews most prominent projects include:TaoCang Art Center, Zhejiang, ChinaCarlowitz&CO., Shanghai, ChinaJoy City Parkside Herstory Art Zone, Shanghai, ChinaMixpace Mandela, Shanghai, ChinaTaioursee Laomendong SPA Shop, Nanjing, China The following statistics helped RoarcRenew achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 4 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 11 23. 100architects 100architects100architects offers design consultancy services for urban attractors, creating architectural objects that attract users and customers, promoting brands and products.100architects was born aiming to explore the thin boundaries between public leisure and urban marketing. We specialize in street architecture and urban interventions impacting the known cityscape by creating a link between the brand and the potential customer through urban interventions, which invite the users to interact, encouraging the occurrence of social dynamics.Some of 100architects most prominent projects include:Urderwater Office, Shanghai, ChinaRed Planet, Zhabei, Shanghai, ChinaPuzzle Maze, Shanghai, ChinaBlue Ribbon, Shanghai, ChinaOlympia, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped 100architects achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 13 22. Atelier Diameter Atelier DiameterAtelier Diameter was founded in Shanghai as a part of Zhongsen Architectural & Engineering Designing Consultants (ZSA). We are a group of architects specializing in cultural projects of various scales and programs.Some of Atelier Diameters most prominent projects include:Art Gallery Extension of Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing, ChinaMudu Library, Shanghai, ChinaMicro-Renovation of East China Formal University No.1 Village, Shanghai, ChinaReaders House, Beijing, ChinaWuxi Meili Site Museum, Wuxi, China The following statistics helped Atelier Diameter achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 8 21. TEAM_BLDG TEAM_BLDGTEAM_BLDG was founded in 2012, they work with architecture, interior, landscape and product. The two founders of the studio consider that the word BLDG is a verb than the meaning of architecture, which should be the processing of constructing, and the finished design is just a start of architects work. Relative to any concept or style, they are more focusing on the atmosphere of building and space, interior and exterior for people.Some of TEAM_BLDGs most prominent projects include:THE HAKKA TRIANGLE HOUSE, Guangzhou, ChinaHotel WIND, Xiamen, ChinaCT OFFICE, Jiaxing, ChinaTHE FIELD, Xiamen, ChinaTHE EARTH, China The following statistics helped TEAM_BLDG achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 14 20. y.ad studio y.ad studioEstablished in 2017, the Shanghai-based y.ad studio is a comprehensive design studio that focuses on space / site planning, urban renewal, architectural design and space design. It has accumulated rich design experiences through constant practices in different fields, especially in urban renewal, commercial buildings transformation, cultural exhibition, tourism and real estate, integrated parks, restaurants, hotels, stores and rural construction.With a restrained, simple, integrated, authentic and connotative design orientation, y.ad studio has been practicing designs in a moderate way. The studio weakens the spatial form and appearance in order to pursue a natural aesthetic feeling. Taking the actual situation, site and environment as the starting point, y.ad studio tries to create spaces that are integrated with exquisite textures, rich levels, functions, time, culture, regional characteristics and appeal.Some of y.ad studios most prominent projects include:Yuanshe Hezhou, Zhejiang, ChinaJijiadun Village Conference Center, Kunshan, Kunshan, Suzhou, ChinaMultifunctional Gym & Ceramic Expert Workshop in Rural Future Community, Xikou Town, Quzhou, ChinaCapital Heyuan Pinggu Rental Housing Community Library, Beijing, ChinaFuture Community Center, Xikou, Quzhou, China The following statistics helped y.ad studio achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 13 19. Atelier Deshausphoto: Shue He - Atelier DeshausAtelier Deshaus was established in Shanghai in 2001 and obtained the Class A Qualification of Architectural Design authorized by Ministry of Construction P.R.China. We emphasize on practice, keep the sensitivity of architecture-related and other more extensive aspects of culture, as well as pay attention to the cognition of ourselves. Our works show the expression of the atmosphere and the control of the construction quality. These works are linked with the local tradition, the modern cogitation and the relationship of contemporary society. Atelier Deshaus was invited to participate in many international architecture and art exhibitions and awarded.Some of Atelier Deshaus most prominent projects include:Anji Creative & Design Center, Huzhou, ChinaPlot 6 & Tea House in Jiangsu Software Park, Nanjing, ChinaYouth Center in Qingpu, Shanghai, ChinaSpiral Gallery, Shanghai, ChinaBlossom Pavilion, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped Atelier Deshaus achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 5 18. RooMoo Design Studio Wen StudioFounded in Shanghai in 2017 by Tao Zhang, Ray Zhang, and Marine Bois, RooMoo Design Studio does not simply create spaces; it aspires to awaken emotions and orchestrate a symphony of unique sensations through each project. Although RooMoo Design Studio is notably recognized for its achievements in the interior architecture of the hospitality and restaurant sectors, its expertise also extends to commercial and residential projects.In 2024, RooMoo Design Studio is delighted to announce the opening of a new studio in France near Montpellier. At the intersection of industrialization and craftsmanship, RooMoo is committed to an approach that uniquely addresses each clients specific needs.Some of RooMoo Design Studios most prominent projects include:B3, Shenzhen, ChinaLe coq wine & bistro in URBN Hotel, Shanghai, ChinaFort, Shanghai, ChinaLe petit chateau, Shanghai, ChinaLai Zhou Bar, Shanghai, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped RooMoo Design Studio achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 18 17. ATAH ATAHFounded in 2013 in Los Angeles/Shanghai, Studio ATAH is an architectural design firm featured by exploring design with contemporary thoughts. The partners of Studio ATAH received complete architecture professional education domestic and abroad, and have been in practice for years in known international architectural firms. Team includes architects, interior designers and technology specialist.ATAHs project type includes commercial, office, culture, as well as renovation, interior and residential. Through continuous design practice, our work is being built and put into use.In Navajo Indian language, A-Tah means involving.Some of ATAHs most prominent projects include:Yunmen Montain all-seasons Resort, Weifang, ChinaThe Brocade Loom, Qinhuai New River Bridge, Nanjing, ChinaPirouette BridgeFloating Matrix: Shanghai Yangtze 3MAP Elevator Factory Renovation, Shanghai, ChinaXiangshui Culture&Art Center The following statistics helped ATAH achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 7 16. XING DESIGN Shengliang SuFounded by Xing Xiong in 2016, XING DESIGN is a vanguard design studio committed to architecture and interior design, urban planning and development, landscape, infographic, installation, innovative technologies and development of digital/physical products. By investigating the creative design issues in multiple disciplines, a design-based approach is the key not only for smart solutions, but also to uncover latent needs and desires, thereby sustaining innovation to launch new ventures.Xing Xiong graduated from Tsinghua University in Beijing with both bachelors and masters degrees in architecture. He also holds a Master in Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Prior to XING DESIGN, Xing was a senior designer at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), where he led the efforts for several of KPFs most innovative design proposals, including Shenzhen OCT Tower, which was completed in 2018.Some of XING DESIGNs most prominent projects include:Shanghai Subway Line 14 Yuyuan Station, Shanghai, ChinaBluepha BioFAB, Jiangsu, ChinaThe Wall Maze of Vi Park , Shanghai, ChinaNEOBRIDGE Hotel Renovation, Shanghai, ChinaTerminus AI PARK: Macrochips Built into the Earth, Chongqing, China The following statistics helped XING DESIGN achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 7 15. LINEHOUSE LINEHOUSELinehouse is an architecture and interior design practice established in 2013 by Alex Mok (Chinese-Swedish) and Briar Hickling (from New Zealand). Both have completed extensive work in Asia, Pacific and abroad. Linehouse operates as a platform to investigate the rituals of inhabitation and how these daily moments can be celebrated through design, transforming the mundane into performative acts.Linehouse is a collaboration of like-minded individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. The practice has international experience in design and construction, from the small scale and the intricate, to the grand and public. The studio works on projects of varying scales and typologies that allow explorations of both the poetic idea and pragmatic solution.Some of LINEHOUSEs most prominent projects include:WeWork Weihai Lu, Shanghai, ChinaJohn Anthony, Hong KongLONE RANGER Hot Dog Shop, Shanghai, ChinaTribeca, Shanghai, ChinaBaoism, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped LINEHOUSE achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 30 14. Atelier Ping Jiang | EID Arch Atelier Ping Jiang | EID ArchAtelier Ping Jiang | EID Arch is a leading international practice for architecture and urbanism. Led by Founding Principal Ping Jiang, FAIA, who established the Shanghai based practice in 2015, the firm strives to provide environmentally sensitive and innovative design solutions for architecture and urban environment. The practice is founded on the belief that architecture should concern itself with the environment, and is deeply committed to design excellence, innovation and sustainability. The firm has extensive experience in a wide range of building types, including large scale mixed-use developments, office/corporate, retail, hospitality, cultural/civic, institutional and residential uses.Atelier Ping Jiangs work has been awarded numerous international awards, including multiple AIA Design Awards, The Plan, Architecture Review Future Awards, WAF Awards, etc.Some of Atelier Ping Jiang | EID Archs most prominent projects include:The Panda Pavilions, Chengdu, ChinaLAND Community Center, Xian, ChinaMinsheng Wharf Block E15-3, Shanghai, ChinaMicroNature, Shanghai, ChinaShimao Riverside Block D2b, Wuhan, China The following statistics helped Atelier Ping Jiang | EID Arch achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 6 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 10 13. LLLab. LLLab.LLLab. is a design studio based in Shanghai, Stuttgart and Porto operating within the fields of architecture, design, art, urbanism, research and development. The studio is led by four partners Hanxiao Liu, Lus Ricardo, David Correa and Taichi Kuma. Their work focuses on using design as a tool to improve social and cultural life through various scales, from urban projects to micro-architecture or installations.The principals are driven by an experimental and playful approach that leads to conceptually rigorous and well-executed design projects. Creating distinctive solutions adapted to a context and its users, LLLab produces site-specific design installations and building projects that both provoke and inspire. LLLab. founders Hanxiao Liu, Lus Ricardo and David Correa started their own practice after meeting at the German office haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050 and the Institute of Computational Design, where they collaborated on various international projects in both practical and academic fields.Some of LLLab.s most prominent projects include:Bamboo Bamboo, Canopy and Pavilions,Impression SanjieLiu, Guilin, ChinaSan Sa Village, Beijing, ChinaBrickyard Retreat Renovation, Beijing, ChinaBamboo Bamboo, Canopy and Pavilions, Impression Sanjie Liu, Guilin, ChinaLEO Office Shanghai, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped LLLab. achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 9 12. dongqi Design dongqi DesignFounded in 2014, dongqi Design has an international outlook, and its core team is assembled from outstanding designers who have studied and practiced around the world including Europe, Singapore and the United States. dongqi has accumulated practical experiences with integration of leading-edge intelligent capabilities, for example KUKA robot and 3D sand printing. In 2017, dongqi established its creative arm to close the gap between spatial and brand experiences and allow explorations in a holistic manner combining different disciplines. The practice also maintains collaborative partnerships with practitioners in the areas of art, fashion, science and technology exploring opportunities for cross-discipline creation.Some of dongqi Designs most prominent projects include:GAGA TOAST, Shenzhen, ChinaYEARLY PLAN Shanghai Building 1, Shanghai, ChinaXC273 by XCOMMONS, Shanghai, ChinaLe Poulet Restaurant & Bar, Shenzhen, ChinaFreshigh, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped dongqi Design achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 6 Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 12 11. Shanghai Dushe Architectural Design DSD Shanghai Dushe Architectural Design DSDSH-DSD was founded in 2004. DSD focuses on boutique design and controls the amount of annual projects trying to make every piece of work unique and at high level. Oriented by its culture Customized Design, DSD is capable of integrating the experience of large firm and the creativity of small offices.DSD aims to become the best life design expert in China and to produce acclaimed pieces of work in the field of hotel, culture architecture, complex building and top rank residences. All the projects designed by DSD are original.Some of Shanghai Dushe Architectural Design DSDs most prominent projects include:The Metamorphosis of Nanjing Baiyunting Food Market, ChinaECHOLAC Factory (CONWOOD INTERNATIONAL) in QidongBayuquan Theater, Bayuquan, Yingkou, ChinaJiahe Boutique Hotel in Yushan Bay, Jiangyin, Wuxi, ChinaYangzhou Hongqiao Commercial Street, Yangzhou, China The following statistics helped Shanghai Dushe Architectural Design DSD achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: Featured Projects 9 Total Projects 24 10. OfficeOffCourse OfficeOffCourseFounded in 2012, OfficeOffCourse is currently based in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Boston. The core design team covers urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and other professions, who previously had professional experience in many world-renowned architecture offices and institutes in the US, Netherland, Japan, Mexico and Espaa and participated in various types of project, with extensive background and practical experience. The office is engaged in variety of projects in China, Japan, US and Australia, including museum, private residence, office building, urban planning, historical building renovation, school and etc. Collaborating with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the China Academy of Art as academic platforms, OfficeOffCourse explores and extends the core value of architecture in both globalization and localization.Some of OfficeOffCourses most prominent projects include:Exhibition Center of Longquan National Archaeological Park of China, Lishui, China123+ Kindergarten, Shanghai, ChinaThe Shadow Garden of World Horticulture Expo in Yangzhou, Yangzhou, China The following statistics helped OfficeOffCourse achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 6 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 3 9. KOKAISTUDIOS KOKAISTUDIOSKokaistudios is an award winning multi-disciplinary design firm founded in 2000 in Venice by Italian architects Filippo Gabbiani and Andrea Destefanis. Founded with the dream to create a collaborative office of young and talented architects devoted to researching and formulating the design solutions to the demands of tomorrow and capable of working on a worldwide basis; the firm has grown after 10 years into a team of 25 people headquartered in Shanghai. Kokaistudios has completed over 120 projects in the last 7 years in all fields of design, and we have received numerous awards including the Top 40 under 40 award from Perspective magazine and 2 UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage awards for our the Bund 18 and Huai Hai Lu 796 projects.Some of KOKAISTUDIOS most prominent projects include:Baoshan WTE Exhibition Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Suhe MixC World, Shanghai, ChinaBund Financial Center South Mall Interior Design, Shanghai, ChinaBeijing CR Land Galleria Shopping Center Instreet Renovation, Beijing, ChinaHouse of the Tree, Shenzhen, China The following statistics helped KOKAISTUDIOS achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 9 Total Projects 50 8. Kris Lin International Design Kris Lin International DesignKLID, an international architectural design firm from Taipei, has been in Shanghai for twenty years, and has been serving top 100 real estate developers for a long time. Its business covers sales offices, clubs, art galleries, hotels, luxury villas and flat apartments, offices, public and commercial spaces.As one of the few design institutes in China which can provide four-in-one integrated design services including architectural design, interior design, renovation design and construction, landscape design, KLID has been adhering to the design concept of Innovation from Observation, and has strong pursuit for the design works display effect.Some of Kris Lin International Designs most prominent projects include:Flow, ChinaStream Office, Zhuhai, ChinaWhite Mountain Club House, Nanjing, ChinaBIRCH FOREST, ChinaSnail Bay Center, China The following statistics helped Kris Lin International Design achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 6 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 14 7. Challenge Design Challenge DesignThe aim of Challenge Design (Class A architectural design office) has been to provide refined design and professional service since its foundation. The company has undertaken projects ranging from commercial complex to resort, luxury condo to boutique hotel, and museums to public architectures, winning dozens of awards and unanimous high appraisal. With growing experience in various fields including architecture design, urban planning, interior design, wooden structure design and commercial operation, the company has developed the capability to control whole life cycle of the projects.Since foundation, Challenge Design has been working to find a way for realization of harmonious co-existence between architecture, human being and the nature, hoping to find a possible way for bring renewed sense experience and creating new thoughts and spatial forms through creative thinking.Some of Challenge Designs most prominent projects include:Yuanlu Community Center, Chongqing, ChinaYULIN Artistic Center, Chongqing, ChinaPark Legend Kindergarten, Chengdu, ChinaCloud Art Museum , Guizhou, ChinaLangtin Yuanzhu Experience Hall, Wuhan, China The following statistics helped Challenge Design achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: Featured Projects 10 Total Projects 15 6. Atelier tao+c Atelier tao+cFounded in 2016, the design works of Atelier tao+c ranging from a piece of pendant lamp to a compound development, from the interior of small urban apartments to the renovation of old rural houses, from shops on the street to a youth community.Some of Atelier tao+cs most prominent projects include:Capsule hotel in a rural library, ChinaA U-SHAPE ROOM, Shanghai, ChinaZiin Beijing Store, Beijing, ChinaJHW STORE, ChinaLibrary home, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped Atelier tao+c achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 3 A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 9 Total Projects 12 5. Lukstudio LukstudioLUKSTUDIO is a boutique design practice based in Shanghaia. Founded by Christina Luk in 2011, the studio is comprised of an international team with diverse backgrounds and cultural perspectives. With a common desire to challenge the status quo of the environment, the team finds joy in creating meaningful design solutions for others.Lukstudios strength lies in an everything is possible attitude that is influenced by the surrounding context of Shanghai; a fast-paced city where East meets West and tradition is integrated with innovation.Each project tells its own story, and Lukstudio is proud to identify a narrative, preserving it from concept through to completion to deliver memorable spatial experiences that delight and surprise. We collaborate closely with clients and contractors to deliver artistic solutions within a commercial scope.Some of Lukstudios most prominent projects include:The Skatepark, Shanghai, ChinaThe living room of a water town Nanchang NIO House, ChinaPlaying in Colours BeInfinity Social Club, Wuhan, ChinaA Room for the Narcissist, Wuhan, ChinaDining between Lines, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped Lukstudio achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 4 Featured Projects 14 Total Projects 33 4. X+LIVING X+LIVINGX+Living Architecture and Interior Design, founded in Shanghai in 2011 by Chinese designer Li Xiang, is an architectural design firm committed to driving commercial value through artistic creativity. In 2022, it was recognized by the A+Awards as Best Commercial Design Firm. X+Living is dedicated to leveraging innovation to catalyze cognitive renewal, setting benchmarks in various fields such as family-oriented business, culture, and commercial renovation, reshaping the boundaries of spatial imagination.Offering services across architecture, landscape, interior design, soft decoration and construction, X+Living specializes in applying architectural construction concepts to different scales, skillfully employing geometric forms, color palettes and symbolic elements to evoke the emotional resonance and essence of a space.Some of X+LIVINGs most prominent projects include:Dujiangyan Zhongshuge, ChinaIdeas Lab, Shanghai, ChinaZhuyeqing Greentea flagship store, ChinaChengdu Zhongshuge, Chengdu, ChinaSonmei Hotel, Shenzhen, China The following statistics helped X+LIVING achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 12 Total Projects 28 3. AIM Architecture AIM ArchitectureAIM is a collective of passionate, international individuals. Founded by Belgian and Dutch architects Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf in 2005, AIM brings together architecture with interior and product design to create wholly integrated products and ideas. Headquartered in Shanghai and with an oce in Europe, AIM is a global studio with local feeling.Our approach is deliberate and focused. Each project is approached individually. We pair context to concept and explore the ne line between vision and practicality. The result are unique spaces with a powerful narrative. Bold, playful, and gritty. Well-built projects with rened details. A built-in love of materials, and passion for place and purpose.Some of AIM Architectures most prominent projects include:Fushengyu Hotspring resort, Sichuan, ChinaSOHO Fuxing Plaza- Shopping Mall, Shanghai, ChinaJiaxing Island, Jiaxing, ChinaAluminum Lobby in SOHO Fuxing Plaza, Shanghai, ChinaGlass Office in SOHO Fuxing Plaza, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped AIM Architecture achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 15 Total Projects 32 2. Lacime Architect Shangjian ImageEstablished in Shanghai in 2001, Lacime Architects has always adhered to the architectural philosophy of simplifying complexity and tracing back to the source. The founder, Song Zhaoqing, named the firm after la cime, which means peak in French, with the aim of creating top-tier architecture while staying rooted in the local culture. Lacime Architects holds a Class A qualification for architectural design firms and specializes in integrated architectural and landscape design for residential communities, commercial offices, urban renewal, industrial parks, and cultural education.After more than two decades of development, Lacime Architects has a team of over 300 architects and a wealth of experience in large-scale domestic and international projects, as well as integrated architectural and landscape design.Some of Lacime Architects most prominent projects include:Vanke Emerald Park, Chongqing, ChinaOne City Development, Hubei, ChinaLiva Riverside Book Bar Reconstruction of East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaWaterfront Art Gallery, Nanchang, ChinaFinancial City Community Center, Suzhou, China The following statistics helped Lacime Architect achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 3 A+Awards Finalist 8 Featured Projects 16 Total Projects 34 1. Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Neri&Hu Design and Research OfficeFounded in 2006 by partners Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, Neri&Hu Design and Research Office is an inter-disciplinary architectural design practice based in Shanghai. The practices burgeoning global portfolio includes commissions ranging from master planning and architecture, to interior design, installation, furniture, product, branding and graphic works. Currently working on projects in many countries, Neri&Hu is composed of multi-cultural staff who speak over 30 different languages. The diversity of the team reinforces a core vision for the practice: to respond to a global worldview incorporating overlapping design disciplines for a new paradigm in architecture.Some of Neri&Hu Design and Research Offices most prominent projects include:The House of Remembrance | Singapore Residence, SingaporeThe Relic Shelter | Fuzhou Teahouse, Fuzhou, ChinaQujiang Museum of Fine Arts Extension, XiAn, ChinaSulwhasoo Flagship Store, Seoul, South KoreaThe Garage, Beijing, ChinaFeatured image: New Shanghai Theatre, Shanghai, China The following statistics helped Neri&Hu Design and Research Office achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Shanghai: A+Awards Winner 11 A+Awards Finalist 10 Featured Projects 21 Total Projects 24 Why Should I Trust Architizers Ranking?With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the worlds largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the worlds best architecture each year.Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlightedA Guide to Project AwardsThe blue + badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizers Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a projects likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:Project completed within the last 3 yearsA well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphsArchitectural designwith a high level of both functional and aesthetic valueHigh quality, in focus photographsAt least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the buildingInclusion of architectural drawings and renderingsInclusion of construction photographsThere are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizers Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.Were constantly look for the worlds best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please dont hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.The post 30 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Shanghai appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.From timber grids to soaring steel trusses, the way a building holds itself up has long been hidden beneath layers of cladding and finishes. But nowadays, structure is stepping into the spotlight much more often. Whether shaped by high-tech engineering or traditional craftsmanship, exposed frameworks are proving that whats typically concealed can be just as compelling as whats designed to be seen.In these seven projects, the skeleton isnt something to be covered up its the defining feature. Without further ado, lets see how architects are letting their buildings stand tall, bare-boned and proud.Prepared Rehmannia Root Crafts Exhibition HallBy LUO studio, Xiuwu County, ChinaJury Winner, Cultural and Expo Centers, 12th Annual A+Awards Inside this circular exhibition hall, the structure is as much a part of the display as the artifacts it holds. A radial timber frame, built from small-section columns stacked in modular units, defines the space while doubling as shelving for Rehmannia root products. The roof truss follows a spiraling, interlocking system, creating a self-supporting dome without the need for complex joints. Light filters through gaps between the staggered brick walls and a central skylight, echoing the sun-drying process used in traditional Rehmannia preparation. This approach transforms a standard portal frame into an intricate framework that reflects both craftsmanship and function, reinforcing the exhibition halls role in preserving local heritage.California Institute of Technology Resnick Sustainability CenterBy CannonDesign, Pasadena, California The Resnick Sustainability Center at Caltech puts its structure on display, making mass timber a defining feature of both its construction and identity. A soaring timber-framed atrium forms the buildings core, with a grid shell supporting the glass curtain wall. This exposed system allows natural light to reach deep into the interior while aluminum fins control glare and heat. Cross-laminated timber and steel define key spaces, reinforcing a clear and expressive structural language. More than a research facility, the building reflects the sustainability principles it supports, using renewable materials to shape a setting where scientists and students push the boundaries of environmental innovation.Casa BFFBy OBR, Milan, Italy Casa BFFs defining feature is its towering 130-foot-tall (40-meter-high) portico, a structural frame that extends the buildings presence beyond its footprint to shape a new public piazza. Above, a vast solar canopy forms a recognizable silhouette in Milans cityscape while serving both as a protective shelter and an energy-generating system. Supported by a visible framework, this element integrates 24,755 square feet (2,300 square meters) of photovoltaic panels, producing 360 Megawatt hours per year. The open structural grid reinforces the projects civic character, creating a permeable threshold between private offices and public space. Inside, flexible workspaces maintain a connection to the outdoors, framed by the structural logic that defines the buildings identity.Klobouck lesn HeadquartersBy Mjlk architekti, Brumov-Bylnice, Czechia Built entirely from timber sourced and processed on-site, the Klobouck Lesn Headquarters demonstrates the possibilities of locally driven, sustainable construction. A modular glulam frame defines the structure, creating a flexible, open interior while allowing for future adaptability. The exposed skeleton runs through the entire building, its rhythm reinforcing both the logic of the structure and the companys transparent approach to forestry. A solar power plant is integrated into the roof, providing energy for both the headquarters and the adjacent production facility. Inside, natural materials and visible construction methods emphasize durability and resource efficiency, shaping a workplace that aligns with the companys long-term vision of responsible timber production and ecological stewardship.Guangzhou CTG Aranya Jiulong Lake Resort ChurchBy HANDU ASSOCIATES, Guangzhou, ChinaJury Winner, Architecture +Light, 12th Annual A+Awards Built on the remnants of an old structure, this church layers past and present through its exposed framework and clever use of light. A steel-wood skeleton rises above the ruins, its open structure revealing the buildings evolution while shaping a quiet, solemn atmosphere. At night, embedded strip lighting outlines the churchs form, emphasizing the contrast between its restored elements and new construction. The towers cross, the brightest focal point, stands as a beacon above the subdued glow of the main building. Inside, columns and walls are illuminated from below, casting long shadows. This careful orchestration of structure and light transforms the church into both a place of worship and an architectural reflection on time.IKEA the good neighbourBy querkraft architekten, Vienna, AustriaJury Winner, Retail,10th Annual A+Awards Designed as a car-free urban landmark, this IKEA store in Vienna rethinks the role of retail by prioritizing public space, greenery and adaptability. The multi-use building integrates a furniture store at its core, while a hostel on the upper floors and a public rooftop terrace expand its function beyond shopping. A deep structural grid, reminiscent of the brands iconic shelving systems, wraps around the faadeoffering shade, terraces, and space for 160 trees that help cool the urban environment. Inside, exposed infrastructure and a flexible 33-by-33-foot (10-by-10-meter) column grid create an open, adaptable layout. A central void visually connects floors, drawing visitors upwards via escalators. By combining good design, sustainability and community access, the project embodies IKEAs goal of being a good neighbor.Renovation of Shenyang Dongmaoku WarehousesBy URBANUS, Shenyang, ChinaJury Winner, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse, 11th Annual A+Awards The Dongmaoku Warehouse Renovation transforms a historic industrial site into a public space while preserving its architectural identity. Two long warehouses are linked by a new structure that echoes the original roof truss, creating a central gathering space. While the exterior retains its raw, unembellished character, the interior introduces a steel structural system that replaces the original wooden framework, meeting modern fire and safety codes while maintaining the spatial rhythm of the past. Inside, greenhouse-like gardens soften the industrial atmosphere, offering warmth in Shenyangs cold climate.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post No Skeletons in the Closet: 7 Buildings Proudly Exposing Their Structures appeared first on Journal.

The world of architectural visualization is evolving rapidly, driven by new technologies and shifting industry demands. To capture the latest trends, Architizer and Chaos surveyed more than 1,000 design professionals worldwide, uncovering key insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the field. The results are now available in the free-to-download State of Architectural Visualization 2024-25 Report a must-read for architects, designers and visualizers looking to stay ahead of the curve.Download the ReportThe new report underlines the critical role of visualization in all areas of architectural design, influencing everything from client decision-making to project approvals. As the industry strives to embrace new tools and creative approaches, professionals must navigate an increasingly complex landscape of software, workflows and emerging technologies.Full of surprising statistics, expert analysis and comparisons with our previously published white paper on the Future of Architectural Visualization, this report provides a roadmap for understanding these changes and preparing for the future.What Youll Learn in the Full ReportBy downloading the report, youll gain exclusive insights into:The role of AI in visualization Find out how firms of different sizes are experimenting with AI tools for image generation, photorealistic enhancements, and efficiency gains, and what this means for the industry moving forward.The future of sustainability visualization Understand how firms are adopting emerging tools for daylighting, energy performance analysis, and operational carbon visualization into their workflows.The enduring power of still visualizations Learn how photorealistic and conceptual renderings continue to dominate client expectations despite advances in visualization technology.Challenges in rendering workflows Reveal the biggest pain-points AEC professionals face with visualization, from long rendering times to rising software and hardware costs, and how they are addressing these hurdles.How different-sized firms are driving innovation Learn which firms, from small to large, are leading the charge in adopting cutting-edge visualization technologies, positioning themselves as key influencers in the industry.Access the ReportWhy This Report MattersArchitectural visualization has always been about much more than simply producing stunning images its about communicating design intent, streamlining workflows, and adapting to new client demands. With the increasing role of AI, real-time rendering and sustainability tools, professionals must stay informed to remain competitive.This report serves as an essential guide for architects, designers, and visualization specialists looking to optimize their processes and embrace the latest advancements.Whether youre a visualization specialist, architect, or industry leader, the white paper provides essential knowledge to help you make informed decisions about your workflow and technology investments.Download it by hitting the blue button below, and stay tuned for more insights on the state of architectural visualization through future Architizer and Chaos initiatives!Download NowThe post The State of ArchViz: Learn What 1,000 Designers Think About AI, Sustainability and the Future of Rendering appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Agrivoltaics are a brilliant idea that is waiting for a decent architect. The combination of renewable energy generation through solar energy capture and food production solutions, the concept offers an answer to two of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. However, so far, its all a bit awkward and slapdash. More of a compromise where no one side is really getting what it wants. Right now, its an engineering-first exercise, a land-use efficiency hack that sees solar panels thrown up over farmland with all the grace of a papier-mch pergola.For over a decade, the idea of agrivoltaics has been growing, spurred on by land competition and an increased demand for renewable energy. The sector is expected to grow by 10.1% annually, hitting $9.3 billion by 2031. This means agrivoltaics are no longer a niche experiment but an inevitable fixture of future landscapes. The concept is, in theory, brilliant. Instead of choosing between food and energy, why not have both? By placing photovoltaic (PV panels or solar panels to me and you) over crops. In doing so, we can generate power while protecting planting from excessive heat and water evaporation. Yet, despite the promising potential, most agrivoltaic projects are overlays, simply more stuff but in the same place. Its not very elegant and, most importantly, not as efficient as it could be.The result is a landscape of half-baked solutions: steel stilts awkwardly hoisting up rows of solar panels, shading crops with no real thought as to how those individual crops actually interact with their environment. Farmers are left dodging obstacles with their machinery, and rural communities are often less than thrilled at what is, effectively, an industrial invasion of the countryside. If architects dont intervene soon, agrivoltaics risks going the way of many suburban solar solutions. Productive, perhaps, but ugly and haphazard, certainly.Killamator,Biosphere 2 Agrivoltaics,CC BY-SA 4.0Whats missing is architectural intelligence. The spatial, structural and material thinking that can transform agrivoltaics from an engineering bolt-on into a truly considered solution within the built environment.Unsurprisingly, light is everything in agrivoltaics. It dictates crop health, water retention and energy efficiency. But current installations treat sunlight distribution as a basic principle. A bit of shade here, a bit of sun there. In reality, such a complex problem requires nuanced solutions, ones that architects have been focused on for centuries. Sun position, intensity and interaction with different materials over the course of a day, month and year are the lifeblood of any architect and this knowledge is invaluable when it comes to agrivoltaics.The Fraunhofer ISE Agrivoltaic Research Plant in Heggelbach, Germany is a good starting point. Here solar panels are elevated 16 feet (5 meters) above fields, spaced for maximum agricultural viability. The result? Potato, celery and wheat yields largely unaffected, while solar energy production remains high. Unfortunately, if the goal is to create a productive, resilient and visually coherent landscape, then simply elevating panels isnt enough. The design needs to go deeper.The first step is breaking away from the default solar farm on stilts model. In Japan, Next2Suns vertical agrivoltaic panels offer a smarter alternative: bifacial solar panels arranged upright in rows, functioning as both energy generators and windbreaks. Meanwhile, in France, the SunAgri 3 project has introduced dynamic shading. These PV panels that tilt throughout the day to optimize conditions for both crops and energy production. These projects hint at what agrivoltaics could be: a deliberate, responsive architectural system.The agri-PV system built over apple trees on the Bernhard fruit farm in Kressbronn on Lake Constance | Photo courtesy of Fraunhofer ISE.Now, take this thinking further. If agrivoltaics works in open farmland, why not integrate it into buildings? Urban agrivoltaics could mean photovoltaic faades designed as ventilated shading systems, rooftops that double as solar farms for hydroponic crops or semi-transparent PV panels forming the skin of vertical greenhouses. This is where agrivoltaics stops being a rural add-on and starts being an architectural tool that merges food security, energy efficiency and built form into a single system.Material innovation is also a key missing piece. In the Netherlands, agrivoltaic projects like those led by BayWa r.e. have experimented with semi-transparent glass-glass monocrystalline panels over berry crops. Solar integration doesnt have to mean blocking out the sun entirely. Theres room for smarter, more adaptable and better looking designs.This also reopens a fascinating architectural discussion: what does rural architecture look like in the future? For centuries, agricultural structures like barns, silos and greenhouses were built according to necessity, but also evolved into some of the most striking spatial typologies in architecture. Agrivoltaics has the same potential. If handled well, it could create a new rural vernacular that is a mix of precision-engineered photovoltaics and low-tech, site-specific strategies that work with the land instead of against it.Floating PV system on a quarry lake |Photo courtesy of Fraunhofer ISE.Right now, agrivoltaic projects are facing pushback from rural communities who see them as an eyesore. They are considered another layer of infrastructure that has been imposed on agricultural land with little consideration for its surroundings. This is the same backlash that wind farms received, and it speaks to the failure of engineering-first solutions to engage with the landscape as a designed space.Agrivoltaic farms have the potential to be more than arrays of panels. They could be public spaces. Shaded community markets powered by the panels above, or agritourism projects that integrate education, food production and energy generation into a single landscape.Landscape architects have already transformed flood retention basins into public parks so why not apply the same thinking here? Right now, agrivoltaics is at a crossroads. It can remain a haphazard engineering solution that is functional but uninspired or it can evolve into something designed, intentional, and integrated. The technology is here. The research is progressing. But agrivoltaics wont reach its full potential unless architects start taking it on as the serious design challenge that it is.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post Agrivoltaic Architecture: Solar Farms Are Failing Farmers Architects Can Help appeared first on Journal.

The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.Liquid landscapes have the ability to calm our minds in the rush of modern cities. It also creates a deep sense of peace and balance in our lives. Throughout history, the various connections between water and the human experience have inspired various architectural projects, particularly throughout China, where water bodies are often celebrated as an important element of design.The thoughtful integration and connection of liquid landscapes into architecture, whether it manifests through pools, carefully placed riverside structures or forms inspired by the fluidity of water itself, serve not only to enhance the aesthetic beauty of public and private spaces but also to develop a relaxing environment that can comfort the soul of everyone who experiences it.From the riversides to the dynamic urban environments of China, we invite you to explore eight Chinese projects where architecture is shaped by water. Each of these designs incorporates beautiful water landscapes, showcasing the transformative power of water in shaping our built environments and also influencing our experiences within them.Chengdu Science Fiction Museum By Zaha Hadid Architects, Chengdu, ChinaThe museum, located in Chengdu, a city surrounded by mountain ranges and forests, integrates with the natural landscapes along the lakeshore. Its design defines nodes of activity connected by pedestrian routes that extend from the city through the surrounding parkland into the heart of the building, creating a journey of discovery that weaves between indoor and outdoor plazas at multiple levels, linking the museums exhibition galleries, educational facilities, cafs and other amenities.Chengdu Tianfu Art GalleryBy CSWADI, Chengdu, ChinaThe gallery, built-in 2021 in Chengdu, China, includes 13 specialised art exhibition halls to display modern pieces and works by local artists. The building also features art storage, educational rooms, a caf, and an art shop. Situated on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, the architectural concept showcases a rectangular exhibition hall box supporting a massive curved overhanging roof that extends up to 30 metres. The exterior is characterised by a floating white roof, providing a sculptural appearance. The interior public spaces are adorned with bamboo shavings, creating a cave-like, flowing space and effectively shaping an iconic image for media dissemination.Nine Flow Riverside Art MallBy UUA (United Units Architects), Zhejiang, ChinaThe mall is located along the banks of the Jiuliudu River in the Jinghu New District of Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China. The architecture and landscaping feature fluid forms that respond to the winding urban layout characteristic of this popular water town in southeastern China. Positioned at the corner of the district and near the financial office area, the project faces the citys administrative center and library, which are located directly across the river. As a result, the design emphasizes low density, low height, and ample landscaping in terms of building scale, positioning the mall as a medium-to-high-end commercial facility.Four-leaf Clover HallBy Yuanshe One Design, Luqiao District, Taizhou, ChinaThe hall, located south of the Yangtze River in Luqiao District, Tazhiou, China, is surrounded by forest and looks like a classical Chinese landscape painting. Built in 2023, the complex includes local stone materials and traditional wooden veneers as windows. It is covered with modern flowing steel roofs and transparent glass, creating a harmonious integration with the liquid landscapes around it. These local touches enable the countryside to accommodate modern new buildings while maintaining a deep connection with the natural environment.Yanzi Memorial HallBy Architectural Design and Research Institution of SCUT, Fengxian District, Shanghai, ChinaThe cultural exhibition hall, which serves multiple functions, is situated along the Yangtze River in the center of Fengxian District, Shanghai. The space includes museum exhibitions, teaching areas, and meeting rooms, as well as a cultural garden and an educational hall for citizens. The architectural details are simplified to create a space that emphasizes spatial aesthetics and humanistic care. To convey a sacred humanistic quality, the exhibition is crafted from white marble with an elegant ink texture. The white building and the black water pool combine to form a traditional Chinese painting depicting the Yanzi Memorial Hall nestled in the forest.Haikou Xixiu Park Visitor CenterBy MUDA-Architects, Haikou, ChinaThe Haikou Xixiu Park Visitor Center, completed in 2023, is located in Haikou, China, a coastal city in the southern part of the country. The visitor center is as a landmark within the park, embodying the areas urban development while honoring its natural and cultural heritage. The structure is shaped like an oval pebble, symbolically positioned at the entrance to integrate with the surrounding landscape and emphasize the parks natural beauty, creating a dialogue between the built environment and liquid landscapes. Inspired by local traditional roof forms, the design mirrors these elements to protect against the intense tropical climate of sunshine and heavy rainfall.Changsha International Conference CenterBy Architectural Design and Research Institution of SCUT, Changsha, ChinaThe Changsha International Conference Centre is located in the High-speed Railway New Town of Changsha City and covers a land area of approximately 212,700 square metres. It draws on traditional Chinese aesthetics and cultural symbols in an abstract manner. The centre strategically integrates natural, architectural, and cultural elements, such as the contours of mountains, traditional sloped roofs, and the pattern of unfolded Chinese folding fans. Additionally, the buildings faade is inspired by the techniques of Chinese landscape ink paintings and the dynamic scenery depicted in the local guqin masterpiece on the Xiao River and the Xiang River.The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.The post Liquid Landscapes: 7 Chinese Projects Where Architecture Is Shaped by Water appeared first on Journal.

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is evolving faster than ever, with new technologies, shifting business models, and emerging design challenges reshaping the way professionals work. But how does this impact you? What are the biggest challenges you face in your role? And where do you see the future of architecture and AEC heading?Architizer is launching the State of Architecture Survey 2025, an in-depth global study designed to capture the insights, frustrations and aspirations of architects, designers, marketers, project managers, business developers and other industry professionals. This is your opportunity to share your perspective and contribute to a broader understanding of the state of the industry today.As a token of our appreciation, one lucky respondent will be selected to win a free A+Award entry in next seasons program, while five runners-up will receive a copy of our latest bookThe Worlds Best Architecture 2025! The survey is open until midnight PT on March 28, 2025, and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.Take the SurveyWhat Will the Survey Cover?ADND OFFICE by Atelier Design N Domain, Mumbai, IndiaThis years survey takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues facing AEC professionals today, covering everything from marketing challenges to project management hurdles, hiring difficulties, and the impact of emerging technologies.To make it as relevant as possible to each respondent, the survey is designed to be personally customized to reflect the role you play within your firm. Heres a glimpse of just a few of the topics well explore:The Business of Architecture: What are the biggest obstacles to securing new clients and maintaining profitability?Marketing & PR: Which channels and strategies are actually driving business, and what is holding firms back from gaining recognition?Hiring & Retention: What are the top challenges in attracting and keeping top talent in an increasingly competitive industry?Project Management: How are firms handling budgets, timelines, and scope creep while maintaining design quality?Technology & Innovation: How are AI, BIM, rendering tools, and other emerging technologies transforming workflows?Workplace Culture & Career Growth: Whats the reality of work-life balance in architecture, and what needs to change?At the end of the survey, youll also have the chance to share your own thoughts about the biggest challenges and opportunities in AEC todayso dont hold back!Share Your InsightsWhy Your Participation MattersBohlin Cywinski Jackson, Philadelphia Studio by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBy taking part in the State of Architecture & AEC Survey, youll be contributing to a critical dataset that can help professionals, firms, and industry leaders better understand the current landscape. Your insights will help shape future discussions, reports, and solutions to the biggest challenges facing architecture and AEC today.Heres whats in it for you:Editorial Coverage: Survey responses will inform an in-depth editorial series on the state of architectural practice, including analysis of key survey findings and industry insights.Industry Impact: Your input will help to drive meaningful conversations about the architecture profession and where its headed.Respond and Win: Every respondent will be automatically entered into a prize draw for a complimentary A+Awards entry in next seasons program (worth up to $425), with five runners-up receiving a code for a free copy of The Worlds Best Architecture, a stunning, hardbound compendium of extraordinary projects from around the globe.We encourage you to share this survey with colleagues and peers the more responses we gather, the more valuable the insights will be!Join the SurveyHow to ParticipateStudio Cays X Studio BO by Studio CAYS, Casablanca, MoroccoTaking part in the State of Architecture & AEC Survey 2024-25 is easy:Click the link to start the survey.Answer the questions based on your experience and role in the industry.Submit your responses and youll be automatically entered into the prize draw.Your insights are invaluable in shaping the future of architecture and AEC. Dont miss this chance to have your say!Take the SurveyTop image: Architects Office at Kim Yam Road by Park + Associates, SingaporeThe post The State of Architecture Survey 2025: Share Your Practice Pain Points and Win! appeared first on Journal.

Digital branding dominates across every industry. Bold logos, engaging graphics, and easily adaptable strategies make digital output the place where most companies spend the majority of their budgets. However, physical spaces also offer a powerful and lasting way to establish identity.The challenge for architects and brand strategists lies in creating designs that make a strong first impression while also standing the test of time. Unlike a print ad or social media campaign, a building is a long-term investment in brand identity. It needs to capture attention quickly but also remain relevant and impactful for years to come. This often involves incorporating elements that can be easily updated or refreshed, allowing the brand to evolve its image without major structural changes. Yet, branding in architecture is often relegated to superficial applications like simple applied graphics and a splash of corporate colors rather than being integrated into the design itself. Approaches such as this are missed opportunities to make a deeper impact.Buildings are long-term brand statements that should embody the brands ethos. KDO Kinetic System, the latest launch from Kriskadecor, is a groundbreaking system that does exactly this rethinking faade aesthetics by harnessing natural forces, offering a faade solution that is visually engaging, incredibly functional and highly adaptable.Kinetic Faades, Timeless CraftOritia & Boreas Aerodynamics Laboratory by Water Scales Arquitectos, Esczar, Granada, Spain | Photo by ngel SeguraUsing the brands signature lightweight aluminum chains, optimized for outdoors, the KDO Kinetic System moves instinctively with the surrounding airflow, transforming static structures into ever-changing, visually striking surfaces. Unlike LED screens or mechanical elements, this system operates without electricity, programming or maintenance, meaning it doesnt require constant updates or observation.Since its foundation in 1926, Kriskadecor has been guided by the values of innovation, customization and craftsmanship. Led by its third generation, the company continues to embody the spirit of its founder, Josep Maria Sans Amill. Specializing in manufacturing aluminum chains for architectural and interior design projects, the Montblanc (Spain) and Miami (USA) based company offers versatile, lightweight solutions for both interior and exterior applications.With in-house technology and an extensive palette of colors, Kriskadecor can reproduce text, images and patterns with remarkable precision, ensuring complete personalization in color, shape and dimensions. Additionally, every component, from the chain links to bespoke fastening systems, is produced on-site, with a dedicated technical team guiding clients through the process.Harnessing Airflow for Dynamic DesignWhen it came to designing the faade of the Aerodynamics Laboratory of Oritia & Boreas in Granada, Spain, Kriskadecors KDO Kinetic System was the perfect choice. As a leader in wind engineering, the institution needed a faade that wouldnt just symbolize airflow but would also physically demonstrate it, and KDO Kinetic System fit the brief masterfully.The installation spans 92 feet (28 meters) in width and 72 feet (2.2 meters) in height and is positioned in front of a west-facing window. The aluminum chains, customized in satin silver and signal blue (RAL 5005), feature the institutions branding while interacting dynamically with the areas thermal winds. The transparency of the chain links enhances the buildings ambiance, maintaining exterior privacy and interior visibility. While the ever-shifting faade detail visually represents the airflow patterns studied in the lab within, the architecture is an extension of the companys purpose; it also complements the rest of the polycarbonate-clad faade beautifully.Beyond its eye-grabbing appearance, the kinetic faade also addresses practical concerns, with sustainability being one of its core advantages. Made from 100% recyclable aluminum, the system lowers material waste and improves energy efficiency by providing solar shading, minimizing glare and reducing heat gain. The chain-formed mesh also supports natural ventilation. Unlike standard mechanical louvers or static shading elements, KDO adapts in real time without requiring energy consumption or maintenance, offering a passive and efficient approach to climate control.Sustainable Strength, Minimal MaintenanceOritia & Boreas Aerodynamics Laboratory by Water Scales Arquitectos, Esczar, Granada, Spain | Photo by ngel SeguraOf course, durability and sustainability are essential in kinetic architecture. Kriskadecors aluminum chains are tested for 10,000 hours of solar exposure under UNE-EN ISO 11341:2005 standards, ensuring they withstand environmental conditions without fading or corroding. The system operates without motors or mechanical components; upkeep is therefore minimal.Because it is lightweight and easy to install on both new and existing buildings, architects and designers can comfortably specify the KDO Kinetic System as a scalable solution that is adaptable to various urban contexts. Meanwhile, the ability to form curved or linear forms makes the system incredibly versatile and a suitable option for almost any architectural project.Finally, Kriskadecor has spent time and invested resources to ensure the user experience is seamless. Packaging has been optimized for efficiency. Tailored to product dimensions for compact, lightweight shipments, when delivered, the system produces minimal waste, and the logistical impact is small. These design provisions ensure easier handling during installation, allowing a single person to transport and assemble the system with ease.Designing Identity Through Built SpaceOritia & Boreas Aerodynamics Laboratory by Water Scales Arquitectos, Esczar, Granada, Spain | Photo by ngel SeguraHuman brains are wired to make split-second assessments. Research in social psychology suggests that within milliseconds, people form opinions based on visual cues; architecture can play a critical role in that instinctive process. When considered holistically, a well-designed building can become a tangible, immersive experience that reinforces a brands values and presence. Every material, color and structural element contributes to an impression before a visitor ever steps inside. A buildings faade, when thoughtfully designed, is the initial handshake, acting as a psychological tool to shape the perception of the business within. In understanding this, brands are now investing heavily in innovative architectural designs that capture attention swiftly and effectively communicate their essence.Many brands have spent decades refining their visual identities across digital platforms, yet these mediums often lack permanence and physical impact. Digital spaces are transient and subject to algorithmic shifts, fleeting user engagement and trends. Physical architecture, on the other hand, offers an enduring, place-based expression of brand identity.As seen in the case of Oritia & Boreas and their use of Kriskadecors KDO Kinetic System, a thoughtfully designed faade is not only a way to express visual identity; it can also build a deeper emotional connection with its clients through communicating values. Creating an experience that is both memorable and immersive, harnessing architecture not just for aesthetics but for engagement, differentiation and identity reinforcement.To learn more about how to harness the KDO Kinetic System for your next project, visit Kriskadecors website.The post Branding in Motion: How Architects Can Build Identity Beyond the Screen appeared first on Journal.

Whether touring the ancient aqueducts and temples in Rome, marveling over the Renaissance feats in Florence, or discovering the Byzantine and Islamic influence in Sicily, the country certainly requires multiple visits just to scratch the surface of architectural riches. And for the admirers of pious architecture, Italy has its fair share of basilicas and churches that date back to the reign of Constantine the Great.The contemporary Italian built environment took on a new identity after the fall of Fascism. Eager to break from fascist architecture, the nations architects began to redefine modernist architecture void of Rationalism. A winery built inside a Sasso (home dug inside a rock formation), a total revitalization of a Neapolitan subway station, or a monolithic church nestled in the Calabrian mountainsare examples that make up the Italians contemporary landscape. Just like Brunelleschi, the Italian architects of today uphold the title of capomaestri (master builders) and continue to erect a noteworthy built environment that influences global architectural trends.With so many architecture firms to choose from, its challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Italy based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.How are these architecture firms ranked?The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firms level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firms ranking, in order of priority:The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025)The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Project of the Day (2009 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Featured Project (2009 to 2025)The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025)Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Italy architecture firms throughout the year.Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Italy:30. AMDL Circle | Michele De Lucchi AMDL Circle | Michele De LucchiThe philosophy adopted by Michele De Lucchis office seeks to maintain a steady interaction between architectural thinking, industrial design and global communication. This transverse approach is backed by Michele De Lucchis own international experience acquired in more than forty years work.Founded in the early 1980s, the office has kept its original multicultural and multidisciplinary origins. Producing architecture and design for Italian and foreign institutes, public and private organisations, businesses and individuals, it carries out in-depth surveys of matters relating to contemporary society, especially the role of industry and crafts, technology and nature.Formed by architects and designers from all over the world, the office shows a predilection for teamwork.Some of AMDL Circle | Michele De Lucchis most prominent projects include:EARTH STATIONS MANY HANDSST. JAKOBS CHAPEL, Bernbeuren, GermanyLa Pista di Milano Racetrack, Arese, ItalyResidenze Litta, Corso Magenta, Milano, ItalyPAVILION ZERO, EXPO MILANO 2015, Milan, Italy The following statistics helped AMDL Circle | Michele De Lucchi achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 13 29. tara Davide Perbellinitara is an architecture practice based in Meran (South Tyrol, IT), founded by Heike Pohl and Andreas Zanier. It deals with planning at 360 degrees, from the urban scale to interior design, developing tailor-made solutions, starting with a careful analysis of the site and of the clients needs. Over the years, it has gained experience in the design of residential buildings, hotels, public buildings, protected heritage sites, and landscape interventions. Currently tara is a team of 8 with different nationalities and different educational background.Some of taras most prominent projects include:Carezza House, Bolzano, ItalyMareinhof, Vetzan, ItalyPlima Gorge Trail, Bolzano, ItalyStadele Rooms, Lana, ItalyMiramonti Infinity Pool and Sauna, Hafling, Italy The following statistics helped tara achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 7 28. OFL Architecture OFL Architecture, Giacomarra ArchitectOFL Architecture is an office founded in 2009 by Francesco Lipari and Vanessa Todaro, that operates between Rome and Sicily. OFL Architecture is an interdisciplinary architectural practice focused on emergent design processes through a design methodology that integrates architecture with other disciplines, redefining the relationship of the significant modern city and its current urban conditions.Some of OFL Architectures most prominent projects include:St Horto, Rome, ItalyWunderbugs, Rome, ItalyZighizaghi, Favara, ItalyNuovo Palazzo della Provincia di Bolzano, Bolzano, ItalyNew Columbarium, Campofranco, Italy The following statistics helped OFL Architecture achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 2 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 21 27. Caprioglio Architects Caprioglio ArchitectsThe Caprioglio Associates Architecture Firm was founded in 1999 as natural prosecution, progress and unification of the offices of Veneto and Friuli. Giovanni Caprioglio and son Filippo Caprioglio have created a practice that extends not only on the national territory, but also internationally and industrially. The values that the study promotes are those of the advanced culture of the project, above all for its attention to the real requirements of the client and of the historical and physical atmosphere in which it becomes part.Some of Caprioglio Architects most prominent projects include:Home P+E+3, Padua, ItalyPrivate house in the foothills, Treviso, ItalyCasin di Palazzo Lezze, Venice, ItalyNic Playroom Apartment, Mogliano Veneto, ItalyHome F+T+3, Mogliano Veneto, Italy The following statistics helped Caprioglio Architects achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 16 26. Plasma Studio Plasma StudioThe term Plasma comes from Classic Greek and means modeling, form, fabric, imagination, fiction. In Physics the Plasma State- or fourth state of matter- describes a unique condition of matter arising at a complex overlay of external forces. Plasma, a charged field of particles, conducts energy.Folding space into space, Plasma draw landscapes into buildings, streets into facades, inside to outside. Transformative tectonics set spaces, planes and bodies into unforeseen relationships that challenge conventional topographies and spatial codes. While the angular and complex qualities of their forms might superficially affiliate them with computer-generated architecture, decision-making is never relinquished to the computer.Some of Plasma Studios most prominent projects include:Appropriate_Bistro Bergsteiger, Sexten, ItalyDolomitenblick, Sesto, ItalyCreativity Pavilion_Xian Expo, Xian Shi, ChinaStrata HotelCube Haus, Sexten, Italy The following statistics helped Plasma Studio achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 2 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 52 25. CN10 Architetti CN10 ArchitettiCN10 architects was founded in 2004 by Gianluca Gelmini. The study deals with architectural planning and recovery of historical heritage at different scales of intervention. Over the years the firm has participated in national and international competitions winning prizes and awards.Any action inevitably causes changes, every new building as well as any recovery intervention involves a transformation more or less radical of the territory. Only by being aware of these conditions do architecture, it is possible to act with the utmost respect for a given environment. It is an attitude supported by a certain autonomy from the possible constraints imposed by the location and history, a position that asserts the secularity of architectural design.Some of CN10 Architettis most prominent projects include:Parish Center, Carvico, ItalyCN10 studio, Bergamo, ItalyTorre del Borgo, Villa dAdda, ItalyFormer Monastery of San Giuliano, Bonate Sotto, ItalyCemetery pavilion, Bergamo, Italy The following statistics helped CN10 Architetti achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 7 24. duearchitetti Simone Bossiduearchitetti is an architectural practice based in Varese, Italy. We take a humanistic approach to our design. The focus is first on the PERSON and his needs, then on the PLACE in which the building fits and the environment where we are going to operate. The knowledge of the place is further deepened by the research of its HISTORY.PERSON, PLACE, HISTORY are thus spheres that intersect with each other and give us a first reading of the project. It is then the sensitivity of the designer who has to manage them by intervening in the emotional sphere and the dynamics of relationships between the parts.Some of duearchitettis most prominent projects include:La casa di Andrea, Varese, ItalyLa casa di Simona e Carlo, Varese, ItalyLa cappella. Arialdo, Varese, ItalyLa casa di Chiara e Stefano , Varese, Italycasa A.G., Varese, Italy The following statistics helped duearchitetti achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 9 23. Pedevilla Architects Pedevilla ArchitectsPedevilla Architects was founded in 2005 by brothers Alexander and Armin Pedevilla in the city of Bruneck. Their architectural language always implements the imminent alpine scenery of South Tyrol, which is characterised by harsh climatic conditions, steep mountainsides and the impressive panorama of the Alps. With their works, the office established a conception and understanding where modern regional architecture achieves a whole new significance. It settles in the context of traditional art of construction and contemporary reinterpretation, of genuine craftsmanship and deliberate revival, but most of all the context of materiality and their appropriate eligibility. Since its existence, the office made an imprint in the national and international alpine-architecture scene and is meanwhile counted as one of the renowned offices in Italy.Some of Pedevilla Architects most prominent projects include:House at Mill Creek, Sand in Taufers, ItalyAlpine Residence & Chalet La Pedevilla, Bolzano, ItalyElementary School Rodeneck, Bolzano, ItalyFire Station Vierschach, Innichen, ItalyService Building Kreuzbergpass, Sexten, Italy The following statistics helped Pedevilla Architects achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 12 22. Archiplan Studio Archiplan StudioArchiplanstudio has been carrying out research activities related to architectural design for years, investigating the relationship between context and architecture. Consequently, designs are translated into gestures and punctual interventions, which search in their own construction, the reasons of belonging to places, appropriateness and spirituality.Some of Archiplan Studios most prominent projects include:Appartamento AL, Mantua, ItalyPrivate Residence, Sarginesco, Sarginesco, ItalyPozzolo, ItalyRistorante Lacucina Mantova, Mantua, ItalyPercoreso Paesaggistico Culturale, Virgilio, Italy The following statistics helped Archiplan Studio achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 19 21. Stefano Boeri Architetti Stefano Boeri ArchitettiBased in Milan with offices in Shanghai and Tirana, since 1993 Stefano Boeri Architetti has been dedicated to research and practice mainly in architecture and urban planning, but also in the fields of interior design and culture.With a constant focus on the geopolitical and environmental implications of urban phenomena, the studio develops architectural and regeneration projects in complex environments and on different continents, promoting and strengthening synergies between all the different public and private players involved in development.Some of Stefano Boeri Architettis most prominent projects include:Ca delle Alzaie, Treviso, ItalyTrudo Vertical Forest, Eindhoven, NetherlandsEx Arsenale de La MaddalenaMILAN RESIDENCE COMPETITION BY GENERALI Residenze MilanoTAIPEI POP MUSIC CENTRE, Taipei, Taiwan The following statistics helped Stefano Boeri Architetti achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 9 20. Studio Bressan Simone BossiStudio Bressan is an architectural firm based in Treviso (Italy). It develops project in different scales, from the architectural and urban planning to interior design in Italy and abroad.Some of Studio Bressans most prominent projects include:The Congress and Exhibition Center, Agordo, ItalyGreen Village, Province of Padua, Veneto, ItalySea House, CroatiaPortello Colmarion conservative restoration, Asolo, Italy The following statistics helped Studio Bressan achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 4 19. ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia VielACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel is an international collective with the aim of nurturing shared well-being through unique, high-profile architectural solutions worldwide.Founded in 2000 by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, the studio is currently enhanced by the creativity of more than 160 professionals and the leadership of 10 partners. From urban planning to residential and mixed-use developments, from corporate campuses to public buildings and hotels, each ACPV ARCHITECTS project embodies a new vision where nature and the noblest human aspirations can find new centrality.Recent projects include luxury hotels in Europe, China, and the Middle East, NOVE an office building in Munich (Germany) Arte, a residential condominium in Miami (US), NexxtFastwebs new HQ in Milan, and La Bella Vita high-rise in Taichung (Taiwan).Some of ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viels most prominent projects include:Symbiosis | Building D, Milan, ItalyTechnogym Village, Cesena, ItalySalaino 10, Milan, ItalyEXPO 2015, Milan, ItalyLa Bella Vita, Taichung City, Taiwan The following statistics helped ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 14 18. Perathoner Architects Perathoner ArchitectsThe top priority of this firm of architects is the creation of high-quality architecture that combines modern construction technology and timeless elegance. For us, good architecture implies the harmonious integration of individually designed buildings into a given context. A condition for this is that a building respects the characteristics of the particular location and is thus able to communicate with it. This is, on the one hand, achieved by a restricted design vocabulary as well as the intelligent combination of selected materials on the other. The decisions taken must however always be questioned, reassessed and, if necessary, modified during the entire development process of a building in order to achieve optimal results in all aspects.Some of Perathoner Architects most prominent projects include:Black Eagle, Selva di Val Gardena, ItalyIl frantoio, ItalyCultural Center Tubla Da Nives, Selva di Val Gardena, ItalyVilla A, Selva di Val Gardena, ItalyHotel Genziana, Ortisei, Italy The following statistics helped Perathoner Architects achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 8 17. studio raro Gustav WilleitBased in Trento, studio raro was established in 2004 by roberta di filippo and roberto salvischiani, and deals with architecture and visual communication, winning awards and acknowledgements in both fields.The invaluable experience acquired over the years through the on-site direction of numerous construction projects, stable collaborations with professional figures in various fields, attendance of update courses on sustainability and communication and of course the simple passion and attention to detail, has allowed the Studio to tackle, in a complete, competent and professional way, a wide range of small to large-scale projects.Some of studio raros most prominent projects include:Casa MF, Trento, ItalyAgritur La Dolce Mela, casa dellagricoltore, Ciago, ItalyAgritourism , Vezzano, ItalyCasa RR, Trento, ItalyAgritur La Dolce Mela, ampliamento, Ciago, Italy The following statistics helped studio raro achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 13 16. MASK architects MASK architectsFounded in 2020 in Italy by Oznur Pinar Cer and Danilo Petta, MASK architects builds upon the vision and foundation established in Olbia that same year. Drawing from a rich tapestry of diverse influences across multiple disciplines, MASK architects proudly identifies as inventor architects and designers. This designation reflects their distinctive approach, seamlessly blending innovative technologies with architectural and industrial design to address contemporary challenges head-on.At MASK architects, we are not only architects and designers; we are also engineers dedicated to developing cutting-edge technology. We lead the way in technological innovation, integrating our advancements into our diverse projects.Some of MASK architects most prominent projects include:The artificial breathing palm modular structure system, Oasys + System, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesSeoul Art and Photographic Museum, Seoul, South KoreaVilla G01 New Generation Luxury Villa, Porto Rotondo, ItalyExosteel Mother Nature Modular Prefabricated Houses, Orani, ItalyThe Flower Clouds I Zhengzhou Metro Line-7 Stations, China The following statistics helped MASK architects achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 19 15. GEZA Architettura GEZA ArchitetturaEstablished in 1999 by Stefano Gri and Piero Zucchi, GEZA Architettura is a multi-disciplinary architecture studio that focuses on the perfect balance between Ideas, Beauty and Functionality.Some of GEZA Architetturas most prominent projects include:Furla Headquarters & Production Complex, Florence, ItalyPRATIC 2.0, Fagagna, ItalyCapua 1880 Headquarters and Production Complex, Reggio Calabria, ItalyFP Private house, Codroipo, ItalyFABER Headquarters, Cividale di Friuli, Italy The following statistics helped GEZA Architettura achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 2 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 26 14. Burnazzi Feltrin Architettiphoto: Carlo Baroni - Burnazzi Feltrin ArchitettiThe collaboration between the architects Elisa Burnazzi and Davide Feltrin was born in 2001, on the occasion of their honorary degree examination in Architecture at the University Institute of Architecture in Venice (I.U.A.V.), with the dissertation INTEGRATING MARGINS. A City Park and a Purification Plant in Mantova. Supervisor was Professor Architect Giuseppe Gambirasio. Architects Burnazzi and Feltrin usually work in the design and planning field applied to a wide range, from the single object up to landscape, and to several sectors, such as the residential, the museum, the commercial, the tertiary. Since 2004, they have both been Expert Designers Casa Clima, certified by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano; they constantly apply to their projects the high energy saving and environment sustainable criteria. Their planning design produces architectural projects able to connect and interact utility and emotion, spatiality and sociality.Some of Burnazzi Feltrin Architettis most prominent projects include:GI multi-family housing, Ischia, Italy MP apartment, Valcanover, ItalyPF single family house, Pergine Valsugana, Italy Multi-aged community centre, Poggio Picenze, ItalyCS apartment, Trento, Italy The following statistics helped Burnazzi Feltrin Architetti achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 21 13. 3ndy Studio Fernando Guerra / FG+SGOur activity is not only a work, but a real passion. Our purpose is to live the architecture as a mission, but also as an entertainment. According to our philosophy every project, whatever its size was, is imaged first of all as a work of art. What is architecture Vitruvio said that architecture nascitur ex fabrica et ratiocinatione (is born out of the material structure and reason). Moreover it must not be overlooked the ethical dimension that gives architecture proper life and a sense.3ndy Studio designs a conscious architecture to everyone, in order to convey a positive and democratic message. Our projects are based on some fixed and essential points: the respect for the environment, for the society and for the future generations.Some of 3ndy Studios most prominent projects include:FAEDA, Montorso Vicentino, ItalyCORTEN PAVILION, Arzergrande, ItalyPALAZZO DI VIGONOVO CAMPIELLO, Vigonovo, ItalySTEEL HOUSE, Foss, ItalyRED STONE HOUSE, Campolongo Maggiore, Italy The following statistics helped 3ndy Studio achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 17 12. Mario Cucinella Architects Mario Cucinella ArchitectsFounded in 1992 MCA Mario Cucinella Architects is based in Bologna and Milan and is made up of over 100 professionals. MCA specializes in architectural design that integrates environmental and energy strategies.The firm has carried out projects in Europe, China, North and Central Africa, the Middle East and South America. Among the most important are the New Surgical and Urgency Pole of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan; the Santa Maria Goretti Church in Mornanno; One Airport Square, Accra, (Ghana); the La Balena nursery school in Guastalla; the ARPAE headquarters for the regional agency for prevention, environment and energy, in Ferrara; the Sino-Italian Ecological and Energy Efficient Building, in Beijing (China).Some of Mario Cucinella Architects most prominent projects include:Santa Maria Goretti Church, Mormanno, ItalyCentre for Sustainable Energy Technologies, Ningbo, ChinaKindergarten in Guastalla (RE) Italy, ItalyOne Airport Square, Accra, GhanaCasa della Musica, Bologna, Italy The following statistics helped Mario Cucinella Architects achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 2 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 15 11. Matteo Thun & Partners Matteo Thun & PartnersMatteo Thun & Partners is an architecture and design studio, headed by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez with headquarters in Milan, Italy and a subsidiary in Munich, Germany. The studios designs are inspired by timeless simplicity and centered on the human scale.Founded in 1984, the company is operating internationally in the hospitality, healthcare, residential, offices and retail sectors and product design. Encompassing a team of 70 interdisciplinary architects, interior, product and graphic designers, Matteo Thun & Partners works from micro to macro scales with a focus on the management of highly complex projects. The work prioritizes aesthetic durability, technological longevity, and the future lifespan of buildings and products.Some of Matteo Thun & Partners most prominent projects include:Waldkliniken Eisenberg, GermanyWinery Guest House, Longuich, GermanyMountain Residence Tower, Tamsweg, AustriaBiomass Power Plant, Tbingen, GermanyHugo Boss Headquarters, Coldrerio, Switzerland The following statistics helped Matteo Thun & Partners achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 31 10. Messner Architects meraner-hauser.comThe collective is founded in 2013 by David and Verena Messner, brother and sister. The studio is located at 1,200 m.a.s.l. near Bozen / Bolzano in Northern Italy inside their fathers workshop.The practice is working on a contemporary approach in many scales, ranging from housing and functional buildings to furniture-design up to landscape projects. The primary aim of developing user- and site-specic concepts is to think and build high quality architecture. A largely regional context defines the studios field of action characterizing the architects view on the delicate relationship of built and grown. The critical look at something given and the use of transdisciplinary strategies lead to a creative dialogue between architecture, landscape, art, and design.Some of Messner Architects most prominent projects include:WORKSHOP RENOVATION, Collalbo, ItalyBELLA VISTA I _Dolomites UNESCO Viewpoint Monte Specie, Dobbiaco, ItalyGROCERY STORE, Collalbo, ItalyJURI 2.1 Stage design, Renon, ItalyCASA PLONER, Collalbo, Italy The following statistics helped Messner Architects achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 22 9. bergmeisterwolf architekten bergmeisterwolf architektenWe consider architecture as a developing process, a challenge of the task, a never-ending thinking process. Problems are seen as an opportunity whose aim is to go far beyond the originally assigned and to let new possibilities evolve. Projects are seen as a positive tension between builders and architects allowing an informal access to space, material and colors. Our architecture is often experienced as simple.Simplicity at its first encounter mostly gives the deep-rooted impression of having always existed: being part of the world, working with its forces not against them. It is the goal of our architecture to find these synergies.Some of bergmeisterwolf architektens most prominent projects include:In the Rock Fire Brigade Magreid, Bolzano, ItalyIn the Center Hotel PuppBlock of Wood, Lajen, ItalyFarmstead B, Sterzing, ItalyWinery Schreckbichl, Girlan, Italy The following statistics helped bergmeisterwolf architekten achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 17 8. Didon Comacchio Architects Didon Comacchio ArchitectsDidon Comacchio Architects is a Ros-based design firm that operates in different scales with a disposition toward material and sensory experimentation. Context, emotion and origin are heavily explored in the firms work.Some of Didon Comacchio Architects most prominent projects include:house PB, Ros, ItalyInterior DM, Bassano del Grappa, Italyinterior SS, Nove, ItalyInterior DR, Ros, ItalyDepandance DCA, Ros, Italy The following statistics helped Didon Comacchio Architects achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 36 7. C+S ARCHITECTS C+S ARCHITECTSC+S is and architectural office based in Italy.The office works internationally in the different fields of architecture: masterplans, full architecture services, interior design both for the private and the public sectors. The office is following about thirty current projects all over the world.C+S won many important international competitions for public and private buildings: Cinema Festival Palace in Venice, Policlinic Hospital in Milan, Tenova headquarters in Verese, housing complex in Japan, university studentshousing in Murano (Venice) and law court of Venice which are in the construction phase.Some of C+S ARCHITECTS most prominent projects include:Chiarano Primary School, Chiarano, ItalyLCV. Law-Court offices in Venice, Venice, ItalyWFP. Water Filtration Plant, Venice, ItalyNSC. Nursery School CovoloPPS. Ponzano Primary School The following statistics helped C+S ARCHITECTS achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 18 6. MIDE Architetti MIDE ArchitettiMIDE Architetti is a Venice-based architecture firm that deals with a range of projects: urban, architectural and interiors. The focus on simplicity of lines and purity in volumetric outcomes, as well as particular attention to details, fixtures and fittings and material selection characterize their design approach.What primarily inspires their design and architecture is the functional analysis of the clients needs and the sensitive reading of the site: the project responds to the predisposition of the site, whose representative traits are reinterpreted and translated into new architectural solutions.The teams work stands out for its particular attention to environmental and energetic sustainability, thanks to valuable consultations from qualified specialists. Alongside their professional activities, the firm carries out constant research through participation in national and international competitions, leading the office to rapidly gain prestigious recognitions and publications.Some of MIDE Architettis most prominent projects include:Temporary School Gymnasium, Massa Finalese, Italy028_House in Abano, Abano Terme, Italy037_Country House Renovation, Lucca, Italy058_Countryside Villa, Montebelluna, Italy200_House with interior view, Stra, Italy The following statistics helped MIDE Architetti achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 9 Total Projects 21 5. Roland Baldi Architects Oskar Da RizThe architectural studio Roland Baldi is active in architecture and urban planning, but also covers the fields of interior and landscape architecture as well as design. The projects for the most part following successfully entered competitions span over a large variety of different architecture manifestations including industrial and commercial buildings, residential buildings, urban planning, infrastructure, buildings for educational purposes and a variety of other studies up to furniture design.They have been built for private and business contractors in industrial areas, historical city centres, residential areas or even in the high mountains. Some of the most important projects of the office have been the Masterplan Zone Rosenbach (former Mignone barracks) in Bolzano, the industrial park Syncom in Bressanone, the University in Brunico, the district heating plant in Chiusa, the mountain railway Merano 2000 and the TechnoAlpin headquarter in Bolzano.Some of Roland Baldi Architects most prominent projects include:The new lunch room of Ex-GIL, Bolzano, ItalyHouse Lemayr, Bolzano, ItalyCultural Center Rosenbach, Bolzano, Bolzano, ItalyAngela Nikoletti Square, Bolzano, ItalyFire Station Fleres, Pflersch, Bozen, Italy The following statistics helped Roland Baldi Architects achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: Featured Projects 9 Total Projects 26 4. Carlo Ratti Associati Carlo Ratti AssociatiCRA is an Architecture and Design Firm with a special focus on the synergies between sustainability and digital technologies. With offices based in Turin and New York, the firm engages in small and large-scale interventions ranging from furniture to urban planning.Some of Carlo Ratti Associatis most prominent projects include:The Greenary , Parma, ItalyCURA, Turin, ItalyCapitaSpring, SingaporeThe Circular Garden, Milan, ItalyAI Timber, China The following statistics helped Carlo Ratti Associati achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 3 A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 14 3. Peter Pichler Architecture Peter Pichler ArchitecturePeter Pichler Architecture is an award-winning laboratory for architecture based in Milan.We are a young, dynamic and experimental team dedicated to developing an innovative and contemporary approach to architecture. Understanding tradition is the key to radical evolution. Hence, we incorporate close familiarity with local culture and respect for the natural environment into every single project. This credo builds our studios foundations and reflects the way we work.Some of Peter Pichler Architectures most prominent projects include:Kastelaz Hof, Tramin an der Weinstrae, ItalyHotel Milla Montis, Maranza, ItalyBonfiglioli Headquarters, Calderara di Reno, ItalyMirror Houses, Bolzano, ItalyOberholz Mountain Hut, Obereggen, Italy The following statistics helped Peter Pichler Architecture achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 10 Total Projects 20 2. Renzo Piano Building Workshop Ateliers Stphane Aboudaram WE ARE CONTENT(S)Renzo Piano was born in Genoa in 1937 into a family of builders. He developed strong attachments with this historic city and port and with his fathers profession. While studying at Politecnico of Milan University, he worked in the office of Frano Albini. After graduation in 1964, he started experimenting with light, mobile, temporary structures. Between 1965 and 1970, he went on a number of trips to discover Great Britain and the United States. In 1971, he set up the Piano & Rogers office in London together with Richard Rogers, with whom he won the competition for the Centre Pompidou. He subsequently moved to Paris.Some of Renzo Piano Building Workshops most prominent projects include:Krause Gateway Center, Des Moines, IowaValletta City Gate, Valletta, MaltaCentro Botn, Santander, SpainLenfest Center for the Arts, New York City, New YorkCalifornia Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California The following statistics helped Renzo Piano Building Workshop achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 13 Total Projects 26 1. NOA NOANOA is a collective of architects and interior designers founded in 2011 by Stefan Rier and Lukas Rungger. Through its ten years of experience, the studio has established itself as an industry standard for hospitality architecture and design, with completed projects scattered across the Alps and new concepts being put into motion in the Netherlands, Croatia, USA, and the Caribbean.Following an always curious and never conventional approach, NOA has expanded its portfolio over the past years with the creation of novel architectural typologies. These include the tzi Peak viewing platform on the Val Senales glacier, the Transsensorial Gateway sound installation for INTERNI Creative Connections 2021, and the competition proposal for the new European Library in Milan.NOA has been published in magazines and on digital platforms of international prominence.Some of NOAs most prominent projects include:Hub of Huts, Bolzano, ItalyBiwakZallinger, Alpe Di Siusi, ItalyMohrlife: The theatrical spa, Lermoos, Austriatzi Peak 3251m: Reaching the peak, South Tyrol, ItalyFeatured image: Sdtirol Home: a country at 360, South Tyrol, Italy The following statistics helped NOA achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Italy: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 21 Total Projects 39 Why Should I Trust Architizers Ranking?With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the worlds largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the worlds best architecture each year.Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlightedA Guide to Project AwardsThe blue + badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizers Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a projects likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:Project completed within the last 3 yearsA well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphsArchitectural designwith a high level of both functional and aesthetic valueHigh quality, in focus photographsAt least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the buildingInclusion of architectural drawings and renderingsInclusion of construction photographsThere are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizers Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.Were constantly look for the worlds best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please dont hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.The post 30 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Italy appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Material choices are a major part of every project. From travertine to limestone, corten steel to zinc, timber to terrazzo, architects spend a huge amount of time and energy selecting the perfect materials for their designs. Unfortunately, not all the materials used in a project are chosen. Some force their way into the built environment, not through design intent but through sheer industrial excess.In times of need, the world has always turned to architecture to discover various inventive ways of absorbing industrial byproducts. The Romans strengthened their concrete with volcanic ash because it was abundant and a nuisance. In 19th-century Northern Britain, slag bricks, otherwise known as Scoria brick, were manufactured as iron production ramped up. Their dense, blackened surfaces were a direct product of the abundant steelworks waste of the age.When the Second World War left European cities in ruins, reconstruction relied on crushed rubble and salvaged materials. Cities like Warsaw, Rotterdam and Berlin remade themselves from their own remains. While in Britain, bomb-damaged buildings were pulverized and re-formed into new bricks, recycling history into the next iteration of the city. For centuries, ghost materials, which are produced inadvertently through industry, have been just as much a part of construction as any consciously selected stone or metal. Ghost materials take what is leftover and unwanted and give it purpose.Right: Cakelot1,Whitby Scoria Bricks 1,CC BY-SA 4.0 | Left: Photo of Scoria brick in York taken by author.The construction industry is one of the largest producers of waste materials, so architects and builders are increasingly looking for smarter ways to reincorporate their waste into new structures. Demolition rubble is being crushed for aggregate, while discarded concrete is recast into precast panels. Old bricks, once considered too labor-intensive to salvage, are now cleaned, sorted and reused at scale. Meanwhile, timber offcuts and sawdust are compressed into structural elements and insulation.Materials that were once difficult to recycle are also making their way back. Contaminated plasterboard waste can now be processed and remade into new gypsum panels. Rigid foam insulation, often stripped out during renovations, is salvaged rather than replaced. Even offcuts of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), previously considered too complex to reuse, are being reassembled into new engineered wood products instead of going to waste.FRONTS Pretty Plastic Panels | Photo by Nienke Krook courtesy of FRONTCompanies like FRONT are finding new ways to return construction waste back into the built environment. Their WasteBasedBricks are made using demolition rubble from urban deconstruction sites and give a second life to materials that would otherwise be crushed into low-grade aggregate. Their Skip Tiles, composed of 95% recycled ceramics, reuse discarded offcuts and broken tiles from tile manufacturers, reducing the waste produced in fabrication. Even PVC waste from construction sites, previously difficult to recycle due to its chemical composition, is being repurposed into Pretty Plastic Panels, a cladding material for ventilated faades and rainscreens.Ghost materials may be becoming more popular, but their unreliability is the main reason they remain secondary materials rather than primary ones. Unlike quarried stone, precision-mixed concrete, or engineered timber each manufactured to strict tolerances construction byproducts can be inconsistent, chemically unstable, and difficult to standardize. The challenge is not just how to integrate them, but how to account for their unpredictability.Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), for instance, should be an easy substitute for virgin aggregate. In practice, its variable porosity, residual cement content and embedded contaminants make it difficult to control. Old concrete often contains alkali-silica reactions (ASR), which cause unpredictable expansion and cracking in new concrete mixes. Water absorption rates are higher than in natural stone aggregates, meaning RCA must be used in carefully controlled proportions to prevent shrinkage and structural instability. Unless tested batch by batch, no two recycled concrete aggregates behave exactly the same. In the Netherlands, New Horizon Urban Mining has been tackling this issue by developing methods to extract and refine RCA with greater consistency, allowing it to be used more reliably in structural applications.Anne & Max, Haarlem, Netherlands | FRONTs Waste Based Bricks, Glazed Bricks | Photo by Sheena Schouwink courtesy of FRONTRecycled gypsum presents similar challenges. While the material itself is infinitely recyclable, plasterboard waste is rarely clean. It often contains paper fibers, residual adhesives, fire retardants and even contaminants like lead paint or mold spores, depending on its source. When reprocessed, these impurities must be removed or stabilized. A time-consuming and costly process that makes virgin gypsum the more attractive option in many cases. In the UK, British Gypsum has introduced a closed-loop recycling system for its plasterboard products, ensuring that offcuts from construction sites can be collected, cleaned and reintegrated into new gypsum board production with minimal loss of quality. However, this only works when waste is carefully separated on-site. Once mixed with general construction debris, plasterboard becomes too contaminated to recycle.Timber presents its own set of issues. Reclaimed wood, especially from demolition sites, is prone to warping, uneven moisture content and historic chemical treatments that may be unsuitable for indoor use. Timber offcuts from modern manufacturing, such as CLT and LVL remnants, are structurally sound but irregularly shaped, making them difficult to integrate into conventional framing systems. This is why many wood byproducts are compressed into chipboard or engineered panels rather than reused in their original form not because they lack strength, but because they lack standardization. In Germany, Gutex has developed a system to turn sawmill byproducts and wood-processing waste into high-performance wood fibre insulation, an approach that ensures even the smallest timber remnants are used in a meaningful way.Then there is the issue of regulation. Most building codes are still based on materials behaving in predictable ways. A steel beam has a known yield strength, a fired brick has a consistent compressive strength, and a concrete mix is designed to cure to a precise specification. Ghost materials, by contrast, come with unknowns. Recycled aggregates often face lower structural classifications because their past life affects their long-term performance. Reclaimed steel is subject to stricter inspection standards than newly forged beams, even if its metallurgical properties are identical. Recycled plastics are rarely approved for load-bearing applications because their molecular structure degrades with each recycling cycle, introducing brittleness over time.This regulatory hesitation may be seen as bureaucratic resistance but in reality its a necessary safeguard against structural failure. Materials with unknown histories or variable performance characteristics introduce risks that architects and engineers cannot always quantify. While this does not mean ghost materials are unsuitable for construction, it does mean that architecture must rethink how it designs with them.FRONTs Pretty Plastic Panels | Photo by Nienke Krook courtesty of FRONTAt ETH Zrichs Digital Construction Lab, researchers are exploring how robotic fabrication can create highly precise structures from irregular recycled materials. Instead of treating reclaimed elements as defective, their approach uses digital modelling to work with material inconsistencies, enabling them to fit together seamlessly in a controlled construction process. This method reduces waste and ensures that each component is used efficiently rather than being discarded for failing to meet traditional industrial standards.The reality is ghost materials are an excellent way to reduce the excessive waste in the construction industry. As material shortages and environmental concerns push us towards circularity, architecture is being asked to engage with them in a new way. The question is no longer simply how to repurpose waste, but how to build with it intelligently and safely.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Top photo: FRONTs Pretty Plastic Panels courtesy of FRONTThe post The Spirit of Sustainability: Designing with Ghost Materials appeared first on Journal.

The latest edition of Architizer: The Worlds Best Architecture a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe is now available. Order your copy today.Frankly, people are asking way too much of squares. These open, public spaces need to act as points of transition, oases amongst dense urban fabrics, places for entertainment, and spaces that leave room for spontaneity and interaction. Consequently, this begs the question, how much design should a square actually have? One approach is to populate the space with different, playful architectural elements an intricate staircase, benches, walls, fountains and vegetation. Other proposals that are not fearful of voids and empty space suggest simpler, more subtle delimitation practices within the public urban fabric.The following six projects tackle square design in distinct ways, ranging from highly structured interventions that encourage specific uses to more open-ended approaches that embrace flexibility and organic occupation.Karen Blixens PladsBy Cobe, Copenhagen, Denmark The square is located between the newly built University of Copenhagen buildings and the nature reserve Amager Common, offering a gradual transition from the landscape to the city. The new design acts as an urban carpet floating over three bicycle parking hills, making room for more than 2,000 parking spaces both over and under the hills. The urban structure comprises several circular openings that allow natural light to penetrate the lower level, while others act as plant pots for vegetation.V- Plaza Urban DevelopmentBy 3deluxe, Kaunas, Lithuania Situated amongst a series of cultural buildings, V-Plaza is redesigned to cater to the needs of a more contemporary city. Developed in two levels, the squares surface comprises a grid that follows the axis of the surrounding historical buildings. In parallel, the second level breaks up the rigid lines by reflecting the natural and organic flows of movement. The result is an urban void filled with natural islands that include a skate park, a fountain complex, an event venue as well as open green spaces.West End SquareBy Field Operations, Dallas, TexasPopular Winner, Public Parks & Green Spaces, 11th Annual A+Awards West End Square replaces a former parking lot with a next-generation park, one concentrated around innovation companies and start-ups. The space becomes a community anchor, hosting frequent events that include salsa dancing classes, interactive art installations, and local vendor markets. The design aimed to contrast the neighborhoods heavy brick-paved sidewalks, suggesting an array of organically shaped planting beds, water features, and a smart irrigation system. Additionally, a trellis structure supports smart sensor lighting, fans, swings, and power for various types of programming, also serving as a flexible armature that holds the parks electrical and fiber infrastructure.taksim for allBy superspace, Beyolu, stanbul, Turkey The square is located in the Taksim district. Its name derives from the distribution of water when the space was still in use. Its contemporary redesign focuses on how people are reclaiming the space and how design can regenerate this urban void. A new courtyard and skywalk regulate pedestrian movement, leading them to various functions along the space, such as fairs, art installations, concerts, and markets. In parallel, urban axes follow the historic grid, connecting the new intervention with the existing historic fabric.Mendel SquareBy CHYBIK + KRISTOF, Brno, Czechia Mendel Square is the first phase of a larger revival plan for this specific part of the city, which transforms the existing, decaying transportation hub into a vibrant public space. The proposal draws inspiration from the areas key periods of its past, reflected in the surrounding monuments, and transforms the space into an active, social transportation hub for the city. The square is centered around a circular area with no definitive barriers, making it accessible from all sides. Additionally, new bus stops made from reusable materials ensure a smooth transition from tram and trolleybuses to municipal and regional bus lines, while mobile, urban furniture is also installed in a playful arrangement, acting as points of observation towards the rest of the city. An abundance of tree species and water elements bring an organic tone to the overall design, fusing nature with transportation and culture.Sky Forest ScapeBy Shma Company Limited, Bangkok, ThailandFinalist 2024, A+Awards, Landscape & Planning Private Garden The project reveals a new type of public space in Bangkok greenspaces on the rooftops. It is part of the new mixed-use development located within a vibrant commercial district and aims to revamp Siam Square with more people-centric urban spaces, including a green street, places for gathering, and greenery. The design unfolds in two levels: on the ground, BIO STREET draws people from the main street towards a lush green circulation space and guides them to a series of lifts and escalators that lead to the 10th floor, where a variety of tutoring schools and art academies are situated. A new type of square unfolds on the roof, following strong linear lines forming plant bends filled with tropical trees. The space acts as a new multi-functional gathering stage for students, a performance rehearsal and concert stage, and even a TikTok dance backdrop.The latest edition of Architizer: The Worlds Best Architecture a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe is now available. Order your copy today.Featured Image: V- Plaza Urban Development by 3deluxe, Kaunas, LithuaniaThe post Void or Venue? 6 Public Square Designs That Think Outside the Box appeared first on Journal.

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.In the middle of any city, theres that corner cafe. The one where regulars sit by the window sipping from plain white mugs. It serves tea and coffee, maybe a slice of square white toast on a good day. Unashamedly, thats all it cares to do. Theres no pop-up collab; theres no poetry slam night, just a decent brew and the comfort of familiarity.This is the essence of a single-purpose space uncomplicated and unpretentious in its clarity. Architects once designed with this kind of assurance all the time, shaping buildings for one thing, nothing more, and absolutely nothing less. A cafe was a cafe, a cinema for watching films, and a train station was simply for catching a train.Over time, though, architectural purity gave way to flexibility, and adaptability became king. Buildings are expected to do double, sometimes triple duty. A gym also has to be a juice bar. A hotel must be a social hub. A carpark better be able to moonlight as an events venue. A space that serves only one function is now considered a financial risk, a planning failure, or an inefficient use of expensive square footage.Yet, some buildings refuse to entertain the idea of a Plan B. They are designed so specifically, so precisely, that their purpose cannot be diluted. They dont hedge their bets. They dont attempt to be all things to all people. And in doing so, they become something quite rare: a single-purpose space. A place that cannot afford to be vague and must be intentional in every detail, so refined in its execution that it does not need to justify itself through alternative uses. There is an art to this kind of conviction, and the following seven projects show just how exceptional spaces can be when they arent being forced to shape-shift.Stand Up Udon NoodleBy sawa architects, Shibuya City, JapanJury Winner, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft), 13th Annual A+Awards At just 160 square feet (15 square meters), Stand Up Udon Noodle is defined by a single arched counter that does everything for the space. It divides, frames, and holds the dining essentials, including lighting, condiments, chopsticks and tissues. The simple plaster finish, mixed with rice hulls, ties the design back to the noodles it serves in a way that is simple and elegant.Theres no lingering at this restaurant. There are no booths and no forced sense of atmosphere. Stand Up Udon Noodle is built for eating Udon and nothing else and it provides the experience masterfully.KANGOL Headwear Global Flagship StoreBy WING DESIGN, Guangzhou, ChinaKangol makes hats. Nothing else. No sneakers, no handbags, no scent. Just hats, as it has done for nearly a century. That kind of focus is rare in fashion, brands usually spread themselves across endless product lines.Its flagship store in Guangzhou follows the same philosophy. Black volcanic bricks give the exterior weight, a nod to the traditional masonry of the neighborhood, while inside, warm wood and soft lighting provide an unfussy backdrop for the only thing that matters here the hats. Skylights pull light down onto the displays and reinforce the sense that every detail has been considered in service of the hero product. There are no distractions or unnecessary gestures; just a store designed with the same singular focus as the brand itself.Teshima Art MuseumBy Ryue Nishizawa, Takamatsu, JapanPhotographs by Iwan BaanTeshima Art Museum is not your average museum. To start with, it has only ever displayed one artwork. A thin concrete shell resting in the hills of Japans Seto Inland Sea. Matrix, an installation by Rei Naito.The space is completely open to the elements with two elliptical holes in the ceiling that pull in wind, rain, light and sound. There is no distraction, no added programming not even a reception desk. There is nothing to anchor the experience beyond the experience of the art, and this is exactly what makes the experience so special.Equipment RoomBy RIOS, Austin, TexasPhotos by Robert GomezInspired by Tokyos jazz kissa, and tucked behind Music Lane, Equipment Room in Austin Texas, is a space built for deep listening. It keeps its interventions minimal. The concrete floors are left untouched, furniture is salvaged and repurposed, and the design leans on Austins local audio talent to create something that feels raw, intentional and specific.A curved acoustic felt wall absorbs and shapes the sound, while a hemlock bar and custom DJ booth work well. The design treats records and equipment as part of the space there, not for decoration but to be interacted with and enjoyed. Seating shifts depending on the night but the experience stays the same. Everything is tuned toward listening, every detail calibrated to let the music take up as much space as it needs.Audemars Piguet Watch ManufactureBy Kunik de Morsier architectes, Le Locle, SwitzerlandPhotos by Iwan BaanManufacturing is often where we see sole purpose spaces at their most impressive. Everything inside this building exists for the making of watches. The obsessive, methodical process of assembling time itself.The Audemars Piguet Watch Manufacture is a fully connected system, where every stage of production happens in a space designed solely for its function. North-facing workshops are bathed in steady, indirect light, creating the perfect conditions for microscopic detail work, while administration sits to the south. At the center, the Piazza acts as a point of exchange between disciplines an important point as watchmaking is rarely a set of independent tasks.This is what a single-purpose space looks like at its most refined, a building so specific to its function that nothing about it could be used for anything else.Omakase XiBy UN-GROUP, Shanghai, ChinaPhotos by Songkai LiuThere is only one way in, and one way forward. A narrow, unlit corridor lined with burnt cedar pulls visitors inside. A single shoji window offers a glimpse of obsidian that hovers above water, an image designed not to be understood, but to slow guests down, allowing them to enjoy the journey. Then, the space opens up into a soft, bright cypress clad space with a single counter. There are no tables, no alternative seating, nothing to break the focus between chef and guest.Omakase as a practice does not accommodate preferences and the architecture here, like the meal, follows a strict sequence, one that does not bend, adapt or make room for anything else.Ullem ChapelBy ASK Studio, Moravia, IowaPhotos by Cameron Campbell at Integrated StudioBuilt on a family-owned farm, Ullem Chapel is a unique space for contemplation that has been stripped to its absolute core values. It offers no sermon, no denomination and no real function beyond quiet observation and reflection. The structure itself is an exercise in restraint with horizontal cribbing boards and simplified gothic arches to create a form that is caught between the traditional languages of agriculture and faith. It does not quite shelter. It does not gather. It does not serve. It exists only to focus the mind.A space cannot be more singular than this, a chapel that offers nothing but the act of being present.The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.The post The Purity of Purpose: 7 Buildings That Refuse To Be Multi-Use appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.For many social media managers and regular users alike, Instagrams latest grid update has been a real headache (and thats putting it mildly). Our carefully curated feeds and neatly designed templates (all built around the familiar square grid, I might add) were disrupted practically overnight.Of course, this isnt just about one app making a sudden design choice. Its part of a much larger shift thats been unfolding for years. Vertical images have quietly taken over our screens, becoming the default way we consume content. Platforms like TikTok and features like Instagram Reels and Stories have conditioned us to expect everything in portrait mode, reinforcing vertical framing as the norm.yeah this new instagram update is insane. pic.twitter.com/ZOYr7ZmJn9 glenda (@polkadotrryy) January 18, 2025For architecture, this shift is particularly interesting. The discipline has historically relied on wide, horizontal compositions a format better suited to capturing buildings in their full context. But as social media reorients itself (literally), how architecture is framed and shared is shifting too.This change isnt just about aesthetics anymore. Its about visibility. What gets shared, engaged with and ultimately remembered is increasingly dictated by the format of the platforms we use. And when a dominant medium favors one kind of representation over another, it inevitably shapes what we see, what we value and what we think architecture should look like.Verticality in Architecture and PhotographyAqua Tower by Studio Gang, Chicago, Illinois | Photo by Steve Hall Hedrich Blessing As a discipline, architecture has long embraced verticality. From Gothic cathedrals to modern skyscrapers, height has symbolized ambition, power and progress. But despite this upward trajectory, architectural photography took a different path one that, for much of its history, favored width over height.Early photography borrowed from painting and printmaking, both of which emphasized wide, contextual compositions. Capturing buildings in isolation was rare. Instead, photographers framed them within their environment; streets, plazas and adjacent structures were all part of the visual story. This approach extended to both exteriors and interiors, where wide-angle shots preserved a sense of scale and spatial relationships.Even as technology evolved, horizontal framing remained dominant. Print layouts in magazines, books and exhibitions reinforced the preference for wide compositions, making vertical images less practical. Even early digital platforms, architecture blogs, forums and social media in its infancy, continued to favor these conventions.But then came the smartphones. And they changed everything.Social Media and the Reinvention of Architectural ImageryLEFT: Tower 15 by OODA Architecture, Lea da Palmeira, Portugal, Photo by Fernando Guerra | FG+SG; RIGHT: OFFICE @ 63 by Sanjay Puri Architects, Navi Mumbai, IndiaUnlike desktops, smartphones werent designed to be turned sideways for casual browsing (unless, of course, watching Netflix counts). As mobile devices became the primary way people consumed content, vertical images started to take over. At first, this shift was subtle. But as platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok prioritized vertical content, the format became an expectation rather than an option.What was once an artistic choice was now a necessity. And for architectural photographers, this shift meant rethinking how buildings were captured, framed and, ultimately, perceived.With vertical framing now the default, architecture itself is being reframed both literally and figuratively. Social media has dictated not only how architecture is documented but also how it is seen. Buildings designed with wide, horizontal gestures struggle to translate in a digital landscape that prioritizes tall, narrow compositions. Spaces that once relied on scale and context to communicate their presence must now fit within a narrow frame.The Architectural Photography Dilemma: Adapting to Vertical FormatsThe Abrahamic Family House by Adjaye Associates, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Photos by Deed Studio-UAESo, does vertical framing change how architecture is understood? The answer depends on what we value in architectural photography.For decades, wide compositions were favored because they provided context, showing not just the structure itself, but its relationship to its surroundings. They captured scale, spatial depth and the way a building functioned within a larger urban or natural environment.Vertical framing, by contrast, compresses that narrative. It isolates rather than situates, emphasizing height at the expense of breadth.For some buildings, this is an advantage. Skyscrapers, staircases, narrow towers and dramatic vertical interiors thrive in portrait-oriented compositions. Their scale and proportions align naturally with the format, making them more impactful in vertical photography than they might have been in traditional horizontal shots.But for low, sprawling buildings, complex urban environments and interconnected spaces, vertical framing presents a challenge. These types of architecture were never designed to be understood in a single, narrow crop. Cropping out adjacent structures, open courtyards or pedestrian interactions flattens a buildings identity, reducing it to an isolated fragment rather than part of a larger whole.If vertical photography is shaping how architecture is represented, what does that mean for the way we engage with it? For one, it shifts emphasis. Instead of experiencing a building as part of a larger environment, we increasingly see it as a standalone object. The relationships between structures, the way they define public space or how they integrate with the urban fabric. These are details that often get lost in a format that prioritizes height over breadth.ESIEE-IT school of engineering and digital expertises by Vallet de Martinis architectes, Pontoise, FranceFor architectural photographers, this raises a new challenge: how do you capture a buildings full story when platforms reward a cropped, decontextualized view? Some have adapted by layering content, using vertical panning shots, stitched sequences or cinematic reels to reintroduce movement and depth. Others lean into exaggerated angles, stretching a buildings height to make it feel even more monumental.But not all buildings can be made to fit. What happens to architecture that resists vertical framing? Does it become less visible, less shared, less valued? If spaces that perform well in a vertical format dominate the architectural discourse online, could that, over time, shape what kinds of projects get attention and funding?This brings us to an even bigger question: if the way we capture architecture is shifting, could that eventually influence the way we design it?The Bigger Picture: Can Social Media Change How We Design?Vessel by Heatherwick Studio; NEW YORK, NEW YORK MARCH 15: A view inside the Vessel at Hudson Yards, New Yorks Newest Neighborhood, Official Opening Event on March 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Clint Spaulding/Getty Images for Related)We already know that architects consider social media when designing buildings. Some projects integrate bold, photogenic elements oversized staircases, colorful faades, immersive interior corridors knowing that theyll circulate online. But could verticality become part of that equation?Its too early to say for sure. Theres no evidence (yet) that architects are designing vertically because of social media. But the broader trend of designing for the feed is undeniable. If visibility plays a role in an architects success and social media is a key factor in a buildings reach, could vertical-friendly features become more common? Would architects subtly adjust proportions, stretch facades or create spaces that align better with how people photograph them?This isnt just a question for architects; its a question for how architecture is valued. If what gets seen gets remembered and what gets remembered gets prioritized, then how architecture is photographed matters more than ever.The shift to vertical photography may not be changing how we build yet. But its already changing how we see, share and engage with architecture. And in a world where perception shapes reality, that might be enough to push design in a new direction.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post The Instagram Effect: How Vertical Photography is Reshaping the Way We See Architecture appeared first on Journal.

The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.Whether its a dash to A&E after an overly ambitious encounter with a mandoline or for a longer stay when a bit more help is required to get back on our feet, nobody loves a trip to the hospital. Medical spaces are very rarely places we look forward to visiting. Of course, they are institutions of necessity, but for too long, their design clinical, functional and indifferent to anything other than cleanliness has conjured feelings of stress, isolation and waiting-room purgatory.Yet, hospitals dont have to feel like this. Research shows that the built environment plays a crucial role in psychological well-being and physical recovery. Studies have linked natural light with improved circadian rhythms and shorter hospital stays, while exposure to nature has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce the need for pain medication. All the while, thoughtful layouts can ease staff fatigue and reduce medical errors while considered acoustics lessen stress for patients and caregivers alike.Thanks to this research, architects and designers are now shaping healthcare spaces that feel more like boutique hotels, designed to include biophilia, support the community, and, most crucially, improve health. They recognize that comfort and dignity are not luxuries that should be reserved for only those who can afford them. They are essential components of care.The following eight projects challenge the clinical clich, showcasing exceptional design that can make all the difference. Especially when youd much rather be anywhere else.Dental ClinicBy IFAgroup, Gdask, PolandJury Winner, Hospitals and Healthcare Centers, 13th Annual A+AwardsPhotos by Hanna PoczyskaFor many, visiting the dentist can be a daunting experience; studies indicate that approximately 36% of people in the U.S. have a fear of dental treatment, with 12% experiencing extreme fear. Addressing this widespread anxiety, IFAgroup transformed a historic granary in Gdasks Wrzeszcz district into a dental clinic that feels more like a boutique hotel than a medical facility. The clinic houses 15 dental offices and a prosthetic laboratory, all organized around a three-story foyer connected by a central spiral staircase.Patients are greeted by a lounge area where live classical piano music enhances the serene atmosphere. To ensure optimal acoustics, 1,615 square feet (150 square meters) of soundproofing materials including sprays, upholstery and directional sound screens were meticulously integrated. The design thoughtfully incorporates materials that reflect the buildings original character: raw architectural concrete, walnut doors, exposed brick walls, leather pendant lamps and steel accents.Kia LabBy Davood Boroojeni Office, West Azerbaijan Province, IranPopular Winner, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers, 12th Annual A+AwardsPhotos by Parham Taghioff.Kia Lab challenges the idea that hospitals should be closed-off institutions. Designed by Davood Boroojeni Office, the medical facility in Iran includes a shared urban space within its structure. An external staircase leads to an open-air first-floor terrace (as is typical in traditional Iranian architecture). Staircases act not just as circulation but as social spaces that are essential for conversation, rest and connection. These things are vital for good heath and wellbeing. Unlike many hospitals Kia Lab embeds itself into the community of the city rather than sitting apart institutionally and shows how healthcare spaces can be both functional and civic-minded.Steno Diabetes Center CopenhagenBy Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects with MIKKELSEN Architects, Herlev, DenmarkPopular Winner, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers, 11th Annual A+AwardsPhotos by Rasmus HjortshjNorthern Europes largest diabetes hospital, SDCC is designed around the idea that treatment doesnt just happen inside consultation rooms. Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and MIKKELSEN Architects include biophilic principles throughout, with a central two-story garden, six courtyards,and a public rooftop garden designed to be part of the healing process. Wood finishes replace conventional hospital interiors, and waiting areas encourage movement, with spaces dedicated to diet, exercise, and education. With its anodized aluminium faade, SDCC is a model for how hospitals can function as places of education, treatment, prevention and wellbeing in equal measure.Acibadem Ataehir Hospital, Childrens Pavilion & HeadquartersBy Gensler with FXCollaborative, TurkeyPhotos by Orhan KolukisaA hospital, childrens pavilion and headquarters in one, Acibadem Ataehir takes a holistic approach to healthcare. Designed by Gensler, with FXCollaborative handling the architecture, it prioritizes patient comfort and medical efficiency in equal measure. The lobby sets the tone with a digital artwork by Hakan & Sleyman Ylmaz, visualizing the thousands of births across Acibadems network as blooming flowers. It is a reminder that hospitals arent just places of illness, they are also places for new life.Biophilic elements, intuitive zoning and indoor gardens enhance the surroundings, while the Childrens Hospital includes a friendly mascot to help guide young patients through their visit with a sense of familiarity and comfort. In the upper floors, the 16-story headquarters maximizes daylight exposure for staff, with terraces offering much-needed breathing space from the intensity of hospital work.Institute for Specialized Medicine & Intervention (ISMI)By HOK, Montreal, CanadaPhotos by Claude-Simon LangloisFor many, a hospital visit is stressful enough. Now consider navigating it as a marginalized patient in a system that is not designed for you. ISMI, designed by HOK, changes that by focusing on inclusivity and psychological comfort. Instead of sterile corridors, the facility takes cues from spa environments, using soft lighting, natural materials and flexible rooms that allow for greater patient agency. Intuitive wayfinding removes language barriers with visual symbols, while staff well-being is supported through private lounges and an on-site gym in the understanding that better care starts with better working conditions.Alder CentreBy Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, United KingdomPhotos by Rob Parrish and Timothy SoarThe loss of a child is an unimaginable experience, but the right environment can offer comfort, support and a sense of sanctuary. Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the Alder Center is intentionally domestic in scale, with a communal kitchen and lounge replacing the usual sterile waiting room. Counseling rooms are more akin to bedrooms, to provide a softer, less clinical atmosphere, while a secluded helpline room ensures private support is uninterrupted. A walled garden, inspired by The Secret Garden, offers a quiet retreat. Thoughtfully designed and deeply humane, the Alder Centre is a rare example of architecture that truly understands the emotional landscapes it serves.University of California, San Francisco, Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry BuildingBy ZGF Architects, San Francisco, CaliforniaPhotos by Bruce DamonteMental health is among the most pressing health issues in the world, yet treatment remains inaccessible for many due to systemic underfunding, stigmatization, and a shortage of practitioners. The Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building at UCSF seeks to change this by providing an open, uplifting, and integrated approach to mental healthcare. A soaring five-story atrium brings daylight deep into the space, while transparent consultation rooms challenge the stigma around psychiatric care.The projects material palette takes inspiration from San Franciscos historic architecture, replacing the clinical coldness of traditional psychiatric hospitals with warmth and familiarity. With an extensive art program, intuitive color-coded wayfinding and collaborative research spaces, its a model for how mental health treatment can be both visible and integrated.Oshida Animal HospitalBy FEDL (Far East Design Lab.), Saitama, JapanPhotos by Koichi TorimuraArchitects and designers are not only tackling our own health and well-being our pets, too, are benefitting from spaces designed with care and consideration. Oshida Animal Hospital, designed by FEDL focuses on transparency, and a connection to the wider community. Located along a pedestrian route the hospital is designed to engage both pet owners and the general public, to build awareness of animal care. Large windows flood the interior with natural light to reduce stress for staff, visitors, and animal guests, while an open-plan layout makes treatment areas more visible, to build a sense of trust and accessibility.The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.The post Sick of Bad Design? These 8 Healthcare Centers Challenge the Clinical Clich appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Inside Dixons Bar, it feels like time stands still or falls down. This watering hole serves notably affordable beer compared with the rest of notoriously not-cheap Finland and its Scandinavian hipster hangouts. Given the location, however, not even the thirstiest and thriftiest of tourists were likely to wind up here until now. In Oulu, a city with a population of around 207,000 that is poised to become the European Capital of Culture 2026, times and land use are changing.The neighborhood, Toppila, is known for a number of things. One is this flat-roofed, advertising-clad red, bricked dive bar that almost feels like a lost David Lynch movie set. The area is also home to predominantly low-income households and a significant migrant community. Most of all, though, the name invokes images of decaying industry and fallen fortunes. Standing at 92 feet (28 meters) tall, sticking out like a concrete sore thumb against the surrounding low-rise urban scape, Silo de Toppila, or Aalto Silo, is a glaring ghost of that history. Competed by Finlands most famous architect and his partner in 1931, the complex began manufacturing cellulose, with the towering monolith in particular responsible for wood chip production.Alvar and Aino Aaltos first industrial structure has been abandoned since the 1980s and long thought beyond restoration or reuse. So Oulus council opted to sell the site through an online auction, giving it a starting price of just 6,000 plus an administration fee. In the end, the heritage structure was bought by Factum Foundation and Skene Catling de la Pea, who are working with architect Charlotte Skene Catling on its restoration. As we talk, she quips that their first task was working out exactly where Oulu was, let alone the building. This is close to the Arctic Circle, so we can safely assume shes only half joking.Artistic performances will utilize every aspect of Alvar Aaltos original silo when Folio opens | Image courtesy of Factum Foundation and Skene Catling de la PeaLong thought beyond restoration or reuse, Aaltos forgotten structure is now considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and the last of the decaying warehouses and processing plant buildings surrounding it are set for demolition this summer. A wider masterplan is unfolding for Folio a new cultural institution inside the old silo, switching the structures role from both product and instrument of mechanized capitalism to a site of human expression, artistic freedom, and community.A later visit to the site offered a flavor of its future as acrobatic performance artists from the French contemporary circus company FLOW Productions, who performed death-defying choreography on the sheer vertical exterior of Folio. Its hair-raising stuff that leaves us in need of a stiff drink. Hence, Dixons Bar, where we begin to understand more about the overall vision for this place. This blueprint currently includes indoor and outdoor performance areas, a top-floor bar, and an area for growing and cooking food out in what is currently a carpark operated by a discount supermarket.A little bit like skyscrapers, [silos] could only exist in parallel with the technology of the time, which allowed you to get something from the ground to the top of the building. In this case, a bucket lift was invented in Buffalo, USA, which could get materials to the top of these stalls, says Skene Catling. So the evolution of technology and architecture go hand in hand, and this point in the 20th Century marked a break with the historic past and decorative surfaces. Basically, youve got a building thats completely blank and very specifically made for an industrial process.Rendering plan for the new Folio arts center in Oulu, Finland by Factum Foundation and Skene Catling de la PeaAs we continue the conversation, the idea of the silo as a kind of alien-looking pinnacle of the mechanical age is brought into sharp relief with talk of how many workers lost their lives in these hulking monsters, drowning in wood chips, grains, or whatever else they were used to store. As such, the task of reworking the structure to become a place people actually want to be, let alone visit from elsewhere, is an act of flipping the past. Moreover, the team is committed to doing this without disturbing Aaltos original vision.Architects have been sort of marginalized in a way over the years, and architecture has become kind of consultant-heavy. Im interested in where its possible to identify issues that seem important or relevant and the solutions to them so that design becomes something thats beyond a prescription for physical construction, says Skene Catling, explaining that part of their goal with Folio is to develop a new language for architectural salvage and restoration. One that takes into account every aspect of the process from theory to materials storage and transport and the way people eventually use it.In a way, the project falls into three broad areas. One is restoring this apparently impossible-to-restore building: 28 meters of uninsulated reinforced concrete, 10 centimeters thick, with no windows, designed solely for its original process. So I guess the message is that if we can make this work and transform it into a building for people, one that functions creatively, you can convert anything, she continues. Next, were told about several aesthetic touches that aim to achieve the mission, like filling the tiny holes left when original wooden pins rotted away with stained glass. This idea will introduce daylight into the interior, bringing attention to the fabric itself.Public realm improvements will form a significant part of the work to transform Alvar Altos silo into Folio | Image courtesy of Skene Catling de la Pea and Factum Foundation Were keeping the choreography of the original industrial process through the building, too. So people will follow the same route through the space that the wood chips once did. So theres this kind of ghost presence of the old function. And materially, we are collaborating to innovate. One of the reasons why industrial heritage normally gets knocked down and not reused is that concrete is often over-engineered. This makes it difficult to deal with these really thin reinforced walls and steel bars later. Normally, you have to strip everything away to replace the concrete, but if we did that here, thered be nothing left, adds Skene Catling.To overcome this, a partnership with Acrylic One, a firm that produces a calcium and lime-based material that can be used as artificial stone, and the University of Oulu is now underway, exploring how the reinforcement bars can be protected without changing the character of the building. Almost no insulation will be added to the project for similar reasons, albeit the top floor Tar Bar will be treated to help retain more heat produced through radiant systems. So rather than warming the space and air, heat is applied to surfaces, cutting energy use and opening up possibilities for creative applications. Effects that could add immersive elements to performances.What do we actually want to do? What matters most? You get the sense of really understanding what this thing was and its past life. It will be 100 years old in 2031 and remains this example of radical modernism. But you want to feel that when youre there. Its sad when you go into places that have been restored, but the original was obliterated. Everything is sealed and painted white. It feels sterile, a little chaste, says Skene Catling. Considering the plans for Folio, compared with so many attempts at turning industrial complexes into places for people, we can certainly see where shes coming from.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post Cultural Industrial Complex: Alvar Aaltos Forgotten Arctic Silo Finds New Life appeared first on Journal.

These annual rankings were last updated on March 9, 2025. Want to see your firm on next years list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studios ranking.Costa Rica is a tropical land filled with rainforests, exotic beaches and volcanos, as well as many sustainable examples of buildings. Its traditional architecture originates from the countrys pre-Colombian era and Spanish colonial influence. Today, Costa Ricas capital city, San Jos, is characterized by its modern, high-rise architecture, paired with small albeit luxurious traditional single-store houses preserved from the late 1800s. At that time, San Jos was the second most technologically advanced city in America, installing public city lights and electricity to its wider city fabric.This vision for technological innovation has carried through to contemporary Costa Rican architecture. Minimizing building footprint, especially within the Costa Rican landscapes, is a wider philosophy shared by local architects as well as using locally sourced materials and pioneering sustainable technologies such as rainwater harvesting systems, solar power and natural ventilation techniques.With so many architecture firms to choose from, its challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Costa Rica based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.How are these architecture firms ranked?The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firms level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firms ranking, in order of priority:The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025)The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Project of the Day (2009 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Featured Project (2009 to 2025)The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025)Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Costa Rica architecture firms throughout the year.Without further ado, here are the 10 best architecture firms in Costa Rica:10. Jaime Rouillon Arquitectura Jaime Rouillon ArquitecturaJaime Rouillon Arquitectura (JRA) was established in 1994, as an architecture firm specialized in high-end custom design with a precise distinction for detailing; each project as each client is different. Jaime Rouillon gives a complete personalized treatment in close contact from beginning to conclusion of the project, always assisting the client. Our seal is one where craftsmanship is determinant for that unique result. Materials are chosen carefully as a representation of the clients need. Both interior and architecture design result in one on one as an integral result of both texture and space, an identity of its own. We strongly believe in the mutual trust and respect with the client, for it is then when a great project is realized.Some of Jaime Rouillon Arquitecturas most prominent projects include:CasaVal, San Jos, Costa RicaL4 HOUSE, Santa Ana, Costa RicaBaticueva, Escazu, Costa Rica The following statistics helped Jaime Rouillon Arquitectura achieve 10th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 3 9. Salvaje Studio Salvaje StudioWe are an Architecture & Interior Design Studio that believes that every person is unique and has something special. Salvaje Studio operates on the premise that all the spaces designed by our professionals should be distinct and reflect the personality of their users.This is how Salvaje Estudio was born, a design firm that seeks to move away from conventional and mass-produced designs. That aims to do not the ordinary but instead the extraordinary.Some of Salvaje Studios most prominent projects include:BAUMA HOTEL, La Fortuna, Costa RicaBauma Hotel Lofts, La Fortuna, Costa RicaBauma Hotel Villas, La Fortuna, Costa Rica The following statistics helped Salvaje Studio achieve 9th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 3 8. CRN ARCHITECTURE CRN ARCHITECTURECRN is an architecture firm based in Costa Rica. Since 2015 our company provides architecture, consulting and construction services for residential, commercial and hospitality projects in Santa Teresa, Nosara, Tamarindo and Guanacaste. As a team, our main goal is to guide and advise our clients during the experience of building and developing residential and commercial projects in Costa Rica.Some of CRN ARCHITECTUREs most prominent projects include:EL CORAZON, Puntarenas, Costa RicaPALO SANTO SANTA TERESA, Costa RicaCASA AMARILLO, Costa RicaCASA DE AMOR, Punta Arenas, Costa RicaCasa del Cabo, Puntarenas, Costa Rica The following statistics helped CRN ARCHITECTURE achieve 8th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 6 7. Aarcano Arquitectura Andrs Garca LachnerFounded by Costa Rican architects Esteban Castro and Carla Carranza, AARCANO is an architecture studio driven by a fascination with change, transformation, and the profound connections between time, space, and humanity.Our work is rooted in research and the pursuit of meaning, understanding that each project is a temporary yet impactful footprint within a larger, ever-evolving narrative. We see architecture as a bridge between past and future, a medium through which we can pause, observe, listen and respond thoughtfully to our surroundings with sensitivity and purpose.At AARCANO, we embrace the responsibility of regenerating our connection to the essence of being, recognizing the challenges of modern lifestyles that often disconnect us from nature and ourselves.Some of Aarcano Arquitecturas most prominent projects include:Anapanasati House, Tamarindo, Costa RicaCasa Entre Tecas , Santa Cruz, Costa RicaNosara Workspace, Nosara, Costa RicaCasa en Ladera, Ciudad Coln, Costa Rica The following statistics helped Aarcano Arquitectura achieve 7th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 4 6. StudioDelRio StudioDelRioWe transform ideas into tangible objects for use and habitability. Always believing that communication is the best tool to execute our projects, our mission is to transform your expectations, needs and budgets into tangible objects to habitability. The vision of the studio focuses on constant updating, applying new technologies and knowledge, to offer innovative solutions of a nature consent to the use, intervention and responsibility of the natural environment.Some of StudioDelRios most prominent projects include:IN CALA HOUSE, Alajuela, Costa RicaBAUMA HOTEL, La Fortuna, Costa RicaBauma Hotel Lofts, La Fortuna, Costa RicaBauma Hotel Villas, La Fortuna, Costa Rica The following statistics helped StudioDelRio achieve 6th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 4 5. VOID VOIDVOID began its activities in 2012 in Costa Rica. Currently it is constituted by architects Sergio Frugone, Felipe Rossi and Ricardo Sevilla. As an office we have a strong conviction that every project we develop, be it private or public development, should be thought to impact its imediate local context in a greater way. VOID does not pretend to be a traditional studio, rather, a creative studio where we believe in multidisciplinary processes and possess and promote a strong culture of collaboration.Some of VOIDs most prominent projects include:EFC Cabin, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa RicaGuarumo, Santa Teresa Beach, Costa RicaTropik Works, Guanacaste Province, Costa RicaNMF Residence, Pinilla, Costa RicaDolce far niente house, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica The following statistics helped VOID achieve 5th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 5 4. Carazo Arquitectura Carazo ArquitecturaWe are a Costa Rican Architectural firm named Carazo Arquitectura, our office is located in San Jose Costa Rica in the heart of the main city and capital. Rodrigo Carazo founded the firm in 2005.Some of Carazo Arquitecturas most prominent projects include:ULatina Costa RicaAdara, Curridabat, San Jos, Costa RicaCasa Murray Music, Heredia, Costa RicaSportiva , Costa RicaNat, Costa Rica The following statistics helped Carazo Arquitectura achieve 4th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 5 3. A-01 (A Company / A Foundation) A-01 (A Company / A Foundation)A-01 is an interdisciplinary network organization. In a globally urbanizing society, we work at the borderline of city and countryside or help identifying new synergies between the urban and the rural domain. Our participatory design methodologies are developed to co-create integrally sustainable solutions for urban and rural development.We intend to break the boundaries of a single professional perspective in order to allow for a holistic approach that shapes our products. We envision a long-term impact that involves economic growth, a high quality spatial surrounding, a responsible use of natural resources and an equal social development. This complex set of factors is simply referred to as the 4E of integral sustainability: Economy, Engineering, Environment and Equity.Some of A-01 (A Company / A Foundation)s most prominent projects include:No Footprint House (NFH), Ojochal, Costa RicaBlack House (Casa Negra), Dominicalito, Costa Rica The following statistics helped A-01 (A Company / A Foundation) achieve 3rd place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 2 2. Salagnac Arquitectos Salagnac ArquitectosFor Salagnac Architects, Contemporary Tropical Architecture promotes the maximum integration of the building and the environment, in order to diminish the impact it causes on nature. In this type of architecture, human comfort can be accomplished by means of efficient energy consumption systems, bioclimatic design strategies and advanced technology. This innovative architecture integrates, in a creative way, the environment, technology and aesthetics.Some of Salagnac Arquitectos most prominent projects include:Loma Sagrada House, Nosara, Costa RicaWaldorf School Casa de las Estrellas, Nosara, Costa RicaDesign Studio Salagnac Arquitectos, Nosara, Costa RicaCasa Mangos, Nosara, Costa RicaPerla Negra House, Puerto Carrillo, Costa Rica The following statistics helped Salagnac Arquitectos achieve 2nd place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 4 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 9 1. Studio Saxe Studio SaxeBenjamin Garcia Saxe set up his own practice in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2004, with the aim of exploring our relationship with the natural environment through architecture. Since then, Studio Saxe has grown into an award-winning international practice made up of a multidisciplinary team, creating buildings and spaces by blending technological innovation with handcrafted techniques to form truly sustainable designs. Founded on the belief that buildings must connect to their landscape whether a tropical paradise or a concrete jungle Studio Saxe brings a global attitude to solve local problems. Ideas and techniques from around the world can be harnessed to benefit communities, both at home and abroad.Some of Studio Saxes most prominent projects include:Santiago Hills Villa, Santiago, Costa RicaSirena House, Santa Teresa Beach, Costa RicaContainers of HopeA Forest For a Moon DazzlerOcean Eye, Santa Teresa Beach, Costa RicaFeatured image: Sinfona Verde, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica The following statistics helped Studio Saxe achieve 1st place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Costa Rica: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 16 Total Projects 26 Why Should I Trust Architizers Ranking?With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the worlds largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the worlds best architecture each year.Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlightedA Guide to Project AwardsThe blue + badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizers Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a projects likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:Project completed within the last 3 yearsA well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphsArchitectural designwith a high level of both functional and aesthetic valueHigh quality, in focus photographsAt least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the buildingInclusion of architectural drawings and renderingsInclusion of construction photographsThere are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizers Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.Were constantly look for the worlds best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please dont hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.The post 10 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Costa Rica appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Maximalism in architecture embraces expressive forms, ornamentation, and a rich diversity of materials, colors, and textures. In this approach, excess is perceived as a positive quality in contrast to minimalisms less is more philosophy that prioritizes simplicity and clean lines. While minimalism prioritizes functionality, clean lines, and restrained ornamentation, maximalism thrives on visual richness, eclectic compositions, extravagant decoration, and unconventional material combinations.At its core, maximalism follows a more is more philosophy, rejecting the idea that simplicity is a synonym for sophistication. This design approach can manifest through highly decorated faades and bold, theatrical interiors filled with art, ornate furniture, and intricate details. Maximalism is a popular style in contemporary architecture, specifically in the digital age, when AI-driven design and parametric tools allow for intricate, complex structures.Characteristics of Maximalism in ArchitectureLIN restaurant by COLLIDANIELARCHITETTO. Rome, Italy. | Photo by Matteo PiazzaWhat are the key elements of maximalist interiors and faades?Maximalist interiors and faades embrace bold expression, rich ornamentation, and layered complexity. Maximalist interiors feature vibrant colors, layered textures, and intricate patterns, creating visually bold and colorful interiors. Eclectic furnishings, statement lighting, ornate decor, and art enhance depth and personality. Luxurious and varied materials create depth and sensory richness. Textures add contrast, while vibrant, saturated colors amplify visual impact. Maximalist faades prioritize bold material contrasts and dramatic forms. Sculptural elements, expressive ornamentation, and amplified proportions create striking building envelopes. These designs often incorporate historical influences that blend with contemporary aesthetics.How do materiality, color, and ornamentation influence maximalist design?Materiality, color, and decoration are essential to maximalist design, shaping its bold yet curated aesthetic. Opulent materials like velvet, marble, intricate craftsmanship, and gold accents produce a sense of grandeur, often drawing inspiration from historical styles like Baroque or Rococo. Maximalism is not afraid of too much; rather, it pushes boundaries with daring combinations that enhance the dynamic and expressive nature of an interior or building envelope. Elaborate moldings, intricate tilework, decorative motifs, and sculptural elements add layers of detail for a unique look.History of MaximalismCatherines Palace in Pushkin, Russia. | Photo by Buster&Bubby via Flickr.How did the Baroque and Rococo periods influence maximalism?The Baroque and Rococo periods significantly influenced maximalism by establishing a design language characterized by theatricality and ornamentation. Baroque architecture emphasized dramatic spatial compositions, bold contrasts, and intricate detailing, using rich materials, gilded surfaces and elaborate frescoes to evoke a sense of power and movement. Rococo emerged as a lighter, more playful evolution of Baroque. It introduced asymmetry, pastel colors and delicate ornamentation, favoring intricate stucco work, curved forms and whimsical motifs. Both styles inspired maximalisms embrace of opulence, layered textures and an expressive aesthetic.Did postmodernism bring about the resurgence of maximalism?Postmodernism played a key role in the resurgence of maximalism by rejecting the strict minimalism and functionalist principles of modernism. Postmodern architecture, which emerged in the late 20th century, embraced eclecticism, bold ornamentation and historical references, often mixing styles, colors and materials in playful and unconventional ways. Architects like Michael Graves, Robert Venturiand Ricardo Bofill are significant figures of the postmodernist movement. They reintroduced decorative elements, symbolism and a sense of irony, aligning with maximalisms celebration of complexity and visual richness. This revival of expressive design paved the way for contemporary maximalism, which continues to embrace layered aesthetics, diverse influences, and an unrestrained approach to form and materiality.Case Studies and Example of Maximalist BuildingsBankers Hall Towers by Dialog (formerly Cohos Evamy). Calgary, Alberta, Canada. | Photo by Bernard Spragg via Wikimedia Commons.Which designers and architects are known for maximalist buildings?David Rockwell: Known for theatrical and richly detailed interiors, particularly in hospitality design.Marcel Wanders: His work, particularly with Moooi, blends luxury with theatrical design, making him a key figure in the movement.Studio Job: An interior design studio known for its creative and vibrant spaces that merge art, design, and maximalist themes.India Mahdavi: Famous for creating immersive, colorful, and highly ornamental interiors.Additionally, works by architects Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel, and Frank Gehry exhibit some maximalist qualities, especially through dynamic forms, expressive materiality, and bold spatial compositions. However, their unique architectural approaches dont strictly adhere to the principles of maximalism.Waldspirale by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany. | Photo by Kiefer via FlickrWhat are famous examples of maximalist buildings?Maximalism is more commonly expressed in interior design, while examples of it in architecture are rare. When we think of maximalism, we envision an explosion of color, texture and abundant ornamentation. However, contemporary architecture often leans toward other stylistic approaches, such as deconstructivism or parametric design, emphasizing complexity and fluidity rather than a bold expression of decoration and color. While few buildings strictly adhere to maximalist principles, certain architectural works exhibit maximalist qualities, such as dynamic forms, expressive materiality, and highly intricate detailing. With this in mind, several contemporary buildings stand out for their bold forms and expressive materiality, creating a visual richness that aligns with maximalist aesthetics.Guggenheim Museum Bilbao by Frank Gehry, Bilbao, SpainMorpheus Hotel by Zaha Hadid Architects, Macau, ChinaLearning Hub (The Hive) at NTU by Heatherwick Studio, SingaporeKunsthaus Graz by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, Graz, AustriaWaldspirale by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Darmstadt, GermanyThe Future of MaximalismVisualization by Emmanuel Touraine, 3D Printing of Generic Home Collection by Emmanuel Touraine for Ventury Gallery,CC BY-SA 4.0Why is maximalism making a comeback in design today?Maximalism is making a comeback in design today at various levels. It is a loud response to years of minimalism and a growing desire for visual richness. Material technology and digital fabrication advances enable designers to push boundaries with complex compositions and detailing. Maximalism also resonates with sustainability, often embracing vintage and repurposed furniture and materials. Additionally, bold and expressive interiors appear to align with the era of digital culture and social media.How does maximalism intersect with digital fabrication and AI-driven design?Maximalism intersects with digital fabrication and AI-driven design by utilizing advanced technologies to create complex forms that are difficult or even impossible to achieve using traditional methods. For instance, 3D printing and CNC machining allow for elaborate textures and complex geometries, highlighting maximalisms focus on visual and material richness. AI design tools facilitate rapid iteration and data-informed aesthetics, increasing customization possibilities.Nanjing Vertical Forest by Stefano Boeri Architetti. Nanjing, China. Visualization by Stefano Boeri Architetti.Can sustainability and maximalism coexist in architecture?Sustainability and maximalism can coexist in architecture, promoting environmental responsibility while highlighting maximalisms opulence. However, it requires a thoughtful approach. Architects and designers can implement sustainable features to minimize waste and optimize energy use while seeking expressive aesthetics, including material richness and bold ornamentation. For instance, biophilic design elements, such as green walls, can enhance maximalist spaces without excessive resource consumption. Additionally, AI-driven optimization and parametric design allow for material efficiency and structural performance without compromising maximalisms characteristic vibrancy.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Top image: Motta Milano 1928 by COLLIDANIELARCHITETTO, ItalyThe post Architecture 101: What is Maximalism in Architecture? appeared first on Journal.

The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.Its safe to say that the days when architects relied solely on hand-drawn plans and traditional tools to bring their visions to life are long gone. Nowadays, they use a mix of advanced techniques, from parametric modeling to robotic fabrication. One of these tools is CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology a method that cuts, mills and carves materials with machine-guided precision. This allows architects to shape wood, metal, and even concrete with incredible accuracy, making intricate designs faster and more efficient to build.While CNC is commonly used behind the scenes for cabinetry, structural elements or standardized components, some projects take it a step further, making the technology integral to the design and construction process. Whether carving out wooden lattices, constructing gravity-defying pavilions, or repurposing recycled materials, CNC technology can help turn complex ideas into reality. And for these eight projects, thats precisely what it does.The Learning Architecture for LearnersBy VUILD, Koganei, Japan This incubation center brings together industry, government and academia under a structure shaped by CNC precision. Using 5-axis CNC milling, three-dimensionally curved wood beams and panels were cut to serve as both concrete formwork and the final structural surface. Instead of being discarded, the wooden molds remain in place, giving the building its distinctive character. The shells depth is formed by a zigzag cross-section, with layers slightly offset to add strength. Every component was pre-cut in VUILDs own factory, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. The result is a lightweight yet resilient structure that demonstrates how digital fabrication can minimize waste while pushing the possibilities of timber construction.Pavilion of Floating LightsBy JK-AR, Jinju-si, South Korea The Pavilion of Floating Lights reinterprets East Asian timber architecture through CNC precision and augmented reality. Inspired by the historic -ru pavilions, the structure features six tree-like columns that echo the wooden brackets of Chokseok-ru, a landmark built in 1365. Traditional carpentry techniques are revived without nails or adhesives, using CNC-milled plywood components assembled on-site with AR guidance. This approach increases construction efficiency while honoring heritage craftsmanship. Positioned along the Namgang River, the pavilion offers an open civic space for public gatherings, particularly during the Floating Lights Festival. Its delicate framework, combined with glass walls, creates a sense of openness, reconnecting visitors with the citys natural and historical landscape.Learning from TreesBy Andrew Barre Lab, Venice, Italy Learning from Trees is a lightweight timber installation designed for the Italian Pavilion at the 2021 Venice Biennale. Built from 1.2 kilometers of CNC-milled timber, the structure forms a delicate lattice that appears woven but is precisely engineered for rapid assembly. Each timber piece was cut using a specialized CNC process that minimizes waste and eliminates the need for complex steel joints. The system relies on diamond-shaped profiles and hidden symmetries to simplify connections while maintaining structural strength. Originally part of a now-demolished state house, the reclaimed timber finds new life in this modular, low-carbon design. After the Biennale, the structure was disassembled without adhesives and is being permanently reinstalled in Italy, proving that precision fabrication can support both sustainability and reuse.National Museum of Qatar Gift ShopsBy KOICHI TAKADA ARCHITECTS, QatarJury Winner, Retail, 8th Annual A+Awards Inspired by the glowing gypsum crystals of Dahl Al Misfir, the National Museum of Qatar Gift Shops turn wood into an immersive sculptural experience. The design consists of 40,000 CNC-cut European oak pieces, each uniquely shaped to fit only in its precise location. Cut in Italy and assembled by hand in Qatar, the pieces were encoded with visual markers to guide their placementlike a massive three-dimensional puzzle. Without visible fixings, the structure forms a flowing, organic space that echoes the museums desert rose-inspired architecture. CNC technology allowed for extreme precision, transforming a complex concept into a tangible, functional interior that feels both intricate and natural.IWIBy IWI Studio, Quito, Ecuador IWI is a modular living space built with CNC-milled wood for precision, easy assembly and mass production. Designed to expand and contract, it shifts between a compact storage unit and a fully functional workspace, studio or relaxation area. The structure consists of two modules connected by a folding mechanism, allowing users to modify the space as needed. The back module acts as a built-in storage system with tables, chairs, shelves and essential utilities like lighting and water connections. The front module slides open, extending the accordion-like frame and fabric enclosure. CNC milling ensures every piece fits with accuracy, creating a flexible, efficient design that transforms spaces without wasting them.Sauna in TeshikagaBy VUILD, Teshikaga, Japan This tower-shaped sauna rethinks traditional bathhouse design through digital precision and advanced fabrication. Using a 5-axis CNC machine, solid cypress blocks were cut into free-form curves that shape both the interior and exterior. Each wooden piece is unique, designed to interlock with three-dimensional grooves that hold the structure together without traditional fasteners. Inside, a spiraling layout guides visitors through a gradual temperature shift, with warmth increasing as they ascend. Seating blocks double as structural supports, maximizing vertical space. Adjustable airflow and indirect lighting contribute to a controlled thermal experience. By merging CNC technology with ancient sauna principles, this project turns a simple ritual into an architectural journey of heat, light and form.CavilionBy Dahi Studio, Tehran, Iran Cavilion is a bending-active pavilion built through CNC precision and computational design. Created as part of the DigiPy workshop, the project introduced students to digital fabrication, guiding them from concept to full-scale assembly. Using a 3-axis CNC machine, plywood components were cut with exacting accuracy, each piece uniquely shaped to fit into the pavilions flowing structure. Instead of relying on rigid frameworks, the design harnesses elastic deformation, allowing flat plywood strips to form a double-curved surface when assembled. Every part was labeled for easy construction, reducing complexity despite the intricate geometry. Built in just three days at the University of Tehran, Cavilion demonstrates how digital tools can streamline fabrication while embracing adaptability, efficiency and structural innovation.Ashen CabinBy HANNAH, Ashen Cabin Ashen Cabin pushes digital fabrication to its limits, combining 3D-printed concrete with robotically milled wood to create a small but experimental structure. Its concrete foundation and walls are printed using a custom-built large-scale printer, forming corbeled surfaces that define key areas like seating, storage and a towering fireplace. The upper envelope, made from irregular ash logs, is cut with robotic precision to fit together despite their natural inconsistencies. This process turns wood once deemed waste infested by the Emerald Ash Borer into a durable and striking cladding system. By merging 3D scanning, CNC machining and robotic milling, Ashen Cabin rethinks traditional construction, proving that overlooked materials and cutting-edge technology can shape innovative architecture.The countdown to 13th Annual A+Awards winners' announcement has begun! Stay updated by subscribing to Architizer's Awards Newsletter.The post Cutting-Edge Craft: 8 Times CNC Technology Redefined Modern Wooden Architecture appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Tiny living is the new hot trend in the real estate market. Even though it started primarily as a necessity due to the imminent rise of residential prices, living within a smaller footprint has become a rather popular choice, especially for younger generations. Lower expenses and maintenance costs along with current movements such as minimalism and essentialism have contributed to the growing appeal of tiny living, encouraging people to embrace a simpler, more intentional lifestyle, whilst presenting a profound challenge for architects.In tiny homes, every inch counts and these projects offer an insight in tackling such challenges. By creating open-plan spaces, both horizontally as well as vertically, is key in establishing visual connections within a limited space, making it appear airy and uncluttered. In the case of single-story, small-scale housing however, creating a change in level adds variety and separation in-between functions without the need for solid dividers and walls. This design approach in addition to placing openings strategically along the buildings faade, also offers an abundance of natural light, despite the narrow footprint. Finally, by doubling functions throughout the space i.e., designing a roof that also acts as a deck maximizes the spaces efficiency, where every element serves multiple purposes in a compact living environment.The following six projects, situated both within urban settings and the countryside, showcase different strategies in tackling a constrained footprint.TINYLEAFBy GOC, Mazama, Washington The site for this small cabin lies in the heart of the Methow Valley, whose context and climate were key to the projects design. The cabin serves as an outpost, realised prior to any other (larger) building, allowing the client to occupy the site much sooner. The design is essentially a 15x22 rectangle, slotted in the hillside with the south faade featuring large, glazed sliding doors that invite in the landscape. The interior is comprised of a single room that includes a kitchen, a living room and a bed, while the flat roof doubles as a deck for the summer months and holds the snow during winter for improved thermal mass.Tiny HomeBy Ev.design.office, Deylaman, Iran The project is located within a forest close to the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Following a series of economic constraints, the design aim was to create a small home that offered a functional space for weekend escapes while becoming integrated within the landscape. Consequently, local wood and metal were used to prop the house off the ground, taking advantage of the breathtaking views. In parallel, the interior is comprised of a linear, condensed layout that leads to a spacious balcony, while the overall building construction considered the humid climate of the region, opting for a low-energy consumption design.Tsubomi House (Tokyo Bud House)By FLAT HOUSE, Tokyo, Japan Tsubomy House has a total footprint of 280 square feet and even includes a biscuit shop on the basement. The house is divided into seven split levels without partitions, all connected by a staircase that acts as the central core. Even though each individual level is small with barely enough room to place essential furniture, this open-plan vertical layout allows each room to feel spacious and interconnected. Additionally, the design accelerates the circulation and movement within the space and encourages impromptu social interactions.House in TamatsuBy Ido, Kenji Architectural Studio, Osaka, Japan The house is designed for four family members and is situated on a small 470 square feet plot. The surrounding urban context is made of small houses, factories and office buildings, thus forming narrow empty spaces fit for construction with limited natural light. Consequently, light and an open-plan layout were key factors to consider during the design process, with custom-designed openings in strategic orientation becoming the protagonists of the structure.Little One-Room HouseBy Studio Velocity, Nagoya, Japan The house / shop is situated on a small elongated 440 square feet plot, amongst an array of two-storey residences. In order to respond to the challenging space, Studio Velocity designed a curved structure that stood out from the road and created residual exterior spaces, such as a garden, a dining and a parking area. In parallel, the more public functions such as the entrance and the reception were positioned in the narrow end of the plan, while the more private and concealed were situated at the back of the site. The shape and open-plan organization aimed at allowing the inhabitants to have uninterrupted views and circulation of the space in order to counter for its small footprint.Niki-KBy SEISHO TAKASHI ARCHITECTS STUDIO, Hokkaido, Japan The house is for a young couple who run a vineyard and winery in Hokkaido. The interior is a continuous, open-plan space, subtly divided into functional areas through a change in level, to allow flow and movement. In parallel, the overall building volume is propped upon concrete blocks, giving the illusion that it is floating, while its exterior is clad with Corten steel for a more lightweight structure. This particular material gradually deteriorates over time, offering an interesting interplay in texture.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Featured Image: Niki-K by EISHO TAKASHI ARCHITECTS STUDIO, Hokkaido, JapanThe post From City Streets to Countryside Retreats: 6 Tiny Homes with Big Ambitions appeared first on Journal.