The project combines three architectural expressions that resonate with the urban challenges of the neighborhood. The first, a structural grid in white concrete, represents a Mediterranean identity and speaks of the thickness, shadow, porosity, rhythm, and framing of the large landscape. It complements the thickness of the loggias and becomes the very language of the architecture. The second is a more restrained composition, allowing the poetic landscape of the area to emerge in the heart of the block. The last expression refers to a domestic scale, seen in the white concrete-roofed houses and the pathways through the project.
Architectural firm Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli has completed the new Brixen Public Library (Bolzano, Italy), a stone's throw from the Duomo — a public institution founded in 1984, which, with its legacy of over 36.000 books represents a landmark for the entire Isarco Valley. Following on from the Music School, the studio doubles its presence in Tyrol's oldest city by giving the community a contemporary space for learning and sharing, a welcoming urban living room that reinforces cultural identity and instills a strong sense of social cohesion."This is not a library intended as a large container of books – quite the opposite. It is a project deeply rooted in its context, designed to welcome and generate human relationships and exchanges, intertwining cultures, practices, and people of different ages "; explain the architects Michel Carlana, Luca Mezzalira, and Curzio Pentimalli.
In the architectural production of Argentina in recent years, numerous offices have emerged that, through their practice, explorations, and works, have gained relevance within the contemporary discipline. It is important to highlight that many young architects, even with nascent careers in terms of built work, have managed to establish themselves, demonstrating a unique voice and a defined imprint in their work.
BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group has completed the 1,200-m2 Jinji Lake Pavilion in Suzhou, China. Situated on the Jinji waterfront, the pavilion offers a space for public gatherings and hospitality and is one of the eleven permanent pavilions developed as part of the City's initiative to create a vibrant and welcoming promenade.
Archinfo, the Information Centre for Finnish Architecture, has announced the theme, curator, and exhibition team for the Pavilion of Finland at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition, titled "The Pavilion – Architecture of Stewardship", will focus on the diverse labor involved in constructing and maintaining architecture, from design contributions by architectural workers and engineers to the efforts of construction workers, restoration architects, maintenance staff, and cleaners, all of whom play vital roles in the creation and upkeep of the built environment. Curated by Ella Kaira and Matti Jänkälä from the Helsinki-based architecture practice Vokal, it will use Alvar and Elissa Aalto's Pavilion of Finland to explore architecture as a collaborative endeavor.
For centuries, buildings and towns were built layer upon layer. Churches were built on the foundations of temples, and cathedrals over churches, taller and grander; the crypts of cathedrals were often what remained of the previous church. Today, however, we are more respectful and reverential of those buildings that have survived the ravages of rapid urbanization. We tend to 'heritage list' such buildings to preserve them, and we do not build over or in front of them. That said, additions are often necessary to ensure a historic building's compatibility with our modern lifestyles, and so we seek to disguise these additions, by placing them to the rear, or in the case of this grand home, hiding them below ground level.
The British Museum has announced that Paris-based Lina Ghotmeh Architecture (LGA) has been selected to lead the redesign of its Western Range galleries. This decision follows a rigorous international competition, marking a significant milestone in the Museum's Masterplan, a long-term initiative to modernize its Bloomsbury site while maintaining its historic integrity. The project will be one of the most extensive cultural redevelopments globally, covering approximately 15,650 square meters, including a third of the museum's gallery space.
The Pritzker Prize is the most important award in the field of architecture, awarded to a living architect whose built work "has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity through the art of architecture." The Prize rewards individuals, not entire offices, as took place in 2000 (when the jury selected Rem Koolhaas instead of his firm OMA) or in 2016 (with Alejandro Aravena selected instead of Elemental); however, the prize can also be awarded to multiple individuals working together, as took place in 2001 (Herzog & de Meuron), 2010 (Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA), and 2017 (Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramon Vilalta of RCR Arquitectes).
Glass bricks have been widely used in architecture, eventually becoming a staple of the 1980s architectural styles. Some examples of construction with this material could be the classic "Maison de Verre" by Pierre Chareau and Bernard Bijvoet in Paris or the more modern take of Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP with the Optical Glasshouse in Japan. In recent years, glass bricks are becoming increasingly popular, no longer relegated to older aesthetics. Instead, they have evolved into versatile design elements that bring light, texture, and character into contemporary interiors. Their ability to diffuse natural and artificial light while maintaining privacy has reignited interest among designers seeking innovative ways to enhance indoor spaces while taking advantage of natural light.
The refurbishment and extension of a late 1950s twin house in Restelo is a measured architectural intervention that combines mid-century modernist sensibilities with contemporary design principles. Situated on an unassuming urban plot, the project reconfigures the property to maximize spatial efficiency, natural light, and connections to the surrounding environment while preserving key elements of its original character.
