Inspiration: Collections

From delicate stone screens to solid envelopes, these buildings emerge from their surroundings as or dered, hierarchical volumes.

In 1896 Austrian architect and urban planner Otto Wagner published Modern Architecture in response t o his distaste for the 19th-century custom of employing old historical styles. The textbook reflects his ideas about the role of the architect in using new materials and forms to reflect the needs of a society that was changing during the…

In the most wide-sweepingly simple conclusion, it is generally accepted that modern architecture is credited to German-born architect, Mies van der Rohe. Known for his openly contrary and deliberately provocative instinct, he discovered the 20th century’s most formative, revolutionary building type (“skin-and-bones” glass and steel architecture) and prognosticator: proclaiming the slogan for modern architecture “less…

Dating as far back as ancient times, the burial of the dead, tomb constructions, and other after-lif e rituals were cornerstones of history and culture as well as architecture and engineering. However, throughout history, cremation was not the most popular way to send off the dead — many religions looked down upon the method and some…

Architecture can quickly become self-indulgent. Pursuing idealistic forms and lofty concepts, archit ects may readily trade purpose for pomp. Overlooking contextual, spatial, or environmental qualities, designers erect shining monuments that reflect themselves. These tendencies are amplified when working with a material like gold, the canonical element embodying affluence and decadence. Designing with gold, whether by color…

Whimsical and off-kilter, these homes lean, shear, and tilt in unexpected ways. The archetypal image of the home — one projecting stability, security, and static — is typically reflected in structural and formal compositions of rectilinear, orthogonal volumes. However, as demonstrated by the bold projects in this collection, leaning walls can animate the staid volumes…

Scotland’s architecture carries significant weight. With projects spanning across ten millennia, the country boasts incredible heritage and dramatic landscapes. Known for ancient roundhouses, hidden souterrains, and famous castles, Scotland also possesses many dynamic modern structures. Famous Scottish architects like Charles Mackintosh, William Playfair, and James Stirling all helped to ground new approaches to architecture, proposing…

Built to accommodate many families for the lowest prices possible, the social housing projects liste d below help countless low-income Parisians and newcomers afford life in the French capital.

To celebrate the opening of our 4th annual A+Awards, we’re taking a look back at some of our f avorite projects from 2015. Want to get in on the action? Check out the A+Awards page to find out how to enter. 3D-printing technology is revolutionizing the way product designers imagine and realize their ideas. Unlike traditional…