A@W Newsletter

Going Micro in the Mountains

19 March 2024

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.

Architects Talking Architecture: Ross Lovegrove

19 March 2024

Architect and writer Enrico Leonardo Fagone discusses the creative process with industrial designer Ross Lovegrove.

Showing a New Side to Facades

19 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.

SBID’s Vanessa Brady on sustainability in interior design

15 November 2023

The founder of this professional body talks about its work in supporting its members to be more sustainable including innovations to the manufacturing process and supply chain.

The power of sharing in sustainable design

15 November 2023

Hoping to drive the growth of sustainability in the building sector, Danish architecture firm Vandkunsten are sharing their digital tools with the world. Architect Jan Schipull Kauschen gives us an insight into the thinking behind opensource@vandkunsten.

When Beauty is also sustainable

15 November 2023

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"?

Healthy Indoor Climate with Straw

20 September 2023

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 Glory of Greenwich’s Design District

20 September 2023

Greenwich in south London is where you’ll find a new hub for creatives to come to work and play together in a series of buildings designed by cutting-edge architects.

In the Spotlight: Taeyoung Yoon from Snøhetta

20 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.

Nature as Source of Inspiration

19 July 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.

Adaptive Reuse Architecture

19 July 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.

What it means to be an architect

19 July 2023

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

Artistic Research to Transform Cities

17 May 2023

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

Ecological Loam Construction

17 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.

Diversity Is Wonderful

17 May 2023

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

Installations that Make Architecture Beautiful

15 March 2023

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.

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

15 March 2023

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?

How Light can Give a Home a New Level of Modernity

15 March 2023

Light is a source of energy and life, capable of giving homes a new level of modernity. Light has always drawn our world, defining its contours. In order to provide the best possible lighting, the placing and design of windows is of the utmost importance.

Behind the Scenes - Inner Workings of Architectural Firms

15 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.

Reconstructing the jeweller

16 November 2022

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

Design starts with rethinking materials

16 November 2022

Bonnie Hvillum, the founder of Natural Material Studio, is designing materials for the future. Some of her studies were presented at A@W Copenhagen in September 2022.

Danish architects are designing the tallest timber building

16 November 2022

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

The Future Is Reusable

21 September 2022

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?

Traditional Forms Reinterpreted – Villa Void, Norway

21 September 2022

With its clear lines Villa Void is inspired by the forms of existing houses in the neighbourhood. The combination of materials—darkgrey 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.

The Intergenerational Residence, the Future of Housing?

21 September 2022

The intergenerational residence is a new idea based on an old model. Will it keep its original advantages following the upheavals of the last 2 years both in the private and public domain? 

Healthy Indoor Climate with Straw

6 July 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.

Good Architecture for Everyone

6 July 2022

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

Designing Hospitals of the Future

6 July 2022

Architect and partner at Danish architectural firm Arkitema, Wilhelm Berner-Nielsen, says hospitals need a more flexible and human design in the future. The pandemic has also provided valuable lessons on why hospital design is crucial to infection control.

The Beauty of Glazed Bricks

11 May 2022

Glazed bricks from AAB, the UK arm of Dutch brick manufacturer Rijswaard Baksteen, are a beautiful addition to a project, providing not only stunning aesthetics but also durability. Advances in manufacturing by AAB’s supply partner Mora Ceramics have also reduced their environmental impact.

Today's Importance of Sustainable Architecture & Design

11 May 2022

With the climate crisis having permeated every single industry and business across the world to a smaller or larger degree, the topic of sustainability has become a mainstay element in the world of architecture and design, too. 

3 Ways that Sensor Technology Can Be Used in Buildings

11 May 2022

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

She Builds

11 May 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.

Nature as inspiration for high quality, sustainable flooring

16 March 2022

Our natural surroundings have and always will be a rich and ever-present source of inspiration. Flooring specialist 2TEC2 has harnessed the trend for nature-inspired environments and combined it with a dedication to preserving the world beneath our feet for its latest innovative collections Marble and Desert.

Recycled materials in commercial interiors

16 March 2022

Whether it’s a worktop, a wallcovering or elsewhere within a commercial interior, recycling or repurposing materials is a trend that’s set to continue.

Architect couple designed their own floating home

16 March 2022

A tiny footbridge leads from the quay to the floating home of the architect couple Eva Bo Geisler and Nikola Antonijevic situated in Copenhagen Harbour. With clear lines and a simple form, the design of the 120 square meter home makes reference to Japanese modern architecture and draws inspiration from the maritime world. The interior reveals a poetic atmosphere.

The beauty of bronze

16 March 2022

While bronze may mean third position in the Olympics, it’s increasingly the first choice for architects and designers in a variety of external uses and interior details. 

When the Architect is the Owner: Sarah Wigglesworth’s Straw Bale House retrofitted

17 November 2021

One of the most difficult construction tasks for an architect to undertake is designing a house for themselves. In each issue of our newsletter we spotlight a successful international example of an architect who has taken on this particular challenge.

Sarah Wigglesworth’s Straw Bale House retrofitted

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.

The Psychological Benefits of Good Design

17 November 2021

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

Ceramics: What’s Green and Trending

17 November 2021

Tile may be the oldest building material known to humankind, but it is not outside the realm of innovation. From super-sized slabs to porcelain you can cook on, stoneware is as versatile as it is beautiful. Here’s what’s new and trending.

Next Level Living

15 September 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. 

Terrazzo’s time is now

15 September 2021

From kitchen worktops and bathroom splashbacks to flooring and reception desks, terrazzo is finding popularity in all sorts of guises. But what makes this ancient material fit for the here and now and how are architects and designers innovating in using it?

Making Toronto more affordable

15 September 2021

Two new developments in Toronto’s east-end are using architectural excellence to create great communities and embracing affordable housing as a value-added proposition.

When the architect is the owner: This Small House is helping to Save the Planet

15 September 2021

One of the most difficult construction tasks for an architect to undertake is designing a house for themselves. In each issue of our newsletter we spotlight a successful international example of an architect who has taken on this particular challenge.

This Small House is helping to Save the Planet

Designed, built and owned by Solares Architects, this two-story family home located on a leafy street in Toronto’s west end is retrofitted to reduce energy consumption by up to 90%. The question is: Why aren’t we building more of them?

Blum Canada opens a state-of-the-art head office in Mississauga

21 July 2021

The manufacturer of innovative fittings for kitchens and living areas has opened its doors with a showroom that features interactive ways to be wowed and inspired.

A modern family home using stunning marble

21 July 2021

Alexander Owen Architecture transformed a house in south London using marble cladding, a luxury material more often associated with palaces and villas. Pieces of marble were cleverly fitted together to create a stunning effect for a modern family home, which comes complete with a bar for outdoor entertaining.

The persistence of Pink

21 July 2021

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?

Beyond the Water’s Edge

21 July 2021

Toronto’s waterfront is 46 kilometres long end to end. It is the most extensive urbanized coast in the world. Only recently has the city turned its attention to exploring the lake beyond its shoreline.

Stone Age: The classic beauty of limestone

16 June 2021

Architect Steven Holl brings visual continuity to an arts complex in Princeton, New Jersey, using Pimar limestone to create a luminous effect on three interconnected volumes.

When Architecture becomes Landscape

16 June 2021

Bosco Verticale spurred on a new kind of eco-building revolution, one that goes well beyond green roofs. Now, architects are pushing beyond the architecture/landscape divide in the most daring and beautiful ways.

Rethinking the Flush with save!

16 June 2021

In the world of bathroom design, many products are geared toward reducing water consumption. But toilets are by far the biggest wasters. That could change with save!, a toilet that diverts waste and turns it into crop fertilizer.

And the BEAT goes on: Women in Architecture

16 June 2021

How a grassroots organization committed to empowering women in architecture is now poised to forever reshape the Canadian architectural profession from Vancouver to St. John’s.

You’re Beautiful, From the Inside Out

21 April 2021

The inside-out revolution has a start date: January 31, 1977. That is the day the Georges Pompidou National Center of Art and Culture opened in Paris. It marks the first-time mechanical systems – such as pipes, channels, valves and fittings – embraced a building’s envelope and became the protagonist of architecture.

Solar Cladding Pushes the Limits of Versatility

21 April 2021

For decades, solar power harvesting has been admired for its enormous alternative-energy potential but hampered by its high cost and bulky design. Technology has eliminated those obstacles in recent years, paving the way for photovoltaics to move off rooftops and become an exciting new option for cladding entire buildings.

The Rise in Indigeneity in Architecture

21 April 2021

More and more architectural firms that are steeped in First Nations traditions are taking on critical roles in public projects. The Truth and Reconciliation Act has been a catalyst for much of that change, but there are other formative reasons why indigeneity is gaining momentum.

Go minimal with glass barriers and partition walls

24 March 2021

Technology in glass processing has made the once fragile building material an option for every type of architectural project, from shower enclosures to structural exterior facades. Colcom has played a significant role in that evolution. Manufacturing since 1962, the Italian company has invested in research and development to ensure its engineered glass and hardware components are both functional and beautiful at any scale.

In Living Colour: Is the Age of Greige Over?

24 March 2021

For decades, monochrome shades of grey have dominated the world of interiors. Now, colour is taking centre-stage and turning up everywhere.

Hand-drawn renderings in the age of CGI

24 March 2021

With computers able to imagine and grow architectural structures of unbelievable complexity, and in record time, is there still a place for drawing by hand?

OAA’s 2021 SHIFT Challenge addresses Resiliency

8 December 2020

Inaugurated in 2019 by the Ontario Architects Association, the SHIFT Challenge is a biennial competition now in its second edition and open to submissions from all active OAA members, including Architects, Intern Architects, Student Associates, and Licensed Technologists OAA.

Meet QuadCore Technology: The next generation in fire and thermal insulation

8 December 2020

In an era of rapidly changing natural systems, the need to protect our built environments against elements such as heat, wind and fire has never been greater. Which is why Kingspan, a global leader in building envelope solutions, has invested in technology-advanced cladding insulation that not only meets the highest fire code standards it surpasses them.

The ARIDO Blog: A great place for finding talent

8 December 2020

To showcase the incredible work being done by interior designers across Ontario, ARIDO launched BLOG//ARIDO in 2018. Since then, over 150 projects by its members have been featured.

High-performance surfacing for your next kitchen remodel

8 December 2020

Formica, the pioneering surface company, has expanded its offerings in Canada as the new manufacturer and distributor of the Italian brand FENIX, one of the most beautiful finishes for countertops and cabinetry ever invented.

Biophilic design is having its moment, finally

8 December 2020

Carpeting for design thinkers

20 October 2020

French flooring company Balsan has been in the textile industry for over three centuries. In fact, Louis Balsan first introduced tufting to France in the early 20th century, a technique now used by textile flooring manufacturers worldwide.

It’s a wrap, with LG Benif

20 October 2020

Tekton is known in the automotive industry as a leading supplier of films for car windows. In recent years, the Guelph-based distributor has tapped into films specially made for architecture and interior design. They are now the sole Canadian supplier of LG Benif, a remarkable film that adheres to virtually any surface – and with a palette of over 500 colourways and natural textures, it has very few creative limits.

Formica’s Surface Trends for 2021

20 October 2020

For over a century, Formica has provided designers with a trove of laminate choices for every type of commercial setting, from healthcare and hospitality spaces to office, retail and educational interiors. Its Specialty Collection for 2021 introduces even more aesthetic possibilities with an extended palette of beloved wood-grain classics along with on-trend metallics, to give every interior the look of both warmth and strength.

Remote at Work: How to make offices safe during COVID

20 October 2020

Since July, COVID-weary Montrealers have enjoyed at least one bright spot in their city – an installation built especially for people to gather outdoors while also staying apart. Titled Your Place at the Table, the temporary project designed by local firm ADHOC is one continuous tabletop 100-metres in length. Meandering through Hydro-Quebec Park near Quartier des Spectacles, its undulating profile is surrounded by an assortment of chairs painted in an upbeat shade of yellow that can’t help but lure in strangers to take a seat and connect without fear.

Filling in the Gaps: Toronto’s Laneway housing boom

24 March 2021

By the end of this year, 100 detached residential units, each with a footprint of 1,700 square feet or less, will be added to Toronto’s housing stock. That may sound like a minor accomplishment considering the city’s ongoing affordable housing crisis. In reality, it’s a notable benchmark for the long-awaited rise of laneway housing.

Integrated Lighting made Easy

8 September 2020

In 2010, product developer Silvio Porciatti came up with an elegant lighting solution for dropped ceiling systems: a linear-shaped diffused LED fixture that uses a patented design to replace cross-member ceiling grids. It’s that simple.

Timber comes to the Masses

8 September 2020

In 2013, Vancouver architect Michael Green gave a TED Talk titled Why We Should Build Wooden Skyscrapers. When it was released, the impression it left with many of his colleagues was: Great idea, but it’ll never catch on. Yet, less than a decade later, Green’s greener vision of cross-laminated timber (CLT) as the great catalyst for building sustainably, and on a macro-scale, has been on a perpetual climb upward with mass-timber buildings on the rise around the globe.

And the Winners are …

8 September 2020

On Friday, September 18, join AZURE as we reveal the winners of the 2020 AZ Awards. This year, AZURE will host the 2020 AZ Awards Gala online, to fête the finalists and announce the winners of our 10th annual AZ Awards.

How Cool is Your View?

8 September 2020

Window films that protect against harmful UV rays have been on the market for a while. CoolVu takes things a step further, as the world’s first patented window film that transitions with the sun, helping to cut down on heat gain and reduce uncomfortable interior temperature fluctuations.

Imitating Nature

8 September 2020

In the world of building finishes, there are countless ways for one material to imitate another. Porcelain can look like concrete, extruded aluminum can pass for wood, and dusty plaster can simulate black marble. As the saying goes, “Don’t trust everything you see – even salt looks like sugar.”

Nature’s Seduction

14 July 2020

When it comes to innovative surfacing, Cosentino is in its element. But state-of-the art technology isn’t everything. Each year, the Spanish manufacturer presents new colour collections to give architects even more options.

TSA’s Shift to Virtual

14 July 2020

What does it mean to bring people together at a time when we must all stay apart?

The Toronto Society of Architects was founded on building networks that encourage members to meet face to face. With lockdowns bringing the digital future into the now, the association has found new ways to best serve its constituents without gathering.

When small is small

14 July 2020

As cities continue to densify, the expression “there’s room in the smallest hut” has gained new relevance. It’s time to rethink how much space we actually need and consider downsizing not as living with less but as a new kind of urban upgrade.

What’s old is new again, and few things are as old as brick

14 July 2020

The ancient material has always been a popular choice for residential homes. But bricks aren’t what they used to be. Advanced technology has made clay masonry much lighter, thinner and applicable to almost any surface, which is why it is turning up more and more as an exterior option for towers.

Office of the future

14 July 2020

No one could have predicted a global pandemic would be the catalyst to jumpstart the remote work movement. There is, however, still a long way to go.

What moves architects: All news and trends in a new format

10 September 2019

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.