Architecture Now: Urban Updates from Madrid to L.A. on Climate, Policy, and Recovery

In recent weeks, cities around the world have introduced new policies, recovery efforts, and infrastructure projects that reflect growing pressure to adapt to climate realities. From Southern Europe to South America and the United States, these urban updates address both immediate challenges and long-term shifts in how the built environment is governed, designed, and inhabited. Some initiatives focus on regulation, tightening building codes in fire-prone areas or reforming aging safety systems, while others spotlight large-scale investments tied to global events such as COP30 and the Venice Architecture Biennale. This edition of Architecture Now gathers a selection of city-led actions and collaborative efforts that point toward a more resilient, responsive future for architecture and urban life.

Newburgh Light House / Splinter Society

Conveniently located in Auburn Village, Newburgh Light House presents a highly sustainable housing solution, accommodating up to 21 people over 10 levels, on an almost unbuildable 150m2 site, right on a historic train station. With no street access and a north facade directly abutting VicTrack land, complicated fire, building methodology, acoustics, equitable light, and stability requirements dominated much of the design process.  The response was a mini tower typology with a full level for each residence, using glass block as a key material to achieve fire and light requirements.  Conceptually, the translucent facades, combined with reflective finishes throughout, form a lantern to the public realm, whilst creating an ephemeral effect within the residences.

Remy Global Office Interior / KAT73

The Remy Global Office Interior Design redefines the conventional office typology by integrating production, creativity, and social interaction within a spatial organization that emphasizes flexibility, openness, and dynamism. Rather than conceiving the office as a purely functional space, the design envisions it as an experience-oriented, user-centric environment. This approach fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, supports creative processes, and encourages meaningful interaction among users.

This Is Not Architecture: Resisting the Illusion of AI Design

In the past, AI-generated images often resembled psychedelic experiences—filled with strange, sometimes unsettling colors and forms. But recent advancements in artificial intelligence have transformed that landscape. Today, we are surrounded by images whose origins are often unknown. From playful mashups to portraits turned into works of art, it's undeniable that Artificial Inteligence has become a lasting part in our visual landscape. As Yuval Noah Harari noted in a 2023 interview with The Economist, "AI has gained some remarkable abilities to manipulate and generate language — whether through words, sounds, or images. It has, in effect, hacked the operating system of our civilization."

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