“Measure twice and cut once,” goes an English proverb, emphasizing the importance of the accuracy and efficiency of a design for craftspeople, as it might end up being a waste of time and material otherwise. The construction industry has long suffered from a poor reputation for its inefficiencies, delays, and cost overruns. Even though the industry has increasingly […]
The Industrial Revolution brought coal-powered factories and dense urban living, spewing air pollutants like soot and chemicals, making buildings suffer from grime, dampness, and poor indoor air quality – while introducing a devastating environmental toll. Since then, the construction industry has been a major contributor to environmental pollution and resource depletion. However, in recent years, there has […]
Few human-made construction materials stand the test of time as the good-old, humble brick does. Historians believe bricks are the oldest-known construction materials. Archaeologists uncovered bricks dating back to 7,000 BC in some ancient settlements in present-day Southern Turkey. The ancient craft of brick-making continued during the Middle Ages in Europe, and peaked during the Industrial Revolution in the […]
Over the last decades, sustainability has become one of the most defining forces across all industries, and architecture is no exception. A growing number of architectural firms and practitioners aspire for their buildings to be as green as possible. To do so, they utilize new digital technologies, innovations, and materials — and also tap into their own […]
As a material, concrete has been the backbone of the modern construction industry thanks to its versatile and durable nature. It’d be hard to imagine the 20th century without concrete. However, there’s also a rising awareness about concrete’s significant adverse environmental impacts: Cement is the source of about eight percent of global carbon emissions. The construction and demolition of […]
Our built environment is one of the top contributors to climate change, currently generating about 40 percent of annual global emissions. As the world needs 13,000 buildings a day to keep up with the ongoing demand due to rapid urbanization and population growth, some of these buildings are also inevitably getting old and are in need of replacement. When a building […]
Our built environment generates about 40 percent of the global carbon emissions. Almost a quarter of this comes from operational emissions, such as the energy needed to heat, cool, and run our buildings, while the remaining quarter is from materials and construction. Cement, the most ubiquitous material used in most modern buildings, is responsible for a total […]
As our world moves towards Industry 4.0, manufacturing requires fewer resources in terms of raw materials, energy, and space. Hence, particularly in advanced economies, an increasing number of factories and industrial buildings are losing their relevance and lie abandoned. But especially given the sheer size of these vacant sites, can they still add value outside traditional […]
2022 has seen some crucial developments in the history of architecture: The push for ecologically responsible building practices, simplicity, and wellness continued to dominate the industry. This year, the Pritzker Prize, nicknamed the “Nobel prize of architecture”, went to Francis Kéré, an African national, for the first time. Exciting new projects, many of which have been […]
By 2050, 70 percent of the world’s forecasted 10 billion population will live in cities, translating into roughly 7 billion urban dwellers, compared to 4.4 billion today. Most of this booming urbanization will take place in emerging economies such as China, India, and Indonesia. Even though these countries boast a vast land mass, they might still struggle to accommodate this urban growth in […]
Given the unprecedented numbers of older persons in cities, urban areas must meet the changing demands. Our cities must become “age-ready"
An estimated market value of USD 1 trillion in 2022 and expected to jump to a whopping USD 8.4 trillion by 2032, millions of travelers are losing interest in resort tourism and favor smaller, eco-friendly establishments.