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These annual rankings were last updated on May 23, 2025. Want to see your firm on next year’s list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studio’s ranking. Split by the North China Sea into Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo’s East Malaysia, the country has a particular geographical location that has contributed to a diverse and forward-thinking architectural landscape. Its history originates from the Malay kingdoms, which were colonized by the British Empire in the 18th century. Ornate mosques adorned with intricate carvings to elegant colonial buildings lining the streets of George Town are testaments to the country’s architectural heritage. Malaysia’s modern architecture such as the Petronas Twin Towers, designed by César Pelli and the visionary works of Hijjas Kasturi that have reshaped the urban landscape of Kuala Lumpur exhibit technological prowess and sustainable designs. Malaysian architects today draw equal inspiration from traditional Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous motifs, infusing contemporary designs with elements that resonate with Malaysia’s diverse cultural fabric. The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia for example is where traditional Islamic architecture harmonizes with modern museum design principles. Projects such as the Forest City development in Johor demonstrate the country’s commitment to integrating green spaces and innovative technologies to create eco-friendly communities of the future. With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Malaysia based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge. How are these architecture firms ranked? The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority: The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025) The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025) The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2025) The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2025) The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025) Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Malaysia architecture firms throughout the year. Without further ado, here are the 20 best architecture firms in Malaysia: 20. Design Unit © Design Unit Sdn Bhd John Bulcock has 35 years experience working as an architect, planner, interior designer and landscape designer on a wide variety of projects in Europe, Turkey, India and Southeast Asia. His experience encompasses Architecture as well as Architectural, Master, Urban and Sustainable Planning. Since 1994 he has been commissioned to carry out a variety of projects in Malaysia, India and Southeast Asia including residential, commercial and institutional buildings and sustainable master planning of resorts and townships. Low energy and sustainable design is central to his philosophy and approach to architecture and he has received a number of awards for his work. Some of Design Unit’s most prominent projects include: Cantilever House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The following statistics helped Design Unit Sdn Bhd achieve 20th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 19. Eowon Designs © Eowon Designs An integrated team of design professionals incorporating architects and interior designers. We believe exquisite designs are produced as a result of artistic judgement coupling with visional innovation. Dedicated to pursue perfection in every project through expressive creativity and committed professionalism. We design to impress! Some of Eowon Designs’ most prominent projects include: BSG Sales Gallery , Penang, Malaysia The following statistics helped Eowon Designs achieve 19th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 18. Hijjas Architects & Planners © H Lin Ho Formerly known as Hijjas Kasturi Associates; Hijjas Architect & Planners is the evolution of a long standing professional practice that values a holistic approach to design and building; combining multi-disiplinary approach with strong concept and contextual driven solutions. Some of Hijjas Architects & Planners’ most prominent projects include: Heriot Watt University, Putrajaya, Malaysia Heriot Watt University Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia The following statistics helped Hijjas Architects & Planners achieve 18th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 2 17. Anuar Aziz Architect (a member of Arte Axis Design Group) © Anuar Aziz Architect (a member of Arte Axis Design Group) Arte Axis Design Group is a boutique multi-disciplinary design group specializing in green build environment. Central to the company philosophy is design excellence, achieved through extensive and active collaboration with our clients, consultants and specialists. The work emerges from an evolutionary design process, exploring and testing ideas, while focusing on the clients’ objectives, functional discipline and value based design. Some of Anuar Aziz Architect (a member of Arte Axis Design Group)’s most prominent projects include: SOCSO Rehabilitation Centre, Malacca, Malaysia PPR (People Housing Program) Gua Musang , Gua Musang, Malaysia UPSI Student Village, Tanjung Malim, Malaysia The following statistics helped Anuar Aziz Architect (a member of Arte Axis Design Group) achieve 17th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 3 16. Seshan Design © Rupajiwa Studio We are a boutique, design driven practice based in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, where we offer customized design solutions, tailor-made to suit our clients’ needs and exceed their expectations! We believe every project is unique and the best results are obtained from intimate discourse and development with our clients. We are passionate about our work and we seek equally passionate clients who will willingly work closely with us to push the limits of what is possible. We are a very versatility office- our projects range from masterplanning, architecture to interiors and in various categories: residential, commercial, food and beverage and hospitality. Some of Seshan Design’s most prominent projects include: “Chahna” – Glenhill, Shah Alam, Malaysia Menerung House, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia SS3 House, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia The following statistics helped Seshan Design Sdn Bhd achieve 16th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 3 15. Kee Yen Architect © Pixelaw Photography We respond to the sensitivity and random at its artfulness for all reveries. – Ar. Lim Kee Yen “We are dedicated in using multi-perspective and rational means to intervene the development of contemporary living environment, committed to creative-thinking and thorough design solutions. In this complex era, the new ideas and inspirations are always come from the responsiveness and sensitiveness of the contextual study – a careful study of the unique needs, the constraints of each project as well as from continuous improvements in the process from conceptual to construction details. Some of Kee Yen Architect’s most prominent projects include: Project Conservatory, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia KYA Studio, Shah Alam, Malaysia Fillet House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Kemaris House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3-Juxta House, Malaysia The following statistics helped Kee Yen Architect achieve 15th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 5 14. D&P Associates © D&P Associates Founded by Romain Duval in 2004 after a successful career with top practices in Paris. We are band of makers — curious, industrious and experimental. We are architects, designers, creators and entrepreneurs working together across a wide range of landscapes and locations. We are futurists, making today what we believe will inspire and connect people tomorrow. Our philosophy is to work closely with client to refine designs and produce cost effective and elegant solutions. People entrust us with realizing the expression of themselves and to translate that into built form. Ours is an architecture of listening & understanding. This is what we know to do. Some of D&P Associates’ most prominent projects include: Spaces Rialto , Melbourne, Australia Regus HP Tower , Wellington, New Zealand Regus Center One, Seoul, South Korea Regus Center One, Seoul, South Korea La Table du Chef, Hanoi, Vietnam The following statistics helped D&P Associates achieve 14th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 36 13. TKCA Architect © TKCA Architect TKCA Architect is an award-winning architectural firm located in Kota Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia which provides complete architectural, planning and interior design services. Founded by Ar. Ts. IDr Rien Tan in year 2020, TKCA Architect has a diverse portfolio of outstanding community, adaptive reuse, industrial, commercial and residential projects. TKCA Architect fully embraces the Integrative Design Team and Integrative Design Process method of design and building which assures the most responsive, accurate and cost effective process for each client. Notably, TKCA Architect has recently earned recognition as one of the emerging architects in Malaysia under KLAF 2023. Some of TKCA Architect’s most prominent projects include: Skyblox Co-living, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Spectrum House, Subang Jaya, Malaysia SAMA Square, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ERASCAPE PAVILION, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The following statistics helped TKCA Architect achieve 13th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 4 12. zlgdesign © zlgdesign zlgdesign was set up some 20 years ago by two architect both trained in London under the banner of zeidlerlim design. Susanne Zeidler had worked and studied under sir Peter Cook in London and Frankfurt, and later at the Bartlett, London, whereas Huat Lim trained at the Architectural Association London, and then went on to work at foster and partners in the UK (at the time the chelsea reach offices had not yet been built) in 1984 and for foster france at the time, in Nimes, south of France. Some of zlgdesign’s most prominent projects include: Point 92, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Lantern Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia BOH Tea Visitor’s Centre, Pahang, Malaysia The following statistics helped zlgdesign achieve 12th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 3 11. Fabian Tan Architect © Fabian Tan Architect Fabian Tan Architect is an architectural studio based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The firm has completed several notable houses which have garnered awards and favourable publication throughout Asia & Europe. Its approach to architecture has been one that involves evolution and flexibility. Ideas that are formed in the conception of a project never imposes anything on the site. Throughout, conventions are constantly reassessed, resulting in individual variations of concepts meant for a specific context. He believes that the essence and consistency of a space is a whole that reflects its constituent parts such as light, material, volume, and relationships. In this hectic and overly complicated times we exist in, restraint and refinement serve as his guiding philosophy to create buildings of subtle beauty. Some of Fabian Tan Architect’s most prominent projects include: Voila House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Eigent House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ittka House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ottiqa House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tessera House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The following statistics helped Fabian Tan Architect achieve 11th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 6 10. Eleena Jamil Architect © Marc Tey Ge Wai EJA was formed in 2005 by Eleena Jamil and is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It has a breadth of experience in delivering successful and imaginative projects. With a dynamic and committed team of architects and assistants, it focusses on creating enduring architecture by seeking tactile spatial solutions with strong references to context and culture. Some of Eleena Jamil Architect’s most prominent projects include: Sepang House, Selangor, Malaysia The Buzz.ar, Malaysia Bamboo Playhouse, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sri Rampai Pedestrian Bridge, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Shadow Garden Pavilion, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia The following statistics helped Eleena Jamil Architect achieve 10th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 8 9. S.PIN ARCHITECT © S.PIN ARCHITECT S. Pin Architect is an award-winning firm based in Kuala Lumpur. Founded by Ar. Tan Sih Pin, one of the alumni of ’30 Under 40 Emerging Malaysian Architects 2011′, the firm strives for holistic approach in architecture which includes urbanism, interior design & landscape design. It has vast experience in wide range of projects which include residential, commercial, hospitality, recreational, industrial and mixed development. Inspired by Malaysia’s rich nature & diverse culture, S.Pin’s architecture has been persistently spinning out from the following core visions: NATURE When architecture embraces & responses to the surrounding nature, magic happens, innovative solutions will emerge. We believe architecture & nature can symbiotically co-exist and mutually calibrate to reach a new sustainable balance for our challenged environment. CULTURE Architecture functions at its best when it works seamlessly with its surrounding socio-cultural and historical fabric. Some of S.PIN ARCHITECT’s most prominent projects include: The Skywalker House, Jalan Medang Tanduk, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The Concrete Cloud, Bayan Club, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia MINANGKABAU-LONIAL House at Subang Heights, Subang Jaya, Malaysia Pantech Corporation, Pasir Gudang, Malaysia The following statistics helped S.PIN ARCHITECT achieve 9th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 11 8. architects 61 © architects 61 sdn bhd Architects 61 was established in 1995 by Jeffrey Ling. The firm with 50 strong workforces has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and is associated to the regional architectural practice of Architects 61 which is one of the largest practice in Singapore that was founded in 1974. With a proven track record spanning over 25 years, our portfolio includes master planning, mixed use developments, hotels, residences, offices, civic buildings and urban heritage conversion. The Firm is registered with US Green Building Council (USBGC) and also member with GBI as we strongly believe GREEN would be direction to pursue in order that developments become sustainable. Some of architects 61’s most prominent projects include: Kia Peng Suites, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Troika Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia Continew, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Lakeville, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia D’Sara Sentral, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia The following statistics helped architects 61 sdn bhd achieve 8th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 6 7. Core Design Workshop © Core Design Workshop With experiences in new builds, remodeling design and adaptive reuse architecture, Core Design Workshop has been emphasizing on looking deep into the iNSIDE of Architecture, not in the context of interior design but simply representing architecture from the iNSIDE out. Putting Form and Function as the old norm, prioritising on defining the spatial quality within the context of architecture, with creating NEW spatial experiences as the top agenda of all the design programs, re-discovering the inner essence of what truly matters to the building users. Some of Core Design Workshop’s most prominent projects include: inTroVerse House, Subang Jaya, Malaysia inSight House, Malaysia inTerlace House, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia The following statistics helped Core Design Workshop achieve 7th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 3 6. Kuee Architecture © Kuee Architecture Kuee Architect(s) is a multiple PAM Award-winning ISO 9001 Architecture practice in Malaysia. With our design works spread across various countries, our focus is on delivering green, sustainable buildings with exquisite quality and functionality. Some of Kuee Architecture’s most prominent projects include: Rebranding of Pantai Hospital Ipoh, Ipoh, Malaysia 1 Lasam, Ipoh, Malaysia Galasa Event Place, Ipoh, Malaysia Kuee Architect’s Residence, Ipoh, Malaysia The following statistics helped Kuee Architecture achieve 6th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 4 5. SAVA Architects © SAVA Architects SAVA is a design consultancy firm based in Borneo, Malaysia and Danang, Vietnam. We are inspired by the mountains in Northern Borneo and coastlines in Central Vietnam. SAVA is formed with a commitment to designing spaces for people from every walk of life – by utilising locally-sourced materials and local building techniques. Our design intends to bring people closer to nature, especially in an urban environment. Our portfolio ranges from residential, hospitality, commercial to interior design, with past experience in masterplanning, housing and bamboo architecture in Asia and Europe. SAVA’s architecture is beyond aesthetics. Our aim is to raise awareness and appreciation for our surroundings through our thoughtful design process. Some of SAVA Architects’ most prominent projects include: Thavi Cosmetic Showroom, Vinh, Vietnam Red House, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia The following statistics helped SAVA Architects achieve 5th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 2 4. Gibert&Tan © Gibert&Tan GIBERT&TAN is a design studio directed by Michael Gibert & Tan Seok Foong. The studio was founded on the premise that a small but expert group of individuals can deliver outstanding works. Our prism is in a permanent search for an accurate interaction with the present, attentive and non-arrogant, with collaboration standing at the core of our methodology. Our interest does range from the mundane to the spiritual and we endeavor to bring these two conditions together to truly impact those who experience our works in real time. Some of Gibert&Tan’s most prominent projects include: 181Chambers@Semantan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia BBR Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Gale’s Residence, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Lotus KL Store, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The following statistics helped Gibert&Tan achieve 4th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 4 3. ArchiCentre © Archicentre Sdn. Bhd. Founded in 1994, ArchiCentre is a multidisciplinary architecture design practice based in Malaysia. Archicentre’s work is driven by sustainable regionalism to create socially responsive built environments. Their portfolio of works range from large scale city and town planning through to commercial, hospitality, residential, and adaptive re-use projects. Archicentre’s multi award-winning designs are widely published in the region. Some of ArchiCentre’s most prominent projects include: Estuari Sport Complex, Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia Setia Corporate Headquarters, Shah Alam, Malaysia Glad Tidings Vision Centre, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia S14 House, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Setia Eco Tower, Setia Alam, Shah Alam, Malaysia The following statistics helped Archicentre Sdn. Bhd. achieve 3rd place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 10 2. Code Red Studio © Utile, Inc. CRS also known as Code Red Studio, aim to be the key player of architecture, interior and illustration industry in Johor Bahru. Some of Code Red Studio’s most prominent projects include: Autodesk Boston Workspace Expansion , Boston, Massachusetts The Bunker House, Kulai, Malaysia 30° tilted terrace REJUVENATION, Taman Tasek, Johor Bahru, Malaysia POOL HOUSE @ Leisure Farm., Malaysia The following statistics helped Code Red Studio achieve 2nd place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 5 1. DRTAN LM Architect © H Lin Ho DRTAN LM Architect (DTLM) is an architectural design studio that operates out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where they are involved in a large variety of high profile work. Ar. Dr. Tan Loke Mun is the principal of DrTan LM Architect (DTLM). DTLM’s works embrace and interpret regionalism in a modern social context. In a rapidly changing world landscape, they believe that well designed buildings and spaces create added value for all its users. Often working from the basis of typologies, they have managed to interpret and translate simple regional metaphors into their increasingly green architecture. DTLM’s notable projects include GTVC Centre, M Marini, No.19 Subang Jaya, Puchong Festival City, Nagaworld Phnom Penh Cambodia, Suen Galleries Bangsar, No.18 House, 23 Terrace and House 12H. Some of DRTAN LM Architect’s most prominent projects include: PJKita Community Centre, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia 23 Terrace, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia House No.18, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Clay Roof House, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia 8D House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The following statistics helped DRTAN LM Architect achieve 1st place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Malaysia: Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 16 Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking? With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year. Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York. An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted A Guide to Project Awards The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award. The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status: Project completed within the last 3 years A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value High quality, in focus photographs At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings Inclusion of construction photographs There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.     We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com. The post 20 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Malaysia appeared first on Journal.

The Hulu anthology series Nine Perfect Strangers is back for another season, leaving sunny California behind for the snowy Austrian Alps. So far, Nicole Kidman’s wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko is the only character from season 1 set to return. The rest of the cast is made up of new characters that Masha has invited to this new iteration of her Tranquillum retreat. While there’s still a lot yet to be revealed about who these people are, we at least know which actors we can expect to see potentially tripping out on Masha’s psilocybin protocol this season. The trailer alludes to some unexpected connections between these characters, which isn’t a surprise given how Masha likes to hand-pick her groups. There’s bound to be some twists and turns in store, but for now, here’s what we know about the cast this season. Nicole Kidman as Masha Dmitrichenko Nicole Kidman returns as the mysterious Russian wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko, who we last saw leaving her Tranquillum House spa in Cabrillo, California after finding a way to reunite with her deceased daughter via the hallucinogenic psilocybin she and everyone else were taking. Now that she has seemingly “perfected” her formula, it’s time to try and heal a new group of people, even though Masha still seems to be struggling herself. Nicole Kidman has had a long career thus far appearing in projects like Moulin Rouge!, Eyes Wide Shut, Practical Magic, and more recently Babygirl, Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and The Perfect Couple. Murray Bartlett as Brian Murray Bartlett joins the cast this season as Brian, one of Masha’s nine new guests. Based on clips from the trailer, it seems like Brian was once a Mr. Rogers-like figure and the host of a children’s TV show, but some kind of on-set outburst may have seen him ousted from his role. That kind of tarnished legacy seems like the kind of thing that would appeal to Masha, as we saw with Tony (Bobby Canavale) last season. It seems like he might also have a connection to Tina, but we’ll have to wait and see how that plays out. You’ll likely recognize Bartlett from his roles in The White Lotus and The Last of Us. Christine Baranski as Victoria Christine Baranski joins the cast as Victoria, yet another of Masha’s guests. Victoria appears to be wealthy and seems like she’s sought Masha out. She greets one of the attendants, Martin, with a familiarity that indicates they’ve likely spoken before, and she seems to know more than the other guests about Masha’s unorthodox practices. Victoria and Matteo seem to have come to this retreat together, though the exact nature of their relationship is unclear. You’ll likely recognize Baranski from one of her many projects such as Mamma Mia!, The Good Wife, The Gilded Age, and Chicago. Annie Murphy as Imogen Annie Murphy plays Imogen this season, another guest of Masha’s and Victoria’s estranged daughter. We don’t know much else about her, other than she seems a little awkward, but Annie Murphy has proven time and time again that she can play layered characters, so it’s only a matter of time before we see what’s under Imogen’s surface. Murphy has previously starred in Black Mirror, Russian Doll, Kevin Can F**ck Himself, and what most people will likely recognize her from, Schitt’s Creek. Aras Aydın as Matteo Aras Aydın plays Matteo, Victoria’s younger lover. Aydın is a Turkish actor who has previously appeared in projects such as Cherry Season, Runaway, and Siyah Kalp. Dolly de Leon as Agnes Dolly de Leon plays Agnes, a guest at the retreat who appears to have once been a nun, though seems to have gone through a crisis of faith. She also seems to have crossed paths with Tina at some point in her journey. De Leon has previously appeared in Triangle of Sadness, Jackpot!, and Ghostlight. Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Wolfie Maisie Richardson-Sellers plays Wolfie, Tina’s partner and a guest of Masha’s. It seems like Wolfie knows a little more about what this experience is about than Tina does, and really wants them to keep an open mind. Richardson-Sellers has previously appeared in projects such as The Originals, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and The Kissing Booth 2 and 3. King Princess as Tina Musician King Princess makes her on-screen acting debut as Tina, a depressed piano virtuoso in desperate need of a relaxing spa vacation. What she doesn’t realize is that her partner Wolfie seems to have other plans for their time off together. Tina also seems to have a connection to Agnes and appears to have been under her care at some point in their lives. Lucas Englander as Martin Lucas Englander plays Martin, Masha’s assistant this time around. He’s there to make sure things don’t get too out of hand as the guests take their various trips throughout their experience. Englander is an Austrian actor who has previously appeared in Catherine the Great, The Witcher, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Henry Golding as Peter Henry Golding plays Peter, the son of David and a guest of Masha’s. Peter wants to reconnect with his aloof father, and this retreat is certainly a way to do that. You’ll likely recognize Golding from movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Snake Eyes, The Gentlemen, and Last Christmas. Mark Strong as David Mark Strong plays David, a billionaire who is skeptical of Masha’s methods, but still attends the retreat with the others. Mark Strong has appeared in a number of other projects, such as Shazam!, Dune Prophecy, The Penguin, and Kingsman: The Secret Service. Lena Olin as Helena Lena Olin plays Helena, an assistant of sorts to Masha this season, though she appears to have a much different role than Martin does. She seems to have helped Masha herself overcome something, and appears to be there to help her stay sane as well. Helena is also very adamant against bringing David into the fold, though her reasons for that are still unclear. Olin has previously appeared in Alias, Hunters, and The Darkness. The first two episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 are available to stream on Hulu now. New episodes premiere on Wednesdays, culminating with the finale on July 2.

As the most famous residence in the country, the White House’s interiors are given the utmost attention, and they tend to change with every new administration. So, we’re taking a look back at how the property’s design has evolved over the years. From the famed Sister Parish designs of the Kennedy era to Michael S. Smith’s vision for the Obamas, the house has seen impressive transformations and, more recently, some unexpected style choices. The White House’s OriginsBefore we explore the White House’s most prominent interiors, let’s take a look back at the famed home’s history. The White House was designed by Irish architect James Hoban in the Neoclassical style of architecture and built over the course of eight years (from 1792 to 1800). The edifice itself is made of Aquia Creek sandstone that was painted white because of the risk posed by the permeability of the stone, which could crack in colder months. Before the White House was built, the President’s House in Philadelphia served as home to two presidents: George Washington and John Adams. The construction of the White House was completed just a few months before Adams’s presidency ended, so he was able to move into the People’s House before his term concluded.Until 1901, what we know as the White House was actually called the Executive Mansion, which then-President Theodore Roosevelt didn’t find ideal—given that many U.S. states had a governor’s residence that was also called the Executive Mansion. Roosevelt subsequently coined the term "White House" that we know and still use to this day—the new name could also be seen atop copies of his stationery.Related StoryThe Early Years When President John Adams and his wife, First Lady Abigail Adams, moved into the White House, the residence was lacking in decor, given that it was only recently completed. The East Room of the White House—which is now used for events such as press conferences, ceremonies, and banquets—was then used by Abigail Adams as a laundry room.Thomas Jefferson was the first president of the United States to spend his entire time in office living in the White House. He set the precedent for the home’s opulent but still livable interiors by having furnishings and wallpaper imported from France.The Late 1800s and Early 1900sIn 1882, President Chester Arthur enlisted Louis Comfort Tiffany to reimagine the Red Room, the Blue Room, the East Room, and the Entrance Hall, the latter of which soon welcomed the addition of a stained glass screen, in true Tiffany style. Library of CongressLouis Comfort Tiffany’s design of the White House Red Room, circa 1884-1885.whitehousehistory.orgPeter Waddell’s The Grand Illumination, an 1891 oil painting that showcases Louis Comfort Tiffany’s stained glass screen in the White House Entrance Hall.Much to our dismay, President Theodore Roosevelt had Tiffany’s creations removed 20 years later, because the designs were seen as dated at this point. Roosevelt already had a construction crew at work in the White House to make more room for his sizable family (hence the addition of the East Wing and the West Wing). While there are no colorized photos of these rooms under Tiffany’s direction, there are black and white photographs and a colorful oil painting of what the stained glass screen likely looked like—so we can only imagine how magical it appeared in real life. It’s believed that after the screen was removed, it was sold at auction and later installed at Maryland’s Belvedere Hotel, which was destroyed in a fire in 1923. Shortly after the removal of Tiffany’s designs, Theodore Roosevelt hired celebrated architectural firm McKim, Mead & White to restore the White House to its Neoclassical glory. Related StoryThe Early-to-Mid-1900sIt wasn’t until 1909—over a century after the White House’s completion—that the Oval Office was created. Then-President William Howard Taft added this room and had it painted in an army green shade, which has since been changed, as every president likes to make the space their own.Given the numerous state dinners at the White House and accompanying serveware required for them, First Lady Edith Wilson (wife to Woodrow Wilson) oversaw the completion of the White House China Room in 1917. Since then, the room has displayed state service china, silverware, and glassware chosen and used by each administration (a selection traditionally made by the First Lady). The White House Historical AssociationThe White House China Room in 1975.The majority of the presidential china depicts some variation of the Great Seal, which features a bald eagle and a shield that resembles the United States flag, but most administrations have come up with their own unique designs. Many of these are produced by Pennsylvania-based porcelain manufacturer Lenox. One of our personal favorites? James Polk’s charming floral dessert plate, featuring a mint green hue, is a refreshing change from the usually neutral color palette of other presidential china. (Heads up: You can buy reproductions of this plate and others on eBay!)Many may not know that the White House was once home to an indoor pool. (Yes, really!) In 1933, an indoor pool was installed in the People’s House at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who used swimming as a form of therapy to help with his polio. On the walls overlooking the pool was a mural by artist Bernard Lammotte, who painted the Christiansted Harbor from the island of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Thirty-six years later, Richard Nixon nixed the underground pool and turned the space above it into a press briefing room to host televised broadcasts.Abbie Rowe/National Park Service/Harry S. Truman Library & MuseumThe White House Reconstruction under President Harry S. Truman, circa 1950.Following the Great Depression and World War II, the White House was in desperate need of repair, so much so that it was deemed unsafe for occupancy in 1948, after architectural and engineering investigations. Harry S. Truman, his family, and the White House staff had to live elsewhere during a three-year-long reconstruction project in which the People’s House was completely gutted, enlarged, and reconstructed. The Trumans spent this time living at Blair House—also known as the President’s Guest House—which is located across the street from the White House. (Two members of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party attempted and failed to assassinate Truman while he was living in this house.) The Kennedy YearsFirst Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was very passionate about historic preservation, and it was her efforts that led to the formation of the White House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization that still exists today, aiming to preserve the White House’s history and make the home more publicly accessible. She was also the reason the White House was declared a museum, thereby ensuring its preservation for decades to come.View full post on YoutubeDuring Jackie Kennedy’s first year as First Lady, she oversaw a $2 million renovation of the White House. Following the completion of the project, Jacqueline Kennedy gave a televised tour of the White House, which aired on NBC and CBS to over 80 million viewers on Valentine’s Day of 1962. This was the second televised tour of the White House (Harry S. Truman was the first to give a tour in 1952), and the first time it was led by a First Lady. The broadcast went on to win both an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award.Mrs. Kennedy's renovation focused on reincorporating historic furniture and decor. “It just seemed to me such a shame when we came here to find hardly anything of the past in the house, hardly anything before 1902,” she explained in the broadcast. She cited Colombia’s Presidential Palace as a site where “every piece of furniture in it has some link with the past. I thought the White House should be like that.” Kennedy was so passionate about allowing the public to access the People’s House that, following the suspension of tours after her husband's assassination in 1963, she requested that the tours resume just one week later.The John F. Kennedy LibraryFirst Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s dressing room at the White House, designed by Stéphane Boudin.The Kennedy-era White House restoration would not have been complete without the interior decorators who helped make it possible: Sister Parish, and later, Stéphane Boudin. Parish designed the Yellow Oval Room and the Kennedy’s private quarters, but was later replaced by Boudin (reportedly following an occurrence in which Parish advised a young Caroline Kennedy to keep her feet off of the furniture; in Parish’s own writing, she revealed that someone told Mrs. Kennedy that Parish kicked Caroline—but this was never confirmed). Parish’s granddaughter, Susan Bartlett Crater, once told the New York Times that the rift was sparked mainly by “a problem over money.” Regardless, Parish’s influence on the interior design world remains indisputable to this day, and much of the popularity of her style can be traced to this high-profile project.Boudin was soon hired to decorate the Blue Room, the Treaty Room, the Red Room, and the Lincoln Sitting Room. He would later add his own touch to the private rooms of the White House as well, with more French-style decor than was previously in place.Getty ImagesThe White House Rose Garden as Bunny Mellon designed it during the Kennedy administration. Jackie Kennedy also famously oversaw the completion of the White House Rose Garden, at the behest of her husband. She tapped socialite, philanthropist, and horticulturalist Rachel Lambert "Bunny" Mellon to design the project. Related StoryThe Late 20th Century to Present DayThe White House interiors have been reinvented numerous times over the 220-year history of the building, and the decor tends to perfectly encapsulate both the time period and the First Family living there. Dorothy Draper protégé Carleton Varney served as Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's "design consultant," styling state dinners and overseeing Christmas decor. Famed American decorator Mark Hampton also contributed Christmas decorations in 1977. The Ronald Reagan Library Ronald and Nancy Reagan enjoying a meal on silver TV trays in the White House.In the 1980s, the Reagans hired Ted Graber, a decorator from Beverly Hills, to bring their vision to life. In the process, many antique furnishings were replaced with 20th-century decor, straying from typical White House decorating traditions. At the beginning of the next decade, George H.W. Bush tapped Hampton to revive the Oval Office and Executive Residence during his tenure. By the time Bill Clinton moved in, the hand-painted 18th-century-style bird wallpaper that was installed by the Reagans in the master bedroom was still in place. The Clintons’ interior decorator, Kaki Hockersmith, removed and replaced the wallpaper, telling The Washington Post that the room “had lots of all kinds of birds flying and sweeping around. It was not a calming atmosphere.”As First Lady, Hillary Clinton helped raise the White House Endowment Trust’s funds to $35 million, so that more restoration work could be done to White House. During her time spent living at the People’s House, Mrs. Clinton had five rooms restored: the State Dining Room (which Mark Hampton oversaw), the East Room, Cross Hall, the Red Room, and the Blue Room. The Ronald Reagan Library The Reagans’ bird wallpaper (pictured) was later replaced by the Clintons.George W. Bush hired Kenneth Blasingame, a fellow Texan, to decorate the White House interiors during his administration. And this wasn’t their first time working together—Blasingame also decorated the Bush family’s ranch house in Crawford, Texas. Then-First Lady Laura Bush told Architectural Digest about her plans for the Oval Office’s redesign, saying, “We knew he wanted it to be a sunny office that showed an optimist worked there.” One of the pieces that she and Blasingame collaborated on was a rug that featured the iconic presidential seal, along with a cheery addition: sun rays above the emblem, which echoed Mrs. Bush’s hopes for a “sunny office.” The rug also includes a depiction of a garland made of laurel leaves, a tie-in to the First Lady’s first name, Laura.Architectural DigestThe Queens’ Bedroom as it appeared during the George W. Bush years, where various queens throughout history have stayed. The drapery, bed hanging, and armchair are by Scalamandré.When President Barack Obama took office, he replaced the aforementioned rug with one that paid tribute to four prior presidents and a civil rights icon. The following quotes from Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. outline the perimeter of the historical rug:"Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” —Abraham Lincoln"The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us.” —Theodore Roosevelt"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” —Franklin Delano Roosevelt"No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.” —John F. Kennedy"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” —Martin Luther King Jr.Michael Mundy/Rizzoli Michael S. Smith’s design for the Obama-era Yellow Oval Room.Barack and Michelle Obama worked with decorator Michael S. Smith to make extensive updates to the residence, creating spaces that merged formality and comfort—and incorporating plenty of modern and contemporary art by American talents. With the help of decorator Tham Kannalikham, President Donald Trump replaced the Obama-era beige striped wallpaper in the Oval Office with a light grey damask option during his first term. In the years Trump first took office, at least $3.4 million was spent to revamp the White House to better suit his aesthetic—including a highly controversial revamp of the Rose Garden.During Joe Biden’s term as president, First Lady Jill Biden notably chose interior designer Mark D. Sikes—known for his expertise in fresh, all-American style—to reimagine her East Wing office. Sikes was the first design expert the Bidens selected to transform a White House space, according to The Washington Post. When the couple was living in the vice president’s residence, they enlisted designer Victoria Hagan.View full post on InstagramSikes later updated Blair House, the President’s Guest House, with more than 100 rooms. He spent a year and a half revamping the place with his team to make it feel comfortable and homey for visitors while preserving the historic interiors, which hadn’t been updated since Mario Buatta and Mark Hampton refreshed the house in the 1980s. “We wanted to continue the story that was already told by Mark and Mario,” Sikes told AD in October 2024. “They’re both idols of mine, so we didn’t want to completely reimagine what they did, but continue the story and update it and make it feel like the best representation of American traditional design there is.”Sikes reupholstered existing furniture, designed custom pieces, and even commissioned a brighter take on the Clarence House damask wallpaper Buatta and Hampton installed in the hallways and staircases. The designer also applied the refreshed Blair House logo to everything from linens to china.Related StoryAnna Moneymaker//Getty ImagesIn Trump’s second term as president so far, he’s made evident changes to the Oval Office—giving the room a more ornate, gold-heavy look. Among the new accessories are a row of historic gold objects on the mantel, gold medallions on the walls and fireplace, gilded Rococo mirrors on the walls, gold eagles on side tables, and even gold cherubs above the doors.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Ever since Donald J. Trump was re-elected president, we’ve witnessed a disheartening spectacle: big tech companies bending their knees to him, hoping to get him to kill antitrust actions against them and defend them from European Union rules and fines.  Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Apple CEO Tim Cook have all in one way or another shown or declared support for the president’s agenda, especially his opposition to DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs. Notably, all four attended his Jan. 20 inauguration and were front and center during the proceedings.  Zuckerberg killed DEI efforts at Meta, abandoned attempts to contain misinformation on his services, makes regular pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, and called then-candidate Trump a “badass” after last year’s assassination attempt. He sounded like nothing so much as Trump himself (while using words of more than one syllable) when he told Joe Rogan on a podcast: “The corporate world is pretty culturally neutered. A culture that celebrates aggression a bit more has its own merits. Masculine energy, I think, is good.” Bezos killed DEI at Amazon. As the owner of The Washington Post he also squashed the newspaper’s endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris last fall, killed a cartoon of tech leaders and Mickey Mouse bowing down to Trump, and ruled that the paper’s editorial and opinion pages will become right-wing, covering only “personal liberty and free markets,” with no opposing viewpoints allowed. Pichai killed off DEI efforts at Google and makes regular visits to see Trump in Florida. Cook is a bit of an outlier — although he attended the inauguration, he didn’t kill DEI at Apple and has made noises about working with Trump on tariff issues. The four companies haven’t gotten anything (yet) for their efforts; legal action against them begun under Trump’s predecessor are proceeding. Google faces being broken up after a judge ruled it illegally monopolized the advertising tech market. Meta is being prosecuted for illegally monopolizing the social media market by buying Instagram and What’s App and could be broken up as well. Amazon has been charged by the FTC with protecting its online retail monopoly by imposing fees on third-party sellers and favoring its own services over theirs. Apple has been sued by the Department of Justice for a variety of antitrust actions in protecting and extending its monopoly in the smartphone market. And while Trump has made statements about EU regulators — the White House last month criticized recent fines against Meta and Apple as a “novel form of economic extortion” — but has done little to get the EU to halt its actions against the companies. Microsoft takes on Trump Meanwhile, Microsoft not only won’t valorize Trump, it’s also pushing back against him. The company has publicly supported its DEI efforts rather than killing them. In December, the company’s Chief Diversity Officer, Lindsay-Rae McIntyr, wrote on LinkedIn that Microsoft’s DEI efforts are vital to the company’s success: “The business case for D&I [diversity and inclusion] is not only a constant, but is stronger than ever, reinforcing our belief that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial for innovation and success.” When worries surfaced that Trump might require American tech companies to suspend their cloud operations in Europe, or turn Europeans’ data over to the federal government as part of a trade war, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith wrote in a blog post that he won’t turn over the data or suspend European cloud operations. In fact, he said the company is expanding them. He also said he would sue the Trump administration to protect them, if necessary.   Two days after that, Microsoft dropped the big law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, which had agreed to give the administration $125 million in free legal work after threats from Trump. Microsoft hired Jenner & Block to take its place — and Jenner & Block sued the Trump administration instead of giving in to it. Microsoft becomes the world’s most valuable company You might expect that after all that, Trump would have publicly attacked Microsoft or used the power of his office to go after the company. So far, that hasn’t happened. And unlike Meta, Apple, Google, and Amazon, Microsoft has thrived since Trump took office.  Its stock price inched up from $434 a share just before Trump’s inauguration past $445 this week, while the share prices of the others have all declined, sometimes significantly. Along the way, Microsoft became the world’s most valuable company, with a market cap approaching $3.3 trillion.  Gauging by the company’s most recent quarterly results, even better times may be ahead. The New York Times had this to say about the results: “Overall, Microsoft’s results showed unexpected strength in its business. Sales surpassed $70 billion, up 13% from the same period a year earlier. Profit rose to $25.8 billion, up 18%. The results far exceeded Wall Street’s expectations. Despite the economic uncertainty, the company predicted more strength ahead, saying revenue would surpass $73 billion in the current quarter.” Not out of the woods yet All that said, Microsoft is being investigated by the feds for possible antitrust violations having to do with AI and cloud computing. That investigation, like the others, wasn’t begun by the Trump administration; it was set in motion during the Biden administration. So far, Microsoft’s actions don’t appear to have had any effect on the suit — or the company. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shown that it’s possible for a company to maintain its values under Trump and thrive. Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta should follow suit.

The International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia,  has returned, with its grand opening held in early May. The exhibition runs until November 23, 2025 The Canada Council for the Arts, Commissioner of Canada’s official participation in the International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, administers the selection process and oversees the exhibition at the Canada Pavilion. But in addition to the Canada Pavilion, Canadian architects and designers have a presence in several other exhibitions that are part of this year’s festival. Here’s a round-up of the Canadian work in Venice. Picoplanktonics. Photo credit: Valentina Mori Picoplanktonics led by Living Room Collective Canada’s official entry to the Biennale is Picoplanktonics, a 3D-printed living artwork incorporating cyanobacteria—a global first at the intersection of architecture, biotechnology, and art. The exhibition, developed by the Living Room Collective, showcases the potential for collaboration between humans and nature. Picoplanktonics is an exploration of the potential to co-operate with living systems by co-constructing spaces that “remediate the planet rather than exploit it.” The installation transforms the Canada Pavilion into an aquatic micro-ecosystem, where architectural structures grow, evolve, and naturally degrade alongside their living components. It was designed according to regenerative architecture principles, and is not only a built object, but also a breathing organism interacting with its environment, which prompts reflection on potential futures of the built environment. The creative team is led by bio-designer Andrea Shin Ling, alongside core team members Nicholas Hoban, Vincent Hui and Clayton Lee. Etude Ile Verte by Atelier Pierre Thibault. Photo credit Alex Lesage Les boucaneries de l’île Verte by Atelier Pierre Thibault Atelier Pierre Thibault has been invited to participate in this year’s Venice Biennale as the only team from Québec. His project is inspired by the old fish smokehouses, or boucaneries, of Île Verte. With the support of the fifty permanent residents of Île Verte, Atelier Pierre Thibault has designed a participatory architectural project that aims to reinterpret the boucaneries as creative canvases to imagine new uses to strengthen Île Verte’s autonomy. This includes community greenhouses, artist studios, and gathering places. The exhibition aims to highlight, as Thibault puts it, “the strength of a sensitive and collective gesture in response to the erosion of traditional buildings and the major climate challenges faced by inhabitants living year-round in an isolated island environment.” The construction of the installations, along with the exchanges sparked with the community, was documented through photography and video, and captures both the process and the spirit of collaboration that defined the project. Celebrating the Verdoyants’ collective intelligence and inviting reflection on the future of the boucaneries, this participatory project highlights the exemplary and internationally resonant nature of this approach. The Atelier Pierre Thibault project will be on view at the Corderie dell’Arsenale. The pavilion itself will take the form of a temporary, lightweight structure constructed from reused materials, situated on the grounds of the French Pavilion, which is currently undergoing renovation. The curators have selected 50 projects to be featured across six thematic sections: Living With the Existing, the Immediate, the Broken, Vulnerabilities, Nature, and Combined Intelligences. Image courtesy of WZMH Architects Speedstac by WZMH Architects as part of Living With…Combined Intelligences  As part of the exhibition “Living With… Combined Intelligences,” WZMH Architects presents Speedstac, a prefabricated modular precast solution that aims to reimagine how urban areas devastated by war can be rebuilt. Originally designed to accelerate housing construction in Canada, Speedstac took on urgent new relevance following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With more than 170,000 buildings damaged or destroyed and millions displaced, WZMH’s innovation, developed through its R&D lab, sparkbird, aims to offer a scalable solution: self-contained, plug-and-play building modules with integrated electrical and plumbing systems that can be seamlessly inserted into existing structures. The use of modern materials such as high-performance concrete can reduce the weight of the modules, making them easier to lift and move using conventional crane equipment. Using a robust locking mechanism, several modules can be securely fastened and unfastened as needed, to produce an adaptive modular housing solution. The Speedstac system aims to offer a solution to the challenges of traditional construction methods, enabling faster, more flexible, and more sustainable building projects. The Vivre Avec / Living With exhibition is hosted in the French Pavilion. Presentation, Northern Horizons. Photo credit: Blouin Orzes architectes Northern Horizons by Blouin Orzes architectes as part of Time Space Existence  Through a wide selection of projects—ranging from conceptual works, models and photographs to videos, sculptures and site-specific installations—the exhibition Time Space Existence, hosted by the European Cultural Centre, aims to provoke participants to question their relationship with space and time, re-envisioning new ways of living and rethinking architecture through a larger lens. Quebec firm Blouin Orzes’ participation revolves around their first-hand understanding of Inuit territories, where they have been working since 2000. Their contribution is based on their  recent publication, Northern Journeys. Blouin Orzes’ contribution in on display at the Palazzo Mora, and additional contributions to Time Space Existence are on view at the Palazzo Bembo and Marinaressa Gardens. View of Commercial and Residential Towers from Seymour and West Georgia Streets. Image credit: Henriquez Partners Studio BC Glass Sea Sponge Another contribution to Time Space Existence is the work of Henriquez Partners Studio. The transformative mixed-use development which they are presenting merges architectural innovation, social responsibility and urban revitalization, and has recently been submitted to the City of Vancouver. The project is about ambitious city-building, and aims to unlock public benefits on currently underutilized land in a way that supports some of the city’s most urgent needs, while contributing bold architecture to the city skyline. Four towers, designed by Henriquez, draw inspiration from rare and ancient glass sea sponge reefs, whose ecological strength and resilience have shaped both form and structure. These living marine organisms, which are unique to the Pacific Northwest, aim to serve as a metaphor for regeneration and adaptation. This concept is translated through the architectural language of the towers: silhouettes, sculptural forms, and sustainable performance. The tallest tower, a stand-alone hotel, proposed at 1,033 feet, is shaped by a structural diagrid exoskeleton that allows for column-free interiors while maximizing strength and minimizing material use. Developed in collaboration with Arup, the structural system references the skeletal lattice of sea sponges; a concept researched at Harvard for its groundbreaking structural efficiency. Henriquez Partners’  contribution is on display at Palazzo Bembo. Renewal Development Shishalh Project Duplex Renderings – Image credit: Renewal Development Shíshálh Nation: Ten Home Rescue Project as part of theLiving With / Vivre avec exhibition Vancouver-based company Renewal Development has been selected to appear as part of the French Pavilion’s exhibition on housing innovation. In 2024, Renewal Development partnered with developer Wesgroup and the shíshálh Nation to relocate ten high value Port Moody homes set for demolition to the shíshálh Nation on the Sunshine Coast. The Nation has been experiencing an acute housing shortage with 900 Nation members currently on a waitlist for housing. Renewal Development says that this initiative reflects its “deeply held values of sustainability, and reconciliation” and its “work to offer real-world solutions to waste and housing shortages by reimagining what already exists.” The project will be on display in the French Pavilion. The following is a list of other Canadian groups and individuals contributing to this year’s Venice Biennale: On Storage Brendan Cormier is a Canadian writer, curator, and urban designer based in London. He is currently the lead curator of 20th and 21st Century Design for the Shekou Partnership at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Prior to this he served as the managing editor of Volume Magazine. La Biennale di Venezia and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London present for the ninth consecutive year the Applied Arts Pavilion Special Project titled On Storage, curated by Brendan Cormier, in collaboration with Diller, Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R). It explores the global architecture of storage in service of the circulation of things, and features a newly commissioned six-channel film directed by DS+R. From Liquid to Stone: A Reconfigurable Concrete Tectonic Against Obsolescence Inge Donovan, based in Boston, achieved her Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design and Architectural History, Theory and Criticism from the Daniels Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto in 2019 after growing up in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Curse of Dimensionality Adeline Chum is currently a Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Spatial Research and third-year student in the MArch Program at GSAPP. She has received her Bachelor of Architectural Studies from the University of Waterloo, Canada and has worked in small and medium-sized architecture firms in Toronto, New York, and London. Oceanic Refractions Elise Misao Hunchuck, born in Toronto and currently based Berlin and Milan, is a transdisciplinary researcher, editor, writer, and educator. Her practice brings together architecture, landscape architecture, and media studies to research sites in Canada, Japan, China, and Ukraine, employing text, images, and cartographies to document, explore, and archive the co-constitutive relationships between plants, animals, and minerals—in all of their forms. SpaceSuits.Us: A Case for Ultra Thin Adjustments Charles Kim is a designer currently based in Boston. Stemming from his background in architecture, he is interested in materials, DIY, and the aesthetics of affordability. Since graduating from Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2022, he has been working as an architectural designer at Utile. Uncommon Knowledge: Plants as Sensors Sonia Sobrino Ralston is a designer, researcher, and educator, and is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor in Landscape Architecture and Art + Design at Northeastern University in the College of Arts, Media, and Design. She is interested in the intersections between landscape, architecture, and the history of technology. Doxiadis’ Informational Modernism Mark Wasiuta is Senior Lecturer in Architecture at Columbia GSAPP and Co-Director of the Critical, Curatorial and Conceptual Practices in Architecture program. Wasiuta is recipient of recent grants from the Onassis Foundation, the Asian Cultural Council, NYSCA, and the Graham Foundation, where he was an inaugural Graham Foundation Fellow. Blue Garden: The Architecture of Emergence Tanvi Khurmi, based in London, UK, is a multidisciplinary designer and artist. Her practice is focused on addressing and combatting issues surrounding the climate crisis. After receiving a Bachelor’s in Architecture with a minor in Environmental Studies from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto, she earned a Masters of Architecture in Bio-Integrated Design at the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London. Design as an Astronaut Dr. Cody Paige is the Director of the Space Exploration Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, a team of 50+ students, faculty, and staff building and flying advanced technology for space exploration. The Initiative focuses on helping students take their research into space. The pipeline developed to achieve this works with students from across the Media Lab and the MIT community to prototype space-related research in the lab, fly and test them in microgravity on parabolic and suborbital flights, and finally to take them to the International Space Station or on to the Moon. Cody also has a background in geology, specifically quaternary geochronology, and completed her Master of Applied Science at the University of Toronto in Aerospace Engineering and her Bachelor of Applied Science from Queen’s University in Engineering Physics.   The post Round-up: Canadian-led exhibitions at the 2025 Venice Biennale appeared first on Canadian Architect.