Articles by Hana Abdel & Dima Stouhi

As 2021 comes to an end, we look back at how this year introduced new normals and raised questions about what the future of the built environment could look like. In retrospect, not much has changed in regards to where people are spending most of their time. Following constant changes in commuting restrictions and the continuation of the pandemic, people acknowledged that most of their time will be spent indoors, so they adapted their living and working spaces accordingly.

Driven by its culturally and historically-rich context, Cologne is considered as one of the oldest and most populous cities in Germany. It was founded in the Ubii territory in the 1st century AD and was once the capital of the Roman province and headquarters of the Roman military in the region. During the Middle Ages, it became a central trade route between Eastern and Western Europe, and then became known for its production of Eau de Cologne in the 18th century, bringing about its modern name.