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.
A decade after the passing of its founder, Zaha Hadid Architects has announced a significant evolution of the practice, unveiling a new name, visual identity, and website. Moving forward, the internationally renowned studio will be known simply as ZHA. The announcement comes as the final projects directly led by Zaha Hadid approach completion, marking an important milestone in the firm’s history. The rebranding reflects both a tribute to Hadid’s enduring creative legacy and the practice’s continued growth over the past ten years. Founded on a culture of experimentation and innovation, the studio stated that the transition to ZHA acknowledges how…
Located within the forests of Magnor, Norway, The Plus, a furniture factory designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group for Norwegian furniture manufacturer Vestre, has been recognised with the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects International Award for Excellence 2026. The award celebrates architectural projects that demonstrate exceptional design quality, innovation, and global significance. Completed in 2022, The Plus challenges the conventional image of an industrial facility by merging a high-performance manufacturing centre with a public landscape. Designed as a transparent and accessible factory, the project demonstrates how industrial architecture can become a place for production, learning, and community engagement.…
In an age when design publications often prioritize visual spectacle and rapid consumption, A Biophilic Year: 365 Thoughts on the Essence and Practice of Biophilic Design takes a markedly different approach. Created by designer and researcher Silvia Ceria, the book unfolds as a year-long exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature, offering a slower and more contemplative reading experience rooted in the principles of biophilic thinking. Through a sequence of short reflections and longer essays, the book invites readers to engage with the principles of biophilic design in a personal and contemplative way. Comprising 365 aphorisms paired with 365 essays, the…
What if a residential gateway could do more than mark an entrance? With Whale Gate, Wutopia Lab turns a common point of passage into a journey through myth and memory. Completed in 2026 for the Jinsha Golden Island development in Shangqiu, Henan, the project changes the simple act of coming home into a symbolic journey through mythology, landscape, and memory. Whale Gate operates as an architectural narrative that blurs the boundary between everyday life and imagination. Designed by architect Yu Ting, the 242-square-meter structure emerges from a water-filled landscape as a colossal blue whale frozen in the moment of breaching…
In Eindhoven’s historic De Bergen neighborhood, architecture studio MVRDV has completed Nieuw Bergen, a mixed-use residential development that explores how urban density can coexist with sunlight, greenery, and a strong sense of place. Comprising seven buildings, the project introduces 237 homes, commercial spaces, and communal areas while transforming a former cluster of municipal buildings and parking lots into an active urban destination. Designed by MVRDV and developed by SDK Vastgoed, Nieuw Bergen combines five newly constructed buildings with two carefully transformed historic structures. The project offers a diverse mix of housing types, ranging from single-person apartments and family homes to…
Swiss architecture practice Herzog & de Meuron has won the international competition to redevelop the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. The proposal combines the restoration of one of the city’s most significant public buildings with a new mixed-use tower, public landscape interventions, and upgraded cultural facilities. The Albanian government selected the project as part of a broader effort to modernize key civic landmarks while preserving their historical significance. Originally completed in 1986 during Albania’s socialist period, the Palace of Congresses was designed to host political assemblies and state functions. Over time, the building evolved into a major venue for…
Luxury fashion and space exploration are meeting in an unexpected way. NASA astronauts preparing for future lunar missions will wear a Prada-designed component inside their next-generation spacesuits, developed in collaboration with Axiom Space for the Artemis program. The latest reveal is the outer shell and a highly technical inner layer known as the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG), a critical system that helps astronauts operate safely on the Moon. The suit was unveiled by Axiom Space and Prada in New York this month, marking another milestone in the ongoing partnership between the aerospace company and the Italian luxury brand.…
The Phase II expansion of the Zhongyuan Convention Center has been completed in Zhengzhou, China, marking one of the country’s largest convention and exhibition developments. Designed by RSHP in collaboration with Tongji Architectural Design Group (TJAD), the project significantly expands Zhengzhou’s capacity to host international exhibitions, conferences, and large-scale business events within the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone. Spanning nearly 700,000 square meters, the development brings together 16 exhibition halls, a conference centre, and a 275-room hotel. These facilities are linked by a 1.7-kilometer-long elevated circulation spine that acts as the project’s organizing element, connecting major entrances, event spaces, hospitality functions,…
New York’s Penn Station is set for its most significant transformation in decades after Amtrak selected Penn Transformation Partners as the master developer and appointed the HNTB–HOK Joint Venture, in association with PAU (Practice for Architecture and Urbanism), to lead the station’s design. The announcement marks a major milestone in the long-running effort to reimagine the busiest transportation hub in the Western Hemisphere into a more efficient, accessible, and architecturally significant gateway for New York City. Penn Station’s New Architectural Identity PAU, led by architect Vishaan Chakrabarti, serves as the lead design architect for the project. The firm’s proposal seeks…
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 2034, one of the country’s most recognizable sporting venues is undergoing a major transformation. The historic King Fahad Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, originally opened in 1987, is being redesigned by Populous through a renovation strategy that balances heritage preservation, sustainability, and contemporary stadium requirements. Instead of replacing the venue with an entirely new structure, the project focuses on extending the life of one of the Middle East’s most significant sporting landmarks while adapting it to meet the expectations of modern football tournaments, concerts, and large-scale public events. Populous Adopts…