Author: Yagmur Baydir
MVRDV and Zecc Architecten have won the competition to transform the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen, Netherlands, into a public swimming pool, aptly named “Holy Water.” The design preserves the church’s historic elements while introducing a dynamic new function, giving the vacant building a renewed social role. The project offers a solution to the growing demand for public swimming spaces in Heerlen, while maintaining the church’s iconic presence in the city center. Originally built over 100 years ago, the church ceased hosting services in 2023, providing an opportunity for its adaptive reuse. The design features a flexible, adjustable…
The national pavilion of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes its first visitors at Expo 2025 Osaka. The latest photographs showcase Foster + Partners’ design, aiming to create a spatial experience that evokes the character of Saudi Arabian towns and cities. Positioned at the Yumeshima waterfront, the pavilion offers visitors an engaging journey of discovery through the ‘village’ of meandering streets that alternate spaces of quiet reflection with venues for performances and cultural experiences. The pavilion’s massing recalls the organic shapes of traditional Saudi villages. The design has been carefully crafted using computational fluid dynamics simulations to allow cool winds…
Expo 2025 has officially opened in Osaka, Japan, welcoming over 160 countries and organizations to showcase their visions for the future under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” The six-month event, hosted on Yumeshima Island, features innovative pavilions and exhibits that explore sustainable solutions, technological advancements, and cultural exchanges. Among the standout contributions is the Qatar Pavilion, designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates in collaboration with Qatar Museums. This pavilion embodies a harmonious blend of Qatari and Japanese maritime traditions, reflecting the deep-rooted connections between the two nations. The architectural design draws inspiration from Qatar’s traditional dhow…
Austria’s national pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka welcomes visitors with a harmonious blend of music, culture, and sustainable architecture. Designed by BWM Designers & Architects in collaboration with facts and fiction, the pavilion embodies Austria’s theme, “Composing the Future,” reinterpreting the Expo’s overarching motto, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” through a musical lens. The pavilion’s centerpiece is a striking spiral sculpture, ascending 16 meters into the sky. Crafted from Austrian spruce, this 91-meter-long and 4.3-meter-wide wooden structure resembles an oversized musical staff, featuring the opening bars of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The spiral symbolizes the cyclical nature of life,…
A bold new AI platform is stepping into the spotlight and it’s built by architects, for architects. Introducing xFigura, a next-generation design tool developed by George Guida, an experienced architect, educator, and PAACADEMY instructor whose work spans Foster + Partners, Harvard, and ArchiTAG. Designed to meet the creative, fast-paced, and collaborative demands of modern practice, xFigura presents itself as an all-in-one AI sandbox for architectural ideation. Designed for Today’s Designers From its core, xFigura is envisioned as a response to the limitations of conventional design software. It combines real-time collaboration, 2D/3D workflows, and generative AI capabilities within a seamless, web-based…
In a quiet corner of Wakayama Prefecture, a revolution in infrastructure quietly took place. Japan has completed what is being called the world’s first 3D-printed railway station building, assembled in just six hours. The new structure at Hatsushima Station is part of an initiative by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) to explore faster and more efficient construction methods. The station building was created using a 3D-printing system developed by Serendix, a Japanese construction technology company. The components were printed off-site over the course of a week and then transported to the location, where they were put together overnight. Measuring…
After years of anticipation, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located beside the Pyramids of Giza, has partially opened to the public ahead of its full launch on July 3, 2025. This soft opening gives visitors early access to select galleries and public areas, offering a preview of what will become the world’s largest museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian civilization. This trial phase includes 12 exhibition halls, the Grand Hall, the Grand Staircase, and the commercial area. The galleries feature artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Roman era, organized thematically around society, kingship, and beliefs. These galleries showcase artifacts spanning…
As part of the INTERNI “Cre-Action” exhibition at the Università degli Studi di Milano, Aevum emerges as a collaboration between Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and architectural 3D-printing specialists Vertico. The 6×6-metre installation juxtaposes two arches, one crafted from solid marble, the other produced using large-scale 3D printed concrete, offering a physical dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary construction technologies. Installed within the university’s historic courtyard, Aevum references the architectural heritage of its surroundings while introducing new possibilities for material use and fabrication methods. The marble arch reflects timeless artisanal methods, while the adjacent concrete arch, printed by Vertico, embodies the…
Expo 2025 has officially opened in Osaka, Japan, transforming Yumeshima Island into a global stage for innovation and collaboration. Running from April 13 to October 13, the event embraces the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” focusing on subthemes like Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives. With participation from over 160 countries and regions, the Expo serves as a platform for exploring solutions to global challenges through cutting-edge technology and design. The opening ceremony featured a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony by more than 10,000 participants, symbolizing unity and hope. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism that…
Pushing glass’s structural limits with the entrance building of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, this state-of-the-art glass structure demonstrates how minimal steel and maximal transparency can coexist in harmony. Designed by Kisho Kurokawa and further developed by Hans van Heeswijk Architecten in collaboration with Octatube, the project establishes a seamless architectural link between the iconic Rietveld building and the elliptical Kurokawa Wing. The new entrance replaces a former sunken pond with an 800-square-meter transparent foyer, transforming visitor flow while giving the museum a stronger presence on the Museumplein. The curved form of the pavilion mirrors the geometry of the…