Resources to help you find materials, perfect design details and master the tools you need to create better buildings.
Supposedly coined by Aristotle, the “Wisdom of the Crowd” dictates that the collective judgment of a large group can provide you with the answer to almost any problem (from guessing the weight of a cow to predicting the lottery numbers, no less). The question is: can the same principle be applied to the perceived necessity…
Italian lighting manufacturer Karman has served up a number of new luminaires with — true to the bra nd — a twist. The Domenica Large Pendant, for instance, recalls the traditional church bell but renders the form in white plaster, adorned with an intricate pattern, that gives way to gold or white wire netting. It measures…
Some buildings become permanently engrained in the collective consciousness of architects, such is t heir influence in both academic circles and professional practice, and Chilean firm Gubbins Arquitectos has channeled the spirit of one such icon for a residence on the picturesque coastline of Cachagua. Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Mirador…
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…
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…