Architectural case studies and material exemplars to spark your creativity and inspire your next project.
Everyone loves a good slatted design, whether in the form of a brise soleil, sunscreen, ceiling plan e, or even furniture. While wood is the obvious choice for such applications, the material might not lend itself well to some designs due to factors of weight, installation, and performance or maintenance mandates. Here are five alternatives to…
In their endeavors to create a perfectly serene setting for the practice of Buddhism, the Japanese h ave long been renowned for their beautifully restrained designs, in both the built environment and their carefully manicured natural landscapes. In Tokyo, Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple is one of the most visited in the country, while in Kyoto, the bamboo…
Residents of California are feeling firsthand what life is like with a limited water supply as they face the current drought. But the resource crisis extends far beyond one state: according to water.org, a child dies every minute due to a water-related disease and a staggering 750 million people (or the equivalent of two and…
If there is one thing architectural writers pride themselves on more than anything else, it is the a rt of categorization. They revel in the distillation of a studio’s burgeoning portfolio down to the telltale signs of modernism, postmodernism, deconstructivism, or high-tech: few contemporary practices can free themselves from the shackles of these broadly defined and…
As the top vacation destination in Germany and one of the fastest growing cities on the continent, B erlin has attracted record-breaking numbers of tourists in the past year. Known around the world for its booming art scene, exciting nightlife, and progressive architecture — not to mention the inexpensive rent — Berlin is the place to…
When a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the heart of Nepal on April 25th this year, the country’s peo ple and their built environment suffered immeasurable damage. The tragedy spanned from the city streets of Kathmandu to the snow-covered slopes of Everest: more than 9,000 people lost their lives, and many more were left bereaved, injured, and homeless.…
Designers seeking to move away from speccing tile classics, such as the subway and penny-round, rejo ice: these shapely and illusory finds are cures for the common wall (or floor). Shaking things up further, two of these are fashioned from concrete. Fireclay Tile’s Chaine Femme Fireclay Tile: Chaine Femme Reminiscent of chain links, these ceramic tiles…
Koreatown in Los Angeles offers a lot more than most traditional ethnic enclaves: it’s one of the bi ggest, densest, and most diverse areas in a city often criticized for sprawl and segregation. Challenging this popular conception of L.A., high rises and eclectic businesses line Koreatown’s walkable main corridors. Meanwhile, historic Art Deco apartments pack side…
While the design of bridges usually lies within the realm of civil engineers, many architects can’t resist getting involved with this specialist branch of infrastructure. The linking of two landmasses inspires visions of instant urban renewal, forming a literal and symbolic connection between communities and providing all kinds of socioeconomic benefits along the way. Bridges…