Month: March 2026

Symbols of technological development and urban density, tall buildings as we know them today emerged in the late nineteenth century, particularly in the United States, as a response to the rapid expansion of urban commerce and the need to grow cities without occupying additional land. The term skyscraper, for instance, was coined in the 1880s and originally referred to buildings with around 10 to 20 stories—an impressive height for the time.

​​The Myron and Berna Garron Health Sciences Complex (SAMIH), at the University of Toronto Scarborough, was shaped by a clear and non-negotiable mandate: at least 20% of the building’s energy consumption had to be generated from renewable sources installed on-site. To meet this ambitious requirement, the university partnered early with Mitrex, a manufacturer specializing in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), to explore how solar technology could move beyond the roof and become embedded within the architecture itself—positioning the project within a broader shift toward performance-driven sustainable architecture. The 63,000-square-foot facility houses teaching, research, and clinical training programs dedicated to educating future healthcare professionals. Designed by MVRDV in collaboration with Diamond Schmitt Architects, the project initially followed a conventional path, pairing a restrained facade with rooftop photovoltaic panels.

Located within the Parque Tecnológico de Brasília, the World Trade Center Biotic is a mixed-use development designed by Brazilian studio Architects Office as part of the district’s broader urban expansion. The project is part of the master plan developed in 2020 by Carlo Ratti Associati and is currently being developed. Conceived as a multi-program complex, the proposal brings together offices, residential units, a hotel, retail spaces, and shared facilities within a single urban framework. The project occupies a site of approximately 70,000 square meters and is planned to reach about 180,000 square meters of built area, with an estimated 150,000 square meters expected to be completed by 2030.

Conceived during the pandemic through a series of discreet meetings, Barkly House is a brick home designed for the son of a bricklayer.

Lesley Lokko OBE has been recognized with the African Cultural Icon Award, honoring “leaders in the creative arts who promote African culture and heritage on a global stage.” The accolade is one of nine awards presented annually to publicly nominated and industry-recommended figures by a panel of judges from across Africa. Nominees are evaluated based on “impact, innovation, sustainability, and contribution to Africa’s growth.” Lokko is the Founder and Chair of the African Futures Institute (AFI), headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and Director of the Nomadic African Studio, an annual month-long itinerant teaching program working across the African continent. She has been acknowledged for her transformative contributions to architecture, education, and cultural discourse within and beyond Africa, consistently challenging conventional narratives around African identity, space, and creativity.

looking at superstudio’s radical projects, designboom traces how utopian speculation became a tool for questioning architecture.

The post architecture utopias: superstudio appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Located in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue, Gooder reimagines the traditional skatepark as a multifunctional cultural hub where skateboarding, retail, food, and workspaces coexist under one roof. The client sought a space that could bring skaters and non-skaters together, fostering community interaction while contributing to the city’s creative culture, with the challenge of transforming a specialized sports facility into a flexible social environment.