Tarabot: Weaving A Living Forum, inspired by an idea by architect Adib Dada of studioOtherDada in Beirut, is a sustainable pavilion inaugurated during COP28 at the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. Made with locally sourced materials such as clay, mycelium, date palm waste and upcycled fabric, the pavilion incarnates a circular, ecological ethic and promotes biodiversity.
Dutch architectural practice MVRDV has completed an important project transforming an old monument in the Albanian capital. A facility opened in 1988 as a museum about the dictator Enver Hoxha has now been given new life as a vibrant cultural centre and educational facility in the heart of Tirana, demonstrating the great potential of historic constructions in Brutalist style.
Located on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD or Central Business District, Fitzroy used to be a degraded suburb but has evolved into a trendy district first made popular by artists, combining history with urban chic. In this eclectic neighbourhood stands Helvetia, a Victorian terraced home renovated by Austin Maynard Architects. After being converted into a boarding-house with a fragmented layout, Helvetia has undergone a new metamorphosis incarnating the ideals of sustainability, practicality and beauty.
Chinese architect Haipeng Ren from the Days in YARD studio, has designed the recovery of a Hutong, a traditional courtyard house in Beijing. The intervention starts from attention to the urban context and strives for coexistence between traditional Chinese construction and contemporary life and technology. The result won the Active Excellent Award, an important recognition of the effective sustainability of architecture.
The SALA FERUSIC Architects studio founded by Relja Ferusic Manusev and Carles Sala Roig have designed the Happy House project in Begur, on the Costa Brava in Spain. The private residence, which sits on a slope, is distinguished by its sustainability and respect for the surrounding environment, from its integration into the terrain and the landscape to its energy efficiency and low carbon footprint.
Created for the 3daysofdesign event in Copenhagen, the Fritz Hansen pavilion designed by Henning Larsen prides itself on a through and through sustainable design. Located in the garden of the Designmuseum Danmark, Grønnegården, the pavilion impresses with its focus on natural light and materials that allow it to be fully disassembled and make it circular economy-friendly.
The Sanjay Puri Architects studio based in India continues its projects in Raipur. Here, a new residential area is coming to life, located 3 km from the nearest town. The complex built by the architects is self-sufficient and is based on the principles of the traditional courtyard house architecture, in response to the scorching climate characterising the area.
The Indian architecture firm Sanjay Puri has created a new office building in Raipur, India, based on the traditional Indian courtyard house. Using this model has resulted in a contemporary-looking architecture with a sustainable core.
The Vietnamese architectural firm Tropical Space has designed The Cuckoo House in Da Nang, in Vietnam. A combination of a café on the ground floor and a family home on the upper floors, all created using natural materials, for a lively yet serene atmosphere.
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