Author: Isha Chaudhary
Isha Chaudhary
Isha Chaudhary is an architecture writer who follows and writes about current trends and emerging discussions in architecture, with a focus on design, technology, and place-making.
MVRDV has won the international architecture competition to design the Shift Embassy, a new cultural destination in Rotterdam dedicated to inspiring large-scale ecological and societal change. Named Rotterdam ROCKS!, the proposal transforms the building into a publicly accessible vertical landscape where architecture, biodiversity, education, and sustainability converge. Commissioned by social enterprise Shift, the project is envisioned as more than a visitor attraction. It is designed as an immersive environment that encourages visitors to rethink everyday habits while demonstrating how architecture can actively contribute to a more resilient future. Located on the south bank of the River Maas within Rotterdam’s upcoming…
External Reference has redesigned Deportienda, the official retail store of RC Deportivo de La Coruña inside Abanca-Riazor Stadium in Spain, featuring a striking 3D-printed wave installation. Completed as part of the club’s 120th anniversary celebrations, the 250-square-meter flagship store goes beyond conventional retail by creating a space that reflects the identity of the club, its supporters, and the city’s Atlantic coastline. At the heart of the project is a sculptural wave produced through large-scale robotic 3D printing. At the same time, an integrated data analysis system helps the store continuously adapt to visitor movement and activity. A 3D-Printed Wave Inspired…
Nearly eight years after the devastating collapse of Genoa’s Morandi Bridge, an Italian court has delivered one of the country’s most significant infrastructure-related verdicts, sentencing former Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI) CEO Giovanni Castellucci to 12 years in prison for his role in the tragedy that claimed 43 lives on 14 August 2018. The ruling was announced on 16 July 2026 by the Genoa Court, where Chief Judge Paolo Lepri read verdicts for dozens of defendants following a years-long trial into the collapse of the Morandi Bridge, officially known as the Polcevera Viaduct. In total, 32 people were convicted, while 25…
What if an electric vehicle didn’t need a conventional body? That’s the question industrial designer Wini Camacho explores with the Audi Zero One Sphere, an experimental EV concept that strips the automobile down to its most essential elements. The vehicle is built around four structural tubular modules surrounding a central spherical cockpit, creating one of the most unconventional automotive concepts seen this year. While it remains an independent design study, it presents a compelling vision for how future electric mobility could become lighter, more modular, and visually transparent. A Minimalist EV Built Around Four Tubes and a Sphere At first…
Imagine standing still for a moment as your jacket quietly comes to life. The fabric begins to move, wraps itself around your arms, slides over your shoulders, and settles into place, all without a single hand pulling on a sleeve. It sounds like a scene from science fiction, but it has just stepped into the real world. A joint South Korea–U.S. research team has introduced a new form of robotic clothing that can dress a wearer automatically in around 10 seconds. Developed by researchers from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and Stanford University, the technology transforms garments…
In Shenzhen’s rapidly expanding Longhua District, where technology campuses dominate the skyline, the Marisfrolg Fashion Campus emerges as something entirely different. Instead of resembling a conventional corporate headquarters, the 190,400-square-meter campus appears to have grown organically from the landscape. With flowing forms inspired by birds, leaves, shells, and ecological systems, the project blurs the line between architecture, nature, fashion, and engineering. Completed after nearly 15 years of design and construction, the campus serves as the headquarters of Chinese luxury fashion brand Marisfrolg while functioning as a living demonstration of biomimetic and sustainable architecture. A Fashion Headquarters Inspired by Nature Instead…
Chinese fashion retailer Urban Revivo has opened its new flagship store in Beijing’s Sanlitun district, designed by MVRDV. The 4,120-square-meter retail project reflects the brand’s international expansion while incorporating references to Beijing’s architectural identity. Located on Sanlitun West Street, the flagship occupies a prominent position between Taikoo Li Sanlitun’s South and North Villages, connecting a youthful retail environment with one of the city’s luxury shopping destinations. Founded in 2006, Urban Revivo now operates more than 380 stores worldwide. The Beijing flagship marks an important step in the brand’s global growth strategy, presenting a retail environment that combines fashion, architecture, and…
Tesla has expanded its lifestyle product lineup with the launch of the Balance Bike for Kids, a premium, pedal-free bicycle designed for children aged 2 to 5 years. While enthusiasts have long anticipated an electric bicycle from the automaker, Tesla’s first venture into the two-wheeled category arrives in a much smaller form focused on helping toddlers develop balance and coordination before transitioning to a standard bicycle. Priced at $225, the balance bike adopts Tesla’s minimalist industrial design language while targeting families already familiar with the company’s expanding range of branded lifestyle products. Shortly after appearing on the Tesla Shop, the…
OMA has completed The Martin, a residential building within Amsterdam’s Bajes Kwartier redevelopment, which marks another milestone in the transformation of the former Bijlmerbajes prison into a mixed-use urban neighborhood. Designed by David Gianotten and Mariano Sagasta, the project forms part of OMA’s broader masterplan, which is converting the 7.5-hectare prison site into an energy-neutral district that reconnects the once-enclosed complex with the city. Located in the Central Cluster of the development, The Martin follows the completion of The Jay in 2025, while The Cardinal is scheduled to be completed in 2030. Together, these residential buildings frame the evolving neighborhood,…
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the six shortlisted projects for the 2026 RIBA Stirling Prize, marking the 30th anniversary of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious architectural award. Selected from this year’s RIBA National Award winners, the shortlist represents projects ranging from housing and higher education to cultural infrastructure and major transport-led urban regeneration. The winner will be announced on 15 October 2026 at Old Billingsgate in London. Chosen after extensive site visits by the Stirling Prize jury, the finalists were evaluated for design excellence, innovation, sustainability, functionality, and their contribution to the built environment. This year’s…