Architecture: Research Guide

Over the years, Medellín, and especially Provenza, has become one of the epicenters of tourism in Colombia. As architects, we have the great responsibility of providing value not only aesthetically but also environmentally and socially in every intervention we undertake. 

An ultra-functional organization is essential to ensure the firefighters' efficiency in case of an emergency. The process, coded and mechanical, guided the organization of spaces that follow each other like a machine serving its users: dirty locker rooms, showers, clean locker rooms, living spaces — all interactions are designed to minimize space and time loss.

Faced with the economic logic of a developer wishing to renovate an 8-unit building while adding a penthouse on the roof, the architects suggested an alternative.

The world watches China's development with a mix of admiration, curiosity, and apprehension. From massive infrastructure projects—such as hydroelectric plants and a modern high-speed rail network—to the emergence of entire cities built from scratch, the country showcases an ambitious growth strategy and an impressive capacity for execution. However, this rapid progress also brings significant challenges and stark contrasts. On one hand, modernity asserts itself in futuristic skyscrapers and cutting-edge technology; on the other, there remains a pressing need to preserve the country's rich cultural and historical heritage, reflected in ancient temples, imperial palaces, and historic citie..

Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron is proud to unveil its work on the 142,560m² Hengqin Culture &Art Complex, a community focal point in one of China's fastest-growing cities, built to serve the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.The Hengqin Culture and Art Complex held an opening lighting ceremony on September 14, 2024, and entered the trial operation stage. On thethird anniversary of the establishment of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone, this building adheres to the design concept of "Shanshui Hengqin, the Living Hall of the Grand Bay Area", and will gradually be opened to the public before the end of the year.

"We stand on the brink of a revolution in construction. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence is set to inevitably transform a sector that has, until now, been traditional and scarcely digitalized. Soon, we will witness a paradigm shift in how we approach every stage of the construction process, and industry professionals must lead the change," warns Lilian Ho, BIM & Digital Leader in AEC industry.

Desert X is a site-specific international art exhibition taking place this year across the Coachella Valley, California. Its fifth edition, curated by Artistic Director Neville Wakefield and co-curator Kaitlin Garcia Maestas, opened on March 10, 2025, featuring eleven installations by international artists integrated into the desert landscape. Artists were invited to propose alternative ways of perceiving a world "increasingly encircled by the transformational effects of nature and humanity," through physical installations in specific locations within the California desert. In this context, architecture is understood as the most visible evidence of human transformation, while immaterial elem..

MERCADO is a vibrant crafts market dedicated to empowering the local community by showcasing their artisanal creations and fresh produce to both visitors and tourists exploring the nearby Mayan archaeological wonders. The initiative for its development was part of a government-funded program for the urban improvement of underdeveloped municipalities in Mexico, in this instance, it aimed at linking a growing tourism industry with the needs of the communities in the Yucatan peninsula.

The project serves as a tourism hub leveraging surrounding rural resources. After on-site surveys, the design team selected a hilly area in southern Daguan Town, originally planned for high-rise residential development. The site features rich natural vegetation and varied terrain, with a central hill and a maximum elevation difference of about 60 meters.

The house's façade is inspired by the folds of origami, creating a visually intriguing structure. The angular, folded design combined with heat-resistant stone tiles makes it well-suited for Vietnam's hot climate, ensuring a cool and comfortable indoor environment.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro has unveiled the design for the new Frederick S. Pardee School for Global Studies at Boston University, a project aiming to integrate sustainability, urban density, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The 70,000-square-foot building will rise 186 feet, making it the tallest mass timber tower in the Northeast United States. Situated on a former parking lot at the heart of the university's campus, the structure will occupy just 10% of the site, allowing for the creation of a central green space in the future.

Humid environments present some of the most complex challenges in architectural design. From the tropical monsoon season of Southeast Asia to the equatorial heat of Central Africa, these environments demand solutions that account for intense moisture, high temperatures, and the constant battle against mold, decay, and stagnation. Yet, for centuries, communities in these regions have developed architectural techniques that do not fight against humidity but instead work with it, leveraging local materials, climate-responsive design, and passive cooling techniques to create sustainable and livable spaces. By considering atmosphere as a sensory and climatic phenomenon, architects will craft spac..

At a global level, contemporary architecture continues to explore tools and design methodologies to integrate nature into habitable spaces, given its proven benefits and contributions to improving people's quality of life. While there are diverse religious beliefs around the world, religious architecture generally expands beyond its uses and functions to connect with the sacred. Senses, memories, and emotions are transmitted in these spaces through the use of certain materials, spatial organizations, and even sounds and aromas that enhance experiences in atmospheres of spirituality, divinity, and reflection. In Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, and Uruguay, projects for places of worship open ..

The new School of Public Health at Imperial occupies a key site on the university's White City campus. Designed for academics, researchers, students and public health professionals, the building provides a mixture of teaching, research and community outreach space for the school's multidisciplinary work in healthcare, health policy and epidemiology. Advances in medical understanding derive from working partnerships, when practitioners and researchers can compare and validate data, test research findings and develop resources together. At the heart of the School of Public Health's design therefore is a drive to facilitate sharing and collaboration with spaces that can be shaped and reorganise..

Challenging conventions has been a constant in artistic production throughout history, always seeking to reframe established limits. In the 20th century, societal, historical, and technological changes created the perfect context for profound architectural reconfiguring. In this process, modernism introduced new ideas around functionality, breaking with the ornamentation of the past. However, building on that foundation, minimalism further refined the reduction of form to its essence. Focusing on the relationship between space, restraint, and light, the Minimalist movement transformed contemporary architecture and interior design, turning windows into a fundamental resource for sensory perce..

Situated on a 1260 m² flat plot just 300 meters from the beach, in a coastal region of ‘restinga’, this house is also located near the Tamar Project center, renowned for its long-standing efforts in conservation of sea turtles.

Secret Forest —a pavilion in the forests of South Korea — is enclosing three trees. By mirroring this little piece of the forest, a whole new landscape is being created, a forest on its own.

The project seeks the restoration and enhancement of an abandoned listed building, as well as its extension, transforming it into a modern residence for the new owners. The property is situated in Nicosia, Cyprus, at the end of a row of single-storey terraces that maintain large Mediterranean gardens at the rear of their plots.

This International Women's Day, we celebrate the contributions of women in architecture, a field traditionally dominated by men. While dominant narratives may overlook their significant impact, as the history of architecture is replete with examples of women subtly but powerfully shaping the profession. When limited to a draftsman position, Ester McCoy took a step back not to disengage but to better observe. She became the first architectural critic and historian to notice the unique flavor of Modernism developing along the West Coast during the 1950s, bringing names such as Richard Neutra, or Luis Barragan to the forefront of architectural discussions. Similarly, the name Aline Louchheim ma..

Salalah is Oman's largest logistics port and its second-largest city. Located within a two-hour flight from Dubai and a 90-minute flight from Muscat, the city attracted over one million tourists in 2024. As part of the Oman Vision 2040 investment plan, Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has commissioned Sasaki to develop a master plan for redesigning the city's waterfront. The plan includes renovating the city's coastal public spaces and constructing new housing and infrastructure to accommodate projected growth. The project is part of a broader initiative to double tourism's contribution to the nation's GDP by 2030, with on-site construction set to begin later this year, in 2025.

The Lot 8 project is a collaboration between BC architects & studies & materials, Assemble and Atelier LUMA. The 'Magasin Electrique' is a 2100m2 former 19th century train depot building, and has been renovated to provide a new workspace for the design and research laboratory Atelier Luma, including workshops for timber, metal, ceramic, and textile, alongside dedicated algae and mycelium laboratories, meeting rooms, desk and production space, library and resource centre.

Henning Larsen has just launched a new initiative in Esbjerg, Denmark, aimed at rethinking urban spaces through the perspectives of teenage girls. Developed in collaboration with Esbjerg Municipality, Ramboll, Catapult Projects, and KOMPAN, the project builds on research from the Urban Minded framework to explore how co-creation can shape more inclusive public environments. Supported by a 2.3 million DKK grant from the Villum Foundation and 485,000 DKK from the Ramboll Foundation, the initiative seeks to address an often-overlooked demographic in urban planning. As cities continue to evolve, conversations around gender-inclusive urban spaces have gained momentum, particularly in light of Int..

The Qingshan Cultural Hall project is located in Qingshan Village, an experimental area for art and rural architecture in Hangzhou. The site is situated to the south of the village, with views of the mountains to the north. The design establishes a dialogue between architecture, the local community, and the natural environment, using this interaction as the foundation for a critical examination the architectural form.

This house serves as an extension of the existing home where the owners currently reside. It has been thoughtfully planned to accommodate the family's future living arrangements and to provide a comfortable space for the parents to live together. The L-shaped plot for the new house is divided into three distinct zones. The deepest section is reserved as a private and tranquil residence for the elderly, allowing them to have their own space for relaxation and solitude. It features a separate vehicle entrance, independent from the main house.

Changes in seasons come slowly. You can measure the color of the landscape, the direction in which the wind blows, and the depth of light. However, the first place to notice the change is the food on the table. Cooking with seasonal ingredients. Or it's only natural to look for food that goes well with the season, just as you think of such wild greens and fresh vegetables and cool naengmyeon in the hot summer.

Publicly occupied spaces can be overwhelming. Airports, schools, stadiums, and workplaces all feature environments with visual chaos that can be disorienting and stressful for individuals, especially those who are neurodiverse. The bombardment of stimuli, unpredictable movements, and competing visual information can create barriers to occupant comfort. Architects are regularly encouraged to create spaces that recognize and honor individual differences. Designing for neurodiversity is one way of championing inclusivity and extending principles of universal design.

Architecture and its atmospheric qualities have long been a subject of discussion, yet reaching a consensus on the matter remains elusive. This is largely because spatial experience is deeply personal—rooted in emotions, sensory perceptions, and individual preferences that are difficult to articulate in words alone. The way one perceives, feels, and interacts with a space adds another layer of complexity, making it challenging to define and agree upon its atmospheric impact. Nevertheless, architects and designers continuously strive to shape environments that are not only functional and comfortable but also capable of evoking emotions and leaving a lasting impression on their occupants.

The intervention is located on Rua João da Rosa, within building no. 1, a structure originally part of a group of five buildings constructed in the early 20th century to house fish canning factories. These factories were strategically placed on the outskirts of the urban core, in a spacious area with convenient access to the railway line, catering to the growing demands of the canning industry, particularly during the two World Wars. Over time, as industrial activity intensified, worker housing emerged in the vicinity, gradually transforming the surrounding area into a residential neighborhood. Following the decline of the canning industry in the 1970s, four of the original buildings were d..

Transforming urban buildings into cleanenergy plantsis a bold and powerful strategy to combat the climate crisis, reduce dependence on centralized grids, and promote more resilient, sustainable cities.Since 2010, cities have been responsible for over 75% of global electricity use, a demand historically met by fossil fuels as urbanization has increased since the Industrial Revolution. By the late 19th century, hydroelectric power began gaining relevance as a renewable alternative. However, with rapid advancements in solar technology, urban buildings now have the unprecedented potential to become self-sufficient power hubs.

This is a project to convert a property with a poor approach into a men's salon on the third floor of a tenant building in an arcade in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, which is entered from a closed and narrow spiral staircase. By using the poor visibility and approach as a backhand, the shop proposes fashion, art, and lifestyle that only those who arrive here can know. We wondered if we could create a space like a members-only online salon that only you know about and don't want to share with others, making you want to come back again. The name of the shop is derived from the British musician of the same name, The 1975, and I had listened to his albums in the past, so music became a common image..