Pedestrianisation Initiatives and UNStudio’s Central Yards Theatre in Hong Kong: This Week’s Review

Across different geographies and scales, this week's architecture news reflects a sustained focus on how cities and buildings are being recalibrated in response to evolving patterns of movement, work, and collective life. Across multiple contexts, public space and mobility remain central concerns, with streets, downtowns, and large-scale developments serving as testing grounds for new approaches to accessibility, resilience, and everyday use. Pedestrianisation initiatives and community-led visions point to evolving governance models and long-term urban strategies, while cultural and research-driven platforms continue to frame these changes within broader public discourse. In parallel, progress on major mixed-use and corporate projects underscores the growing integration of digital infrastructure, environmental performance, and flexible spatial frameworks within contemporary architecture.

Le Labo Daikanyama / Schemata Architects + Jo Nagasaka

This renovation of the Le Labo Daikanyama store marks our second project with the brand, following the Kyoto Machiya. Le Labo's Daikanyama boutique - its first location outside the U.S.- was renovated for the first time in 18 years, guided by the brand's desire to bring the craft of fresh fragrance blending to the forefront within the spatial design, and ensuring the boutique integrates seamlessly into the Tokyo streetscape.  

Faculty of Sciences - Pontifical Xavierian University / taller de arquitectura de bogotá

The design of the new Faculty of Sciences at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana faced unique challenges, such as achieving a harmonious balance with the historic Pablo VI building, activating the urban edge of Carrera Séptima, and coherently articulating the campus. The comprehensive project was structured around three fundamental components: A) A linear platform that establishes a human-scale front along Carrera Séptima, B) A tall tower with a broad and fluid base, defining a new iconic entrance to the campus, and C) An extensive landscape intervention and collective spaces that serve as a connector between different areas of the campus.

Villa 1374 / The Purple Ink Studio

Project 1374 is located in one of the plotted developments in the north of Bangalore, characterized by well-demarcated plots, spacious roads, and organized infrastructure. Trees flank the wide streets, dividing the plots with dense canopies offering shaded avenues. Abutting the plot stood a cluster of trees- a quiet presence. We borrowed these trees into the design, their presence extending into the home's narrative. 

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