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.
Dutch startup Respyre, spun out of TU Delft research, has created a bio‑receptive concrete that, once treated with a gel and seeded with moss, enables greenery to take hold on vertical structures without soil, irrigation, or regular upkeep. Just ambient rain and humidity are enough to spark life on once-gray walls. How Respyre’s Moss Concrete Works Respyre’s moss-infused façades begin with a microporous, mineral-rich concrete layer engineered to capture and retain ambient moisture while delivering essential nutrients directly to moss spores. This bio‑receptive substrate, crafted from recycled aggregates and designed with fine-scale porosity, creates optimal conditions for moss establishment on vertical…
On July 21, 2025, Tesla officially launched its first Tesla Diner & Drive‑In, nestled at 7001 W. Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles. This retro‑futuristic facility reimagines the typical electric vehicle charging station by blending a classic American diner, drive‑in cinema, and Supercharger hub into a single immersive experience. The Retro-Futuristic Design of Tesla’s LA Diner and Charging Hub The two-storey structure, designed by architecture firm Stantec, channels mid‑century diner aesthetics with chrome siding, neon trim, curved metal booths, and even roller‑skating carhops delivering ice‑cream samples. Inside, sleek spaceship‑themed restrooms evoke future‑of‑tomorrow vibes, while upstairs, it offers outdoor balcony seating…
In a landmark move toward cleaner urban development, China has unveiled the world’s largest inflatable dome over a construction site in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province. Standing 50 meters tall and spanning 20,000 square meters, the dome is designed to contain dust and reduce noise pollution, setting a new standard for environmentally responsible construction in densely populated cities. The dome, developed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), serves as a full enclosure for active construction zones. It functions as both a dust barrier and a soundproof shield, helping to protect nearby communities from the harmful side effects…
The World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025 marks a bold return this time to Miami Beach, hosting the event in the U.S. for the first time ever. As the global stage for architectural excellence, WAF draws attention to the people, processes, and ideas driving the future of the built environment. This year’s theme, “Hearts & Minds,” explores how emotion and intellect intersect in design, challenging architects to build functionally and meaningfully. The WAF 2025 is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious international architecture festivals. It features a live‑judged awards programme in which every shortlisted project is presented in person…
Fifteen years after its launch, Marina Bay Sands is undergoing a major evolution. Las Vegas Sands has broken ground on a US$8 billion expansion that will introduce a new 570-suite hotel tower, a 15,000-seat entertainment arena, and a 76,000-square-foot Skyloop. Designed by Safdie Architects, the original team behind the resort’s now-iconic profile, the new development is engineered to enhance Marina Bay Sands’ global reputation while responding to the evolving urban, environmental, and programmatic demands of Singapore’s hospitality and tourism infrastructure. A Strategic Reorientation: Safdie Architects Lead Tower Design Safdie Architects returns with a proposal that is less about repetition and…
A new veterinary hospital has opened its doors in Tirana, Albania. Designed by Swiss firm Davide Macullo Architects, the new 2,243-square-metre Veterinary Hospital challenges conventional typologies by fusing brutalist concrete forms with biophilic, emotionally intelligent design. Spread over three levels, the building houses both a full-service vet clinic and an integrated pet hotel, setting a new benchmark for how architecture can enhance psychological well-being for animals and humans alike. Curved Concrete as Therapy The most striking element of the design is the fluid concrete shell that curves gently around the structure. These sculptural walls form elevated planted terraces, offering both…
Lower Manhattan is being digitally rebuilt one block at a time inside Minecraft. In one of the most ambitious projects ever attempted in the game, volunteers from the global ‘Build The Earth’ initiative have spent four years creating an exact, 1:1 scale replica of the iconic New York City district. The result is a stunningly accurate virtual map that mirrors every skyscraper, park, tunnel, and street corner, down to the meter. A Pixel-Perfect New York City Landmark Construction of the Minecraft version of Lower Manhattan began four years ago, driven by a team of international volunteers using real-world data sources…
Set to open in 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is a new cultural venue currently under construction in Los Angeles’s Exposition Park. Designed by MAD Architects, the project spans 11 acres and features a sweeping, futuristic structure inspired by interwoven canopies. Once complete, the museum will house a wide-ranging collection dedicated to narrative art, including fine art, photography, comics, illustration, and cinematic artifacts, drawn from multiple eras and cultures. Developed with significant investment from filmmaker George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum is designed to function as an arts institution & a civic hub with public green space,…
Quartz Plaza is an office building designed by architect Alper Derinboğaz and developed by Salon, located in one of Istanbul’s rapidly evolving urban districts. Rooted in the site’s Miocene-era geological layers, the project transforms local geomorphological data into architectural language, using materials like schist and quartz as both concept and form. This innovative approach connects the building to Istanbul’s deep natural history while responding to contemporary environmental and urban conditions Geology as Design Origin: Lithological Strata and the Dual-Skin Envelope Quartz Plaza is an office building located in İstanbul, a city where urban development has accelerated dramatically since the 1999…
Setas de Sevilla, also known as Metropol Parasol, rises above Seville’s Plaza de la Encarnación, reimagining the traditional civic square with a bold, modern twist. Instead of traditional masonry, it uses a sinuous timber lattice to create a monumental canopy of roughly 150 × 70 m and ~26–28 m in height. Designed by Berlin-based Jürgen Mayer H. with engineering by Arup, it reactivates a medieval void with stratified public space and radical structure, redefining how heritage and modernity coexist in the heart of Seville’s old town. Architectural Design and Spatial Layers of Metropol Parasol Cathedral Without Walls Jürgen Mayer H. referenced the soaring vaults…