Digital Lab
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Insights into architecture's digital laboratory: We report on the latest innovations and developments. With presentations on digital processes and tools, from 3D printing and additive manufacturing to building information modelling and building automation.
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Architecture Biennale 2025 in Venice
What Helps to Combat the Heat in Cities?
Global warming is most noticeable in the world's cities. At this year's Architecture Biennale, it is not only the German pavilion that is focusing on urban heat islands. The solutions presented range from tree planting to cooling ceilings for urban open spaces.
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Architectural intelligence
Preview of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale
At a time when reason and foresight are becoming less influential in world affairs, this Architecture Biennale may be just the response we need. Carlo Ratti, the Biennale Director, will be staging his exhibition “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective” at the Giardini and the Arsenale, as well as many other locations in Venice, from 10 May 2025. Will this Architecture Biennale offer fresh insights into the critical issues of our time?
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Regional connections
Semi-Detached Houses in Catalonia by Taller Sau
In Vidrà, a small village in the Catalan foothills of the Pyrenees, Taller Sau have designed two semi-detached houses with a regional connection and a high level of structural efficiency.
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What can AI do for architecture?
For a culture of sharing
What hopes do architects have for artificial intelligence? For our 1/2.2025 issue, we asked around 20 experts. Thomas Wortmann, from the Institute for Computational Design and Construction at the University of Stuttgart, hopes that the triumph of AI will be accompanied by a stronger open-source culture in architecture firms.
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What can AI do for architecture?
Artificial Intelligence Needs Quality Assurance
What are architects' hopes for artificial intelligence? For our 1/2.2025 issue, we asked around 20 experts. Andreas Dieckmann from GMP Architekten warns against using AI blindly – in the end, decisions still have to be made by humans.
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A flexible event venue
Hybrid Stadium in Hangzhou by Archi-Tectonics
Subsequent use considered: This multifunctional sports complex that was home to the 2023 Asian Games will be available for use as a venue for events of all kinds.
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Digital planning, robotic production
Willow Trees of Steel by Peter Haimerl
Two building-high, computer-generated willows of steel cover the transparent new building by Peter Haimerl and add a bit of shine to the market square of the northern Bavarian basket-weaving city of Lichtenfels.
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Robotic production
An Innovative Facade Garment for Textile Research
Reutlingen University has moved into Texoversum, the new building devoted to textile research. The robotically produced shell of fibrous composite materials represents a collaborative project by Allmannwappner Architekten, Menges Scheffler Architekten and the structural engineers from Jan Knippers Ingenieure.
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Exhibition in Beijing
Zaha Hadid Architects: Designing in the New Global Context
The Zaha Hadid Architects exhibition The New World opened at Beijing’s Guardian Art Center in July. It celebrates the development and work of ZHA since its first Chinese projects in 2010, with which the studio left a decisive mark on architecture and urban planning at the beginning of the 21st century.
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A vibrant city centre
Archive of the Future in Franconia by Peter Haimerl Architektur
With a sculpture of trees and a glass pavilion, the Baroque old town of Lichtenfels has gained a new destination in the city centre.
Living
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Regional connections
Semi-Detached Houses in Catalonia by Taller Sau
In Vidrà, a small village in the Catalan foothills of the Pyrenees, Taller Sau have designed two semi-detached houses with a regional connection and a high level of structural efficiency.
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100 percent natural
BioHome3D from the University of Maine
The University of Maine's BioHome3D is the first house to be 3D-printed out of bio-based materials. It consists of wood fibres and bio-resin and is completely recyclable.
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Building on a large scale
100 Houses from the 3D Printer by BIG
Robots are constructing the world’s largest 3-D residential community: In the Texan city of Georgetown, the BIG studio is building 100 houses.
Books
Climate & Ressources
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Foster conversion rebuilt
Reciprocal House in London by Gianni Botsford
A good 55 years ago, Foster Associates added a single-storey extension to a Victorian coach house in North London. In the current renovation, Gianni Botsford took the opposite approach: the old building had to go, and Foster's extension was renovated.
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Playful roof landscape
Extension of a Single-Family Home in Liechtenstein
In Schaan, architect Dominic Spalt has transformed a 1960s single-family home into a multigenerational house, incorporating red steel elements to highlight the alterations.
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Everything under one roof!
Conversion of a Farmhouse in the Bregenzerwald
Architect Simon Moosbrugger has revitalised a vacant historic farmhouse in Hirschau, Bregenzerwald, and added a replacement building with workrooms and sanitary facilities to the rear.