Nendo Building / R3C Diseño y Construcción

The project is located in Cumbayá, a neighborhood that has suffered a great demographic expansion due to the growth of the city towards the valleys. The lot has a steep slope and is located in a developing suburban area. For this reason, it was decided to divide the project into two blocks, separated by an open intermediate space that helps maintain the idea of an isolated house. Three platforms are generated that follow the natural topography of the terrain. The living blocks are placed on the front and rear platforms, while the vertical circulation and the common gardens are located on the intermediate platform, which generates an expansion between both blocks and creates a void that articulates the entire project. In this void, the communal circulation is placed, which is totally open and functions as a place for people to meet.

95PLA Refurbishment / Vallribera Arquitectes

Another row house, another four-person family, another set of parents, and another two children. Another challenge to take on. The design deals with an issue that is characteristic of this kind of project: is it better to refurbish the original building or tear it down and build something new? In this case, the answer is unclear. On the one hand, the structure at the back of the house has been damaged due to a lack of maintenance on the roof. The stairwell also needs to be torn out to make room for a parking area (one of the client’s non-negotiable requests). That requires a rather large surface area of new construction. On the other hand, the original building has the charm of a 100-year-old house, and the rest of the structure and building enve-lope can be kept and refurbished.

The Rural vs. The Urban: The Postcolonial City of Dakar in the Film Touki Bouki

Simultaneously gripping, disconcerting, and chaotic, Djibril Diop Mambéty’s Touki Bouki is an exhilarating cinematic ride. The 1973 drama — the first full-length film by the Senegalese director — is the fantastical narration of a young couple in Dakar, eager to escape the Senegalese capital for the allure of Paris. It’s a character-driven film in many ways, primarily centered on the couple’s adventures, but it is also a subtle visual examination of the urbanism of post-independence Dakar, where the city and its architecture are essential fixtures in a surreal storyline.

ICÔNE Collaborative Office Complex / Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners has completed ICÔNE, a new office complex in Belval, Luxembourg. The 18,800-square-metre office building, filled with light and greenery, encourages a spirit of co-creation and collaboration. Its layout addresses the need for flexible and safe working environments that will emerge in the future. It also references the rich industrial heritage of Belval, revitalizing the area by making a positive contribution to the site and its surroundings. The scheme is targeted to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

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