Author: Faiza Ansari

Milan Design Week has grown into one of the most important moments in the global design calendar. Every year, it brings together designers, architects, brands, and institutions from across the world. What makes it different from other design events is that it is not limited to a single venue. The city itself becomes part of the exhibition. Installations spill into courtyards, palazzos, streets, and unexpected interiors. Milan Design Week 2026 felt more like an active participant as spaces were reinterpreted. Some installations were sensory, working through light, sound, and movement. Others were focusing on material, craft, and simple spatial gestures.…

Parametric architecture is often described as a product of computation or an outcome of scripts, algorithms, and digital workflows. But if you strip away the software, what remains is a way of thinking. The form becomes a response to forces. To constraints. To systems working together. Long before computers, architects were already doing this, especially in sacred architecture. Churches have always carried more than a program. They hold ritual, symbolism, climate response, acoustics, and structural ambition all at once. That pressure often produces something interesting, where buildings behave like systems and not just objects. Take a look at these eight…

Long ago, in medieval Europe, kings and churches topped their buildings with tall spires and golden rooftops to impress everyone. Temples of China had expensive roof tiles, often in vibrant colors, which were used in wealthy palaces like the Forbidden City. In ancient Rome, wealthy homes had roofs made of marble or exaggerated sculptures to show off their wealth. Islamic domes were covered in intricate mosaics, showcasing wealth and artistry. Today, architects continue this legacy, transforming rooftops into spaces of experimentation. Here are 12 unique roof designs across the globe: 1. Harbin Opera House, China The Harbin Opera House in…

Snøhetta, founded in 1989 by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen and Craig Dykers, has grown from a Norwegian design studio into a global practice spanning architecture, landscape, interiors, art, product, graphic, and digital design. Named after a remote mountain in Norway, the firm first gained international attention with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, followed by projects such as the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo and the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion in New York. Snøhetta is guided by the belief that design should strengthen our sense of surroundings, identity, and relationships. The studio integrates sustainability at every scale, from…

Rise Tower, a proposed two-kilometer-tall skyscraper in Riyadh, could soon become the tallest building in the world. But why is Saudi Arabia pursuing such an ambitious project? The answer lies in Vision 2030, the kingdom’s national strategy to diversify its economy, reduce dependence on oil, and transform itself into a global hub for business and tourism. What is Project Rise – Lumenis? Project Rise, Lumenis is a plan to build the tallest tower in the world. Designed by HKS Architects, the tower is expected to rise more than twice the height of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The word Lumenis…

Cities are living, breathing organisms that expand, adapt, and reinvent themselves as people’s needs change. However, when space becomes scarce and demolition seems wasteful, architects turn to a bold idea: parasitic architecture. Instead of building from scratch, these designs latch onto existing structures, transforming old walls, rooftops, and landmarks into something entirely new. It’s architecture that grows with the city, not against it. What is Parasitic Architecture? Parasitic architecture is a design style where a new structure attaches itself to an existing building, rather than being built independently. Think of it like a small plant growing on the branch of…

Founded in Chicago in 1936 by architects Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings, together with engineer John O. Merrill, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) quickly established itself as a leader in modern architecture. The firm has since shaped some of the world’s most recognizable skylines, from New York’s Lever House, the city’s first glass-and-steel office building, to Chicago’s Willis Tower and John Hancock Center, and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. SOM’s work spans commercial towers, cultural institutions, airports, and large-scale urban masterplans. SOM’s signature approach lies in its integrated studio model, where architects, engineers, planners, and designers collaborate closely. This structure allows the…

Chongqing, unlike any other on Earth, is located at the meeting point of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers in China. Chongqing, often known as the Mountain City and renowned for its “8D” spatial experience, is a planning and engineering aberration. The city has more than 32 million inhabitants spread throughout gorges, hills, river basins, and tiered skylines. Chongqing is a living laboratory for planners and architects interested in high-density infrastructure, multi-level urbanisation, and the integration of human systems and landscape. “In Chongqing, the ground floor could be on the 1st, 5th, or 10th floor, depending on which side you enter…

To enter Granada is to feel the gaze of the Alhambra, a citadel that has watched over the city for centuries. More than a monument, it is a living record of the Nasrid dynasty, the last Muslim rulers of Spain, who between the 13th and 15th centuries shaped this hilltop palace into both fortress and sanctuary. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra endures as a treasure of Islamic architecture in Spain. Historical Context: The Nasrid Dynasty in Decline The Alhambra was constructed during a pivotal period in history. By the 1200s, Islamic rule in Spain, which had once…

Lusail, a 38-square-kilometer masterplanned city rising just north of Doha, stands today as one of the world’s most ambitious urban developments. Conceived under Qatar’s National Vision 2030, it serves as a living laboratory for large-scale infrastructure, from district cooling and smart city control systems to an integrated tram network connecting to the capital. It is also the setting for the tournament’s showpiece, the Lusail Stadium, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Lusail City in Qatar is a useful case study for architects and urbanists examining the ways mega-events influence urban development. Masterplan and program: a mixed-use metropolis Conceived…