How Not to Build: Architecture by the Absence of Intervention

Whether for design competitions or architectural awards, buildings are often judged for what they offer–the programmed functions, the form, or the visual delight. In a minority of cases, it is the absence or the reduction of intervention that made a project successful. In 1971, a high-profile architectural competition in Paris was won by a proposal that only utilized half the available site, giving the rest as an urban space to the city. In London, a proposal to convert a disused power station with minimal additions, leaving large spaces untouched, won a design competition in 1994. The Stirling Prize, the UK's most prestigious architectural award, in 2017 was won by a proposal that was little more than an empty platform. These examples of cultural buildings from Northwestern Europe illustrate how the absence of intervention can provide more.

Avinya Inaugural Campus / Spacefiction studio

A Growing City and a New School – Hyderabad's rapid westward expansion, driven by massive office and residential developments, has created a fast-shifting city center. This rapid growth has outpaced the supporting infrastructure, leading to a high demand for new facilities, particularly schools. Our clients, experienced builders, plan to construct a large, permanent school to meet this need. In the interim, they required a transitional campus to enroll their first students. This inaugural group will eventually move to the new, permanent campus once it's complete. After the transition, this campus will be transformed into a flagship office, showcasing the builder company's various construction projects in the area.

A-fact Wins International Competition for Podgorica’s Museum and Cultural Park in Montenegro

The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro has announced the results of the international competition for the new Museum District and Park of Arts & Culture in Podgorica. The winning proposal, led by Milan- and London-based practice a-fact architecture factory in collaboration with LAND, Maffeis Engineering, and Charcoalblue, was selected from 48 entries by an international jury. The project envisions a new cultural district consolidating three institutions, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Natural History Museum, and the House of Architecture, within a landscape that reconnects the city to the Morača River.

Hosono House / Ryan Leidner Architecture

Located in San Francisco's hilly Bernal Heights neighborhood, the Hosono House has an interesting setting in that the original structure, which was remodeled, was built in the rear of the property and setback significantly from the street, giving the home a unique sense of privacy and a feeling of being a true retreat. While the feeling of separation from the street created a unique sense of seclusion and sanctuary, it also presented challenges in terms of access and circulation. To resolve this, a new entry sequence was created, including a bridge that spans from the front garden, over the landscaped lower courtyard, to the new front door.

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