architecture14.615 min read
Obama Center's Earthbound Tower Redefines Chicago Architecture
1 month ago•Source: Chicago Tribune
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Lego Debuts Record-Breaking Sagrada Família Architecture Set for Gaudí Centennial
Lego has unveiled its largest Architecture set to celebrate Antoni Gaudí’s centenary: a 12,060‑piece replica of the Sagrada Família that stands about 62 cm tall, features interior lighting through stained glass, and can be disassembled into sections to reveal the interior—reflecting Gaudí’s evolving design—marking the brand’s most ambitious architectural model to date.
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Backrooms' labyrinth of liminal spaces unsettles architects
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LA's Concrete 'Mothership' Museum Sparks Debate Over Carbon Cost
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RAMSA Designer Christina Victori on Inspirations, AI Tools, and a New Jersey Farmhouse
Christina Victori, RAMSA’s New York–based head of interior design, explains RAMSA’s place-driven approach and the firm’s expansion into interiors for Ocean Terrace in Miami Beach, reflects on mentors like Thierry Despont and Roman & Williams as well as influences from Gaudí and Dupré-Lafon, and discusses using AI as a time-saving tool for design—speeding up photo edits and concept exploration—while renovating an 18th‑century New Jersey farmhouse and defining luxury as craft and personal reflection.
Eames Pavilion System Turns the Iconic House into a Global Prefab Line
At Milan’s Triennale, the Eames Office and Kettal unveiled the Eames Pavilion System, a modular prefab line translating the Eames House’s design language into one- and two-story pavilions. Available in 80+ countries this fall (two-story versions later), starting at about $2,800 per square meter (roughly $518,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home). Not replicas, these pavilions echo the famous grid, black beams and warm wood, with on-site assembly by Kettal engineers. The project expands the designers’ modular approach and is paired with a new book, The Eames Houses, from Phaidon; it follows restoration after the 2025 Palisades Fire.
Rammed Earth Takes Center Stage in 2026 Modern Homes
A design-forward feature highlights five rammed-earth homes and projects—from Brazil's Piracaia Eco-Village to Japan's Lib Earth House Model B, Slovenia's Rammed Earth House, Colorado's Casa Covida, and Bali's Ulaman Eco-Retreat—that demonstrate rammed earth as a low-carbon, thermally stable, long-lasting material that blends local soils, 3D printing, and biophilic design with rainwater harvesting, solar-readiness, and natural aesthetics.
Brooklyn Townhouse Reimagined as Energy-Efficient Family Home
A Greenpoint townhouse was gut-renovated into a 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, single-family home with a third floor, double-height kitchen, skylights and expansive outdoor spaces. The project adopts Passive House principles—airtight envelope, triple-pane windows, and heat pumps—and rooftop solar that covers about 80% of the home’s energy. Large windows, cedar louvers, and roof decks maximize light and outdoor living, while Brook Landscape created a lush backyard garden. Completed in June 2024 after starting in 2022, the renovation cost about $700 per square foot.
Top Architectural Projects to Watch in 2026
The article highlights 15 major architecture projects scheduled for completion in 2026, including the long-awaited Sagrada Familia in Spain, new cultural and performing arts venues in China, Togo, and the UK, innovative museums and museums extensions in the USA and China, and iconic structures like the Danjiang Bridge in Taiwan and the Lucas Museum in California.
Architectural Highlights in Chicago for 2026
In 2026, Chicago will see significant architectural developments including the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, the completion of Google's new headquarters in the former Thompson Center, the ongoing search for a new Chicago Bears stadium site, the opening of Bally’s $1.7 billion casino, and the construction of DuSable Park, a new green space honoring Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.
Seven Unique Shingle-Covered Houses with Scaly Appearances
The article showcases seven houses around the world featuring highly textured, scaly-looking shingle exteriors made from various materials like wood, slate, and grass, highlighting their aesthetic appeal and functional qualities in different architectural contexts.
JPMorgan Chase Unveils $3 Billion, 60-Story Headquarters in New York
Foster + Partners has completed 270 Park Avenue in New York, the city's largest all-electric tower powered entirely by renewable energy, designed to achieve net-zero emissions. The 60-story skyscraper features a lifted base supported by fan-shaped columns, creating open sightlines and public space, with advanced load-transfer systems to accommodate the dense subway infrastructure. The building emphasizes sustainability, health, and public engagement, with LEED Platinum and WELL certifications, and includes extensive interior work by Gensler focused on human-centered design and flexible workspaces.
PEBL Cabins Collaborates with Hello Wood
The PEBL Cabins project by Hello Wood, with a new larger version called the PEBL Grand, is set to be completed in 2025 in New York, showcasing innovative cabin design and architecture.
Robotic Earth Printing Advances Living Building Materials
The article explores innovative approaches to sustainable architecture by integrating living materials and eco-resilient design, including the use of robotic earth printing to develop walls that coevolve with their environment, inspired by projects like vertical gardens and natural integration of vegetation into building structures.