A@W Newsletter

House Made of Straw and Wood

12 November 2024

Building a house in the Black Forest means, above all, taking a close look at the topic of timber construction. In Nordrach, located in a valley not far from Biberach, the owners also placed great importance on the health and sustainability of the building. On this basis, Offenburg architect Michael Welle developed a polygonal-shaped building made of wood, straw and clay, the design of which is based on the typical features of a historic Black Forest house and interprets them in a modern way.

Seamless Harmony: Blending the Charm of Existing Buildings with Modern-day Delights

12 November 2024

Interior design professionals and their clients are increasingly conscious of their carbon footprints as well as creating dramatic design statements, which is why retaining existing elements and adding in new features is perfectly on trend.

Elithis Arsenal, a new example of sustainable urban planning

12 November 2024

Located not far from the railway station in Dijon's Arsenal eco-district, on the site of the former army equipment depot and the old Dijon flour mills, the Elithis Arsenal Tower is a positive-energy development that is both exemplary and virtuous. It is the work of the architectural firm Arte Charpentier, which builds in France and also in Asia.

The New Rectorate of Roma Tre is an Icon of Sustainability and Architectural Innovation

10 September 2024

Designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, the new university complex on Via Ostiense, a historically significant road in ancient Rome, occupies a part of the city shaped by distinctive environmental and social factors, within a context of ongoing transformation and renewal.

Intermediate Tones - Subtle Colour Concepts in (Interior) Architecture

10 September 2024

As an architectural design element, colour is often associated with ‘colourful’ and is therefore not considered timeless and serious. In practice, colour is therefore often neglected. However, between colour-intensive and common achromatic concepts, there are a variety of ways to strengthen architecture with soft tones depending on proportions, surfaces, lighting conditions and use.

Warm Nest Health Care Centre: where Design Meets Healing

10 September 2024

Experience an evolution in healthcare design at Belgium’s Warm Nest Heathcare Centre. Here the architecture and interiors have been meticulously created to nurture mind, body and soul. Every space is crafted to embrace the human experience with warm and tranquillity through thoughtful use of materials and colours. 

Lightweight Construction with Wood-Based Materials

11 June 2024

What is the lightest wood in the world? How large (XXXL) are the panel dimensions of modern wood-based materials? What are the advantages of lightweight blockboards, wood fiber boards or renewable acoustic absorbers?

Facade of Silt Middelkerke Braves Belgian Coastal Weather under Optimal Conditions

11 June 2024

The coast presents one of the most challenging environments for facades. Wind, salt, and sand relentlessly batter buildings, making meticulous care of the exterior essential rather than optional. The recently completed event building in Middelkerke, finished in March of this year, exemplifies efficient and creative solutions to these challenges. Aptly named Silt, this striking structure is situated directly on the beach and features a distinctive oval hotel tower, making it a new landmark on the Belgian coast.

Ghent Barracks Transformed into New City Hub

11 June 2024

Repurposing historic sites within cities is a current architectural trend, and a project in Ghent provides a prime example, with the transformation of the renowned Leopold Barracks. Works commenced in 2019 to repurpose this space into a mixed use scheme for living, life, and experience. Occupation by a variety of users began in March 2023.

Deep Black Shimmering Yakisugi

14 May 2024

Charred, soot-black iridescent façades and interior panelling are becoming increasingly popular. The textured surfaces are particularly appealing due to their mystical appearance. However, there are a few things to bear in mind when choosing materials to avoid burning your fingers.

Fascinating Facades that Shape Urban Identities

14 May 2024

Discover a plethora of transformative design ideas for facades using a range of materials such as brick, clay and timber that give people pause for thought when passing or entering the building and enlivening the streetscape in the process.

Acquire a Taste for It

14 May 2024

Designing a culinary venue is always a special challenge for architects and interior designers: on the one hand, you can let off steam creatively, but on the other, you have to hit the bull's eye to be inviting and draw attention to yourself. Because no matter what's on the menu: you always eat with your eyes.

Showing a New Side to Facades

12 March 2024

Facades provide a protective layer and also have an aesthetic appeal but in the coming years what will prevail in terms of priorities is sustainability as the architecture and design community increasingly feels a strong obligation to play its part in tackling climate change. Our new series of articles in 2024 presents the potential of facades to be truly cutting edge in this area.

When Tomorrow Takes Shape Today

12 March 2024

Its focus is clearly on urban and architectural design, interior design, brand communication, product design and material innovation. However, it is design excellence and inspiring solutions for current challenges that make the difference in the IAIA - Iconic Award: Innovative Architecture - presented by the German Design Council.

Italy Meets China

12 March 2024

It is a well-known fact that Asians love European culture. They often only have a small window of opportunity to enjoy it. That's why China is now getting its own slice of Italy.

Going Micro in the Mountains

14 November 2023

Scandinavians love getting close to nature, but new cabins and cottages are pricey and put vulnerable and pristine environments under pressure. That’s why some people are turning to architecturally designed, prefabricated micro cabins.

Wooden Lightweight Construction

14 November 2023

The city of Rinteln, between Bielefeld and Hanover, has brought together several school locations in one place with the new construction of the Integrated Comprehensive School (IGS). The clearly structured school building, constructed by bez+kock architekten, is a sustainable and lightweight timber construction in which the valuable room atmosphere is largely determined by authentic, natural wooden surfaces. 

The Point of View of the Great Masters - Mario Botta

14 November 2023

Environmental and sustainability issues are inevitably involving the world of architecture. Processes, technologies and, above all, new ways of approaching design today pose many questions in a constantly changing context.

Redefining Architecture to Cut CO2 Emissions

12 September 2023

Living Places displayed this summer at the World Capital of Architecture in Copenhagen is containing seven prototypes – five open pavilions and two completed homes – showcasing proposition for healthy low carbon homes and communities.

Flexible Workspace

12 September 2023

In the German-Swiss border town of Grenzach-Wyhlen near Basel, the architecture firm Christ & Gantenbein has constructed a new office building for the pharmaceutical company Roche, whose design allows for maximum flexibility in the interior. The interior design comes from INCHfurniture, who also provided many different individual configurations for the teams when designing the work spaces.

In the Spotlight: Taeyoung Yoon from Snøhetta

12 September 2023

A particularly interesting speaker in the seminar room at the last Architect@Work in Kortrijk was architect Taeyoung Yoon. Yoon specifically addressed the central theme of the fair, 'Super Skin', and explored with his audience what a super skin might look like. In particular, he looked at how his agency, Norway's Snøhetta, would approach something like this as if it were a stand-alone project.

Reinventing the Nordic Cultural Center

22 August 2023

Many traditional cultural centers stand as rigid and outdated relics, failing to reflect the vibrancy and boldness of contemporary culture. The need for a more suitable environment that nurtures and celebrates the arts is paramount. Enter the new generation of Nordic cultural centers!

Lightweight Solutions - Building Lighter

22 August 2023

New material solutions are the key to modern construction. High-tech fibres, composite materials or resource-efficient lightweight construction materials - a light insight.

What it Means to Be an Architect

22 August 2023

Architects Russell Potter and Laura Sanjuan co-founded SODA Studio in 2012 with a vision to eliminate hierarchy when it comes to the design process, “We wanted to have a platform where all voices in the studio were validated,” Potter says,” The other thing was we just wanted to work with people that we like. It’s important for us to have clients where we are going to get on.”

Adaptive Reuse Architecture

9 May 2023

The topic of waste is currently on many agendas and reuse is taking a number of forms such as making shoes out of drifting fishnets or orange peel that is reformed into cell phone covers. This is mainly motivated by sustainability aspirations, but using waste materials could also have so many other advantages.

With the Power of Place

9 May 2023

In 2016, Pascal Marx and two colleagues founded the architecture firm Ruumfabrigg, based in Glarus Nord and Zurich. In his work, the young architect, who graduated from ETH Zurich, focuses on the places where the projects are built in order to work out the potentials, special features and characteristics from the “genius loci”, which often only become apparent during intensive examination. This forms the basis for the concepts and creates awareness in order to ultimately give added value back to the place.

Ecological Loam Construction

9 May 2023

The Palatinate is known worldwide for its long tradition as a centre of wine cultivation and trade. This is also true of the small town of Landau in the Palatinate, where there are therefore several representative town houses as witnesses to this rich history. Even today, Landau is the largest wine-growing community in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Sauer winery in the district of Nußdorf has now extended the existing buildings with a warehouse and vinotheque. The building is largely made of clay, which naturally regulates the humidity in the interior rooms.

Behind the Scenes - Inner Workings of Architectural Firms

14 March 2023

Architects are all-rounders: creativity, comprehensive knowledge and the ability to multitask are part of their professional toolbox. But what inspires them? What drives them? And how do they realize their visions? In this new newsletter article series, we portray contemporary creative minds and talk about passions and challenges.

Diversity Is Wonderful

14 March 2023

Cheerful curves that deliver a central message: it's great that people are all different.

Nature as Source of Inspiration

14 March 2023

Designers are often asked about their sources of inspiration: travel? Trade fairs? Exchanges with others? Yes, certainly. But sometimes it's just a walk through the forest, the countryside and over the mountains. You just have to look closely.

Change the Light, not the System

10 January 2023

Replacing the lighting system every time you need to brighten up the workspace is expensive, time-consuming and unsustainable. With a truly modular lighting system you can switch things around as you please.

The Psychological Benefits of Good Design

8 November 2022

Architect Tye Farrow is a leading expert in bringing neuroscience together with the built environment. His project at a Toronto Montessori School reveals just how persuasively our surroundings can positively shape us, both physically and mentally.

When Beauty is also sustainable

8 November 2022

For a long time, buildings were given a classic plaster façade in a variety of ways, which slowly went out of fashion. Later, the glass-only façades spread explosively, which - depending on their composition - are also not always the optimal solution with regard to the climate issue. So why not consider something "in between"?

Shiphousebuilding – experiencing «Hurtigruta» indoors

8 November 2022

Through breath-taking feats of architecture, engineering and inventiveness, a tiny polar town in Norway is now home to a maritime monument like no other.

Artistic Research to Transform Cities

13 September 2022

The art world, through research projects in collaboration with experts, proposes alternatives to improve the cities we live in.

The Persistence of Pink

13 September 2022

Five years ago, pink seemed like a welcome but passing fad. Now, rosy hues are everywhere, even on building exteriors. So how did such a peaceful shade gain so much power as an expression of the times?

Reconstructing the Jeweller

13 September 2022

By stripping away snobbery and distractions, All Blues and Jack Dalla Santa are laying bare the very essence of the jewellery trade.

Danish Architects Designing the Tallest Timber Building

23 August 2022

The Danish design studio Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects (SHL) designs the world's tallest residential building with a load-bearing structure in wood.

A Door to Sustainability

23 August 2022

When leading Scandinavian architects LINK needed more than 500 fire and sound doors for a ground-breaking plus house project, they turned to Norway’s largest door manufacturer.

Design Starts with Rethinking Materials

23 August 2022

Bonnie Hvillum, the founder of Natural Material Studio, is designing materials for the future. Some of her studies will be presented at the A@W Copenhagen event on 7 & 8 September 2022.

Four Ways to Turn the Noise off

23 August 2022

The chatter of co-workers. The chugging and whirring of the office printer. Cell phones vibrating on vacant desks. Office noises can make you stressed and unhappy. Luckily, Rockfon now introduces four innovative solutions to capture unwanted noise.

Designing the Perfect Bathroom

23 August 2022

Standing on the shoulders of more than 2500 years’ worth of ceramic history, GSI Ceramica combine tradition with cutting-edge technology, sustainability and human insight to stay ahead of the curve.

Installations that Make Architecture Beautiful

23 August 2022

The beginning of the revolution has a date: 31 January 1977, the day of the inauguration of the Georges Pompidou National Centre of Art and Culture in Paris. For the first time, installations are the protagonists of architecture: a tangle of pipes, channels, valves and fittings embraces the volume of the building, designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini. 

Great Architecture Moves People

10 May 2022

For design to be successful, many parameters must be taken into consideration. But what really defines great architecture, is something quite different, argues Norwegian architect Nicola Louise Markhus.

Healthy Indoor Climate with Straw

10 May 2022

Daylight, acoustics, room temperature and indoor air quality play an important role in indoor well-being. Room humidity also has a major influence: air that is too dry can irritate the mucous membranes and promote headaches, while air that is too humid can lead to mould growth on the walls. It is true that regular ventilation helps to reduce the concentration of pollutants, dust and allergens in indoor air. But it is even better if such harmful substances do not accumulate indoors in the first place.

The Fascination of a Building Envelope

10 May 2022

Visions only become reality when thoughts turn into concrete ideas. With this conviction, architect and industrial designer Kai Stania designed his own house, which fascinates not only because of its geographical location high above Vienna, but above all with its own choreography.

New Lease of Life for Historic Bergen Buildings

8 March 2022

When Bergen Cultural Heritage Management needed new headquarters, they could have gone for new and shiny. Instead, they chose to practise exactly what they preach.

She Builds

8 March 2022

Women architects are on the rise. Despite still being underrepresented in executive positions, it can no longer be overlooked that by 2022 more than half of the students will already be women, who are conquering spaces, buildings and entire cities for themselves.

The Van Schijndel House (NL) - An Experimental Home Built from Light and Air

8 March 2022

If there is one house that reflects the vision of its designer perfectly, then it is the Van Schijndel House in Utrecht. We are taking you to this house, situated on the Pieterskerkhof, where the architect/product designer and his wife Natascha Drabbe lived upon completion of the construction in 1992.

Sarah Wigglesworth’s Straw Bale House retrofitted

9 December 2021

Renowned for her sustainable approach to design, architect Sarah Wigglesworth has upgraded her Straw Bale House in north London, making revisions that reduce C02 emissions by 62% and also make significant provision for later stages of living. 

Better Planning Makes for More Efficient Architects

9 December 2021

Nordic architecture firms have a reputation for being at the forefront of their profession. So why do many of them still do their resource planning on spreadsheets?

Today’s Importance of Sustainable Architecture & Design

9 December 2021

When designing a building today, the environmental concerns are many: what materials will last for many years into the future while being produced with little environmental footprint? How does one design for permanence, creating architecture and design that will be relevant for decades into the future? And how does the dilemma of quality versus raw material used play into the equation?

The Intergenerational Residence, the Future of Housing?

9 December 2021

The intergenerational residence is a new idea based on an old model. Will it keep its original advantages following the upheavals of the last two years both in the private and public domain? 

The Future Is Reusable

14 September 2021

The steady decline of non-renewable resources means we will have to reuse most building materials in the future. But how can we make sure all the pieces go together?

Good Architecture for Everyone

14 September 2021

Making the impossible possible: Swiss architect Gus Wüstemann has succeeded in giving housing a bit more justice.

Stopping Moist at the Doorstep

14 September 2021

When climate change brings more rain and moisture to your door, you will want one that does not rot or rust.

3 Ways that Sensor Technology Can Be Used in Buildings

14 September 2021

How can temperature sensors, electrical current sensors and humidity sensors help to create better and safer buildings?

Reusing Office Space for a Better Tomorrow

24 August 2021

Climate change is threatening the existence of thousands of species, including our own. How can interior architects help?

Only the Sky Sets the Limits

24 August 2021

An extraordinarily successful life came to an extraordinarily tragic end: the German-American star architect and Lord of the Towers, Helmut Jahn, died in a traffic accident on his bicycle on May 8, 2021. He was 81 years old.

When the Architect is the Owner

24 August 2021

Probably one of the most difficult construction tasks for an architect is designing a house for himself. In each issue of our newsletter we show you a successful international example of an architect who has taken on this particular challenge.

The Post Pandemic Store - What Will Retail Look Like now?

24 August 2021

There has been talk about the death of retail over the last years. Numbers are grim. In Sweden alone, 350 fashion stores have closed in five years (out of 1475 stores in total). That is almost 25 % of all stores in five years. Department stores and shopping malls are expected to become distribution centres for players like Amazon etc. Is retail really dead?

Old-Fashioned or Extraordinary?

8 June 2021

Hand or computer - in architectural drawing, too, the question is what will prevail in the future. Even if digital is ahead today, analogue is - fortunately - showing strong signs of life again.

Embracing Imperfect Recycled Plastics

8 June 2021

”No!” was the clear and distinct answer the designer got from the owner of the tool for moulding plastics. The question was: "could we please use recycled plastics to make the vacuum cleaner?" The owner of the tool at the big Swedish white goods company had his mind already set: recycled plastics were not clean and they would damage the very expensive injection moulding tool. This was fifteen years ago and the assumption was going to change. 

WoHo - Making Everything Better

8 June 2021

An ambitious project in Berlin wants to boost the Kreuzberg mix.

A Struggle for (the Right) Light

11 May 2021

Find out how Hille Melbye Architects used natural lighting to create an untraditional multipurpose sports complex in Oslo. And a lighting designer explains why less light sometimes can be more than enough. 

When Territory Becomes Architecture

11 May 2021

In the past, architecture symbolized man’s struggle with overcoming structural and technological boundaries that were imposed by the environment. Today, we are witnessing an emerging counter-tendency: buildings that are, to some extent, hidden in their relation to nature with the bond between the two only being apparent in the subtlest of ways.

Turning Waste Furniture into New Furniture

11 May 2021

Redefining practices and changing our taught behaviours, is hard yet crucial for growth and progress. In this, based on the interior architectural and furniture design field I navigate in, sustainable development and circularity is key and is applicable in many ways.  

Next Level Living

9 March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that a high percentage of the world’s population has spent most of 2020 confined to their homes which have become hubs for work, exercise and education as well as leisure. Design and technology have driven new innovations that support the evolution of the home into a clean, safe and sustainable space with an integrated, digital ecosystem. 

Keeping Up with the Speed of Innovation

9 March 2021

The needs of today’s world of interior architecture are continuously evolving with a flurry of trends pointing the industry in altering directions. However, permeating all these ideas, directions and references, there is one element that forever seems to remain constant: a desire for architectural finishes that are at once easy to implement in a project while exuding an elegant and refined sentiment.

Breathing Walls Demythified

9 March 2021

As humans, we spend a large part of our lives indoors; whether we’re having an evening at home with friends and family, spending five days a week in the workplace, or going to a restaurant. Spending the large majority of our time within the confines of our home is something that has become the norm rather than the exception the past year.

Saving Water Starts in your own Head

9 March 2021

Five to twelve? No. More like on the stroke of twelve. When dealing with water, and reducing it in particular, discipline is a must. Though many initiatives to reduce our use of water are already becoming more apparent within the sanitary industry, there is still much, much more to be done.

Designing Hospitals of the Future

9 March 2021

How will hospitals be designed in the future? And which valuable lessons has the pandemic provided to this matter? We have asked Danish architect at Arkitema, Wilhelm Berner-Nielsen, in particular, to answer these questions.

Did Covid-19 affect your opinion on Waste & Architecture?

8 February 2021

2020 was a strange year. A year ago no one could have ever thought our lives would change so drastically because of a virus. But it has. And now we are wondering how exactly it has changed your opinion on Waste & Architecture.
Last year we sent out a branch poll to find out how important certain topics like the reuse of waste, the use of natural materials or the cost of labour are to you. Moreover, we already figured out how your opinion changed over the last couple of years. This year however, we want to see how Covid-19 has affected your opinion.
Therefore, we send out another branch poll. We thank you in advance for your time and look forward to sharing our results with you in the near future.
Click here to fill out our branch survey

Paving New Paths with Interior Designer Joanna Laajisto

9 February 2021

It can’t be stressed enough how important it is that producers and designers communicate closely. By collaborating with interior designer Joanna Laajisto, Timberwise paved new paths. 

Discrete Shading, a Challenge

9 February 2021

Close House is a listed former mansion house set in the grounds of a luxury golf club in Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2000, it operated as a hotel and a wedding venue before being transformed into a family home. 

The Impact of Colour in Architecture and Design

9 February 2021

"Colour does not only add a pleasant quality to design—it reinforces it,” said French early-20^th century painter and illustrator Pierre Bonnard; a claim that rings truer today more than ever with colour becoming an ever-more apparent element in the world of architecture and design.

What is the Future of the Office Workspace?

9 February 2021

Much has already been written about working in the office of the future. Even if the ideas have differed over the decades, the vision is the same for everyone: in the future, machines will make processes much easier, so employees will have more time for life. The fact that we are still a long way from reaching this point is currently being impressively demonstrated by the coronavirus crisis.

Home Office Opens a New World

9 February 2021

Hybrid and mobile working are hot topics at the moment. Both require digital end-user devices. Without them, flexible office activities would be impossible. With the new JUNG SCHUKO® sockets with USB connections, the batteries for those devices can now be quickly recharged. 

Creating Unique Bath Solutions

12 January 2021

Architecture is a multifaceted way of thinking art. From the exterior and interior and down to the smallest details with fittings and material choices. The process of mechanically selecting products from a website is vastly different to developing something unique for a project; 

Traditional Forms Reinterpreted – Villa Void, Norway

12 January 2021

With its clear lines Villa Void is inspired by the forms of existing houses in the neighbourhood. The combination of materials - dark grey Swisspearl panels on the outer skin, and a warm wooden interior, also used on the recessed exterior areas - underline the sculptural character of the house.

Mjøstårnet - The World's Tallest Timber Building

12 January 2021

Mjøstårnet is beautifully located right by lake Mjøsa in Brumunddal, only a 90-minute drive from Oslo. Mjøstårnet is 85.4 meters tall, consists of 18 floors and includes a hotel, apartments, office space, a restaurant and an associated swimming facility. 

Building for the New Normal - Materials and New Ideas for Design and Architecture after the Pandemic

12 January 2021

The pandemic in 2020 changed a lot. Really a lot. You could talk about digitalisation or remote working etc, but one thing is clear: the pandemic of 2020 will most likely not be the last one. 

Have You Ever Thought of Buildings as Material Banks?

12 January 2021

Every piece of structural steel, brick, wooden board or glass window has significant value. After a building has reached the end of its life course, however, most materials are not given a new life in other buildings. 

What Moves Architects: All News and Trends in the New Format

12 January 2021

The popular and extremely successful ARCHITECT@WORK trade show format, which is already represented in 15 different countries at 30 locations continues to grow. In the future it will also inform architects, planners, professionals and design enthusiasts about interesting new products, high-profile awards, technical innovations, expert opinions and trends in architecture outside of, and between the individual A@W events.