A 1959 Modernist Office in Sacramento Shines Again
The building’s midcentury architecture was historically significant, so architecture firm Dreyfuss + Blackford’s upgrades had to be thoughtful and subtle.
Architecture
"Keep Off the Grass": Why Fighting for Free Access to Green Space Implicates Us All
In an opinion piece for Metropolis, Alexandra Hagen, CEO of Swedish firm White Arkitekter, explains why countering commercial forces is central to protecting urban space.
A City Dwelling in Monterrey Is Inspired by the Mountains Around It
Casa Ocho Vigas, designed by Mexican firm Covachita, features a host of sustainable details, like natural ventilation, reclaimed casting boards, and a large elm tree.
Paris Exhibition Gives Charlotte Perriand Her Due
Inventing the Modern World foregrounds the French architect-designer's inimitable talent, while also playing up her spirit of collaboration.
A Russian Parks Program Creates Over 350 Public Spaces and Nurtures Local Design Talent
Costing less than glitzier parks in Moscow, the Tatarstan initiative is revivifying the local design and manufacturing bases with a "teach a man to fish" approach.
You Can't Spell SOM Without Gordon Bunshaft
Relatively little was known about the driving force behind many of SOM's most accomplished buildings. A new book fills in the gaps of Bunshaft's biography.
Switzerland’s Venerable Tanzhaus Zurich Now Straddles a Sloped Riverside Site
The dance and performance center, designed by Barcelona architects Barozzi/Veiga, emphasizes public space, with no less than three terraces.
The Synergistic Relationship Between Shake Shack and Designer Michael Hsu
Having designed several of the beloved fast-casual chain’s outposts, plus its Manhattan HQ, the Austin-based designer nurtures a new “hospitality quotient.”
Long-Term Plans: To Build for Resilience, We'll Need to Design With—Not Against—Nature
Moving away from its early exclusive focus on natural disasters, resilient architecture and design tackles the much tougher challenge of helping ecosystems regenerate.
At Tel Aviv University, a New Science Building Looks—and Acts—Like a Cloud
A salutation to the two science departments it holds, the Check Point Building’s ephemeral form contrasts with the campus’s more orthogonal buildings.
If You Are Serious About Sustainability, Social Equity Can't Be Just Another Add-On
Social impact was supposed to be central to sustainability from the start. What happened?
Berlin Architects Draw on Traditional Building Techniques for Kurdish Safe Haven
The Healing Garden in Iraqi Kurdistan provides animal therapy, basic medical care, and community spaces.
Schoolhouse Revival: A New Hotel in an Old School Frames a Scenic Park in Washington
Portland, Oregon–based firms Waechter Architecture and Blossom teamed up to create a boutique hotel within a 19th-century building.
Year in Review: Did We Reach Peak-Biennial in 2019?
The proliferation of these events begs the question: Who is the targeted audience of a biennial, and whom does its staging benefit?
A New Idea in Architecture? No New Buildings
The energy already embodied in the built environment is a precious unnatural resource. It’s time to start treating it like one.
A Post-Idealistic Iceberg Clad in Steel: Switzerland’s National Film Archive Finally Completes
Over 12 years in the making, the structure conceals most of its program in a subterranean storage area.
14 Must-Read Metropolis Articles from 2019
#ICYMI: Metropolis editors pick must-read 2019 articles from our magazine and website to help you prepare for the next decade.
In Italy, a Church Cleaved in Two Serves as a Gathering Place
Designed by three Italian firms, the minimal Church of the Penitent Thief adjoins a renovated, preexisting church that now functions as a community center.
A Playful Tech Office that Nods to the Past
For the company Spreetail, Perkins and Will imagine a cheeky and colorful workplace set inside a 19th-century building in Austin.
In Tepeji del Río, a Home That Embraces Its Context
The stone and concrete abode designed by CCA engages with local vernacular and maximizes indoor-outdoor living.
