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.
Studio Libeskind, in collaboration with South Korean firms HJ Design Partners and SAMOO Architects & Engineers, has unveiled the design for the Samsung Daechi Ssangyong 1 Redevelopment, major mixed-use residential towers in Seoul’s prestigious Gangnam district. Replacing an aging apartment complex with a contemporary high-density neighborhood, the project seeks to redefine urban residential living by combining architectural expression with landscape, community amenities, and sustainable planning. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for 2030. New Residential Towers Reshape Daechi-dong Located in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, one of Seoul’s most established residential districts, the redevelopment replaces an existing complex comprising…
As public cultural architecture continues to evolve, the emphasis is shifting from iconic forms toward spaces that encourage everyday engagement. Libraries, museums, and civic institutions are increasingly expected to function as cultural landmarks and also as welcoming environments where reading, learning, gathering, and social interaction naturally unfold. Located on the western bank of the Ba River within Xi’an’s Chanba Ecological Area, Chang’an Academy · Xi’an Public Library exemplifies this changing approach. Designed by the Urban & Architectural Design Research Center of China Northwest Architecture Design and Research Institute, with HONG Designworks leading the interior design, the project combines a public…
Some houses are designed to shelter life; others become part of architectural history. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fountainhead belongs firmly to the latter. Hidden among the wooded slopes of Jackson, Mississippi, the Usonian residence has quietly stood for more than seven decades, embodying Wright’s lifelong pursuit of architecture that grows organically from its landscape. Today, that legacy enters a new chapter as Belinda Stewart Architects has been selected to lead the comprehensive preservation of the iconic residence, ensuring that one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most significant Southern works remains intact for future generations. Acquired by the Mississippi Museum of Art in…
SAGA Space Architects has unveiled EcoNeo, a 35-square-meter low-carbon summerhouse in Zealand, Denmark, translating the studio’s expertise in designing space habitats into sustainable architecture on Earth. Built using biogenic materials, digital fabrication, and intelligent environmental systems, the compact retreat demonstrates how future holiday homes can minimize environmental impact while maximizing comfort, efficiency, and connection to nature. Space-Habitat Thinking Shapes a New Kind of Summerhouse Known for designing habitats for extreme environments, SAGA Space Architects approached EcoNeo using the same principles that guide its space architecture projects: compact living, resource efficiency, adaptability, and human well-being. The studio focused on making every…
Long before glass skyscrapers and parametric façades transformed city skylines, India’s temples were already masterpieces of design. Rising from granite, sandstone, and marble, these monuments were conceived as places of worship and also as architectural encyclopedias where geometry, sculpture, mythology, astronomy, music, dance, and craftsmanship merged into a single built form. Every carved pillar, celestial figure, lotus motif, and sculpted façade told stories that have survived centuries, making Indian temple architecture one of the world’s richest expressions of cultural memory. At Paris Haute Couture Week Fall 2026, that architectural legacy stepped onto one of fashion’s most prestigious stages. Rahul Mishra…
As rising temperatures reshape cities across the world, architects are increasingly revisiting passive environmental strategies. Earthen Comforts: Airing Earth, a temporary pavilion by architect Liz Gálvez and Office e.g., demonstrates how material, structure, and climate-responsive design can work together to create comfortable outdoor environments. Installed in the courtyard of Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles as part of the Materials & Applications summer program, the project investigates architecture’s ability to moderate heat through spatial and material performance rather than energy-intensive systems. Instead of treating air conditioning as a mechanical device, the pavilion approaches thermal comfort as an architectural condition. The installation…
For years, the biggest challenge in humanoid robotics wasn’t walking, balancing, or even artificial intelligence; it was the hands. A robot can navigate a room, identify objects, and plan complex tasks, but without dexterous hands, it still struggles with everyday actions like buttoning a shirt, folding laundry, opening a zipper, or gently picking up a fragile glass. Norwegian robotics company 1X aims to change that. The company has unveiled NEO Hands, a new robotic hand system developed for its NEO humanoid robot. The design prioritizes human-like dexterity, tactile perception, speed, and precision, enabling robots to manipulate objects in environments built…
The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has officially unveiled the shortlist for its 2026 awards program, recognizing 416 projects that showcase the breadth of contemporary architecture and design across the world. Spanning completed buildings, future proposals, landscape architecture, and interiors, this year’s selection reflects the industry’s growing emphasis on adaptive reuse, sustainability, cultural identity, and public impact. The shortlisted projects will advance to the live judging stage at the World Architecture Festival, scheduled to take place 18–20 November 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During the festival, architects and designers will present their projects directly to international juries in WAF’s signature live…
Controversy erupted almost immediately after Studio Campo Baeza and Quito-based MAODA were announced as winners of the international competition for Ecuador’s new National Museum (MuNA) in Quito on July 6. What began as criticism of the project’s minimalist architecture quickly evolved into a broader debate over the competition process, transparency, and governance. Within days, the controversy intensified following the resignations of Ecuador’s Vice Minister of Culture and Heritage, Romina Muñoz, and MuNA Executive Director Carlos Eduardo Montalvo Puente, although the government has not officially linked either resignation to the competition. Despite the debate, the official competition result remains unchanged. Campo…
Studio Folk Architects, in collaboration with design-and-build studio Raskl, has unveiled The Veggery, a temporary greenhouse pavilion created to mark the conclusion of this year’s London Festival of Architecture (LFA), powered by NLA. Installed within the Barbican Estate by the Culture Mile Business Improvement District, the pavilion was selected through the open Seeds in the City design competition earlier this year. Designed as a greenhouse, community gathering space, and educational pavilion, The Veggery responds to the festival’s 2026 theme, Belonging, by creating a place where residents, students, and visitors can come together through gardening, workshops, and shared events. Designed Around…