The Collège Rousseau, located in Geneva, is a notable Brutalist-style building, constructed in 1969 by Alain Ritter and protected as a historical heritage site. Due to its state of preservation and the increase in student numbers, the building required both renovation and expansion.
The Burckhardt office won the architectural design competition in 2018. Their proposal seeks to maintain visual continuity while introducing changes. Externally, the new added floor extends the original facade, preserving the characteristic relief of precast concrete, making the expansion subtle at first glance.
In contrast to the facade, the internal intervention utilizes a light and airy wooden structure, creating a welcoming environment. The layout of the new floor is identical to the existing one, but the perception of space is transformed by a higher ceiling height and the intentional exposure of the wooden structure. Large skylights illuminate the main staircases, and the rooms and layouts are organized around these sources of natural light. A new cafeteria on the ground floor recovers the idea of openness envisioned by Alain Ritter, serving as a place for socialization and informal learning.
The decision to go vertical instead of expanding horizontally was motivated by sustainability reasons, as it avoided greater soil waterproofing. This choice also optimizes infrastructure and rationalizes technical systems, resulting in shorter distribution paths that minimize load and heat losses. The lightweight wooden construction (including structure, slab, and roof) reduces additional static loads to a level supportable by the old building without the need for significant structural reinforcements, which contributed to a sustainable and minimally invasive economic strategy.
The Ultra High Energy Performance (THPE) goals were achieved in the expansion, while the historic areas met the renewal requirements of the Minergie standard. These distinct actions considerably raise the overall energy consumption while preserving the heritage value. Furthermore, the renovation and expansion were conducted as a BIM project, using a complete initial survey of the existing building, which included the creation of a point cloud (3D scanning) and a 180-degree digital photographic survey with the Matterport tool. The collected data was integrated into the point cloud to form an accurate BIM model.
The application of Lean Construction methods in the collaboration between architects and technicians demonstrated great efficiency, given the complexity of carrying out works in an active school environment. For noisy works, for example, several phases and microphases were planned and executed to coincide with school recess periods.
Architecture this week focused on both historical aspects and future trends. Through museum exhibitions, monument restorations, and large urban development projects, the narratives presented explored how architecture is constantly being reevaluated under new cultural, political, and urban perspectives.
The topics covered ranged from analyzing the architectural legacy of West Africa after independence to converting old prisons into energy-neutral residential areas, in addition to recovering 20th-century cultural landmarks. These examples show how pre-existing structures and histories remain active in the current debate.
Two initiatives brought issues of architectural history and cultural representation into focus by revisiting 20th-century modernism. At the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the exhibition 'Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa' offers a detailed view of the architecture developed in seven West African countries after independence.
Instead of viewing modernism as something universally exported, the exhibition highlights how architects adapted their language considering local climates, political aspirations, and cultural identities, giving visibility to professionals often omitted from dominant architectural narratives.
A similar look at modernist heritage occurred in Valparaíso with the reopening of the Mauri Theater, which had been abandoned for decades. Originally built in 1951 by Alfredo Vargas Stoller, the project meticulously restored the theater's architectural character while adjusting it to current performance standards, proving that restoration can revitalize historic architecture without turning it into a mere museum object.
With the continuous expansion of global metropolises, architecture is increasingly influenced by the pressure of population growth, environmental efficiency, and changes in urban habits. Projections released on World Population Day indicate where housing, mobility, infrastructure, and public space needs will increase in the coming decades.
Projects like The Martin, developed by OMA, exemplify this. This residential building, completed in the redevelopment plan of Bajes Kwartier in Amsterdam, transforms the former Bijlmerbajes prison into a mixed-use, energy-neutral neighborhood. It combines new housing with shared amenities, integrating preserved elements of the original prison complex.
The global architectural community also paid attention to the announcement of the finalists for the World Architecture Festival 2026. The selection covers completed buildings, future projects, interiors, and landscaping, bringing together diverse typologies such as civic, cultural, educational, healthcare, residential, transport, and adaptive reuse.
Among the finalists are internationally renowned firms, such as Foster + Partners, Herzog & de Meuron, Studio Gang, Grimshaw, Perkins&Will, RSHP, Woods Bagot, KPF, and Nikken Sekkei, alongside emerging studios. These competitors will present their work live to international juries in Fort Lauderdale this November, with winners advancing to the top prizes.
Rio de Janeiro was chosen to host the 5th International Forum of the International Union of Architects (UIA) in 2028, marking the first time the event will take place in the Americas. Led by the Institute of Brazilian Architects (IAB) in collaboration with the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, the bid proposes a global debate on architecture, urbanism, and sustainable tourism under the theme 'One City. Many Worlds.'
The forum is expected to gather over 5,000 participants and position Rio as a meeting point to discuss climate adaptation, heritage preservation, cultural diversity, and urban development, supporting the city's goal of becoming the first UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Sustainable Tourism.
In Taipei, the firm MVRDV presented the Nangang Pair project, a mixed-use office development intended to be a new eastern entrance in the Nangang district, near Kunyang Station. The design divides a volume into two towers to create a public square, improving pedestrian connection, and integrates commerce, restaurants, and lobbies on the ground floor.
The project, developed for JUT Group, incorporates green roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, flood mitigation measures, and photovoltaic panels, aligning with the district's climate resilience and urban renewal strategies.
Finally, the firm Alvisi Kirimoto conceived a temporary installation for the 2026 summer season of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in the Basilica of Maxence, Rome. This intervention follows a previous regeneration project for the site, introducing a light setting that expands the multifunctional stage already created in the basilica's central nave.
Constructed from red-painted marine plywood, the installation includes tiered seating for an orchestra of up to 90 musicians and a circular platform for a choir of 80 voices, maintaining a discreet dialogue with the historical context of the Basilica of Maxence.
