Designing a residence in the heart of one of the busiest neighborhoods in the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara was quite a challenge, especially considering the proximity of the condominium’s clubhouse and the entrance booth. The family sought an intimate and private home, and this is how we achieved Casa EV, a unique and cozy space.
In Accra, where public investment in recreational space is limited and green areas increasingly scarce, the Backyard Community Club proposes a new model for shared civic life: a community sports facility centered on a tennis court, demonstrating how design can deliver inclusive, sustainable, and socially transformative environments. Designed by DeRoche Projects, it is Ghana’s first project using a precast rammed earth system – an innovative method pioneered by the studio that reimagines an ancestral material for contemporary, scalable use. At once a local landmark and a replicable prototype, Backyard exemplifies how design can respond to urgent questions of civic quality, environmental stewardship, and cultural identity.
Architecture has always played a key role in providing shelter and protection for human beings. In prehistoric times, we sought refuge in caves, taking advantage of rock structures for protection against the natural elements and predators. Over time, shelters began to be made from materials found in nature, such as branches, leaves, and animal skins, evolving into more permanent and complex homes, with walls made of stone, bricks or wood, roofs to protect against rain and sun, and doors to control access. As we developed more advanced building skills, we used materials such as wood, stone, and clay and architecture evolved significantly, with the construction of temples, palaces, and fortifications that provided not only shelter but also symbolized power, status, and cultural identity. Even so, our buildings can continue to be seen as shells that protect us from the outside world.
Living at the Threshold of Cemetery and Railway Line – House HSBW is located in Heidelberg’s Weststadt district, at the threshold between the historic Bergfriedhof cemetery and the adjacent railway line. On a wedge-shaped site, the building develops a distinct, site-specific form that balances urban presence with a sense of privacy.
A new greenhouse and an educational pavilion transform the rooftop of Collège Flora Tristan into a productive and pedagogical urban farm. Located atop a secondary school in Paris, the project supports the work of Veni Verdi, an urban agriculture association that cultivates fruits, vegetables, and flowers as part of the school’s educational program. The rooftop, originally intended as a school playground, already offered spatial qualities compatible with productive use. Through a participatory budget from the City of Paris, the project enhances this unique agricultural setting while embracing a frugal approach aligned with environmental and financial constraints.
Initially envisioned as a renovation of an existing house, this project evolved into the creation of a new residence, located on the same lot as the old construction. The underlying question of the architectural concept, therefore, is the balance between the new and the memory of the qualities of the old, so as to make the new house a fulfillment of the clients’ desires while also establishing a connection with the past life at the site. The challenge was to achieve more space and better conditions for the interaction of residents and their guests, both inside and outside the house, while maintaining familiarity with the land and its shelter.
Presented by the European Union and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, the award has for decades recognized outstanding achievements in contemporary architecture. For the third time, the prestigious nomination has gone to the architects of the WXCA studio. This time, the jury acknowledged the craftsmanship behind the revitalization of the historic Stefan Żeromski Theatre in Kielce. One of Poland’s oldest theatrical venues has not only regained its former splendour but has also gained staging capabilities unique on a European scale.
Following the news of Frank Gehry’s passing at age 96, renewed attention has been directed toward a career that significantly shaped architectural discourse from the late 20th century onward. Over more than seven decades, Gehry developed a design language defined by material experimentation, iterative model-making, and an interest in fluid, expressive forms. His work ranges from early residential interventions in Southern California to major cultural institutions that have contributed to the identity of cities around the world. Together, these projects outline a trajectory that intersected with shifts in fabrication technologies, museum typologies, and urban redevelopment strategies.
How does the construction sector shape the future of cities? What challenges does it face? At the crossroads of demographic, social, energy, and climate pressures, the construction sector is changing fast. Professionals, institutions, and citizens are working together to build environments that improve health and well-being, encourages durable and place-responsive solutions, cut carbon emissions, withstand climate risks, and provide affordable, high-quality housing.
House Comet is a dwelling for a young and creative family in a green, secluded neighborhood of Riga near the Daugava River. The interaction of urban and rural scenes is the impulse for a vivid red house with a gleaming triangular roof, featuring terraces and openings for active outdoor living.