html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" 19 shortlisted projects for the 2025 Award cycle were revealed by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA). A portion of the $1 million prize, one of the biggest in architecture, will be awarded to the winning proposals. Out of the 369 projects nominated for the 16th Award Cycle (2023-2025), an independent Master Jury chose the 19 shortlisted projects from 15 countries.The nine members of the Master Jury for the 16th Award cycle include Azra Akšamija, Noura Al-Sayeh Holtrop, Lucia Allais, David Basulto, Yvonne Farrell, Kabage Karanja, Yacouba Konaté, Hassan Radoine, and Mun Summ Wong.His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV created the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1977 to recognize and promote architectural ideas that effectively meet the needs and goals of communities where Muslims are a major population. Nearly 10,000 construction projects have been documented since the award's inception 48 years ago, and 128 projects have been granted it. The AKAA's selection method places a strong emphasis on architecture that stimulates and responds to people's cultural ambitions in addition to meeting their physical, social, and economic demands.The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is governed by a Steering Committee chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan. The other members of the Steering Committee are Meisa Batayneh, Principal Architect, Founder, maisam architects and engineers, Amman, Jordan; Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Professor of Philosophy and Francophone Studies, Columbia University, New York, United States of America; Lesley Lokko, Founder & Director, African Futures Institute, Accra, Ghana; Gülru Necipoğlu, Director and Professor, Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States of America; Hashim Sarkis, Founder & Principal, Hashim Sarkis Studios (HSS); Dean, School of Architecture and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States of America; and Sarah M. Whiting, Partner, WW Architecture; Dean and Josep Lluís Sert Professor of Architecture, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States of America. Farrokh Derakhshani is the Director of the Award.Examples of outstanding architecture in the areas of modern design, social housing, community development and enhancement, historic preservation, reuse and area conservation, landscape design, and environmental enhancement are recognized by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.Building plans that creatively utilize local resources and relevant technologies, as well as initiatives that could spur such initiatives abroad, are given special consideration. It should be mentioned that in addition to honoring architects, the Award also recognizes towns, builders, clients, master craftspeople, and engineers who have contributed significantly to the project.Projects had to be completed between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023, and they had to have been operational for a minimum of one year in order to be eligible for consideration in the 2025 Award cycle. The Award is not available for projects that His Highness the Aga Khan or any of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) institutions have commissioned.See the 19 shortlisted projects with their short project descriptions competing for the 2025 Award Cycle:Khudi Bari. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / City Syntax (F. M. Faruque Abdullah Shawon, H. M. Fozla Rabby Apurbo)BangladeshKhudi Bari, in various locations, by Marina Tabassum ArchitectsMarina Tabassum Architects' Khudi Bari, which can be readily disassembled and reassembled to suit the needs of the users, is a replicable solution for displaced communities impacted by geographic and climatic changes.West Wusutu Village Community Centre. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Dou Yujun (photographer)ChinaWest Wusutu Village Community Centre, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, by Zhang PengjuIn addition to meeting the religious demands of the local Hui Muslims, Zhang Pengju's West Wusutu Village Community Centre in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, offers social and cultural spaces for locals and artists. Constructed from recycled bricks, it features multipurpose indoor and outdoor areas that promote communal harmony.Revitalisation of Historic Esna. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Ahmed Salem (photographer)EgyptRevitalisation of Historic Esna, by Takween Integrated Community DevelopmentBy using physical interventions, socioeconomic projects, and creative urban planning techniques, Takween Integrated Community Development's Revitalization of Historic Esna tackles the issues of cultural tourism in Upper Egypt and turns the once-forgotten area around the Temple of Khnum into a thriving historic city.The Arc at Green School. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Andreas Perbowo Widityawan (photographer)IndonesiaThe Arc at Green School, in Bali, by IBUKU / Elora HardyAfter 15 years of bamboo experimenting at the Green School Bali, IBUKU/Elora Hardy created The Arc at Green School. The Arc is a brand-new community wellness facility built on the foundations of a temporary gym. High-precision engineering and regional handicraft are combined in this construction.Islamic Centre Nurul Yaqin Mosque. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Andreas Perbowo Widityawan (photographer)IndonesiaIslamic Centre Nurul Yaqin Mosque, in Palu, Central Sulawesi, by Dave Orlando and Fandy GunawanDave Orlando and Fandy Gunawan built the Islamic Center Nurul Yaqin Mosque in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on the location of a previous mosque that was damaged by a 2018 tsunami. There is a place for worship and assembly at the new Islamic Center. Surrounded by a shallow reflecting pool that may be drained to make room for more guests, it is open to the countryside.Microlibrary Warak Kayu. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Andreas Perbowo Widityawan (photographer)IndonesiaMicrolibraries in various cities, by SHAU / Daliana Suryawinata, Florian HeinzelmannFlorian Heinzelmann, the project's initiator, works with stakeholders at all levels to provide high-quality public spaces in a number of Indonesian parks and kampungs through microlibraries in different towns run by SHAU/Daliana Suryawinata. So far, six have been constructed, and by 2045, 100 are planned.Majara Residence. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Deed Studio (photographer)IranMajara Complex and Community Redevelopment, in Hormuz Island by ZAV Architects / Mohamadreza GhodousiThe Majara Complex and Community Redevelopment on Hormuz Island, designed by ZAV Architects and Mohamadreza Ghodousi, is well-known for its vibrant domes that offer eco-friendly lodging for visitors visiting Hormuz's distinctive scenery. In addition to providing new amenities for the islanders who visit to socialize, pray, or utilize the library, it was constructed by highly trained local laborers.Jahad Metro Plaza. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Deed Studio (photographer)IranJahad Metro Plaza in Tehran, by KA Architecture StudioKA Architecture Studio's Jahad Metro Plaza in Tehran was constructed to replace the dilapidated old buildings. It turned the location into a beloved pedestrian-friendly landmark. The arched vaults, which are covered in locally manufactured brick, vary in height to let air and light into the area they are protecting.Khan Jaljulia Restoration. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Mikaela Burstow (photographer)IsraelKhan Jaljulia Restoration in Jaljulia by Elias KhuriElias Khuri's Khan Jaljulia Restoration is a cost-effective intervention set amidst the remnants of a 14th-century Khan in Jaljulia. By converting the abandoned historical location into a bustling public area for social gatherings, it helps the locals rediscover their cultural history.Campus Startup Lions. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Christopher Wilton-Steer (photographer)KenyaCampus Startup Lions, in Turkana by Kéré ArchitectsKéré Architecture's Campus Startup Lions in Turkana is an educational and entrepreneurial center that offers a venue for community involvement, business incubation, and technology-driven education. The design incorporates solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and tall ventilation towers that resemble the nearby termite mounds, and it was constructed using local volcanic stone.Lalla Yeddouna Square. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Amine Houari (photographer)MoroccoRevitalisation of Lalla Yeddouna Square in the medina of Fez, by Mossessian Architecture and Yassir Khalil StudioMossessian Architecture and Yassir Khalil Studio's revitalization of Lalla Yeddouna Square in the Fez medina aims to improve pedestrian circulation and reestablish a connection to the waterfront. For the benefit of locals, craftspeople, and tourists from around the globe, existing buildings were maintained and new areas created.Vision Pakistan. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Usman Saqib Zuberi (photographer)PakistanVision Pakistan, in Islamabad by DB Studios / Mohammad Saifullah SiddiquiA tailoring training center run by Vision Pakistan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underprivileged adolescents, is located in Islamabad by DB Studios/Mohammad Saifullah Siddiqui. Situated in a crowded neighborhood, this multi-story building features flashy jaalis influenced by Arab and Pakistani crafts, echoing the city's 1960s design.Denso Hall Rahguzar Project. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Usman Saqib Zuberi (photographer)PakistanDenso Hall Rahguzar Project, in Karachi by Heritage Foundation Pakistan / Yasmeen LariThe Heritage Foundation of Pakistan/Yasmeen Lari's Denso Hall Rahguzar Project in Karachi is a heritage-led eco-urban enclave that was built with low-carbon materials in response to the city's severe climate, which is prone to heat waves and floods. The freshly planted "forests" are irrigated by the handcrafted terracotta cobbles, which absorb rainfall and cool and purify the air.Wonder Cabinet. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Mikaela Burstow (photographer)PalestineWonder Cabinet, in Bethlehem by AAU AnastasThe architects at AAU Anastas established Wonder Cabinet, a multifunctional, nonprofit exhibition and production venue in Bethlehem. The three-story concrete building was constructed with the help of regional contractors and artisans, and it is quickly emerging as a major center for learning, design, craft, and innovation.The Ned. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)QatarThe Ned Hotel, in Doha by David Chipperfield ArchitectsThe Ministry of Interior was housed in the Ned Hotel in Doha, which was designed by David Chipperfield Architects. Its Middle Eastern brutalist building was meticulously transformed into a 90-room boutique hotel, thereby promoting architectural revitalization in the region.Shamalat Cultural Centre. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Hassan Al Shatti (photographer)Saudi ArabiaShamalat Cultural Centre, in Riyadh, by Syn Architects / Sara Alissa, Nojoud AlsudairiOn the outskirts of Diriyah, the Shamalat Cultural Centre in Riyadh was created by Syn Architects/Sara Alissa, Nojoud Alsudairi. It was created from an old mud home that artist Maha Malluh had renovated. The center, which aims to incorporate historic places into daily life, provides a sensitive viewpoint on heritage conservation in the area by contrasting the old and the contemporary.Rehabilitation and Extension of Dakar Railway Station. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Sylvain Cherkaoui (photographer)SenegalRehabilitation and Extension of Dakar Railway Station, in Dakar by Ga2DIn order to accommodate the passengers of a new express train line, Ga2D extended and renovated Dakar train Station, which purposefully contrasts the old and modern buildings. The forecourt was once again open to pedestrian traffic after vehicular traffic was limited to the rear of the property.Rami Library. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden (photographer)TürkiyeRami Library, by Han Tümertekin Design & ConsultancyThe largest library in Istanbul is the Rami Library, designed by Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy. It occupied the former Rami Barracks, a sizable, single-story building with enormous volumes that was constructed in the eighteenth century. In order to accommodate new library operations while maintaining the structure's original spatial features, a minimal intervention method was used.Morocco Pavilion Expo Dubai 2020. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Deed Studio (photographer)United Arab EmiratesMorocco Pavilion Expo Dubai 2020, by Oualalou + ChoiOualalou + Choi's Morocco Pavilion Expo Dubai 2020 is intended to last beyond Expo 2020 and be transformed into a cultural center. The pavilion is a trailblazer in the development of large-scale rammed earth building techniques. Its use of passive cooling techniques, which minimize the need for mechanical air conditioning, earned it the gold LEED accreditation.At each project location, independent professionals such as architects, conservation specialists, planners, and structural engineers have conducted thorough evaluations of the nominated projects. This summer, the Master Jury convenes once more to analyze the on-site evaluations and choose the ultimate Award winners.The top image in the article: The Arc at Green School. Image © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Andreas Perbowo Widityawan (photographer).> via Aga Khan Award for Architecture

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has created the Blue Ocean Dome (BOD) for the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, addressing the urgent issue of marine plastic pollution and raising crucial awareness about it.Named Blue Ocean Dome, the pavilion stands out with its innovative design, comprising three distinct dome types: Dome A, Dome B, and Dome C. Each dome is specifically crafted to host captivating installations and dynamic exhibitions, promising an unforgettable experience for all visitors throughout the event. Image © Taiki FukaoThe project was commissioned by the Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI), a global network of creative minds, seeking solutions to the ever increasing problems of the world.Rather than outright rejecting plastic, the pavilion inspires deep reflection on how we use and manage materials, highlighting our critical responsibility to make sustainable choices for the future.The BOD merges traditional and modern materials—like bamboo, paper, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)—to unlock new and innovative architectural possibilities.Dome A, serving as the striking entrance, is expertly crafted from laminated bamboo. This innovative design not only showcases the beauty of bamboo but also tackles the pressing issue of abandoned bamboo groves in Japan, which pose a risk to land stability due to their shallow root systems.Utilizing raw bamboo for structural purposes is often difficult; however, through advanced processing, it is transformed into thin, laminated boards that boast strength even greater than that of conventional wood. These boards have been skillfully fashioned into a remarkable 19-meter dome, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese bamboo hats. This project brilliantly turns an environmental challenge into a sustainable architectural solution, highlighting the potential of bamboo as a valuable resource.Dome B stands as the central and largest structure of its kind, boasting a remarkable diameter of 42 meters. It is primarily constructed from Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), a cutting-edge material revered for its extraordinary strength-to-weight ratio—four times stronger than steel yet only one-fifth the weight. While CFRP is predominantly seen in industries such as aerospace and automotive due to its high cost, its application in architecture is pioneering.In this project, the choice of CFRP was not just advantageous; it was essential. The primary goal was to minimize the foundation weight on the reclaimed land of the Expo site, making sustainability a top priority. To mitigate the environmental consequences of deep foundation piles, the structure had to be lighter than the soil excavated for its foundation. CFRP not only met this stringent requirement but also ensured the dome's structural integrity, showcasing a perfect marriage of innovation and environmental responsibility.Dome C, with its impressive 19-meter diameter, is crafted entirely from paper tubes that are 100% recyclable after use. Its innovative design features a three-dimensional truss structure, connected by elegant wooden spheres, evoking the beauty of molecular structures.To champion sustainability and minimize waste following the six-month Expo, the entire BOD pavilion has been meticulously designed for effortless disassembly and relocation. It is anchored by a robust steel foundation system and boasts a modular design that allows it to be conveniently packed into standard shipping containers. After the Expo concludes, this remarkable pavilion will be transported to the Maldives, where it will be transformed into a stunning resort facility, breathing new life into its design and purpose.Recently, Shigeru Ban's Paper Log House was revealed at Philip Johnson's Glass House Venue. In addition, Ban installed his Paper Partition Shelters (PPS) for the victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake in Mersin and Hatay provinces of Turkey.All images © Hiroyuki Hirai unless otherwise stated.> via Shigeru Ban Architects 

Submitted by WA Contents JSWD extends 1960s town hall with interlocking structures and perforated façade in Germany Germany Architecture News - Jun 12, 2025 - 04:18   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Cologne-based architecture firm JSWD has extended a 1960s town hall with interlocking structures and perforated brick façade in Brühl, Germany.Called Brühl City Hall and Library, the 5,200-square-metre project includes a new construction of the library and refurbishment of the old City Hall.New entrance at the pedestrian zone. Image © Taufik KenanJSWD won the first prize in a competition to built this project in 2017. The competition's goals were to design a proposal for the nearby Janshof Square and to propose an addition to the current town hall. An expansion constructed in the 1960s had to be replaced as part of the renovation.Staggered gables of the new library with partially perforated brickwork. Image © Christa LachenmaierConnecting the new structure to the historic town hall and then refurbishing it in accordance with heritage regulations presented a unique task. The end product is an easily accessible, energy-efficient town hall that satisfies the most recent regulations. It is made to allow for flexible use and to connect different building functions to create synergies.Aerial photo with Brühl Castle in the backygroundAerial photo with Brühl Castle in the backyground. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDAbove the civil registry offices (Bürgeramt and Standesamt) are the municipal authorities' offices. The new building has the municipal library on all floors, including a children's library in the basement that leads to a reading courtyard. The town hall is easy to find thanks to its clear signage. The pedestrian area and the now mostly car-free Janshof are also accessible from the new foyer. From here, the roads of tourists and pedestrians that enter the old structure through Markt meet.Aerial view: staggered gables of the new library in the middle of the town. Image © Schmitz.Reichard GmbHThe new structure in Brühl's old city center experiments with the concept of various urban areas and proportions. The front structure creates a cubature that is both distinctive and typical of the area by referencing the shape of the historic town hall. The brickwork is somewhat perforated to filter light entering the underneath windows, and the three interlocking structures are placed with their gables facing the nearby street. The new building's cubic impression is reinforced by the use of the same light-colored bricks for the roof and facade.Historical council chamber. Image © Christa LachenmaierThe project's goal is to be as sustainable as feasible. For instance, the company made every effort to preserve the old building's structure. Children's library at the reading courtyard. Image © Christa LachenmaierA combined heat and power plant provides both heat and energy. Concrete component activation ensures reduced energy consumption in addition to triple-glazed windows, abundant natural light, and exterior solar protection.Staircase in the listed city hall. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDLibrary room on the top floor. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDLarge dormer of the library. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDReading area in the dormer window. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDConnection of the new library to the listed town hall. Image © Taufik KenanThe listed city hall of Brühl, restored by JSWD. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDImage © Franco Casaccia / JSWDView of the inner courtyard of the library. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDLibrary dormers and staggered gables with partially perforated brickwork. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWDSite planBasement floor planGround floor planFirst floor planSecond floor planThird floor planDetail drawingFaçade detailProject factsProject name: Brühl City Hall and LibraryProgram: New construction of the Library and Refurbishment of the old City HallLocation: Steinweg 1, 50321 Brühl, GermanyClient: City of BrühlArchitecture: JSWD, 1st prize competition 2017Completion: 2023Structural design: Kempen Krause Ingenieure AachenBuilding service engineering: DEERNSLibrary and interior planning: UKW Innenarchitekten, KrefeldLandscape: RMPSL, BonnSite: 4,800m2GFA: 5,200m2The top image in the article: New library of Brühl, Entrance from the Janshof. Image © Taufik Kenan. All drawings © JSWD.> via JSWD

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" The 2025 Serpentine Pavilion has opened to the public today, on 6 June, in London's Kensington Gardens. Named A Capsule in Time, the pavilion, designed by Bangladeshi architect and educator Marina Tabassum and her firm, Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA), the design discusses the permanent and ephemeral aspects of the commission. The Serpentine Pavilion will be on view in London's Kensington Gardens from June 6th to October 26th, 2025.The pavilion, which runs along the park's north-south axis, has a center court that lines up with Serpentine South's bell tower and an elongated capsule-like shape. The building, which consists of four wooden sculptures with a translucent façade that diffuses and dapples light as it enters the room, was inspired by summer park visitors and arched garden canopies that filter warm daylight through verdant greenery. A kinetic component that allows one of the capsule forms to move, link, and change the Pavilion into a new area is essential to Tabassum's design.Drawing inspiration from the history and architectural heritage of South Asian Shamiyana tents or awnings, Tabassum's design emphasizes the sensory and spiritual possibilities of architecture through scale and the interaction of light and shadow. Made of cloth and held up by bamboo poles, these structures serve a similar dynamic purpose and are frequently set up for outdoor events and festivities. The potential to bring people together through dialogue, networking, live events, and public gatherings is welcomed by Tabassum's Pavilion's openness.In keeping with Dame Zaha Hadid's philosophy of pushing the limits of architecture, Tabassum's Pavilion will commemorate the 25th anniversary of this groundbreaking project.Like many of Tabassum's earlier projects, the Pavilion is built around a semi-mature Ginkgo tree, a climate-resilient tree species that dates back to the early Jurassic Period. It takes into account the threshold between inside and outside, the tactility of material, lightness and darkness, height and volume. The leaves of the Gingko tree will gradually change from green to a brilliant gold-yellow color during the summer and into the fall. The choice of a gingko was motivated by the species' demonstrated climate change resistance and its contribution to Kensington Gardens' varied treescape. After the Pavilion closes in October, the species—which is immune to many modern pests and diseases—will be transplanted in the park.Tabassum elaborates on her idea for the Pavilion to serve as a multipurpose area where guests can congregate and bond via dialogue and information exchange in an age of growing censorship. The books that Tabassum and her colleagues at MTA have put together honor the diversity of Bangladesh, Bengali literature, poetry, ecology, and culture. It is housed on shelves that are integrated into the building and references the Pavilion's afterlife, which is a library that is accessible to everyone and is no longer located on Serpentine's lawn.“The Serpentine Pavilion celebrates the London summer—a time to be outdoors, connecting with friends and family in Kensington Gardens. We want to celebrate the tradition of park-going. "On a sunny day, the play of filtered daylight through the translucent facade draws on the memory of being under a Shamiyana at a Bengali wedding. Built from bamboo and decorated cloth, Shamiyanas convene hundreds of guests on any occasion," said Marina Tabassum, Architect, Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA). The Serpentine Pavilion offers a unique platform under the summer sun to unite as people rich in diversity. How can we transcend our differences and connect as humans?.""The Serpentine Pavilion offers a place where people of diverse backgrounds, ages and cultures can come together under one roof and call for action, facilitating dialogues that expand our boundaries of tolerance and respect," Tabassum added."We are thrilled to be working with Marina and her team on this year's Pavilion. The project, with its tight timescales and unique engineering challenges, is always particularly rewarding for our team of engineers and project managers," said Jon Leach, Director of AECOM. "Celebrating our thirteenth year on the Pavilion, it is fantastic to work with the Serpentine and the entire team once again to bring this year's design to life," Leach added.In 2024, architect, researcher and educator Marina Tabassum was named as the world's most influential architects in the 2024 TIME100 Next List by TIME Magazine. In 20216, Tabassum was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture with Bait Ur Rouf Mosque, Dhaka, Bangladesh.Founded in 2005 after Tabassum's ten-year partnership with URBANA, Marina Tabassum Architects has created environmentally, politically, and socially concerned architectural designs. MTA carries out research on environmental deterioration in Bangladesh, a country particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, in addition to buildings situated in Dhaka, the surrounding areas, and other regions of the country.All images © Iwan Baan, courtesy of Serpentine.> via Serpentine Galleries 

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" The Faculté de l'aménagement at the Université de Montréal is pleased to announce the launch of an international, multidisciplinary and anonymous ideas competition, reserved for students, to create inclusive experiences at the CEPSUM, the Université de Montréal's sports center.With a total of $31,500 in prizes, the competition promotes the idea of invisible accessibility, an experience of the built environment that is of high quality to all, where the design of accessibility is integrated in an indistinguishable manner, and where universal accessibility is envisaged as a global state of the project experience, rather than a dedicated path made up of identifiable and visible solutions.Participants are invited to propose transformative ideas that offer inclusive and equitable experiences for all users. The competition is structured around three typical sports center experiences that are not currently universally accessible:1. The main entrance - Rethinking the entrance and reception of the sports center;2. Carabins stadium - Improve the game-going experience;3. The pool - Creating an inclusive swimming experience.The proposals received over the summer will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury of eight experts. For each of the three experiences, three winning projects will be selected, making a total of nine winners.All proposals will be presented in October 2025 at a conference organized by the Faculté de l'aménagement, bringing together researchers working on accessibility in the built environment."We warmly welcome students from around the world to propose bold, creative ideas that reimagine universal accessibility—not as an add-on, but as an integral, seamless, and uplifting experience for everyone, says Carmela Cucuzzella, Dean of the Faculté de l'aménagement. We are looking for designs that are not only inclusive but also invisible in their accommodation, free of stigma, and full of delight and safety. Think beyond the box—then break it wide open.""A public space that is not accessible to everyone cannot be considered public, says Bechara Helal, Associate Dean of Research and Scientific Life. It is high time to rethink the place of universal accessibility in design disciplines, and that is what this competition aims to do: define innovative ways of designing the built environment so that it can become the setting for quality public experiences for all."About the Faculty of Environmental DesignThe mission of the Faculty of Environmental Design is to train high-calibre professionals and researchers who are qualified to contribute to progress and innovation in design practices. The Faculty is recognized for offering students a rich and stimulating learning environment in a context of intellectual freedom in which students acquire innovative work methods and develop the kind of critical thinking and professional discipline that allow them to become responsible citizens aware of the issues facing them.PrizesAn eight-member multidisciplinary jury will review the proposals. There will be three winning projects given out for each of the three experiences:First place (gold): CAD $6,000.Second place (silver): CAD $3,000.Bronze third place: $1,500.00 CADAdditionally, each winner will get a certificate of merit.Registrations are open until July 1, 2025. Submission deadline is August 05, 2025 02:00 PM. The top image in the article courtesy of The Faculté de l'aménagement. > via University of Montreal - Faculty of Environmental Design

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" The São Paulo International Architecture Biennale is one of the most important venues for the promotion and discussion of Brazilian architectural culture. Its history begins in 1951, when it was part of the São Paulo Art Biennale as the International Architecture Exhibition. There were eleven editions between 1951 and 1971. Under 1973, the first BIAsp under the current format was conducted. Over two million individuals are thought to have attended the 13 biennales since then; certain editions, such as the 12th, had over 300,000 guests.This year, the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennale will take place from September 18 to October 19, 2025, at the Oca Pavilion in Ibirapuera Park, an iconic building designed by Oscar Niemeyer.The curatorial proposal is "Extremes: Architectures for an Overheated Planet", emphasizing the problem of climate extremes. The point of no return challenges us to reconsider how we live on Earth, looking for solutions not just in production studies and scientific discoveries but also in the knowledge of Indigenous villages, quilombos (traditional communities of enslaved people who have escaped), and urban peripheries. By offering tangible solutions to global warming and methods for adjusting to the extreme occurrences we are already seeing, the Biennale will act as a meeting place for various knowledge systems.The 14th BIAsp's curators have identified five thematic axes that will direct the event's talks, ideas, and proposals, drawing inspiration from the IPCC's (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) findings, especially the AR6 report:–Preserving Forests and Reforesting Cities–Embracing Water–Refurbishing More and Building Green–Moving and Reaching Places Together with Renewable Energies–Ensuring Climate Justice and Social HousingSix architects—Renato Anelli, Karina de Souza, Marcos Cereto, Clevio Rabelo, Marcella Arruda, and Jerá Guarani—are part of the collective curatorship for the 14th BIAsp this year. Through their professional activities, they represent many regional contexts throughout Brazil.The top image in the article courtesy of São Paulo International Architecture Biennale.> via São Paulo International Architecture Biennale

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" New York-based architecture practice HWKN Architecture has released plans for the first ground up AI-driven office community in the United Arab Emirates.Called District 11, the new development is envisioned as the world's first office community built from the ground up that is positioned, created, and programmed by artificial intelligence (AI) at a time when society is at a turning point in architecture and technology is changing the design process. The world's first office community created by AIHWKN was chosen by Al Marwan Real Estate Development Group to create District 11, a ground-breaking, AI-powered work and lifestyle complex that aims to transform community and productivity in the United Arab Emirates. As District 11, guided by HWKN's Founding Principal, Matthias Hollwich, is constructed for the future of business and well-being, this creative project, which spans eleven different buildings, effortlessly combines work, leisure, and culture with HWKN's state-of-the-art design, the development's smart services, and flexible spaces. In order to create the AI prompts for the eleven buildings in District 11, HWKN did a great deal of study and immersed themselves in Sharjah's environment, history, and culture. Since there has never been a commercial neighborhood like District 11 in Sharjah, HWKN's hyper-contextual process takes into consideration the community's intense heat and the requirement for productive workspaces. The end product is a forward-thinking work resort that is a walking neighborhood with smart offices, nurseries, medical facilities, and a mosque, as well as distinctively constructed buildings that strategically create shade for the public areas.After launching the Work Resort concept at Canada Water Dockside, HWKN is now creating the first workplace community designed in partnership with AI by leveraging the technology to improve architectural designs and quality of life. For both current and potential renters, HWKN's AI-driven procedure maximizes the worker experience to promote human connection, shared experiences, and physical expression. A simplified route from concept to reality that welcomes innovative ideas, adapts to all environmental conditions, and effectively realizes ambitious ambitions is made possible by a special reverse-engineering method. In order to introduce this new kind of business environment into what was formerly a city that was exclusively residential, HWKN is using AI to create structures that blend in perfectly with Sharjah's identity as an Arab cultural capital and center for the arts, home to renowned museums like the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and the Sharjah Art Museum, as well as hosting the Sharjah Biennial.By embracing new ideas and creating communities that will change with the design business, Matthias is setting the path for the future generation of architects. Matthias, who formerly worked with Rem Koolhas at Eisenman Architects and OMA, provides more than ten years of expertise with creative approaches to the future of architecture and strategic thinking.HWKN also completed the third tower of the iconic Journal Squared Project in New Jersey, realizing a ten-year vision for urban transformation. Based in NYC, HWKN is a global architectural innovation company. The firm, established in 2008, is headed by Matthias Hollwich and partners Jessica Knobloch, Dorin Baul, Robert May, and Olga Snowden. It has collaborating offices in Munich, Miami, Berlin, Riyadh, and London.All renderings courtesy of HWKN.> via HWKN

Submitted by WA Contents Seriema House is shaped around massive, black Portuguese stones for contemplation in Brazil Brazil Architecture News - Jun 03, 2025 - 04:23   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Brazilian architecture practice TETRO Architecture has built a house that is shaped around massive, black Portuguese stones for for reading, contemplation, rest, and sharing moments with friends in Brumadinho - Minas Gerais, Brazil. Named Seriema House, the 350-square-metre house is nestled in a tranquil setting on the outskirts of Belo Horizonte. Seriema House won the WA Awards 50th Cycle in the Architecture/Realised category.To reach it, visitors must traverse a mountain range, marking a transition from the bustling city to a peaceful environment. This journey allows guests to leave behind the urban noise and immerse themselves in nature."The client's requirement was to create a place for pause—a space for reading, contemplation, rest, and sharing moments with friends," said TETRO Architecture. "The client desired an environment that fosters meeting and introspection, where architecture would engage in a dialogue with poetry," the firm added.The location of the house presents two contrasting views. On one side, there is a broad and open view of the mountains; on the other, a dense forest filled with trees. The house is beautifully integrated into this balance of expansive landscape and shaded refuge. Seriemas, local birds known to the region, roam freely around the property and inspired the name of the residence.The conceptual foundation of the project focuses on the harmonious integration of architecture with nature. The house is designed as a transitional space that bridges the vast mountain views with the contemplative atmosphere of the forest. The architecture embodies a sense of poetry through its form, particularly highlighted by a winding wall that both separates and connects different spatial experiences.The main structure of the house is constructed from reinforced concrete, utilizing black Portuguese stones and white stone flooring as the primary materials. A winding wall divides the space and is adorned with the black stones, creating a striking visual and tactile contrast against the white stone floor. This use of natural stone emphasizes the house's connection to the surrounding landscape, showcasing its organic integration with the environment and highlighting its poetic essence.The house is masterfully organized into two distinct zones, elegantly separated by a sweeping, curving wall. On one side lies the welcoming space, a vibrant and open environment bursting with energy. Here, sounds of laughter, music, and movement fill the air, accompanied by breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic mountains. This area encompasses an integrated living room, dining room, and kitchen, all meticulously designed to foster social interaction and encourage deep contemplation of the stunning landscape.Conversely, on the other side resides the retreat—an intimate sanctuary that is serene, shaded, and profoundly introspective. This tranquil space gazes out onto the lush, dense forest, serving as a haven for relaxation and reading, and featuring the exquisite main suite. The thoughtful spatial planning creates a harmonious balance between openness and intimacy, beautifully reflecting the duality of the surrounding nature and the human experience within it.Conceptual floor planTetro is an architecture studio located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and operates on a global scale. It is composed of architects Carlos Maia, Débora Mendes, and Igor Macedo. The firm’s approach to professional practice focuses on a thorough examination of the site’s conditions and the client's needs, striving to create unique and irreplicable solutions for each project.TETRO Architecture previously won the WA Awards 10+5+X with Café House and Casa Açucena in Brazil.Project factsProject name: Seriema HouseArchitects: TETRO ArchitectureLocation: Brumadinho - Minas Gerais, Brazil. Lead architects: Carlos Maia, Debora Mendes, and Igor MacedoContributors: Bruno Bontempo, Bianca Carvalho, Bruna Maciel, Carolina Amaral, Saulo Saraiva, Sabrina FreitasCompletion year: 2024Structure: Cálculo ConcretoHydraulic; Electric: CA engenhariaLighting Design: IluminarConstruction: TechnoAll images © Luisa Lage.Drawing © TETRO Architecture.> via TETRO Architecture

Submitted by WA Contents Three circular volumes create Villa Noon in Sotogrande designed by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos Spain Architecture News - May 30, 2025 - 12:29   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Valencia-based architecture practice Fran Silvestre Arquitectos has revealed design for a house composed of three circular volumes in Sotogrande, Spain.Named Villa Noon, the house is thoughtfully incorporated into a topographically defined setting, utilizing the slope of the ground to open each volume onto a distinct horizon. In order to achieve visual harmony with the natural environment without leaving an unwelcome footprint on the landscape, the house's layout, which is divided into five circular sections, was designed to seamlessly blend with the surroundings.Every one of these pieces has a rear patio that offers protection from the strongest winds and a front terrace that shields from the sun. In addition to optimizing orientation, this circular geometry reduces the volumetric impact, enabling the building to interact with the landscape in a controlled and deliberate manner. The outside materiality gradually integrates into its surroundings because it was constructed from indigenous Sierra Elvira stone, which has white veins and grey tones. This organic texture will eventually blend in as though it were a natural feature of the relief of the ground.A spacious, open vestibule that serves as a threshold between the outside and the inside of the villa is the entryway. It is surrounded by a curved wall. Visitors are introduced to a series of chambers that adjust to the various terrain levels in this transitional area. While the day area unfolds on a lower platform, open to the landscape and directly connected to the outdoors, the night area is located on a higher level, apart from the other functions.The well-being areas, like the gym, are located on the same floor and provide both practical and visual connections to the separate visitor area. Each zone's privacy is protected by this tiered arrangement, which also keeps the composition's overall spatial continuity flexible. By combining geothermal and aerothermal technologies, the house produces an excess of electricity and becomes energy self-sufficient. A mechanism for atmospheric water condensation is also included, which draws moisture from the air for household usage.Techniques including choosing native plant species based on their water requirements, utilizing natural mulch to prevent evaporation, and installing a drip irrigation system that only turns on when required are used to cut down on water usage in the garden. While infiltration trenches, also known as swales, filter and direct rainfall, green roofs enhance insulation and collect rainfall. This system is completed by permeable surfaces and cisterns, which enable the collected water to be stored and used again.By taking these steps, the house also becomes self-sufficient in water, which is a very reasonable objective in this region of Spain, which is the wettest in the nation due to the Sierra de Grazalema."We have always been fascinated by how the Namib Desert beetle collects water: in an extremely arid environment, this insect tilts its body into the wind to condense fog on its shell, whose surface combines areas that attract water and others that repel it, allowing the droplets to slide directly into its mouth," said Fran Silvestre Arquitectos."A natural lesson in efficiency that inspires and reinforces the logic of this system," the firm added.The idea is reminiscent of architectural works like Kazuyo Sejima's Villa in the Forest and Arne Jacobsen's Leo Henriksen House, whose circular shapes and attention to the environment served as inspiration. In contrast to radiocentric solutions, this proposal chooses what we refer to as "the squaring of the circle": service areas are included into irregularly shaped zones, while residential spaces are resolved through an orthogonal floor plan. In the end, we anticipate that this architecture will blend in with its surroundings over time, appearing to be a component of a karstic relief.SketchRoof level planFirst floor planGround floor planBasement floor planSectionRecently, Fran Silvestre Arquitectos unveiled design for a winery with curvacious form adressing winemaking process in Zayas de Báscones, Soria, Spain. In addition, the firm completed a house featuring irregularly shifted volumes on an irregularly shaped plot within Altos de Valderrama, in Sotogrande, Spain.Project factsProject name: Villa NoonArchitects: Fran Silvestre ArquitectosLocation: Sotogrande, Spain.Developer: Cork Oak MansionAll renderings & drawings courtesy of Fran Silvestre Arquitectos.> via Fran Silvestre Arquitectos

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Together with Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy's Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, CIHEAM Bari, the World Bank Group's Connect4Climate program, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon have unveiled AquaPraça, a floating cultural plaza that will serve as the focal point of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. AquaPraça serves as a forum for international climate discussion by utilizing sensing technologies and Archimedes' principle to adjust to shifting sea levels and occupancy demands. It will make its transatlantic journey to the Amazonian city, where it will become a permanent cultural landmark, after making its premiere at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The architecture of AquaPraça, which spans more than 400 square meters (4,000 square feet), physically carves out public space from the sea, establishing a tangible conversation between natural forces and the constructed environment. Using the concepts of buoyancy, displacement, and equilibrium, the submersible structure floats. AquaPraça continuously adjusts its holding and releasing capacity to keep a low freeboard with the surrounding water level. At eye level, the audience witnesses the dynamic variations of sea level rise, resulting in fresh insights into urban and ecological systems. AquaPraça's aim is to act as a civic catalyst. It can accommodate more than 150 people for cultural events, workshops, symposia, and exhibitions. It will make its sustainable journey to Belém after making its debut at the Biennale Architettura in September 2025. There, it will be a crucial component of the Italian Pavilion at COP 30, showcasing Italy's architectural and climate action thoughts to a worldwide audience. As a permanent legacy of the summit in the Amazon, the platform will continue to be a component of Belém's cultural infrastructure after the summit. A special international alliance makes AquaPraça possible. It was started in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Italy. It is also supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank's Connect4Climate program, CIHEAM Bari, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. The establishment emphasizes the goal of bringing disparate communities together and promoting ecological thought globally. There is a formal procedure in place for expressing interest."In 1979, Aldo Rossi launched the Teatro del Mondo at the first Biennale Architettura, positing that architecture could engage with the past," said Carlo Ratti, professor at MIT and the Politecnico di Milano, co-founder of CRA, and curator of the Biennale Architettura 2025.""Today, AquaPraça shows how architecture can engage with the future—by responding to climate and engaging with nature rather than resisting it,” Ratti added."AquaPraça lets visitors meet the sea at eye level," said Eric Höweler, co-founder of Höweler + Yoon and a Professor at Harvard University. "Its sloping surfaces and shifting levels embody a delicate equilibrium." "It’s a platform, both literal and figurative, for deepening our collective understanding and experience of sea level rise and the impacts of climate change on global cities and communities," added J. Meejin Yoon, co-founder of Höweler + Yoon and the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean at Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, “and seeking collective solutions."Image © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniImage © Agnese BediniLeading cutting-edge steel construction firm Cimolai is now building AquaPraça in northeastern Italy. It will be exhibited on September 4, 2025, at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, before traveling to Brazil. A permanent floating monument in the Amazon, it will be anchored in Belém from November 10–21, 2025, as part of the Italy Pavilion at COP30. It is an architectural example of flexibility and communication in the face of climate change.Project factsProject name: AquaPraçaArchitects: CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati (Coordinator) and Höweler + Yoon ArchitectureTeam MembersCRA-Carlo Ratti Associati: Carlo Ratti (Principal), Andrea Cassi (Principal), Luca Bussolino (Strategy), Gizem Veral (Architect), Sonia Simone (Architect), Rodolfo Siccardi (Senior Architect), Gary di Silvio (Architect/3D Artist), Pasquale Milieri (Architect/3D Artist), Gianluca Zimbardi (Architect/3D Artist); Höweler + Yoon Architecture: J Meejin Yoon (Principal), Eric Höweler (Principal), Asli Baran Grace (Project manager), Shuang Chen (Designer), Selin Sahin (researcher), David Hamm (Technical Advisor) Supporters: Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale; Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and PlanningIn collaboration with: Ciheam Bari, the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate Program Technical Collaborators: Elettra Bordonaro, Argun Paragamyan, and Luciana Martinez, Light Follows Behaviour; Cristiano Bottino, Studio FM; Mykola Murashko, Davide Spina, Julio Ramirez, and Eren Sezer, Maestro Technologies; Corrado Curti, IngeMBP; Luca Infanti, Luca Vian, Simone Andreatta, Filippo Bellomo, and Mario Nattero, CIMOLAI; Roberto Prever and Antonio Vatta, NAOS; Ruben Pescara and Lodovica Bontempelli, NMLex; Domenico Perrotta, DP38.All images courtesy of CRA and Höweler + Yoon Architecture.All exhibition images © Agnese Bedini.> via Carlo Ratti Associati

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" At the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice Architecture Biennale, IE University is showcasing "Alternative Skies." The 19th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice Architecture Biennale which is curated by Carlo Ratti, features displays by Wesam Al Asali, a professor and researcher at the IE School of Architecture and Design; Sigrid Adriaenssens, director of Princeton University's Form Finding Lab and Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education; Romina Canna, director of d-Lab at IE University; and Robin Oval, professor at Institut Polytéchnique de Paris. In order to enhance their educational experience, students from the IE School of Architecture and Design have had the chance to work over the previous few months and participate in the installation's production.In order to reevaluate the distinctions between design, workmanship, and natural materials, the "Alternative Skies" project focuses on horizontal architectural features, specifically the roof as a symbolic place and an architectural construct. It calls attention to underappreciated vernacular building techniques and emphasizes how communal knowledge can be used to create environmentally and culturally sensitive architecture. "Alternative Skies" invites us to look upward and rethink our building practices.” He explained that the installation opens a dialogue between vernacular knowledge and emerging technologies, involving masters of traditional construction in Spain—Salvador Gomis, a tile vaulting specialist; Ángel María Martín, a geometrist and master of traditional Spanish carpentry; and Carlos Fontales, a basketry expert," said Wesam Al Asali, the project’s lead. “The project reflects our interest in exploring how design and fabrication technologies can draw on the many intelligences of craft, culture, and nature,” added Al Asali."Patterns in craft emerged through hands-on experimentation and tacit knowledge—shaping materials to meet human needs with elegance and efficiency. Today, we use physics, mathematics, and engineered design to reimagine and scale these crafted artifacts for future-oriented large structures," said Sigrid Adriaenssens.The "Arcade" is a vaulted structure that is 7.5 meters long and was created using three different roof and floor systems techniques. The "Alternative Skies Archive" below it employs traditional crafts to examine the relationship between natural materials and collective building knowledge.The "Arcade" has three full-scale vaulted systems and was created by Sigrid Adriaenssens and Wesam Al Asali as part of their joint project "Structural Crafts." These include a classic interlaced timber shell that combines attractive geometry and structural performance, a segmented tile vault that was created as a prefabricated modular system utilizing panelized building techniques, and a woven willow roof that was put together with the use of Augmented Reality tools. More than just a structural component, the suspended Arcade is a spatial representation of how design and production technologies convert implicit knowledge—such as patterns, pressures, and material intelligence—into architectural form.Two parallel cabinets frame the "Alternative Skies Archive" beneath the Arcade, inviting viewing and education. This learning environment was created in collaboration with the design laboratory (d-Lab) at the IE School of Architecture and Design under the direction of Romina Canna. Students from the Bachelor of Architectural Studies program collaborated with IWLab, a practice that Al Asali co-founded. From Syria's corbelled domes to Egypt's clay dovecotes, the exploring area showcases a variety of regional roofing customs, showcasing the inventiveness and resourcefulness of place-based methods. The "Archive" is an example of how local expertise and modern creativity may coexist to create sustainable, well-founded architecture.Romina Canna highlighted the alignment between the project and the IE School of Architecture and Design d-Lab's mission: "At our design laboratory, we explore design as a means of connecting disciplinary knowledge with other realms of meaning and production. In "Alternative Skies", we developed a narrative that reveals both existing and potential links between traditional knowledge and techniques, material intelligence, and design innovation."Intelligens Natural Artificial Collective is the theme of Carlo Ratti's 19th International Architecture Exhibition at Venice Architecture Biennale, which runs from May 10 to November 23. The show, which is organized around four sub-themes—Transdisciplinarity, Living Lab, Space for Ideas, and Circularity Protocol—aims to connect technology, nature, and teamwork.Ratti highlights that creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and inclusivity are essential for the advancement of architecture in the modern day. This edition investigates how architecture might use various forms of intelligence to adapt to an environment that is changing quickly. By showcasing the potential for incorporating community handicraft and natural intelligence into modern architectural thought, "Alternative Skies" significantly advances this discussion.With support from the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, IE School of Architecture and Design, Research Office IE University, and IE Foundation, "Alternative Skies" is able to participate in the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.PlanVault boards tileVault boards timberVault boards willowThe 19th International Architecture Exhibition will take place from 10 May to 23 November 2025 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and various venues in Venice, Italy.Find out all exhibition news on WAC's Venice Architecture Biennale page. Exhibition factsConcept: Wesam Al AsaliDesign team: Wesam Al Asali, Sigrid Adriaenssens, Romina Canna, Robin Oval.Authorial Collaborators IWLab: Marah Sharabati, Joelle Deeb, Sadek Jooriahd-Lab (IE School of Architecture and Design): Marta Garcia Salamanca, Malena Gronda Garrigues, Michaela Zavacká, Alaa Belal, Hayk Areg Khachikyan Supported by: Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, IE School of Architecture and Design, Research Office IE University, IE FoundationTechnical Collaborators: Salvador Gomis Aviñó (CERCAA), Angel Maria Martín López (La Escuela de Carpintería de lo Blanco de Narros del Castillo), Carlos Fontales Ortíz, ETSAMaderaAknowledgments to: Alejandro García Hermida, Kinda Ghannoum, Alessandro Dell'Endice, IE University Fab Lab, Maintenance Team IE UniversityAll images © Luis Díaz Díaz.All drawings © Wesam Al Asali.> via IE University

Submitted by WA Contents Rosan Bosch Studio releases nature-based campus for The Garzón School in Uruguay Uruguay Architecture News - May 28, 2025 - 04:21   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" For The Garzón School in Uruguay, Rosan Bosch Studio created a brand-new campus and classroom space surrounded by nature.The school's location in the middle of a thick eucalyptus forest creates a special bond with the natural world.The identity of the new Garzón School in Uruguay merges with its expansive and wild surroundings. Rosan Bosch Studio has worked closely with the school community to create a design idea that allows learning to occur both indoors and outside with ease. The new educational environment fosters natural curiosity and promotes play, exploration, and individual expression.The architecture, interior design, landscape design, and master plan were all created by Rosan Bosch Studio. Learning transcends conventional limits on this nature-connected campus because to the creative concept design's application of biophilic design principles.Nature is not only an addition to education; it is the school itself. Here, a specially created curriculum centered on experimentation and inquiry-based learning makes the students the heroes of their own education. According to the school's concept, nature is a teacher in and of itself, not just an adjunct to education.With six distinct learning zones (also known as Learning Worlds) based on six design principles—Mountain Top, Cave, Campfire, Watering Hole, Hands-on, and Movement—the Rosan Bosch Studio's concept design centers the pupils in a diversified learning environment.The six learning zones, which are created to accommodate various learning styles, give pupils significant options that promote independence and agency. Under the direction of educators and inclusion specialists, the kids are urged to go on a personal quest of inquiry and learning that transcends conventional educational frameworks.The School is the Park, and the Park is the SchoolThe nature-based campus blends a strong connection to nature with diverse learning areas that are intended to accommodate various learning preferences. It gives students a setting that encourages innovation, curiosity, and teamwork, creating real-world learning opportunities that equip future change agents.In this case, "the park is the school, and the school is the park," and all areas are interwoven with the surroundings in a continuous interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces.A meandering road round a lake and passes through a meadow before arriving to The Garzón School's "village," which is tucked away in a thick eucalyptus forest.Each student's learning journey starts here and then spreads outward as they become more independent and conscious.This endless park provides a fertile field for creativity and exploration with its winding streams and promises of adventure. It is an audacious reimagining of modern schooling.Landscape Design by Rosan Bosch StudioThe architectural concept and material selection are informed by nature and are sustainable, locally sourced, and thoughtfully chosen to blend in with the surrounding environment. The design concept combines natural light, subtle hues, and engaging textures to enhance the wellbeing of both teachers and pupils and to strengthen the bonds between them.In addition to offering locations for gathering and play, the village's landscape design plays a crucial role in identifying areas that provide kids a feeling of identification and belonging. Vernacular Uruguayan architecture is evoked by two brick plazas, and the natural environment is enhanced with indigenous plants and whimsical wooden features. These complement the sustainable buildings, which are completely composed of wood and covered in a traditional Japanese charring method called shou sugi ban. This gives the buildings longevity, personality, and a close connection to the natural environment.The new Garzón School exemplifies a transformative educational model that sets a standard for Latin America, showing how careful pedagogical, architectural, and natural integration can create spaces where learning occurs organically and students grow into capable, self-assured changemakers prepared for tomorrow's challenges.To revolutionize education, the Garzón School in Maldonado, Uruguay, has created a completely integrated ecosystem.The school's identity is interwoven with the expansive and untamed terrain.The school has created a customized, student-centered curriculum that is founded on the world's greatest teaching methods.The concept-based curriculum fosters critical and design thinking while emphasizing the development of competences, abilities, and traits. The lifelong skills and competences that students gain and develop during the process define the future-oriented curriculum. Because of this, the TGS curriculum emphasizes the development of critical 21st-century skills under the catchy heading of "Think, Act, Relate, Communicate."The campus, which launched the first phase of the project in March 2025, is a prime example of The Garzón School's dedication to providing top-notch, nature-based education and serves as a motivating example for educational institutions throughout Latin America and beyond.The project's next phase is presently being designed by Rosan Bosch Studio.MasterplanCentral buildings, landscapeColour Plan, Central BuildingsColour PlanSectionsElevationsElevationsElevationsAn multidisciplinary practice in art, architecture, design, and pedagogy, Rosan Bosch Studio focuses on creating learning spaces for students of all ages. The studio was established by Rosan Bosch in 2011. The studio operates globally, including headquarters in Copenhagen and Madrid.Project factsArchitect: Rosan Bosch StudioInterior Design: Rosan Bosch StudioMasterplan and Landscape Design: Rosan Bosch Studio Local Landscaping Consultant: Amalia Robredo Executive Architect andAssembly: Enkel Group Engineering: ArborealContractor and Mass Timber Solutions: Arboreal Carpentry: MeetlineYear of completion: 2025 (first phase)All images © Eleazar Cuadros. All drawigns © Rosan Bosch Studio.> via Rosan Bosch Studio

Submitted by WA Contents The Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche install a shimmering modular transportation hub in Venice Italy Architecture News - May 27, 2025 - 04:19   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" The Norman Foster Foundation and Porsche have installed a shimmering modular transportation hub at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The sports car manufacturer's designers and the architects have collaborated on the future of urban mobility. The end product is a unique building that embodies the idea of a Venice transportation center.Named Gateway to Venice’s Waterways, by modernizing connectivity and maintaining Venice's historical and cultural identity, the concept reimagines the city's transportation system. This modular transportation hub sets a global standard for sustainable urban architecture by acting as a practical entryway and a display for cutting-edge mobility solutions.The installation, which will be on display at the Biennale vernissage, is a component of Porsche's design and art program, "The Art of Dreams."In response to the present transportation issues in the Italian port city, "Gateway to Venice's Waterway" seeks to start a conversation about sustainable urban transformation. The installation, which is 37 meters long, is a tangible representation of a meeting point of architecture and design and is evocative of Venice's ancient bridge system. By connecting to new electric land and sea transportation options, the visual hub serves as a gateway to e-mobility. These include electric sports boats (the Porsche Macan Turbo's all-electric drive and the Fischer x Porsche 850 Fantom Air) and water bikes (Schiller cycles). During the vernissage in Palazzo Pisani Moretta and the Arsenale Gateway, guests will be able to view documentation of the design and construction process."Dreaming awakens a sense of limitless possibilities and the courage to imagine what does not yet exist. It's about imagining bold solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges," said British architect Lord Norman Foster. "In this project, dreaming meant imagining a Venice where historic preservation and advanced mobility coexist. We have created a blueprint for urban innovation that respects the past while embracing the future," Foster added."Porsche is and remains a brand that is characterised by a highly demanding field of tension between tradition and innovation," said Michael Mauer, Vice President, Style Porsche. "This means that we as a design team are constantly dealing with the question of how we can strategically shape the future of our brand in terms of identity and authenticity.""The exchange with Lord Norman Foster and his team is a very valuable source of inspiration. This look beyond the confines of pure vehicle design provides us with important impulses for the consistent, but also future-oriented direction of our brand," Mauer added. Inspired by both technology and nature, the installation explores the intersection between dreams and reality. Throughout the hub's construction and operation, there is a clear emphasis on sustainability, the use of recycled materials, and ecologically friendly systems. The 908's lightweight construction idea serves as the foundation for these procedures. The backbone of the artwork is made of solid aluminum, much like the lattice tube frame of the iconic race vehicle. The kinetic surface, which maximizes resource efficiency while ensuring minimal environmental impact, was inspired by the new Macan's cube pattern. In partnership with the Norman Foster Foundation, the eighth iteration of the design and art project "The Art of Dreams" was developed. The 19th International Architecture Exhibition will take place from 10 May to 23 November 2025 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and various venues in Venice, Italy.Find out all exhibition news on WAC's Venice Architecture Biennale page. All images © Marco Zorzanello, La Biennale di Venezia.> via Venice Architecture Biennale

Submitted by WA Contents Design Shanghai 2025 will explore the power of human-centric design in June China Architecture News - May 26, 2025 - 04:19   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Asia’s leading design show, Design Shanghai, has announced its 12th edition, which will explore the notion of design for humanity. The Shanghai World Expo Exhibition Center will host Design Shanghai 2025 from June 4–7. The annual event has been dedicated to bridging the gap between Eastern and Western design for twelve years. It features both known and up-and-coming companies and brands, as well as the top local and international designers. This year, more than 80,000 professionals are anticipated to attend Design Shanghai, which will feature top companies from more than 30 countries and regions. Attendees can expect an unmatched chance to experience the ingenuity and impact of top-tier design. Over 640,000 professionals and more than 2,600 design brands from around the world have visited Design Shanghai to date, demonstrating the expansion and integration of China's design strength.The World Architecture Community is an official media partner of Design Shanghai."Over the past 12 years, Design Shanghai has grown while remaining youthful at heart, consistently embracing ever-evolving challenges with unwavering commitment. At the same time, we stay true to our original mission of being a bridge for East-West design exchange," said  Zhuo Tan, Event Director, Design Shanghai. "This year, we will place greater emphasis on human-centred design, making the exhibition more personal and meaningful, and exploring—and perhaps even reaching a consensus on—a fundamental question: Through design, where are we heading, and how should we act?." "We look forward to a truly memorable gathering this June," Tan explained.Image by BuloImage by VitraWith more than 600 carefully chosen design products spread throughout its four sections, Design Shanghai 2025 will provide an insight into the latest innovations and trends in the field. Modern designs in furniture, lighting, kitchens, bathrooms, and systems will be showcased in Section 1 (Furniture & Lighting) and Section 2 (Kitchen, Bathroom & Systems Design). Renowned brands like Bulo, Formitalia, RS Barcelona, Vitra, Lalique, Miyazaki Chair Factory, NEKOSpACE, and Antoniolupi Design Made in Italy will be showcasing their most recent collections. The best of Spanish design, such as Viccarbe, Porcelenosa, and LFZ Lamps, will be showcased by the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX). Luxury appliance manufacturers Liebherr, JUNG, Lantex, and Colmo will be on display, along with high-end brands like LAUFEN, Villeroy & Boch, and GORENJE, showcasing their creative solutions.Image by Villeroy & BochImage by Ultrasuede®In the New Materials & Applications Section (3), top companies such as Mapei, Burgeree, Spralding, and Ultrasuede®, as well as Italian designers Florim, SICIS, and Tecnografica, will showcase sustainable innovations.In addition to luxury design brands that specialize in fine porcelain, glassware, tableware, and high-end home accessories like Herend, Lomonosov, Sabre Paris, Cutipol, La Rochere, Sezzatini, Timon Luxury, and CreArt, Section 4: Living & Lifestyle Design will have brands like Reflections Copenhagen, Aynsley, Pro-Ject, and Vilca that will display exquisite craftsmanship.TALENTS from 2024 editionTo produce one-of-a-kind design experiences, Design Shanghai will once more collaborate with top design and creative studios. Frank Chou, the curator of TALENTS, will return with his mission to support the developing creative potential of upcoming designers. Chen Min and Neooold, a fusion of art, craft, and design based on China's abundant traditional handicrafts and materials, are also returning to Design Shanghai.Materials First by Chris Lefteri will also make a comeback with an interesting interactive experience. Additionally, Zhang Lei's materials aesthetics trend exhibition Re: Materialize and Beyond Craft Japan, which explores Japanese beauty via materials and workmanship, will be open to visitors.Image by Made in JDZAdditionally, two brand-new features—Collectible Design & Art and Made in JDZ, which are curated by Ran Xiangfei—will highlight the brilliance of limited edition designs and the elegance of Jingdezhen's handmade craftsmanship. Both provide unique chances to encounter the most cutting-edge and progressive concepts from the design industry.Image by Koseido (Beyond Craft Japan)Design for HumanityThree significant speaker conferences will also be included in the 2025 edition: the CMF Conference, the Design for Wellbeing Conference, and the Global Design Conference with the topic "Design for Humanity." Exhibitors will have unique networking opportunities to interact with well-known designers and business executives at these conferences.Highlights of the speakers include: Ole Scheeren, Chief Designer, Buro Ole Scheeren; Satoshi Ohashi, Director (China), Zaha Hadid Architects; Paul Priestman, Chairman and Creative Director, PULI Innovation; Robert Greenwood, Partner, Director for Asia Pacific, Snøhetta; Changrui FU, Associate Partner, MAD; and Craig Miller, Partner and Project Leader, Heatherwick Studio.Register to Design Shanghai via this link. All images courtesy of Design Shanghai.> via Design Shanghai

Submitted by WA Contents WA Awards 50th Cycle Winner Posters and Certificates are ready to download United Kingdom Architecture News - May 26, 2025 - 04:19   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" The 50th Cycle of the WA Awards winner posters and certificates is now available for download on the World Architecture Community website. This cycle features 27 Winner Posters and 39 Winner Certificates. Winners of the 50th WA Awards can access their high-resolution Winner Posters on the pages of their respective winning projects. After logging into their accounts, they should visit the "My Winner Page" section to download their Winner Certificates.The 50th Cycle winners for the Architecture, Interior Design and Architecture Students can be found on the WA Awards Winners page. One Cycle ends and another begins!If you're looking to have your architecture and interior design project recognized, the best way to do so is to participate. The 51st Cycle of the WA Awards is now open for submissions. You can submit your entries for the 51st Cycle of the WA Awards 10+5+X until July 18, 2025 at 23:59 GMT +0.If you're not a member of WAC, start your registrations on this page. Visit our  page to learn more about the categories, fees, eligibility requirements, and judging process. To consult our visual guidance, visit our  page.  WA Awards

Submitted by WA Contents Open Call RaumScape: A Unique Piazzetta in Old Town Prague Czech Republic Architecture News - May 26, 2025 - 12:53   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" An international architectural and urban design competition has been launched through a unique collaboration between private investors, the Capital City of Prague, and the Prague 1 municipality. The goal is to transform a privately owned piazzetta at the end of Pařížská Street—an area known for its high-end retail and positioned between residential calm and a striking mix of architectural styles—into a vibrant, inclusive, and world-class public space. Located directly in front of the recently renovated Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel—formerly the brutalist InterContinental Hotel, now sensitively restored by TaK Architects—the site carries symbolic weight within the historic center of Prague. Despite its extraordinary location, it is technically the roof of an underground car park and incorporates multiple levels of garage-related infrastructure. The first stage of the competition is straightforward and non-design-focused, serving as a portfolio round. Applicants are invited to submit reference projects by June 2, 2025. RaumScape represents a landmark opportunity to reimagine a space in the historic core of one of Europe’s most architecturally and culturally rich capitals. The competition calls for creative ideas that are both visionary and grounded, shaping a public realm fit for Prague’s next century. Entirely privately funded, the project represents a significant investment of approximately €6 million (CZK 150 million), reflecting the long-term commitment of the Czech owners to revitalizing this prominent urban site. Organized by CCEA MOBA, the competition merges the architectural concept of Raumplan with landscape design—embodying a vision for a multi-layered, continuous urban realm where architecture and public space are seamlessly interwoven. It invites architects, landscape architects, and urban designers from around the world to propose bold yet context-sensitive designs that blend public, community, commercial, and social functions into a cohesive civic environment.Previously underutilized and disconnected, the 3,200 m² piazzetta now presents a rare opportunity to extend the prestige and pedestrian rhythm of Pařížská Street toward the Vltava River, introduce greenery, shade, and water features, enable barrier-free movement for pedestrians, cyclists, and families, and create a public space of lasting value that honors its UNESCO-listed heritage context while serving both local life and international visitors. This vision must also thoughtfully integrate the necessary technical infrastructure and commercial space in a way that enhances the public realm.The winning proposal will mark the final phase of Staroměstská brána (Old Town Gate)—a sensitive reconstruction of a Brutalist landmark, and the culmination of a broader urban renewal initiative led by the Hotel’s private Czech owners: Pavel Baudiš, Eduard Kučera, and Oldřich Šlemr.Competition OverviewTitle: RaumScape – International Architectural and Urban Design CompetitionLocation: Miloš Forman Square, Prague, Czech RepublicArea: 3,200 m²Announcers: WIC Prague, City of Prague, Prague 1Organizer: CCEA MOBAEstimated Investment: CZK 150 million (approx. €6 million)Total Prize Money: CZK 2.4 million (approx. €95,900)Eligibility: Open to qualified architecture, landscape, and urban design professionals worldwideTwo-Stage CompetitionStage One – Portfolio SubmissionDeadline: June 2, 2025, no submission feeApplicants are asked to submit reference projects. Stage Two – Design ProposalFinalists will be invited to submit full concept designs.International JuryThe competition jury is chaired by Sarah M. Whiting, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and includes leading Czech and international experts:- Petr Hlaváček (Vice-Chair), 1st Deputy Mayor of the Capital City of Prague- Mette Skjold, CEO and Senior Partner of SLA- Magdaléna Juříková, Director of the Prague City Gallery- Petr Burian, co-Founder of Nextline Architekti- Karel Grabein Procházka - Councillor of the Municipal District of Prague 1- Marek Tichý, founder of TaK Architects, author of the reconstruction of the former InterContinental HotelFor further details, visit the competition website.The top image in the article courtesy of CCEA MOBA.> via CCEA MOBA

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) in Barcelona announces a new edition of the Global Summer School 2025 (GSS25), marking another milestone fostering global collaboration and innovation in the field of architecture and design.Over the years, IAAC has been at the forefront of promoting meaningful knowledge and expertise sharing among architects, engineers, designers and innovators worldwide. The GSS brings together students from diverse backgrounds to engage with IAAC's network of experts and renowned lecturers.This July, GSS proposes a unique blend of onsite and online workshops, offering to its participants hands-on experiences at IAAC in Barcelona while ensuring digital accessibility through an agile online format accessible to a global audience. GSS25 presents an immersive lineup of 4 workshops exploring advanced architecture & digital fabrication, advanced computation, urban data analytics and artificial intelligence. Led by IAAC Faculties and Alumni, these workshops promise innovative workflows and individual project exploration and development.GSS students can tailor their learning journey opting for a two-week onsite workshop in Barcelona or selectingone or more online modules offered throughout July 2025, becoming part of a dynamic and challenging educational experience.After 4 years, IAAC is glad to open its Global Nodes Network, strategic cities around the world boosting innovation by leading GSS onsite workshops led by IAAC alumni in diverse geographic locations. Applicants can therefore choose to join GSS in the preferred node - city - county!All GSS25 courses include exclusive access to Global Lectures, weekly online gatherings featuring experts from the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry also connecting participants of IAAC nodes located worldwide. These sessions are designed to complement the workshop themes and provide participants with valuable insights and perspectives.Applications with the early bird fees deadline is the 31st of May. Please read about prices, eligibility criteria and applications on the website.About the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC)IAAC is a centre for research, education, production and outreach, with the mission of envisioning the future habitat of our society and building it in the present.IAAC follows the digital revolution at all scales (from bits to geography, from micro-controllers to cities, from materials to the territory) to expand the boundaries of architecture and design and meet the challenges faced by humanity. IAAC is an experimental and experiential centre where one learns by doing, through a test methodology that promotes real solutions.IAAC is an open, independent and radical non-profit foundation, with 20 years of activity; inspired by the values of Barcelona, the capital of architecture and design, where urbanism was invented and where local high quality and innovation-oriented research is connected to an international network of excellence in technology, architecture and society fields.ContactsGSS25 Agenda & AbstractsCircular Construction: Shifting ValueThe Circular Construction workshop at IAAC explores sustainable architecture through the upcycling of forest and marine debris from the Mediterranean region. Participants engage in hands-on material experimentation, 3D scanning, and computational design to transform waste into high-performance architectural systems. The course integrates digital fabrication techniques like CNC milling, 3D printing, and robotic assembly to prototype full-scale components. Emphasizing circularity and material intelligence, the workshop equips students with cutting-edge skills in design, sustainability, and fabrication.Dates: 7th - 18th July 2025Venue: IAAC Campus, Barcelona (Spain)Generative AI for ArchitectureIn this workshop, participants will learn to apply AI and computational design tools to architecture and planning using low-code platforms like Grasshopper and n8n. They will  explore generative AI, simulations, and automation to create and prototype responsive, data-driven workflows. By the end, students will critically present their solutions, gaining hands-on experience with AI-driven design innovation.Dates: 7th - 11th July 2025Venue: Online (Synchronous & Asynchronous formatAdvanced Computation for Design WorkshopDuring the workshop, participants will learn to apply Python and machine learning to optimize architectural design with a focus on sustainability, form finding, and facade engineering. They will gain hands-on experience in geometry rationalization, environmental analysis, and data-centric modeling for intelligent design workflows. By the end, attendees will be equipped to create efficient, fabrication-ready forms through advanced computational and ML-driven techniques.Dates: 14th - 18th July 2025Venue: Online (Synchronous & Asynchronous format)Urban Data AnalyticsThe participants will learn to combine computer vision and GIS tools to analyze and visualize urban data at multiple scales. They’ll work with Google Street View and spatial datasets to uncover hidden urban conditions, assess city health, and explore concepts like “Sick City Syndrome.” By the end, students will be equipped to build multiscalar data workflows and create impactful visualizations that reveal and communicate complex urban dynamics.Dates: 21st - 24th July 2025Venue: Online (Synchronous & Asynchronous format)All images courtesy of IAAC.> via IAAC  architecture event

Submitted by WA Contents Call For Ideas: Tiny Library 2025 Architecture Competition India Architecture News - May 24, 2025 - 09:35   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" As the world is continuously transforming and expanding, the amount of data and information created every day is also increasing constantly. Human intellect today is expected to evolve at the same rate as our world to continue our journey into the future. Despite all the information, reading and self-learning remain the most powerful tools available to mankind to consume knowledge. Learning bolsters awareness, exposure and productivity, which in turn results into development.Despite its importance, education is still inaccessible to many communities in remote locations around the world. Self-learning, especially through reading, is crucial for the society’s development. It is necessary to have places promoting education and self- learning to educate the local population within the closest proximity. It will make them accessible to gainful employment opportunities in their home towns and will thereby avoid the need for migration elsewhere."Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela (Political Leader, Philanthropist and former President of South Africa)."OpportunityBooks are considered to be the torchbearers for knowledge, helping mankind develop its intellect and create a world that is constantly developing. With an aim to make education more accessible, we have transformed books to digital, audio and visual formats.Despite all these efforts, books in any format are still inaccessible to various communities across our planet. It is now utterly important to focus on this lack of accessibility and prioritize towards creating a source of knowledge to isolated communities.Libraries as an educational incubator is a space that not only sheds light on conventional means of knowledge but also encourages its users to interact, share ideas and grow together. Rather than accepting urban migration as a given, a library can be designed with an aim to restore dignity and induce development.Can we rethink a library of the 21st-century public space where knowledge is not limited to books? Can we ignite the new age movement of learning?“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero (Roman statesman and philosopher).ChallengeParticipants are to design a Tiny Library optimized for 50 users with engaging multifunctional spaces for all ages and spatial experience. The Tiny Library would be equipped with traditional reading material along with modern formats like e-books, audiobooks, audio-visual books etc.The space would be designed as a centralized think tank for the local communities with a focus on activities and functions of public interactions and community development.Participants should consider affordability and optimum use of space while designing. The designed space should be augmented to hold a maximum number of books in a limited space. The structure should not exceed 300 sq.mt. of built-up area.The proposed design should also be easy to maintain. The proposal should be iconic, inviting, and creating a statement of its own on the chosen site. The proposed design should have contact between humans and nature.The proposed designs can be visualized as mobile or stationary. One could also develop the given space as a flexible module that can be replicated so as to adapt to different site conditions, making it versatile in nature. Participants will be required to provide a justification for their design choices.The designed spaces should be innovative, encourage self-learning as well as strengthen the communal spirit. Energy saving and sustainability should be given a thought. We encourage the participants to develop their programs. The space designed should not be limited to the standard activities viz. reading and self-learning space, sanitation space, administration, reception or information desk. The design should provoke innovative activities that stimulate and accelerate learning.Site selectionRural populations across the globe face a mass exodus of its young population owing to the lack of education, health care, employment opportunities among many others.Participants are to choose a site in a rural or remote context for the proposal, wherever they feel accessibility to knowledge may change the existing circumstance. The design should be well integrated into the context.The site selected should be in a dire need of connecting to education and learning. The site should justify the participant’s design.AwardsPrizes of total USD 4500, broken down as follows:1st Prize: USD 2000 + Certificate + Publication2nd Prize: USD 1200 + Certificate + Publication3rd Prize: USD 800 + Certificate + Publication Student Award: USD 500 + Certificate + Publication10 Honourable mentions: CertificatesWinners and Honourable Mentions will be published on Volume Zero website and several international architecture and design magazines.To show our appreciation, all the participants would receive a participation certificate.ScheduleEarly Bird Registrations: 1st March 2025 to 15th May 2025 Standard Registrations: 16th May 2025 to 12th June 2025Last day for queries 10th June 2025Closing date for Submissions: 20th June 2025 Announcement of winners: 28th August 2025EligibilityTINY LIBRARY 2025 – Architecture Competition is open to all. We invite architects, students, engineers, product designers, thinkers, companies, organizations, and everyone interested in the mission of the competition to submit their ideas. No professional qualifications are necessary.Jury panelAvinash Ankalge A Threshold, IndiaBernardo Quinzaños CCA, MexicoChen Xi Atelier Xi, ChinaChenchen Hu HCCH Studio, ChinaDavid Barragán AL BORDE, EcuadorPetchimuthu Kennedy Earthscape Studio, IndiaPeter Rich Peter Rich Architects, South AfricaSong Yehao THAD SUP Atelier, ChinaSoumitro Ghosh Mathew and Ghosh Architects, IndiaSwapnil Valvatkar Collage Architecture Studio, IndiaRegistration feesEarly Bird Registrations:Participants from India – 2700+18% GST = INR 3186 (per team) Participants from Other Countries - 80 + 18% GST = USD 94.4 (per team)Standard Registrations:Participants from India – 3200 + 18% GST = INR 3776 (per team) Participants from Other Countries – 95+ 18% GST = USD 112.1 (per team)Download the competition brief from here: TL25 Brief.pdf.The top image courtesy of Volume Zero. > via Volume Zero 

Submitted by WA Contents Design Shanghai will be held from 4 to 7 June 2025 in Shanghai China Architecture News - May 23, 2025 - 13:48   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Asia's premier design exhibition and one of the most prominent international design events in the world is Design Shanghai. It has been crucial in forming China's dynamic design scene by consistently pushing the envelope.Design Shanghai will be held from 4 to 7 June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, Shanghai, China. With four main sections—Furniture & Lighting, Kitchen & Bathroom & Systems Design, New Materials & Applications, and Living & Lifestyle—Design Shanghai 2025 will introduce a brand-new concept. These sections will collectively feature more than 600 carefully chosen design objects from over 30 nations and locations, providing an insight into the newest developments in the field.TALENTS, Neooold, Re:Materialize, Made in JDZ, Beyond Craft Japan, Collectible Design & Art, and Materials First are the seven specially selected elements that will be showcased at the event. In addition, more than 200 design visionaries will come together to exchange ideas at three important forums: the CMF Conference, the Design for Wellbeing Conference, and the KOHLER·Design Shanghai Global Design Conference.Design Shanghai promises an unmatched chance to fully immerse oneself in the innovation and influence of top-tier design, with over 80,000 professional visitors anticipated.The World Architecture Community is official media partner of Design Shanghai.Top image courtesy of Design Shanghai.> via Design Shanghai

Submitted by WA Contents ADEPT selected to transform former Karstadt warehouse into a cultural hub in Braunschweig Germany Architecture News - May 22, 2025 - 14:57   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Copenhagen and Hamburg-based architecture office ADEPT has won an international competition to transform a former Karstadt warehouse in a historic area of Braunschweig (DE) into the "Haus der Musik". Called Haus der Musik, the 18,000-square-metre cultural hub will house a new concert hall, a public music school, and other community-oriented programs.The winning project is founded on adaptive reuse principles rather than demolishing the current structure. The old building's architectural rhythm and load-bearing structure are preserved and reactivated. On top of the existing volume is a brand-new, precisely calibrated performance hall, and street level provides direct access to music school activities. From a commercial hub to a cultural hub, the design embodies a daring urban metamorphosis grounded on continuity."The Haus der Musik is a dream project – not just because of its scale, but because it allows us to bring together everything we care about: transformation, sustainability, as well as social and urban social value," said Martin Krogh, founding partner at ADEPT. "This is the largest project in our studio’s history, and undoubtedly one of the most meaningful," Krogh added.The "Third Place"—that vague, largely unplanned area between activities that creates a vast possibility for a new identity emerging from the neighborhood—is the focal point of the transformation. Arrival, music school, and concert hall are all connected by this multi-layered social landscape of performance, instruction, and gathering. Because the music school is integrated into the existing framework, it fosters a vibrant, all-day rhythm of instruction, practice, and casual conversation. Below it, the Klangkeller provides an unpolished and adaptable platform for underground scenes and experimental music. With meticulous consideration for acoustic clarity and spatial intimacy, the new music hall is built as a traditional shoebox typology and is situated in the top levels of the building to retain as much of the old structure as possible. Adjustable ceiling components enable custom tuning based on the performance situation, including organ music and amplified events, while sound-reflective wall and ceiling panels distribute sound uniformly around the room. Both the main floor and the upper balconies provide direct sightlines and engulfing sound to the audience. Rehearsal rooms and backstage areas flank the hall, facilitating a smooth transition between rehearsal and performance. The music hall is further reinforced as a municipal venue by the 270-degree panoramic terrace that encircles the foyer and provides public views of the city."With equal measures of caution and courage, the winning proposal transforms the existing building through adaptive reuse into an important component for Braunschweig's city centre, as well as for the city’s musical landscape," the jury stated."The difficult balancing act between preservation, transformation and innovation has been convincingly achieved." "Even if the interpretation and conceptual reuse may seem surprising at first glance, the contextual integration is comprehensible, sensitive and convincing," the jury added.Site planUrban Presence: A Cultural Link Within the Historic CityThe Haus der Musik acts as an essential urban connection between Altstadtmarkt and Kohlmarkt, two important public squares in Braunschweig, and is located along one of the city's main pedestrian thoroughfares. The project creates a new cultural hub in the urban fabric by reactivating the ground floor with a completely transparent façade and opening up to the city through spacious patios and foyers. It extends beyond its plot to create sightlines, pathways, and gathering spots across the city. The design adds a new public vitality that enhances the old town's civic life while honoring the scale and rhythm of its historic surroundings. Ground floor planThe building's articulated façade and stepped form blend in with Braunschweig's urban profile while quietly indicating its new function as a gathering place for people to enjoy music and social interaction.First floor planUsing a Modern Language to Interpret the PastRedesigning the facade as a reinterpretation of the current building while honoring the historic setting and its distinctive buildings to create a new identity is a crucial architectural gesture. The new facade reworks the original's modular rhythm to create a tactile, sculptured enclosure. Views into the activity within the building are made possible by the dynamic interplay of light and shadow created by the cascading pieces. The ground floor's transparency invites the public in by blurring the lines between the interior and the city.Second floor planWarm timber interiors frame the building's social center, while the structured facade echoes Braunschweig's medieval roofscapes. Materiality is crucial in defining atmosphere and character. In order to preserve important sightlines and blend in with the surrounding urban fabric, the new volume gently recedes from the original cornice lines.Third floor planBuilding on What Already ExistsIn this initiative, sustainability starts with what currently exists. By preserving and reusing the Karstadt building's structural grid and core, demolition and the resulting carbon effect are avoided. With little alteration to the existing foundations, a lightweight music hall made of steel and wood is constructed above. Cross-laminated wood (CLT) components that are prefabricated enable low-emission and rapid installation.Fifth floor planBy incorporating rooftop photovoltaics and utilizing Braunschweig's low-emission district heating network, the building runs with exceptional energy efficiency. Comfort is maintained while energy consumption is reduced through the use of passive cooling techniques and intelligent ventilation. Demand is further decreased by localized heating systems and water-saving devices.Basement floor planThe result is not merely a monument for music and culture – but a showcase of how architecture can be both ambitious and responsible, rooted in the past and ready for the future.Elevation BrabandstraßeElevation JakobstraßeElevation PoststraßeFacade section existingFacade section ADEPTSection AASection BBSection CCAxonometric drawingConcept, existing as starting pointConcept, community functions as connectorsConcept, concert hall in new constructionConcept, concert hall constructionADEPT and LYTT Architecture completed visitor points reframing largest landscape park in Copenhagen, Denmark. In  addition, ADEPT and Karres en Brands revealed plans for a new masterplan, called WoodHood – Garden City 2.0, in Köln, Germany. Project factsProject name: Haus der MusikArchitect: ADEPTClient: Friedrich Georg Knapp w. Stadt BraunschweigEngineers: Assmann Beraten und Planen, Corall Ingenieure, AvissplanAddress: Poststraße Braunschweig, DESize: 15,000m2 + 3,000 under groundAll images © Aesthetica Studio.All drawings © ADEPT. > via ADEPT