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Architecture

What is a Design District and How Has Their Rise Transformed Our Cities

By Zarkon Group,08/06/2023

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season? Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.

In the ever-evolving landscape of urban design, the emergence of design districts has become a defining characteristic of progressive cities worldwide. These vibrant enclaves, often juxtaposed against the backdrop of industrial relics or purposefully planned developments, have become catalysts for economic growth, creative collaboration and community engagement.

At its core, a design district is a concentrated area within a city that serves as a thriving hub for creative and design-focused activities. These are places where architects, designers, artists and entrepreneurs converge to showcase their talents, exchange ideas and create an immersive experience for visitors. The value of a design district extends beyond its aesthetic allure; it breathes life into the local economy and community, fostering economic growth, cultural enrichment and a sense of place.

Grand Bazaar of Istanbul by IV. Murat

Long before the rise of modern metropolises, ancient civilizations laid the foundation for what we now recognize as design districts. These neighborhoods of artisans and craftspeople played a crucial role in the cultural and economic fabric of their respective societies. The Agora of Athens was a bustling marketplace that served as a hub for artists, philosophers and traders. Within its grand colonnades and stoa, the Agora fostered the exchange of ideas, the birth of democracy and the creation of iconic architectural wonders like the Parthenon.

While across the Aegean Sea, the 61 covered streets and 4,000 shops that make up the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul traces its origins back to the 15th century. This labyrinthine marketplace encapsulated the rich heritage and diverse influences of the Ottoman Empire. Within its alleyways, artisans, jewelers and carpet weavers transformed the Bazaar into a beacon of trade, attracting visitors from far and wide and establishing Istanbul as a global exchange hub.

Since then, we have borne witness to the emergence of many design districts across every continent and over centuries of design movements, and it was the demise of the industrial era that may have resulted in the most significant growth of the “design district.” Following the Second World War, countless factories and warehouses were left empty, creating opportunities for revitalization and adaptive reuse.

Soho neighborhood, Lower Manhattan, New York by Rafael Sanchez Lopez/Wirestock Creators

Starting with SoHo in New York City of the 1960s, abandoned factories and warehouses became fertile ground for architectural reinvention across the world. Once-decaying cast iron structures have since been transformed with design districts emerging from the ashes of these forgotten structures, infusing new life into their once-decaying shells. More recently, in the heart of London, the vibrant community of Shoreditch has flourished within the remnants of its industrial past. Former factories have been imaginatively transformed into studios, galleries and creative workspaces, attracting a new generation of artists, designers and entrepreneurs.

Similarly, the Meatpacking District in New York City underwent a remarkable metamorphosis from a gritty industrial zone to a thriving hub of fashion, art, and design. Repurposing the neighborhood’s historic meatpacking warehouses, the district now teems with high-end boutiques, galleries and avant-garde restaurants, redefining the concept of urban cool.

In the modern era, design districts have become invaluable commodities to thriving cities and the creatives who inhabit them. They serve as vibrant cultural epicenters, nurturing collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas across disciplines. These districts attract designers, artists and entrepreneurs, fueling economic growth through increased tourism, job creation and consumer spending. Their impact transcends economic gains; design districts contribute to the cultural fabric of a city, hosting exhibitions, events and festivals that celebrate creativity and artistic expression.

Shoreditch Chimney By Dani

However, patience is not a characteristic often coveted in urban development in the modern age, and today design districts may not be gifted the same lengthy development time as their predecessors. Rather than coming into existence as a natural ecosystem of designers, artists and makers drawn to an area with cheap rent and little in the way of planning restrictions, design districts are now often shaped by the vision of architects who are tasked to create places that accommodate the needs of the creative community while appealing to the broader public. Architects embarking on the design of a design district face multifaceted challenges to create authentic experiences.

The synergy of function and aesthetics lies at the core of successful design district architecture. Striking a balance between iconic structures that inspire and functional spaces that accommodate diverse businesses and creative enterprises is paramount. Architects must navigate the delicate balance between creating visually striking environments and ensuring that these districts cater to the needs and aspirations of the creative community and local residents.

Flexibility and adaptability are key considerations when designing design districts. The ability to evolve with changing trends, technologies and creative practices is crucial for their long-term success. Modular and versatile design principles that allow for easy reconfiguration are essential for fostering an environment of continuous innovation and adaptation.

Greenwich Peninsula Low Carbon Energy Centre by C.F. Møller Architects, London, England, United Kingdom. Photo by Mark Hadden

Similarly, connectivity and accessibility play pivotal roles in the design of these districts. Careful planning of transportation networks, pedestrian-friendly spaces and digital infrastructure is required to ensure the communities are accessible and inclusive. By integrating design districts with the larger urban fabric, architects foster connections, diversity and interactions, nurturing a sense of community and place.

While purposeful planning and intentional programming are important aspects of design district creation, striking a delicate balance is paramount. Single programming can inadvertently inhibit the natural “ecosystem” of different proprietors, stifling the organic growth and diversity that defines traditional neighborhoods. Design districts should feel as though they have evolved naturally, allowing for the emergence of a rich ecosystem of creative ventures and businesses intermingled with places to eat, linger and take part in cultural events. Their restaurants and music venues often define design districts.

Burò Furniture by Mezzo Atelier, Milan, Italy

Purposely designing a design district is challenging, and caution should be taken against over-planning and segmenting a district into areas for function which can lead to districts failing to be vibrant homogenous neighborhoods and echoing shopping malls with an area to eat, a zone to shop, and a place to work. The Greenwich Peninsula in London has been criticized for this very reason. The purpose-built design district lacks the balance of function needed to meet the aspirations of the creative community and local residents, which is crucial for creating spaces that resonate with authenticity and a sense of belonging.

Successful design districts bear the imprints of visionary architects who have shaped these urban landscapes. Zona Tortona, Milan, Italy, was designed by a collective effort of visionary architects, including Fabio Novembre, Giulio Cappellini, and Piero Lissoni. Zona Tortona has become one of the most iconic design districts in the world and is renowned for its cutting-edge design, fashion and art events. The former industrial area now comprises sleek showrooms, galleries and creative venues. Zona Tortona’s success lies in its seamless integration of contemporary architecture and historic industrial structures, creating a captivating and vibrant atmosphere for visitors and design enthusiasts.

Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain by Pavel

In Barcelona, the Poblenou Design District started around twenty years ago, when artist collectives took over abandoned factories to work and host parties. Early adopters of Poblenou included the artist Antoni Miralda and Mariscal, creator of the legendary Palo Alto design studio. Although large swathes of the area still retain a gritty nature, the neighborhood is now dotted with warehouse conversions containing open-plan homes, galleries, coworking spaces and architects’ studios, making it the historic city’s creative heart.

The economic and cultural benefits of design districts are far-reaching. They attract diverse businesses, from galleries, studios and showrooms to boutiques, cafes and restaurants. The influx of visitors and tourists fuels economic growth, job creation, and increased consumer spending. Design districts become vibrant cultural epicenters, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and events that celebrate artistic expression, foster cultural exchange, and enhance the local community’s quality of life. And so, if you ever find yourself at the forefront of designing a design district, consider the marketplaces of ancient Athens, the revival of SoHo by the struggling artists of New York or the design geniuses of Barcelona and perhaps 500 years from now, your efforts will stand as a testament of great design as the streets of Grand Bazaar of Istanbul continue to do so to this day.

Top image: Ancient Agora of Athens in Greece by nejdetduzen

Reference

Architecture

saudi arabia pavilion at the 2023 venice architecture biennale

By Zarkon Group,07/06/2023

a walk through ‘IRTH إرث’ at the 2023 saudi arabia pavilion

2023 Venice Architecture Biennale: For its third participation at the international fair, the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia presents ‘IRTH إرث’ (meaning ‘legacy’ in Arabic), a spellbinding and multi-layered sensory exhibition under the curation of Basma and Noura Bouzo. Designed by architect AlBara Saimaldahar, the show examines the symbiotic relationship between material and immaterial properties and links past to future using one of the most historically significant and primary materials used in Saudi architecture: earth.

all images © Venice Documentation Project, courtesy Ministry of Culture (unless stated otherwise)

exploring material vs. immaterial, and linking past to future

Materials used to shape built environments can be thought of as quiet storytellers. Their unique properties, both tangible and intangible, tell us plenty about the inhabitants of a country or region. They are, in other words, embedded with narratives and hold valuable lessons that bridge traditional knowledge with new practices, creating a constantly evolving line of continuity. At this year’s Venice Biennale, ‘IRTH إرث’ physically explores this line linking past and future by celebrating Saudi Arabia’s most characteristic building material. Used as both a structural and cladding element, earth is spotlighted here through its textures and colors — spanning the entire spectrum of the country’s natural tones, from its desert dunes to the red sea coast.

six arches clad internally with wood panels and externally with 3D-printed clay tiles

a multi-layered, sensorial journey into Saudi Architecture

Illustrating this concept, the 2023 Saudi Arabia Pavilion design takes on a multi-layered approach, allowing visitors to experience the exhibition from different perspectives. The first layer is the structure itself, divided into several sections and reflecting on the method and use of vernacular components jointly with innovative technologies. The second layer, defined as the exhibition content, provides an overview of earth’s present and future in Saudi architecture.

The distinctive layout envisioned by AlBara Saimaldahar (see more here) combines nostalgia, legacy, and ongoing adaptation. It looks to the future through the lens of the past; it enhances the intrinsic essence of Saudi craftsmanship through elaborate artifacts, takes traditional patterns and motifs from Al-Balad, the Historical Jeddah, and transforms them into fluid forms. The evolution of the very concept of legacy is challenged in a crescendo that reaches its climax at the end. At the heart of the project is an experiential component: a simple, immersive room that stimulates the visitors’ senses, triggering individual reactions in an independent and uninfluenced manner.

celebrating the primary material in Saudi architecture: earth

‘The destination itself is not the end but rather a call for reflection and eventual examination of how one’s senses not only take but generates imprints within space and time. It is here that architecture brings to the surface the value of the unseen, allowing its occupants to build their own cognitive reconnaissance and placemaking,’ comments Saimaldhar.

The journey through the Pavilion’s three main structures begins by passing beneath six arches as authentic gateways. With their imposing eight-sided metal structures clad internally with wooden panels and externally with 3D-printed clay tiles – featuring an undulating pattern reminiscent of desert dunes – the portals convey both grandeur and lightness. On the one hand, they evoke monumental works of architecture carved in stone and in caves — mighty, seemingly indestructible, and enduring across time — and, on the other hand, the transience of materials, unstable like the sand of the Rub’ al-Khali desert or the Empty Quarter, as the outer covering gradually fades until it disappears.

the exhibition provides an overview of the material’s present and future

Meanwhile, an olfactory experimentation emerges in the middle of the Pavilion. A large and empty rectangular room is imbued with a fragrance created especially for the exhibition: notes of lavender, frankincense, and myrrh rise in the air, resonating with Arab culture in its most homely form. An immersive sensory hub, this dematerialized environment offers a glimpse of the future through the lens of tradition — an existential experience allowing visitors to experience something exceptional, sensing a ‘moment’ in time and triggering a memory of the Pavilion that will be different for each person.

The only material element inside the hall is a 3D-printed clay column illuminated by interior lights that project mystical patterns onto the Pavilion’s floor, walls, and ceiling. When the Biennale concludes, the sculpture will be transported to the bottom of the Red Sea, acting as an artificial stone to stimulate the growth of a marine ecosystem.

‘Underwater structures play a key role in the formation of habitats. Gradually, as more columns are printed, this ‘first stone’ will be joined by new elements: a gradual and continuous pattern of growth that will transform a single object artificially placed in a natural setting into an expanse of vertical lines, a labyrinth from which corals and other life forms will come forth. The contrast between the pure geometric form of the columns and the irregular expansion of life within them will visualize the relationship between nature and artifice: a human artifact is reclaimed and incorporated by nature in a dynamic balance that is both fragile and enduring,’ writes the curatorial team.

rows of clay tiles | image © designboom

The layout concludes by passing through two more portals: here, the visitor is invited to get involved in their transformation, adding new tiles (from the legacy of earth/clay tiles) to an octahedral structure through an interplay of progressive change, day after day.

According to Basma and Noura Bouzo, the experiments and explorations on display at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion combine the interdisciplinary perspectives of architects and designers, inviting the public to take part in a journey that will help define a legacy for future generations. ‘The pavilion brings to the forefront the notion of collaborative practice as a foundation of the laboratory of the future. It invites visitors to breach their role as spectators and actively engage in the process. The experience itself mirrors the future of architecture and materiality as a work in progress, determined not only by the practitioners but by its occupants.’

Reference

Exterior of the brick Casa de Musica school by Colectivo C733 with cantilevered timber roofs

Architecture

Colectivo C733 tops brick music school with soaring timber roof in Mexico

By Zarkon Group,06/06/2023

Mexican studio Colectivo C733 has created a brick music school in Nacajuca, Mexico that includes two structures and a lofty, cantilevered roof made of coconut wood.

The Mexico City-based collective completed the 1,325-square metre (120-square metre) Casa de Música in 2021.

The facility is part of the state’s urban development program and “provides a space for social gatherings with warm materials and natural ventilation, while musicians benefit from spacious, isolated classrooms with state-of-the-art equipment,” C733 told Dezeen.

Casa de Música is composed of two volumes connected by a public boulevard.

Exterior of the brick Casa de Musica school by Colectivo C733 with large windows and a cantilevered timber roof — The school is located in the Mexican city of Nacajuca

The larger volume – an open-plan community centre built on the foundations of a previous structure – boasts a large offset gable roof with one roof plane extending past the ridge line and cantilevering over a skylight and the opposite roof plane.

The north and south sides are supported by a series of double brick walls that hold the 24-metre trusses. The west end is transparent with rectangular glass panels shielded from the street by a porous brick screen, while the east end holds a service core.

Exterior of the Casa de Musica school with extended brick walls and cantilevered timber roofs — Double brick walls support the roof structure

The social space also holds a mezzanine stage for workshops and local musicians.

The smaller volume is the music school — consisting of eight classrooms, a cafeteria, restrooms and management offices — that reflects the rhythm of the community centre’s structure through compact spaces arranged in a line.

“The sloping roof of the building creates a double-height space in each of these areas, with an upper terrace offering views of the treetops,” the team said.

Both buildings feature local coconut wood, brick partitions, and clay tiles that provide warmth, natural freshness, and acoustic control. Wooden doors open between each structural bay, creating a loggia-like complex that opens the facility to the public.

An expansive interior space with a large pitched timber roof and glazed gable end — The larger of the two structures is a community centre

“The project draws inspiration from the traditional Mesoamerican pocho dance and contemporary expressions, incorporating warm materials, natural ventilation, and a focus on local resources to create a space that pays tribute to its location and enhances existing elements,” the team said.

The team looked beyond the site to prioritize the land on which the centre sits.

A covered exterior walkway with a brick floor and timber walls next to a glazed gable-ended building — Brick, wood and clay materials were chosen to add warmth

“It is essential that projects pay tribute to their location, particularly when they have the potential to highlight what already exists,” the team said.

The project faces a polluted creek; but the roof directs and collects rainwater, filtering it for use in restrooms, passing it through biodigesters and biofilters in a wetland-type treatment and discharging clean water into the local river as a water management alternative.

Two external brick walls topped with pitched timber roofs — A boulevard connects the school’s two structures

The locally sourced coconut wood captures carbon dioxide, generates a smaller carbon footprint than other materials and promotes both craftsmanship and employment for the local workforce.

C733 includes designers Gabriela Carrillo, Carlos Facio, Eric Valdez, Israel Espín and José Amozurrutia

In Matamoros just off the Texas-Mexico border, C733 created a brick shopping centre with inverted trapezoidal roof forms. Other projects with timber roofs in Mexico include a holiday home in Avándaro by Estudio MMX.

The photography is by Yoshihiro Koitani.

Project credits:
Colectivo C733: Gabriela Carrillo, Eric Valdez, Israel Espín, José Amozurrutia, Carlos Facio (TO)
Design team: Álvaro Martínez, Fernando Venado, Eduardo Palomino
Executive architect: Leticia Sánchez, Victor Arriata
Structures: LABG (Eric Valdez), GIEE, GECCO Ingeniería
Electrical and mechanical engineering: Enrique Zenón
Landscape architects: Taller de Paisaje Hugo Sánchez
Other consultants: Carlos Hano, Laurent Herbiet
Contractor: Francisco Tripp – Grupo Plarciac
Client: SEDATU, Municipio de Nacajuca

Reference

Architecture

Free Webinar Recording: Implementing Zero Waste Strategies into Your Design Practice

By Zarkon Group,05/06/2023

Do you ever sit back and wonder what happens to your waste? Do you ever ponder the environmental and economic impacts of waste on the planet?

Architizer was thrilled to have Jessica Jenkins, Environmental and Technical Project Specialist at Inpro, speak at the most recent Architizer live event. Hitting us with hard facts, the dos and don’ts and workplace initiatives for waste diversion, Jessica left the audience empowered to take matters into their own hands. Zero waste is attainable within the design industry, and Jessica thoughtfully broke down how to get there.

To reach a wider audience and for those who were unable to attend, the recorded session is available on-demand! Click the button below to watch Jessica Jenkins’ insightful presentation:

Waste is at the forefront of many global sustainable initiatives. Why? Because we all contribute to waste. It is part of our daily lives and, realistically, isn’t going anywhere. Currently, we are running out of space to house our waste. In the US alone, a whopping 292 million tons of trash was generated in a single year. To make room for all this waste, natural habitats have been destroyed, greenhouse gas emissions have risen, and taxes have gone up to offset the costs of running expensive landfills.

Zero waste has been defined as diverting 90% of total waste from landfills.

Thankfully, there are proactive ways to reduce our collective and individual contributions to waste. And such strategies can be implemented into building design. The benefits of designing for zero waste are immense, leading to more sustainable creations, increased property value and safety. Whether a boutique architecture firm or a large manufacturing company, waste diversion is possible within all parts of the design industry. All it takes is a little bit of elbow grease.

For some real-world context, Jessica shared a bit on Inpro’s zero waste journey. By 2025, Inpro aspires to become a zero-waste company. Currently, they have hit an impressive 85% diversion rate, and with only 5% to go, the company is thrilled to offer long-lasting, recycled products to their customers. Sharing a few of Inpro’s key strategies on waste diversion, here are three important factors to consider:

Take ownership: Owning up to your company’s waste streams and processes is a must. It is the first step before implementing waste diversion strategies.
Collect and use data: Striving for zero waste is not a linear process. Examining your company’s current processes through metrics and data is crucial to reaching this goal. Constant reevaluation and reassessment is key.
Convenience is a must: Waste diversion initiatives must be made convenient and straightforward to use.

Looking beyond the workplace and towards the design process itself, Jessica also shared some helpful strategies for zero-waste design.

Clearly communicate: Communicate valuable information (such as recycling guidelines) through legible signage.
Prioritize easy access: Ensure your zero waste strategies (such as designated recycling areas) are accessible and conveniently placed within your building.
Opt for sustainable products: While performance is key to waste diversion, so are the materials used within said processes. Ensure you have durable wall protection and long-lasting materials.

To hear Jessica Jenkins’ complete list of tips for zero-waste design, click the link below.

Striving for zero waste is attainable within all aspects of the architecture and design industry. At first, it may appear like a demanding and unattainable goal. However, in practice, all it takes is a solid waste diversion plan and a continual commitment to the cause.

Top image: The Cradle by HPP Architects, Düsseldorf, Germany

Reference

residential unit in japan protrudes a two-meter cantilever concrete volume

Architecture

residential unit in japan protrudes a cantilever concrete volume

By Zarkon Group,04/06/2023

OHArchitecture reshapes apartment in Betsuincho

Kyoto-based OHArchitecture takes over the reconstruction of a two-leveled residential unit in Betsuincho, Japan. The concrete structure is cast with loose plates forming a rough texture that resembles abstract wrinkles. The first floor which serves as a rental module models a six-meter grid arrangement, while the second story protrudes a two-meter cantilever assembling separate residences. Each of the two floors is divided into maisonettes to enhance the strength of the space. The transformed collective housing makes use of the framework, forming several different living zones.

all images provided by OHArchitecture

interior applies nested iron black skin and wooden boxes

On the first floor, the space between the exterior eaves displays a full steel sash, while the ground floor area stands connected to the outdoor zone. On the second level, the slab is cut open and a steel staircase is installed to smoothly connect the upper and lower stories. The interior applies nested iron black skin and wooden box-like volumes. By compactly organizing the water and other areas, the design team at OHArchitecture achieves a high degree of free open space in the common center of the structure. Originally designed attached to a ground-floor shop, the construction transforms the house’s spaces and functions through a series of modifications that reserve the initial character.

the second story protrudes a two-meter cantilever

originally attached to a ground-floor shop, the construction transforms the house’s spaces and functions

Reference

Exterior of the The Alvarado homeless shelter in LA with a graphic blue and white-painted facade

Architecture

Kadre Architects converts Los Angeles motel into homeless shelter

By Zarkon Group,02/06/2023

California studio Kadre Architects has used bold graphics and vibrant colours to transform a dilapidated motel into The Alvarado, which offers beds for families experiencing homelessness.

Designed by local firm Kadre Architects, the adaptive reuse project involved converting a 20,000-square-foot (1,858-square-metre) motel built in 1984 into a shelter for families transitioning out of homelessness in LA’s Westlake neighbourhood, one block north of MacArthur Park.

The Alvarado project was led by Los Angeles County and its nonprofit partner, Hope the Mission. It was designed and completed in eight months.

The four-storey building contains 43 units with a total of 172 beds, along with support spaces and offices.

The Alvarado project was led by Los Angeles County and its nonprofit partner, Hope the Mission. It was designed and completed in eight months.

The four-storey building contains 43 units with a total of 172 beds, along with support spaces and offices.

Interior corridor with green and white glossy walls — Bold colours feature throughout the building

The majority of tenants are single mothers and children. The project is part of the state of California’s Project Homekey initiative, which provides funding for local governments to rapidly create housing for the homeless.

Working on a limited budget, the architects opted to use bold colours and graphics to bring “new life to the blighted building”.

The entrance facade formerly had a pale green colour and Italianate-style detailing. The team replaced it with a blue-and-white graphic that spells out “Hope”.

“Paint goes a long way when budgets are low, and the welcoming graphic greets each resident with an inspiring message, creating a sense of belonging and dignity,” the team said.

Graphics in hues such as yellow, purple and green are also found indoors, providing a sense of “moving through a colourful composition”.

Yellow and white interior with yellow shelving along the wall and a wall-mounted TV — The shelter contains space for 172 beds, offices and support spaces

“[We] used the palette to enliven spaces and bring about a sense of ownership, with each floor having its own graphic identity throughout each of the rooms, floors, walls and furnishings – like one’s own neighborhood,” the team said.

The ground level holds a covered gathering area and support spaces. The upper three levels encompass the living units, each of which has bunk beds, a bathroom, a microwave and small refrigerator. The units average 280 square feet (26 square metres).

Interior corridor with purple and white glossy walls — The building was originally built in 1984

An outdoor area has been transformed into a dining deck for tenants, who are provided three meals each day.

The project has a number of sustainable features, including drought-tolerant landscaping and a white-painted roof that helps reduce heat gain. A photovoltaic array meets about half of the building’s energy needs.

Large open venue space with a white, yellow and black graphic design on the walls and floor — A gathering space is located on the ground floor

“Collaborating closely with the contractors and specialty consultants, the architects were able to eliminate fossil fuels completely and switch the entire building to electric power, in-step with the goals of the California Energy Commission,” the team said.

The project marks the first of three designed by Kadre Architects and Hope the Mission. The other two are slated to open later this year.

Green and white interior with green shelving along the wall and a wall-mounted TV — It forms part of California’s Project Homekey initiative

They are all part of the state’s Project Homekey initiative, which aims to address California’s escalating homelessness crisis. In 2022, there were over 171,000 homeless people in the state. About 30 per cent of the nation’s homeless population lives in California, according to a federal government report.

The founder of Kadre Architects, Nerin Kadribegovic, is a third-generation architect who has experienced “chaotic social and environmental disruption” due to being a refugee of the wars in Yugoslavia and Bosnia.

His refugee experience ignited his interest in addressing complex urban problems like homelessness.

“This awareness evokes deep empathic connection to critical issues facing metropolitan urban centers around the world,” said his studio.

Prior to launching Kadre, Nerin was a partner at the LA-based studio Lehrer Architects, which has designed a number of housing projects for the homeless in Los Angeles. These include an apartment complex in the Willowbrook neighbourhood with shared patios and splashes of yellow, and a tiny home village on a narrow plot in North Hollywood.

The photography is by Nerin Kadribegovic.

Reference

Architecture

15 Top AI Tools for Architects and Designers

By Zarkon Group,01/06/2023

Across the industry, architects are embracing a new partner in their creative pursuits: artificial intelligence. Once plagued by repetition and monotony, the architectural workforce finds itself on the cusp of a digital revolution where bits and bytes hold the key to automation and once unimaginable possibilities.

The AI revolution is not knocking at our door; it has already stepped in, taken off its hat, and is ready to get to work. The dynamics of design are evolving, and we are at the forefront, blending human creativity and machine precision. The future of architecture is not just being written — it’s being coded, and these are fourteen of the most valuable AI tools you could be using right now.

It’s safe to say that the list of AI tools for architects is progressing rapidly, with new programs being announced each and every day and as the architectural and technological landscapes continue to evolve, architects can expect the emergence of even more innovative AI tools, each promising to further revolutionize the field. These advancements will shape the future of architectural design, empowering professionals to deliver exceptional projects while pushing the boundaries of creativity and efficiency and, with hope, saving our planet at the same time.

Best AI Tools for Concept Design

Midjourney

Image by author.

Midjourney is everywhere right now. The AI-powered image generation tool presents architects with a canvas as boundless as their imagination. Working from written prompts, Midjourney deftly weaves photorealistic images that can be used to illustrate conceptual thinking.

While Midjourney is yet to fill the shoes of your favorite visualizer, the intelligent program can help designers convey complex designs by producing stunning visual narratives to help demonstrate to clients and stakeholders our vision. Even the most intrepid architectural ideas can spring from the mind’s eye onto the screen with Midjourney, making it a treasure trove for experimental design.

Adobe Firefly

Image by author.

Adobe Firefly, still fluttering in the chrysalis of development, is already showcasing the strength of its potential. This emergent member of the generative AI family promises to ignite the creative flame in architects and designers alike while streamlining workflow and providing a versatile and trusted platform for generating images, text effects, and other creative content.

Currently, Firefly, like Midjourney, is a dynamic companion that can illustrate innovative design ideas using text-to-image prompts. The program is included as part of the Adobe suite. Firefly is a trusty liaison, promoting collaborative relationships with colleagues and clients through a recognized and dependable platform.

As a relatively new program, many of the promised features of Firefly are not available yet. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to conceive that the brains behind the interface didn’t want to fall too far behind the incredibly popular Midjourney and so decided to drip-feed users functions before the program was complete. However, as Adobe Firefly continues to mature, we will likely see heavy development in Adobe’s ambition to create seamless transitioning between their popular design programs, which promises to make image creation and editing a breeze in the not-too-distant future.

Best AI Tool for Generating Design Alternatives

Maket.ai

Image by author.

Where architects once navigated the labyrinth of multiple design options alone, Maket.ai stands ready as a steadfast companion. With Maket.ai, the challenge of client-specific requirements and spatial restrictions becomes an opportunity for diverse design exploration. Rather than presenting a singular vision — or whatever number timescale allows — architects can now offer a visual banquet of design alternatives, each as meticulously tailored as a Savile Row suit.

Yet the true magic of Maket.ai lies in its promise of liberated time and resources. By taking on the laborious task of generating design options, Maket.ai gives architects a bounty of time, freeing them to engage more deeply with creativity and clients.

The pièce de résistance of Maket.ai is the potential to stir the stagnant waters of architectural convention. By generating unexpected design options, Maket.ai propels architects into the thrilling unknown of innovative design. The tool serves as a launchpad for creativity, inspiring architects to reach beyond their tried-and-true and embrace the unknown.

Best AI Tool for Residential Planning

ARCHITEChTURES

ARCHITEChTURES is a transformative AI-powered tool revolutionizing residential planning. Meticulously designed for the discerning architect, it streamlines decision-making and maximizes efficiency.

Harnessing the cutting-edge power of artificial intelligence, ARCHITEChTURES analyzes site conditions, climate dynamics, budget constraints, and client aspirations. With this wealth of knowledge, it unveils an array of design options, flawlessly harmonizing form and function while bringing architectural visions to life.

ARCHITEChTURES is already the trusted ally of many architects, empowering them to surpass limitations and unlock unparalleled efficiency. Through automation, liberation from mundane tasks is a reality. With an extensive palette of design parameters to work with, it is possible to set boundaries and set the program to work on all the available options.

From site planning, where ARCHITEChTURES navigates constraints and explores opportunities, to meticulous building design encompassing room sizes, window placements, and sustainable material selections, ARCHITEChTURES enables accuracy and adjustment with ease.

Best AI Tool for Schematic Designs

ArkDesign.ai

ArkDesign.ai is the answer to schematic design packs, a boon for architects and developers alike. The intelligent platform optimizes building designs in a flash, leaving you to make informed, expedited decisions.

ArkDesign.ai is armed with an AI brain that scrutinizes and learns the metadata of architectural designs, spawning variations while accounting for US local regulations and ordinances, ensuring that each project is innovative as well as compliant, championing efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

Best AI Tool for Urban Planning

Sidewalk Labs

Sidewalk Labs is the brainchild of Alphabet Inc. and is now part of Google. With urban inefficiencies on an upward trajectory, this revolutionary AI maverick aims to change the landscape of urban planning.

It’s all about digital dexterity. Sidewalk Labs marries AI, machine learning, and sensor technologies, enabling your designs to work harder while you work smarter. Having already been adopted globally, Sidewalk Labs is shaping reality in Toronto, New York, and Singapore, managing city congestion one street at a time.

Picture this: AI splashes an array of design options onto your canvas, and machine learning flexes its muscles to optimize building performance — we’re talking energy efficiency, comfort, and safety wrapped up in a cost-effective package. Next, sensor technology steps to provide invaluable data on traffic patterns, air quality, and noise levels.

Sidewalk Labs is absolutely the new kid on the block, but the program has great potential in the race to rethink our urban landscapes.

Best AI Tools for 3D Modeling

Kaedim

Image by author.

Kaedim is a standout performer in the realm of AI-powered 3D modeling that is backed by many in the gaming industry. It harnesses the transformative potential of machine learning, generative adversarial networks, and natural language processing to morph simple 2D design ideas into stunningly accurate 3D models.

Kaedim serves as an architect’s dynamic ally, taking the weight of manual 3D model creation off their shoulders. With Kaedim, architects and designers can freely explore various design concepts, iterate them, and refine their vision in a virtual space before they take tangible form.

In the client-facing phase, Kaedim plays a critical role in visual communication, enabling architects to present 3D models that resonate with clients’ imaginations. It also carries its weight during the construction planning phase, ensuring accurate documentation via detailed 3D models. In an industry where precision and realism are paramount, Kaedim emerges as a crucial asset.

Sloyd.AI

3D modeling is time-consuming. Welcome, Sloyd.AI, a trailblazer in cloud-based 3D modeling. It’s not just a tool but an innovative platform that leverages machine learning, generative adversarial networks, and natural language processing. It renders high-quality 3D models, capturing intricate details from architectural designs to produce exceptional representations.

Sloyd.AI doesn’t merely mimic the architect’s concept but extends its precision to breathe life into designs with a high degree of realism. It liberates architects from time-consuming physical model creation, opening up a playground of virtual exploration and design refinement.

Sloyd.AI proves invaluable from project conception to completion. It allows architects to present dynamic 3D models to clients, creating an immersive experience that static images simply cannot match. For construction planning and documentation, Sloyd.AI’s exactness ensures each specification is captured in the 3D models it generates. In the fast-paced world of architectural design, Sloyd.AI is the companion architects need to maintain their creative edge.

Best AI Tool for Renovation Projects

Luma.ai

Like Kaedim, Luma.AI is a distinguished pathfinder in AI-driven 3D scanning and modeling. This platform takes the laborious task of creating detailed 3D models and reimagines it, deploying advanced AI techniques such as computer vision, deep learning, and generative adversarial networks. It crafts accurate, realistic 3D models from photographs that can provide architects a comprehensive perspective of objects, be it buildings, furniture, or intricate architectural elements.

Luma.AI is not just a 3D modeler; it is a digital reincarnation expert. The true genius of Luma.AI occurs in renovation and restoration projects, where it can capture existing structures with striking accuracy and creates virtual twins. It bridges the gap between the tangible and the virtual, allowing architects to visualize the renovated structure even before the first brick is laid.

Its prowess doesn’t stop there. Regarding design visualization, Luma.AI ensures that the newly proposed modifications are compatible with the existing structure and enhance its aesthetic and functional appeal. The created 3D models can also be utilized in interactive virtual reality or augmented reality presentations, taking client and stakeholder engagement to new heights.

Best AI Tool for Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BricsCAD BIM

BricsCAD BIM is the tool where AI and BIM converge for a seamless, efficient architectural design process. While BIM encapsulates the architecture, engineering, and construction of a building in a 3D model, enabling a holistic view of the project. BricsCAD BIM amplifies the capabilities of BIM by introducing AI, creating a nexus of innovation and practicality.

BricsCAD BIM isn’t just a tool but an efficient assistant that works tirelessly, automating repetitive tasks such as drafting dimensions and annotations. It employs AI to translate 2D sketches into detailed 3D models while offering real-time visualization, enabling architects to interact with their design, tweaking it to perfection.

BricsCAD BIMs’ capabilities extend beyond aesthetics. The program enables architects to identify and rectify errors, enhancing the quality of the final output and minimizing post-construction issues. The provision for real-time visualization empowers architects to make informed design decisions, visualizing the impact of each modification.

Yet, the charm of BricsCAD BIM lies in its ability for effective collaboration. It ensures that architects, engineers, and builders are in sync, providing a shared platform that brings everyone on the same page. This collaboration streamlines the design process, reduces redundancy, and ensures a consistent understanding of the project among all parties involved.

The generative design capability of BricsCAD BIM is another aspect of its brilliance. It can conceptualize 3D building models based on user-defined parameters such as number of floors, building size, and the materials to be used. This encourages exploration, providing architects with a multitude of design options that adhere to the set constraints.

BricsCAD BIM is a true paragon in the world of AI-assisted BIM tools. It integrates the detail-oriented approach of BIM and the automation capabilities of AI, improving the design process, promoting collaboration, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality buildings.

Best AI Tools for Rendering

Arko.ai

Arko.ai enters the architectural scene as a promising AI-powered rendering service by providing high-quality, photorealistic renders in minutes. Through the power of AI and the convenience of a cloud-based platform, Arko.ai transforms 3D models into stunning visual masterpieces that mirror reality.

The key to Arko.ai’s appeal lies in the ways it can enhance the design process for architects. Primarily, it offers a powerful medium for architects to visualize their designs, as it breathes life into 2D sketches and models, translating them into realistic renders that provide architects with a glimpse of their creations in the real world.

Moreover, Arko.ai is a time-saver, taking over the labor-intensive task of rendering and freeing architects to focus on the creative aspects of their designs.

Compatible with SketchUp®, Revit®, and Rhinoceros® Arko.ai is a promising addition to an architect’s toolbox, offering realistic visualizations of designs and saving time.

Veras

Recently announced as being available within SketchUp® Veras is an AI-powered visualization tool that leverages 3D model geometry to inspire and promote creativity. Architects can turn to Veras to create photorealistic renders of their designs using text prompts, bringing to the fore the power of AI in architectural visualization.

Ultimately, the strength of Veras lies in its versatility and speed. It generates stunning renders way faster than traditional methods, affording architects and designers more time to dedicate to the more complex aspects of design. It allows designers to explore variations quickly so that informed design decisions can be made without the shackles of cost or time implications.

Best AI Tool for Sustainable Design

Autodesk Forma

Autodesk Forma carves a niche for itself as an all-encompassing AI-powered planning tool that offers architects and urban planners the ability to design sustainable, livable cities with heightened precision.

Operating on a cloud-based platform, Autodesk Forma is easily accessible from any location and works in tandem with AutoCAD and Revit.

The new addition from Autodesk harnesses the power of AI to simulate the implications of diverse design decisions on critical factors, such as energy consumption, traffic flow, and air quality, with an aim to help designers make more informed and sustainable design choices while enhancing the sustainability and livability of projects. Autodesk Forma is also equipt to help identify potential design flaws before implementation, circumventing costly future rectifications.

In essence, even in its earliest stages, Autodesk Forma is a comprehensive architecture AI tool that supports architects in designing more thoughtful and sustainable cities. It facilitates informed design choices, promotes time and cost efficiency, and encourages the creation of sustainable designs, thereby redefining the landscape of urban planning and architecture.

Best AI Tool for Project Management

ClickUp

Image by author.

ClickUp is a project management tool that has been adopted across many different industries. It has become a secret weapon, revolutionizing project management with features tailored for enhanced workflow efficiency. This cloud-based application seamlessly organizes and tracks projects.

ClickUp harmonizes tasks, deadlines, and team assignments in a simple platform, ensuring project progression from design to construction, avoiding missed deadlines and maintaining momentum.

ClickUp’s document management facilitates effortless collaboration.

Effective communication is key, and ClickUp delivers. Chat, video conferencing, and file-sharing tools synchronize efforts with team members and clients.

In ClickUp’s virtual realm, real-time collaboration can be used to refine designs collectively, while ClickUp’s reporting tools provide invaluable insights to identify improvement areas and fine-tune workflows. Analytics and visualizations offer panoramic project views.

The Best AI Tool for 3D Sketching

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SketchUp will be announcing the beta versions of two new AI features in June 2023, both which help accelerate and streamline design workflows so architects can spend more time designing and less time on tedious tasks. We’re keeping our eyes out for their announcement.

For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.

Reference

Architecture

Photovoltaics, Often Misunderstood as Visual Nuisances, Are Powerful Architectural Features

By Zarkon Group,31/05/2023

Judging for the 11th A+Awards is now underway! While awaiting the Winners, learn more about Architizer’s Vision Awards. The Main Entry Deadline on June 9th is fast approaching. Start your entry today >

The potential for making an architectural statement with solar PV panels, particularly in the form of a canopy, has been availed by architects for a while now. There is the often-photographed monumental solar canopy at the Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona, Spain, from way back in 2004. More recently, Gensler Architects have built an enormous hypostyle portico covered in solar panels at the Fifth + Tillery office in Austin, Texas. These sweeping expanses of glass and silicon on exposed latticework structures are naturally dramatic and expressive while providing a dappled shade or shelter from the rain.

Fifth + Tillery by Gensler, Austin, TX, United States

On residential houses, however, the pattern is to simply stick solar panels dumbly on the roof in any way they may fit. Newly built houses abound where exceptional care has been exercised over every detail and proportion, no expense spared on materials — except for the ill-shaped clump of solar panels laid out across the roof. It’s as if there is an unspoken agreement not to notice. But you can’t look away: there they are in full sun atop the house: ugly, unloved, visually jarring.

Renewable Energy Tartan

It’s a shame because solar canopies, awnings, eaves, and screens are an opportunity to add construction details and architectural rhythm that is inherent in the trellis-like structures supporting solar arrays. The cross-crossing supports of various thicknesses combined with a grid of individual solar cells naturally form a tartan plaid with layers of depth and visual interest. Although the panels can be mounted at any angle or even flat, the most efficient orientation is always a south-facing slant that can be a strong visual counterpoint to the normally rectilinear forms of a typical house.

Windkraft Simonsfeld, Lower Austria by Arch.

Ernstbrunn Windkraft by Architekturbüro Reinberg ZTGesmbH, Energiewende Platz, Korneuburg, Niederösterreich, Austria

Solar Photovoltaics Everywhere

Solar canopies can power a house and provide well-modulated shade at the poolside, or they can float over the house, shading the roof while adding visual interest to the façade, as in this application of solar panels on an office building façade, with the array jauntily tipped over the front of the building at a skew angle. Panels can be integrated as a carport roof, a door awning, an eave line, skylights, an atrium roof, windows, a deck railing, a brise-soleil, a screening element, or even a garden fence. So it’s a wonder that they almost always just get stuck on the roof in the most unsightly possible way.

A shade trellis is an often-used feature when designers want to make an attractive sheltered backyard space. When made of solar panels, it can not only provide modulated shade but also rain cover. But any surface that receives sunlight can, theoretically, be made into a solar electric collector. Yet, few to no examples of solar panels are being used for features like railings or screening elements in residential architecture.

A solar eave will provide the shadow line of a traditional eave and the opportunity to de-materialize the eave as it reaches its edge. Combining bi-facial panels with clear glass panels offers another opportunity for modulation.

Solar panel and glass canopy. Image by Charles via Pixabay

Lots of Choices

Manufacturers offer a wide variety of specialized solar panels just for solar roofs, canopies, and walls. Bi-facial panels that are glass on both faces are the most commonly used. These panels contain an array of dark silicon cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. The silicon cells can be arranged at various spacing to adjust the amount of opaque versus clear area. Amorphous silicon glass panels present a uniform look without tiled silicon cells and can be made in various colored tints. Panels are also available in different sizes and form factors as well. Some panels can even be combined with windows and skylights. What if a building’s cladding material were entirely made of solar panels? More power to it! Added to the variety of panels is the variety of off-the-shelf mounting systems available, from minimalist to water-tight.

There is no excuse not to make solar photovoltaics part of the architecture. So, architects and designers, it’s time to embrace solar PV as part of the design and not just an unsightly piece of electrical equipment mounted on the most visible part of the house!

This article was written in collaboration with Californian architect Ian Ayers.

Reference

Architecture

yabashi architects stacks minimalist house and café in japan

By Zarkon Group,30/05/2023

ezu house and café: multi-uses in harmony

Nestled in a tranquil corner of a lakeside residential area in Kumamoto, Japan, the recently completed ‘EZU House and Café‘ stands as a testament to innovative architectural design, crafted by Yabashi Architects and Associates (YAA). this structure opens broadly out toward its surroundings to provide a unique experience for its occupants. The site’s terrain, with its stepped landscape along the lakeside, offers breathtaking views of nearby gardens, private house roofs, and distant mountains. By skillfully incorporating these elements into the design, the architects have created a multi-layered structure that fosters a sense of harmony between its retail and residential programs.

the Vertical Spiral Movement

At the core of the design philosophy is a square plan that encompasses the site. The upper floors of the building are ingeniously divided diagonally, establishing a dynamic interplay of spaces. By shifting the floors to increase the parameter with the ground and connecting them through a spiral vertical movement, the architects have achieved a three-layered structure that presents an array of viewpoints at every turn. This deliberate arrangement allows for a varied experience on each floor, with minimal necessary functions, furniture, and plants. The result is a space that transcends conventional definitions, offering an open canvas for inhabitants to freely create their own personalized environments.

Seamless Integration of Functions

The ground floor of the EZU House and Café serves as a retail area, seamlessly transitioning into the residential space on the upper floor. The distinction between these two sections is purposefully fragmented, employing diagonal load-bearing walls that create a continuous three-dimensional living space. This approach fosters a sense of connectedness and flow throughout the entire structure. Furthermore, the architects have emphasized the integration with the natural surroundings by incorporating a double structure. This design envelops the earthquake-resistant framework with elements dedicated to wind resistance and heat insulation, while the outer skin of the building serves as a gateway to the outdoor environment.

Unobstructed Views by yabashi architects

The absence of partitions between spaces is a deliberate choice that enhances the occupants’ experience of the surrounding environment. Depending on one’s body position and movement, glimpses of the sky, verdant greenery, or sudden visual breaks may appear through the windows on adjacent floors. This design creates a spatial experience that emphasizes the inherent richness of the location and the generosity of life itself. In essence, the EZU House and Café may appear as a mere assembly of floors, outer panels, and openings. However, it transcends its utilitarian nature, transforming into a powerful tool that allows individuals to perceive the external environment as an integral part of the internal space.

a double structure wraps earthquake-resistant elements with wind resistance and heat insulation the multi-use space is flexible with a spiral vertical movement and minimal necessary functions

Reference

Red brick building with curved edges and metal top floor

Architecture

Naturehumaine draws on Streamline Moderne for Montreal duplex

By Zarkon Group,29/05/2023

Local studio Naturehumaine has completed a two-family housing block located in the Côte-des-Neiges borough of Montreal that draws on 1930s architectural styles.

The project comprises 297 square metres of housing on a narrow urban strip, which formerly served as a large swimming pool site for a neighbouring building.

Called Le Paquebot – or The Steamer– the project references and builds on the architectural styles of the surrounding neighbourhood, which is made up of 1950s multi-residential buildings that surround the project on three sides.

It includes two semi-detached duplex units spread over four floors with outdoor space on the rooftop and at the sides.

Round corners, various masonry configurations, strict symmetrical layouts and refined geometries characterise the structure.

Its form was influenced by the Streamline Moderne architectural style, commonly associated with the 1930s interwar art deco movement.

Curved brick facade with metal staircase and winter greenery — It has a brick-clad facade with curved edges

“Since we found in the immediate neighbourhood various beautiful examples of art deco residential projects from the 1930s, it became obvious for us from the start that we wanted to revive in a contemporary way some of the features of that period in architecture,” Naturehumaine told Dezeen.

The facade is clad in red clay brick with steel details that have been painted wine red.

Privacy screens as well as the terrace railings were made from perforated steel painted in a terracotta colour, along with the curved roofs of the mezzanine floors.

Red brick building with metal top and metal privacy screens — The top floor has a metal exterior that matches the privacy screens on the windows below

“Our first intention was to choose a burgundy colour that would contrast and stand out with respect to the immediate neighbours where both are in tones of light and darker brown,” Naturehumaine told Dezeen.

“What turned out to be interesting is the variation perceived in the tonality of the brick based on lighting; the brick becomes particularly warm and orangey when directly exposed to the sun.”

The primary bedroom and mezzanine are on the top floor

The homes are set up symmetrically, with four bedrooms each. There are semi-submerged basements that hold single bedrooms and a family room, while the ground floor holds the common areas.

The third floor is dedicated to two bedrooms meant for children, while the top floor, which acts as a mezzanine, holds the primary bedroom.

A central staircase bisects each of the homes and each has a carport topped by a terrace that extends from the ground floor

Sunlight on top of red brick building in Montreal — It has curved windows and terraces that act as car ports

The ornate masonry work exists in its usual horizontal layout until coming to head at the curved windows, where it has been turned vertically and tilted toward the two front corners of the home in order to accentuate the curve.

The corner masonry comes to a halt at large, curved-corner windows.

Because the large window needed double-glazing and used curved glass, the windows had to be fabricated by specialists in Texas and then shipped north to the site in Montreal.

“For a modest residential project like ours, it was effectively a challenge to build the rounded roofs and curved metal lintel needed to support the brickwork above our rounded corner window.

“All of these elements needed to be perfectly erected one above the other on the same radius,” said the studio.

Red brick and curved glass windows on housing block — The windows were shipped from fabricators in Texas

Nonetheless, the strict geometric identity of the construction adds to the strong identity of the building. Curves and colours of the project aid in making this home a statement piece in the area.

Naturehumaine has completed other multi-family projects in the area such as a project with twisting yellow external staircases and single-family projects such as a home with a staircase inspired by Dutch artist MC Escher.

The photography is by Ronan Mézière.

Reference

Architecture

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Best AI Tools for Concept Design

Best AI Tool for Generating Design Alternatives

Best AI Tool for Residential Planning

Best AI Tool for Schematic Designs

Best AI Tool for Urban Planning

Best AI Tools for 3D Modeling

Best AI Tool for Renovation Projects

Best AI Tool for Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Best AI Tools for Rendering

Veras

Best AI Tool for Sustainable Design

Best AI Tool for Project Management

The Best AI Tool for 3D Sketching

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Renewable Energy Tartan

Solar Photovoltaics Everywhere

Lots of Choices

This article was written in collaboration with Californian architect Ian Ayers.

ezu house and café: multi-uses in harmony

the Vertical Spiral Movement

Seamless Integration of Functions

Unobstructed Views by yabashi architects

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