Isaac Torres-Kiros's work presents an in-depth analysis of the current state of architecture. The author puts forward a worrying hypothesis that the artistic essence, which once defined architecture, is under threat of disappearance.
Isaac Torres-Kiros's work presents an in-depth analysis of the current state of architecture. The author puts forward a worrying hypothesis that the artistic essence, which once defined architecture, is under threat of disappearance.
Torres-Kiros examines the fundamental elements that characterized architecture throughout history and asserts that modernity has been marked by a gradual loss of its artistic character. He describes a bleak picture of the discipline on the verge of extinction due to excessive focus on functionality and the proliferation of monotonous, impersonal structures.
This book develops through individual concepts linking human thought with a critical reflection on current architectural practice. Torres-Kiros calls on readers to question the direction in which contemporary architecture is moving. His work is not merely a critique of the current situation in this field, but also a call to action for architects and students.
The author seeks to raise reader awareness, inviting them to participate in redefining and preserving the artistic essence that distinguishes architecture as a unique form of human self-expression.
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.
Recent events have highlighted the multiple ways in which architecture adapts to changes in environmental, social, and cultural aspects. Significant earthquakes in Venezuela, Japan, and Northern California have reignited the discussion about the role of planning, infrastructure, and construction methodologies in promoting resistance to natural disasters.
While these concerns continue to influence the built environment, the opening of the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 in Barcelona gathered specialists and researchers to discuss topics such as climate, housing, public space, and the future of the profession itself. Various announcements of projects, preservation initiatives, completed works, and new design tools reflected the variety of methods defining current architectural practice, ranging from heritage restoration and adaptive reuse to ecological performance and long-term planning.
Barcelona took a central role in international architectural conversations this week with the start of the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026, under the theme 'Becoming. Architectures for a Planet in Transition.' The activities, which took place at various venues until July 2nd, brought together architects, researchers, students, and global institutions to address climate change, housing, material circularity, public area, and the evolution of the professional role. As the 2026 UNESCO World City of Architecture, the city served as a stage for events that transcend the congress, placing architecture within the context of broader ecological, social, and cultural transitions.
Barcelona's architectural agenda also included the awarding of the UIA Gold Medal 2026 to Eduardo Souto de Moura during a ceremony at the Sagrada Familia Basilica. This medal, awarded every three years, honors professionals whose body of work has made a lasting contribution to the discipline. The recognition underscored Souto de Moura's architecture for its sensitivity to context, material precision, and continuous impact on modern practice, while parallel exhibitions celebrated Portuguese architecture during the event.
Complementing the formal events, the exhibition 'What is This? A Spa, a Gym, a Zoo for Tiny Animals?' remained on display at the Palau Victòria Eugènia, presenting the collection of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe under a new curation. This exhibition brings together models, drawings, films, documents, and records of artistic interventions in the Barcelona Pavilion, reinterpreting the archive as a dynamic record of architectural discourse rather than a static historical collection.
New announced projects explored distinct approaches to shaping the future of the built environment, simultaneously addressing current environmental and cultural contexts. In the United States, the World Monuments Fund released its 'Irreplaceable America' list, identifying ten historic heritage sites facing urgent conservation challenges before the country's 250th anniversary. This initiative points to threats ranging from climate change and lack of maintenance to real estate pressure, reinforcing the need for long-term preservation strategies for culturally valuable sites.
In other locations, new master plans analyzed how architecture can respond to future environmental and social priorities at different scales. The firm Foster + Partners, in collaboration with Dar Al-Handasah, presented the master plan for Al Najd Agricultural City, located in southern Oman. This plan proposes a self-sufficient settlement that integrates agriculture, housing, and resource management, as part of the country's Vision 2040 strategy. In Finland, Snøhetta developed a master plan for the future of the Paimio Sanatorium, designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto, envisioning the iconic modernist complex as a destination combining well-being, hospitality, and cultural programming while maintaining its architectural legacy.
UNStudio completed the Korean Football Park in Cheonan, a 450,427 square meter complex intended to be the new headquarters of the Korea Football Association (KFA). The project was planned as a long-term center for training, youth categories, women's football, and public engagement, incorporating 11 football fields, covered and uncovered facilities, training and wellness structures, athlete accommodation, and the KFA headquarters within a master plan integrated into the landscape. Organized around a central plaza, the campus clearly blends public and private spaces, integrating sports science, recovery, and high-performance infrastructure, establishing a new architectural identity for Korean football and supporting the sport's continuous advancement.
Henning Larsen launched jifto, a new environmental analysis platform created by Nflection, its technology subsidiary. This tool is designed to be used in the early stages of the architectural design process, as it integrates real-time analyses of solar radiation, winds, microclimate, rainwater, earth movement, and natural light directly into the creative process. Simulations are available for both current climatic conditions and projections up to 2075. Developed after more than a decade of research in climate-responsive design, jifto aims to make environmental performance assessment more accessible to architects, allowing teams to incorporate climatic and site-specific data from the preliminary stages of the project.
Finally, Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) completed the Tang Wing for American Democracy, spanning approximately 6,600 square meters, representing the first expansion of the New-York Historical Society in over 75 years. Designed to complement the museum's historic and listed architecture, the new wing includes exhibition galleries, classrooms, archival facilities, conservation spaces, and public areas, substantially increasing the institution's capacity for civic education and cultural programming. The project, planned to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States, also includes a new home for the Chang Chavkin Academy for American Democracy, expanding its educational reach, and will eventually host the permanent headquarters of the American LGBTQ+ Museum, scheduled for inauguration in 2028.
