“The terrifying and edible beauty,” Salvador Dali described art nouveau architecture, also known as “New Art,” an art and architectural style that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe. As one of the most expressive and evocative aesthetic movements of modern history, art nouveau emerged as a reaction against academic and […]
Amid the disruption and societal transformations that were brought up by the new technologies and COVID-19, millennials and Gen Z are already dominating the workforce. By 2030, about 58 percent of the global workforce will comprise them. Nevertheless, as members of two generations valuing flexibility, learning, growth, and purpose, millions of these young people are already frustrated with their jobs. […]
As one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the world, tourism accounts for 10 percent of the global economy and provides one in every 10 jobs. In addition to economic growth, international travel promotes cultural exchange, infrastructure development, social inclusion, and even environmental and wildlife conservation. Nevertheless, all these come with an ecological price: […]
“The one way for us to become great, perhaps inimitable, is by imitating the ancients,” wrote the 18th-century German art historian and archaeologist Johann Joachim Winckelmann, encapsulating the core idea of the movement known as neoclassicm. Neoclassical architecture, sometimes also referred to as “Classical Revivalism”, is an architectural style that emerged in the late 18th […]
Libraries are among the best possible public investments. They promote knowledge, education, culture, and community engagement, while also serving as democratic spaces that empower individuals, foster learning, and contribute to the overall well-being of communities. In Haruki Murakami’s surrealist masterpiece novel Kafka on the Shore, this is how the 15-year-old protagonist who lives in a library describes the experience of opening […]
There’s only one material in the world that can be used in cooking, making musical instruments, cosmetic products or textiles, and making wind turbines: Bamboo. It’s described by the iconic Japanese architect Kengo Kuma as “the material of the future”. Bamboo is booming as a construction material, and for a good reason: By far the fastest-growing plant in […]
Due to the skyrocketing urbanization, industrialization, and population growth globally, our planet is losing its biodiversity at an alarming rate, faster than at any time in human history. Since the beginning of the 20th century, as the cities kept booming, the average population of indigenous species in the majority of significant ecosystems has declined by […]
From the plains of Central Asia to the hills of Southern Spain, Islamic architecture made a mark on particularly the so-called ‘old world’. It significantly impacted the development of architectural styles worldwide, and its influence can be seen in various structures across different cultures and time periods. Islamic architecture exhibits regional variations based on local […]
While climate change is a colossal threat to all humanity, women suffer from its consequences most disproportionately and dramatically — and many of these consequences interact with our built environments in some way. According to the United Nations, women make up approximately 80 percent of the people who are displaced from their homes by climate […]
“The conscious principle in [design] has been to achieve forms that could create experiences, and that could at the same time welcome everyone’s experiences with the serenity of an effortless development,” said Gae Aulenti, summarizing her philosophy and approach to architecture and design. Nicknamed the “Grand Dame of Italian architecture”, Aulenti was born in 1927, in Palazzolo […]
“Fog everywhere. Fog up the river where it flows among green airs and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping, and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city … Chance people on the bridges peeping over the parapets into a nether sky of fog, with fog […]
After homes, schools are arguably the most important buildings to shape children’s development. The design and architecture of educational institutions significantly influence children’s physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and creative progress. By providing conducive environments for learning and growth, school buildings contribute to the holistic development of students, supporting their academic achievements, well-being, and preparation for the future. Long after children graduate, […]