Architectural case studies and material exemplars to spark your creativity and inspire your next project.
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…
Russian architecture is dramatically transforming, evolving from its Eastern Slavic roots and Kievan Rus’ traditions to modern works that examine new relationships between form, materials, and public space. While structures like Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin are known the world over, these buildings hardly reflect the emerging Russian design culture and the majority of…
Quick! Name three ways to improve a building’s energy efficiency. While the most obvious solutions a re often expensive and highly visible — upgrading windows, replacing old kitchen appliances, and installing a building automation system — the biggest gains often run just below the surface. Closed-cell spray foam insulation products, like Icynene’s ProSeal, are just that:…
Designing with streaks of light that seemingly cut through a space or define edges is becoming more sophisticated as luminaires and the technologies behind them do. The effects can be anything from ethereal to edgy and futuristic (regarding the latter, think “Tron,” the original 1982 film). Whatever the ambiance or energy you’re trying to imbue…
As Pei Cobb Freed and Partnerscelebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding this year, the interna tional firm is showing no signs of slowing down in its progress with significant commissions across the globe. This week, the practice revealed designs for a new high-rise building in Shenzen set to form a soaring landmark at the gateway…
Not traditionally considered a leader in local cuisine, London’s newly burgeoning restaurant scene h as placed the English capital on the foodie map. Compared to Paris, Rome, and other European culinary destinations, the London food scene hasn’t always had a stellar reputation. However, over the last decade, the city has seen a shift from the traditional,…