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SketchUp to V-Ray Rendering Tips
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Storytelling for Interiors: From Murals and Wallpapers to Digital Screens
Walls have long been more than mere structural elements; they are canvases that narrate stories, reflecting desires for nature, spirituality, or the pursuit of tranquility and stimulation. With advancements in addressable LED pixels, walls have evolved into immersive digital surfaces capable of displaying any image in large format, adapting to the needs of the moment.
However, while universities continue to train architects and interior designers to create static buildings, the art of meaningful storytelling through digital screens—especially those with dynamics—remains largely unexplored in academic curricula.
https://www.archdaily.com/1020267/storytelling-for-interiors-from-murals-and-wallpapers-to-digital-screensThomas Schielke
The Ideal City According to Five Urban Concepts
Cities, like people, are dynamic and constantly evolving to keep pace with and adapt to the social, economic, and environmental changes of their time. Similarly, the vision of how the ideal city should be planned has been influenced by each era’s realities and prevailing thoughts.
Industrialization, the increasing migration of people from rural to urban areas, population growth, the development of new materials and construction technologies, the dominance of automobiles as a means of transportation, and, more recently, the search for alternative ways of occupying and moving through cities have all impacted urban planning theories throughout history. These influences have shaped the structure of modern cities—with their successes and challenges.
https://www.archdaily.com/1020451/the-ideal-city-according-to-five-urban-conceptsSomos Cidade
Round Pillars in Architecture: From the Classical Column to the Modern Sculptural Support
The pillar has adorned many of the greatest monumental examples of Western architecture since antiquity, from the Doric columns of the Parthenon to the Corinthian capitals of the Pantheon portico. In the West, the legacies of these classical forms have permutated over the centuries and into modern times: the Doric columns of the Lincoln Memorial, the Ionic columns of the British museum portico, and the Villa Savoye’s pilotis are just a few examples of the classical column’s continued transformation and use over the last few centuries. Today, the round pillar continues to be used in modern design, both functionally and aesthetically. Below, we look into these elements in more detail, including their materials, construction, structural qualities, and several contemporary examples of their use.
https://www.archdaily.com/948544/round-pillars-in-architecture-from-the-classical-column-to-the-modern-sculptural-supportLilly Cao
From Kumasi to Khartoum: How Architectural Education in Africa Was Influenced by Modernism
There is a burgeoning, perhaps overdue, interest in mid-twentieth-century African architecture of the Modern Movement. This period saw independence movements and new self-ruling governments asserting their new nationhood with built projects, often in what was regarded as the International Style or Tropical Modernism, both offshoots of Modernism. These included monuments, convention centers, and hotels, with well-known examples such as the refined brutalism of the Kenyatta International Convention Center in Nairobi, Kenya, or the formal expressionism of the Dakar International Fair, Senegal.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019568/from-kumasi-to-khartoum-how-architectural-education-in-africa-was-influenced-by-modernismMohieldin Gamal
Transforming Office Spaces: Repurposing Underutilized Structures in the United States
The continuation of remote work practices has altered cities' bustling downtown areas along with the traditional office landscape, leaving behind many vacant spaces whose future purpose is a matter of speculation. Four years after the onset of hybrid working policies, office occupancy rates in urban centers remain lower than pre-pandemic levels, signaling a long-term shift in the work environment. Some developers have aimed to reposition these buildings while other are seeking alternative uses of vacant buildings in central location. While both approaches prove beneficial in their own ways, the potential for repurposing office buildings is vast and exciting. From residential living to cutting-edge research facilities, architects and developers explore diverse possibilities and challenges of transforming these underutilized structures into thriving new spaces.
https://www.archdaily.com/1020177/transforming-office-spaces-repurposing-underutilized-structures-in-the-united-statesAnkitha Gattupalli
Libraries for Children: Dynamism, Flexibility, and Adaptability in Interiors
What is the vision for a 21st-century library? How can architecture professionals foster the interest of new and future generations in reading? Globally, the rapid growth of communication technologies, along with the increase in available information and the constant need to update knowledge, brings with it new educational approaches, cultural practices, and community activities that involve the creation of more dynamic spaces capable of adapting to different functions simultaneously. The connection with play, the integration of other uses, or even the incorporation of new technologies typically play a central role in the interiors of contemporary libraries designed for a young audience.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019881/libraries-for-children-dynamism-flexibility-and-adaptability-in-interiorsAgustina Iñiguez
How Dense Is Too Dense? The Future of Social Housing in Metropolises
Density in cities is often touted as a positive and desirable way to live. Various studies have repeatedly suggested that higher density can lead to better lifestyles, a more sustainable environment, and improved health. In The Death and Life of Great American Cities, journalist Jane Jacobs identifies several possible advantages of density: increased walkability, close-knit communities, and a concentration of resources while maintaining diversity that better serves the population.
Naturally, a higher population density prevents the formation of ghost towns and vacant shops, which can become hotbeds for crime. However, these positive views on dense living environments often rest on optimistic assumptions about urbanism, such as minimal friction among individuals, easily maintained hygiene and a natural formation of diversity.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019418/how-dense-is-too-dense-the-future-of-social-housing-in-metropolisesJonathan Yeung
Crafting Communities Through Architecture: Inside IDK's Collaborative Design Practice
Selected by ArchDaily as one of the Best New Practices of 2024, IDK is injecting a fresh and dynamic approach to building communities with quality architecture. Mike Lim, James Pockson and Roddy Bow met while studying for their master's degree in Architecture at the Royal College of Art (RCA and founded their architecture practice, IDK in London in 2019. The three, driven by a strong mission, to help communities and progressive institutions, organizations and cultures thrive – have been researching and delivering community-oriented projects that embody experimental building with a holistic approach. Their work focuses on nurturing social development, with an emphasis on ecological awareness, local material use, smart resource and budget management, respectful refurbishments, and designing only what is necessary without "over-building."
https://www.archdaily.com/1020041/crafting-communities-through-architecture-inside-idks-collaborative-designPaula Pintos
Ephemeral Architectures: Engaging Communities through Temporary Structures
Ephemeral architectures, characterized by their temporary and flexible nature, have emerged as powerful tools for revitalizing urban spaces and fostering architectural creativity. These transient installations transform public areas, engaging communities, and prompting reflections on the potential futures of our cities. By temporarily transforming environments, ephemeral architectures encourage both architects and the public to reimagine the possibilities of urban living. This dynamic interplay, between the temporary and the permanent, challenges traditional architectural practices and opens up new avenues for sustainable and inclusive urban development.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019356/ephemeral-architectures-engaging-communities-through-temporary-structuresDiogo Borges Ferreira
Empowering Children Through Public Spaces in Lebanon: In Conversation with CatalyticAction
Public spaces are not always shaped by planning but by the practices they host. Their existence stems from our inherent need for connection with others. As spaces of encounter, these urban, open, and accessible areas reflect how we interact with our surroundings and each other while offering places for exercise, play, socializing, and recreation.
Recognizing that public spaces are more than just physical environments, CatalyticAction is dedicated to fostering a sense of community, safety, and belonging, especially for children, who are among the most vulnerable in society. Their mission is not only to create spaces where children can play and grow but also to empower them, ensuring they have a voice in shaping their surroundings. To learn more about their work, Christele Harrouk, ArchDaily's Editor-in-Chief, spoke with Joana Dabaj, Co-founder and Director of Programmes at CatalyticAction.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019934/empowering-children-through-public-spaces-in-lebanon-in-conversation-with-catalyticactionChristele Harrouk
Public Pools as Public Spaces: The Role of Swimming and Bathing in Cities
When one thinks of public spaces, the image of a pool rarely comes to mind. Public spaces are the center of civic life, places where most interactions, activities, and behaviors follow strict social and cultural norms to ensure the safety and comfort of all users. In contrast, swimming and bathing represent something more intimate and primordial, a sensorial experience distinct from any other. In addition to the health benefits, the act of floating in space creates a break from everyday life and its constraints.
As social spaces, public baths, and pools offer an even more unusual experience. Here, regular conduct rules and norms no longer apply. Social nudity becomes the new norm, and, as people strip off their clothes, they also lose their status markers, transforming the pool into an egalitarian oasis. Across history, these often-discredited spaces offered a heightened social experience, fostering connections and bringing a new element to dense urban environments. As a typology present since antiquity, public baths and pools have also been a disputed space, as a manifestation of difficult topics such as gender and racial segregation, gentrification, and surveillance in contrast to the freedom they promise.
https://www.archdaily.com/1002494/public-pools-as-public-spaces-the-role-of-swimming-and-bathing-in-citiesMaria-Cristina Florian
A 360 Solution for Light Wood-Frame Offsite Construction
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In the construction industry, light wood-frame offsite construction has emerged as a game-changing approach, promising faster build times, higher quality, and reduced environmental impact. Member companies of the Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB) have launched a digital tool that harnesses the benefits and potential of prefabricated light wood-frame products for projects.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019234/a-360-solution-for-light-wood-frame-offsite-constructionRene Submissions
The Repositioning of Office Buildings: Creating Amenity-Rich Experiences in the Post-Pandemic U.S.
The office building typology emerged from the need to unite thousands of people within a relatively strict working environment. In major cities, these structures clustered into Central Business Districts (CBDs), which became dedicated neighborhoods accommodating commerce and businesses. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this model, leading to the rise of remote and hybrid work. Now, nearly four years later, occupancy rates in these urban centers remain lower than pre-pandemic levels, signaling a long-term shift in the work environment. To address this challenge, developers have been increasingly looking into “repositioning” their projects, seeking to redefine their image by adapting them to contemporary demands. This typology considers the surrounding urban fabric, aiming to expand the building’s use beyond its original purpose and attract people back to the CBDs.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019417/the-repositioning-of-office-buildings-creating-amenity-rich-experiences-in-the-post-pandemic-worldMoises Carrasco
Urban Living in the United States: How Exclusive Residential Developments are Redefining Homeownership
New developments, companies, start-ups in the real estate industry are transforming perceptions and needs around home ownership and rental experiences. In a society where home ownership is attributed to personal success, innovations in the residential rental market seek to enhance the appeal of renting. Evolving consumer needs are resulting in a trend of exclusive, community-focused living models. This shift is redefining how people view their living spaces, interact with their communities, and perceive the value of their homes.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019962/urban-living-in-the-united-states-how-exclusive-residential-developments-are-redefining-homeownershipAnkitha Gattupalli
A New Museum in Cyprus and A Private Residence in Greece: 8 Unbuilt Projects Championing Stone and Submitted by the ArchDaily Community
Throughout history, stone has been a vital building material because of its strength, beauty, and inherent appeal. Stone has been used to build long-lasting constructions for ages, from historic monuments to contemporary residences. Because of its resilience, it is suitable for both interior and exterior design projects, providing a diverse array of appearances. There are numerous varieties of stone, each with a distinct texture and color, including marble, granite, and limestone. Because of this diversity, stone may be creatively used by architects and builders to create accents or entire buildings. This curated selection of Unbuilt Architecture, submitted by the ArchDaily community, showcases how stone is still a dependable and adaptable building material that can combine old-world craftsmanship with contemporary style.
https://www.archdaily.com/1020062/a-new-museum-in-cyprus-and-a-private-residence-in-greece-8-unbuilt-projects-championing-stone-submitted-by-the-archdaily-communityNour Fakharany
“I Let Architecture be Deeply Rooted in a Specific Culture": In Conversation with Zhu Pei
“This is going to be amazing! I feel so excited,” says Zhu Pei about his now under-construction Majiayao Ruins Museum and Observatory in Lintao, Gansu province. The Beijing-based architect designed his building like a deeply embedded cavernous space evoking a giant fragment of ancient pottery, resembling an archaeological site from the Neolithic Age discovered here a century ago. The building is so unusual that it cannot be described in common architectural terms. For example, a vast cast-in-place concrete hyperbolic shell lies prone on the ground, blocking the cold wind from the northwest in winter. The architect used the sand and gravel from the local Tao River to produce a special rough concrete with horizontal scratches on the surface, symbolizing the traces of thousands of years of erosion. All of Zhu’s buildings are quite remarkable. Yet, despite their novelties, they are rooted in culture, nature, and climate. They are designed based on his architectural philosophy, Architecture of Nature, articulated in five fundamental points: incomplete integrity, sponge architecture, cave and nest, sitting posture, and structure and form.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019978/i-let-architecture-be-deeply-rooted-in-a-specific-culture-in-conversation-with-zhu-peiVladimir Belogolovsky
The Past, Present, and Future of Hemp in Construction
Cannabis has been widely used throughout human history for a variety of purposes: textiles, paper, food, medicine, biofuels, and even as a stigmatized recreational drug. Considered one of the first plants cultivated by humanity, its history spans millennia and often intertwines with the world of construction. Hemp, a variety of cannabis, has been an essential material in construction history, widely used for its exceptional strength and versatility in various applications, such as fiber production for reinforcement, thermal and acoustic insulation, and as a sustainable alternative in construction processes.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019891/the-past-present-and-future-of-hemp-in-constructionEduardo Souza
Progress and Reparations: Unpacking the Loss and Damage Fund from COP27
In November of 2022, the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, hosted the 27th convention of the United Nations Conference of the Parties, known as COP27. Since signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, the nearly annual conference has gained momentum as a global leader in sharing knowledge and developing frameworks to mitigate climate change worldwide. While the more recent COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, focused on conversations of energy production, this previous conference focused on urban contexts, as they deal with the urgent need for incorporating loss, damage, and climate reparations into climate action plans. As two years have now passed since COP27, it is important to revisit these discussions and hold governing bodies accountable for the promises made and the benchmarks set for climate change mitigation. One of the most ambitious plans from COP27 highlights an urgent debate in our urban environments: how will we define loss, damage, and climate reparations in the twenty-first century?
https://www.archdaily.com/1019126/progress-and-reparations-unpacking-the-loss-and-damage-fund-from-cop27Olivia Poston
Paris 2024 Olympics: An Architectural Guide of the Olympic Venues
Rounding up the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, a special focus is placed on the architectural language and phenomenon that transformed the city for its Olympic and upcoming Paralympic venues. Spread across the city and surrounding areas, Paris integrated iconic landmarks and modern facilities to host a diverse selection of Olympic sports. Beyond the sports venues, the interventions also included unique visitor centers and athlete's accommodations that will serve a purpose beyond the summer's events.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019543/paris-2024-olympics-an-architectural-guide-of-the-olympic-venuesHadir Al Koshta
The Second Studio Podcast: Architecture Pet Peeves
The Second Studio (formerly The Midnight Charette) is an explicit podcast about design, architecture, and the everyday. Hosted by Architects David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet, it features different creative professionals in unscripted conversations that allow for thoughtful takes and personal discussions.
A variety of subjects are covered with honesty and humor: some episodes are interviews, while others are tips for fellow designers, reviews of buildings and other projects, or casual explorations of everyday life and design. The Second Studio is also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.
This week David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design discuss their pet peeves in architecture design. The two cover poorly adapted historical elements; inconsistent use of materiality and detail in a project; dead-end hallways; poor construction execution and more.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019964/the-second-studio-podcast-architecture-pet-peevesThe Second Studio Podcast
Renovations in Barcelona: 8 Apartments that Preserve Their Hydraulic Tile Floors
In the quest to preserve certain architectural, historical, and cultural features of original Catalan homes, apartment renovations are conceived as a means of connecting the past and the present through the recovery and/or restoration of coverings, flooring, carpentry, facades, and more. The history of ceramics in Spain has evolved over the years, experiencing periods of productive flourishing as well as decline. However, the expressive language, versatility, and adaptability of hydraulic tiles to tradition and the future stand out in homes' interior and exterior spaces with their wide combination of colors, textures, and patterns.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019576/renovations-in-barcelona-8-apartments-that-preserve-their-hydraulic-tile-floorsAgustina Iñiguez
More than a Classroom: The Multifunctionality of Educational Spaces in Global South Communities
Educational infrastructure is key to any community. The better the quality of these spaces, the better the learning experience for those who use them. However, these facilities often serve a much broader purpose than just education. In Global South communities, in countries like Peru or Vietnam, where a significant portion of the population lives in rural areas far from urban centers, there are few educational spaces and a lack of places where the entire community—not just the students—can come together.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019866/more-than-a-classroom-the-multifunctionality-of-educational-spaces-in-global-south-communitiesPaula Pintos
Agustín Hernández’s Iconic Casa Praxis Is the Main Character of the Short Film “El Luchador”
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In Mexico City, the iconic Casa Praxis (1975) by the renowned Mexican sculptor, poet, and architect Agustín Hernández Navarro became the main stage in "El Luchador" (The Wrestler), a short film produced by Simon and directed by RA! Arquitectos alongside filmmakers René Batista and Tito Sánchez. The film marks the launch of the 5th edition of the Living Places-Simon Architecture Prize. Simon, a centennial family-owned company specializing in lighting, energy, and space management, is recognized globally for its commitment to architectural excellence.
The film’s story follows the journey of a young dreamer who enters the house to live out his greatest fantasy: to become a wrestler, while facing unexpected events. It highlights the power of dream spaces to make the wishes of their inhabitants come true, illustrating that behind every living space there is an architect with a story to tell.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019489/agustin-hernandezs-iconic-casa-praxis-is-the-main-character-of-the-short-film-el-luchadorRene Submissions
The Future of Smart Cities: How Digital Technologies are Transforming Urban Living in Barcelona and Dublin
As the world witnesses an unprecedented exodus from rural to urban areas, cities face a monumental challenge: how to accommodate a constantly growing population? This phenomenon, characterized by rapid population growth and increasing density, puts pressure on resources, infrastructure, and urban services. As significant problems demand even larger solutions, it becomes necessary, more than ever, to rethink the tools at our disposal. In this challenging context, the rise of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) presents itself as a light at the end of the tunnel. These technologies, initially conceived to simplify everyday tasks and facilitate communication, are potential instruments that enable an effective response to contemporary urban challenges.
https://www.archdaily.com/1018432/the-future-of-smart-cities-how-digital-technologies-are-transforming-urban-living-in-barcelona-and-dublinDiogo Borges Ferreira