Author: Pooja Khanna Tyagi

Stefano Boeri Architetti has revealed the proposal for Depositi delle Vittorie, transforming the former ATAC depot in Rome into a multifunctional urban destination filled with greenery, cultural spaces, retail, and public amenities. Located in the residential Prati-Delle Vittorie district, the proposed redevelopment aims to reactivate a significant urban node while creating stronger connections between architecture, landscape, and community life. Spread across a 16,000 sqm site, the proposal introduces a contemporary vision where public spaces and biodiversity become central to everyday urban living. A New Civic Destination for the Neighbourhood The proposed redevelopment converts the former depot into a mixed-use hub…

Housed inside a renovated 1973 warehouse in Vancouver, the Purple Brand Operations Studio by Scott & Scott Architects embraces a raw industrial character shaped by exposed materials, sculptural concrete elements, and a dramatic central staircase. The atelier preserves the spirit of the existing structure while introducing cast-in-place concrete interventions that strengthen the workspace’s tactile and utilitarian identity. A Sculptural Concrete Staircase at the Heart of the Studio The defining feature of the workspace is a monumental board-formed concrete staircase positioned at the centre of the studio. Carved through a pill-shaped opening in the existing concrete floor slab, the staircase connects…

Designed by Trahan Architects, the Chapel of St. Ignatius and Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center at Loyola University New Orleans creates a place for spiritual contemplation, worship, and campus gatherings. Located on Loyola University’s historic quad, the chapel combines a simple cylindrical form with textured handmade brick, harmonizing with the surrounding Tudor-Gothic campus architecture while establishing a contemporary identity rooted in symbolism, light, and communal intimacy. Vesica Piscis and Symbolic Geometry The chapel’s spatial organization is shaped by the Vesica Piscis, formed through interlocking circles that reference the ichthys symbol for Christ and the connection between the spiritual and…

Deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Witoca Lab by Al Borde revolves around how architecture, agriculture, and ecological preservation can coexist. Situated in the Huaticocha community near the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, the project functions as a center for cultivating biological pest-control agents while embracing traditional ecological knowledge. By combining agroecological systems with earthen construction, the laboratory indicates how low-impact architecture can support scientific research and sustainable farming practices within one of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems. A Laboratory Rooted in Amazonian Agroecology The project draws inspiration from the Kichwa concept of the chakra, an ancestral land-management system based on biodiversity,…

Foster + Partners has completed Jia Art Gallery, a new cultural destination at the center of the Changfeng mixed-use development in Shanghai’s Putuo District. Designed as a civic landmark and community destination, the project blends art, public life, and architecture into a sculptural building inspired by the blooming flowers of nearby Changfeng Park. Positioned at the intersection of the development’s main urban axes, the gallery acts as the social and cultural heart of the wider “Live-Work-Play” masterplan. A Cultural Anchor for Changfeng District Jia Art forms a key part of Foster + Partners’ larger vision for the Changfeng development, which…

In Banff National Park, an international design competition commissioned by Parks Canada in collaboration with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada for a new visitor center and community space has been won by Kengo Kuma and Paul Raff Studio. The winning proposal reimagines Banff’s central 200-block corridor as a low-rise, landscape-integrated civic campus. Rather than a single landmark structure, it is composed of multiple timber, glass, and stone volumes arranged around shared public spaces, shaped through Indigenous consultation and ecological priorities. A Connected Public Landscape for Banff As part of the 200-Block Banff Avenue redevelopment, the scheme brings together ten…

Conceived by Marc Demailly in France, Hypogeum of the Somme is a memorial that rethinks how architecture can engage with history, memory, and landscape. Located within the historic battlefields of Thiepval and Authuille in the Somme region, the project avoids conventional monumentality and instead proposes a memorial carved directly into the earth. Through excavation, spatial silence, and geological intervention, the design explores themes of absence, ritual descent, and tectonic memory while creating an emotional relationship between visitors and the scarred landscape of the First World War. Architecture Through Excavation Instead of placing a visible monument within the landscape, the project…

Set within the wooded slopes of Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment, UUfie revamps Belfountain House into a 1970s Swiss-style chalet, a light-filled family retreat that feels deeply connected to nature. Designed for a philosopher, an artist, and their children, the Belfountain House uses a stretched roofline, open interiors, playful elements, and layered movement to create a home shaped by landscape, family life, and seasonal change. A Chalet Opened to the Forest Located on a lush 3.2-acre site in Belfountain, Ontario, the project reworks an existing chalet that once felt closed off from its surroundings. The architects removed later additions that blocked sunlight…

Located in Navsari, Amaltash by Design ni Dukaan is a striking residence in Gujarat, India, that blends modernist precision with deeply rooted cultural traditions. Inspired by the architectural philosophies of Le Corbusier and Balkrishna Doshi, the 12,000-square-foot home balances climate-responsive strategies, Vastu principles, and artisanal craftsmanship to create a contemporary yet emotionally grounded living environment. Climate-Responsive Architecture Defines the Home Amaltash is shaped by a rigorous environmental approach designed to respond to Gujarat’s intense climate. Deep overhangs, shaded patios, and carefully positioned openings reduce heat gain while maximizing natural light throughout the interiors. An 18-foot-high north-facing window system softly illuminates…

Located in Mao Khe Town, Vietnam, CUBE (Creative Usage of Bricks & Earth) by H&P Architects explores how brick, earth, courtyards, and gardens can shape climate-responsive living. Built on a 115.5 m² plot surrounded by agricultural fields, the house combines traditional Vietnamese elements with a modern modular design adapted to tropical conditions. Creative Usage of Bricks & Earth The project takes its name from both its cubic form and its concept, where brick and earth are treated as more than construction materials. They reflect Vietnam’s geographical conditions, local craftsmanship, and climate adaptation. The 270 m² residence is organized through three…