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Author: Pooja Khanna Tyagi
Pooja Khanna Tyagi is an India-based architect and design writer. Her work engages with architecture, interiors, materials, and evolving lifestyle narratives, with a focus on translating complex ideas into clear, accessible content. With a minimalist sensibility, she uses writing to simplify design ideas. A graduate of Dr. B.N. College of Architecture, Pune (2000), India, she has been active in the writing domain since 2016. She has contributed to leading publications in India and internationally, bringing together professional insight and a measured, articulate voice.
Biophilic design is no longer just about adding greenery to soften buildings. In contemporary architecture, it is evolving into a far more advanced and intentional system, one that shapes form, guides spatial experience, and integrates environmental intelligence. Instead of viewing nature as a mere afterthought, architects are now harnessing it as a generative force that informs the design, construction, and experience of buildings. This shift is what makes biophilic design increasingly futuristic, as it is not simply about reconnecting with nature but about rethinking architecture as something that behaves more like a living system, which is adaptive, responsive, and deeply…
Inclusive design in architecture is shifting from rule-based compliance to human-centered thinking. It is designed not just for standards, but for real people with varied abilities, ages, and needs. Accessibility is no longer an afterthought added at the end of a project. It is part of the earliest design decisions. They focus on removing barriers in movement, perception, and interaction. This includes physical access like steps and ramps, sensory clarity like lighting and signage, and cognitive ease through simple layouts. The goal is independence. Users are ensured not to depend on assistance to experience the space fully. Inclusive design also…
See how contemporary library design is moving beyond books to create spaces that feel more welcoming, engaging, and relevant in the age of short attention spans. In today’s screen-saturated world, where attention is constantly fragmented by notifications, short-form content, and endless scrolling, the role of the library is being redefined. It is no longer only a place for storing knowledge, but a carefully designed environment for recovering focus, fostering community, and creating meaningful public life. This shift is not merely functional but is deeply architectural. As the way people consume information changes, so too must the spaces that support reading,…
Kengo Kuma’s Earth Tree transforms shelter, materiality, and creativity into an immersive architectural experience rooted in nature and memory. There is a rare Japanese word for sunlight filtering through tree leaves: Komorebi. Even if many languages don’t have a word for it, the feeling is something almost everyone knows—a quiet sense of comfort, warmth, and being gently held by nature. CCreate is a three-year exhibition program centered on creativity and the act of making. Each year, a leading creative voice is invited to develop an installation that offers visitors a glimpse into their creative process. Spanning disciplines and perspectives, the…
Atelier Guo transforms the Cheng Family Ancestral Hall in Nanping Village into a cinema, library, and public cultural space through a heritage-sensitive architectural insert. Atelier Guo has inserted a new public program into the Cheng Family Ancestral Hall in Nanping Village, turning the historic structure into a layered cultural space for film, reading, leisure, and community life. Rooted in the village’s long-standing connection to photography and cinema, the project integrates contemporary use without interfering with the building’s original architectural character. Instead of altering the ancestral hall, the intervention works as a precise architectural addition placed within the existing building envelope.…
Carlo Ratti Associati wins the Buzzi Heritage Cultural Center in Casale Monferrato and transforms former school buildings into a public hub through a digitally fabricated concrete truss. In Casale Monferrato, Italy, a new cultural landmark is set to redefine how architecture, technology, and heritage can intersect. International design and innovation studio CRA–Carlo Ratti Associati has won the competition to design the Buzzi Heritage Cultural Center, a project that transforms two former educational buildings into a public destination for archives, research, and cultural life. A 100-meter-long suspended parametric truss defines the proposal, acting as an architectural gesture that not only links…
The rise of net-zero architecture marks a major shift in how buildings respond to environmental responsibility, energy performance, and long-term resilience. As the built environment remains one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, designers are rethinking how buildings consume, conserve, and generate energy. A net-zero building is designed to produce as much energy as it uses over the course of a year, creating a more balanced and efficient relationship between architecture and nature. More than a technical goal, this approach is reshaping sustainable design by influencing planning, materials, systems, and the overall future of the built environment. What…
Geometry transforms facades, as classical symmetry, tessellation, and parametric design create striking, functional, and inspiring architecture. Geometry has always been a cornerstone of architectural expression, turning simple building exteriors into dramatic visual statements. By applying shapes, angles, and patterns, architects create facades that balance rhythm, proportion, and harmony, which capture the viewer’s attention while enhancing the overall design. From the clean lines of minimalist cubes to the intricate complexity of tessellated surfaces, geometric forms guide light, shadow, and perception. With modern computational tools and parametric design, architects now push the boundaries of creativity to balance artistic vision with structural function…
The rise of wood architecture is shaping eco-conscious, elegant, and forward-thinking built environments. Wood has remained one of the most meaningful materials in architecture because it offers something few other materials can fully replicate, like warmth, texture, and emotional connection. In a design world driven by performance, sustainability, and innovation, wood continues to hold its relevance not only because it is beautiful but also because it is adaptable. Architects and designers are considering timber as a material that softens the built environment. Unlike colder industrial finishes, wood introduces a human scale into architecture. It creates spaces that feel grounded, tactile,…
As climate pressures reshape the future of the built environment, architecture is being asked to do more than provide shelter or visual impact. It must also respond intelligently to the conditions of place. Climate-responsive architecture highlights how sustainability becomes more impactful when it is woven into the design process itself. Instead of relying solely on technology to solve environmental problems, this approach begins with climate, context, and human comfort. It studies how buildings can work with sunlight, wind, temperature, and local materials to reduce energy use while creating better spaces. These five lessons reveal why climate-responsive architecture remains one of…
