festival city: archi-tectonics is building a trio of tapered towers in tirana, albania
'festival city' integrates dense urban housing, retail, and public amenities with green infrastructure in tirana, albania.
updates
stay up to date with all the latest topics to be featured on designboom with our dedicated tag overview. we've collated the most recent themes in the worlds of art, architecture, design and technology for your easy reading: from emerging architecture studios to new design trends to relevant events from around the globe.
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archi-tectonics tops field hockey stadium in hangzhou with 125-meter free-span wing roof
the roof design draws from the traditional meinong oil paper and bamboo umbrella, spanning the entire distance in one continuous sweep.
anish kapoor and arata isozaki's inflatable 'ark nova' concert hall rises in switzerland
originally created in 2013 in the aftermath of the fukushima earthquake, this inflatable structure was designed as a symbol of hope.
2019 pritzker prize laureate arata isozaki passes away aged 91
the japanese post-war architect was praised for his forward-thinking approach, deep commitment to the ‘art of space,’ and transnational methodology.
monolithic apartment complex contrasts with verdant fitzroy streetscape in melbourne
the concrete residential project is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
edition office reimagines heritage with revived 'mary street house' in australia
mary street house, a project by edition office, stands as a contemporary renovation of a well-worn federation era home in australia.
adrián villar rojas transforms seoul's art sonje center into a decomposing ecosystem
the language of the enemy overtakes all four floors of the museum, including corridors, stairwells, restrooms, and peripheral spaces.
palazzo strozzi exhibits 70+ works by maurizio cattelan, cindy sherman, damien hirst & more
the exhibition also hosts works from anish kapoor, sarah lucas, adrián villar rojas, pawel althamer, lynette yiadom-boakye, and many more.
zozaya arquitectos designs home with swimming pool suspended over mexico's pacific coast
zozaya arquitectos integrates a cliffside pool into a home that grows from the mexico's pacific coastal landscape.
sustainable coastal housing in mexico welcomes surfers to its fluid form
the organic shell of the building by ZAR features curved walls and fluid arches, avoiding conventional forms and angles.
cuts and voids carve swisshouse xl's solid octagonal block by davide macullo architects
davide macullo architects employs a diagonally cut roof to highlight the house's sculptural form.
davide macullo's veterinary clinic hides behind a cluster of concrete curves in albania
the brutalist expressions of concrete are used to ground the building in its context, while its mass is softened by planted terraces and gently sloping lines.
keisuke hatakenaka builds fish farming aquarium doubling as living landscape painting
the framed goldfish tank is shaped for the fish's horizontal movement.
keisuke hatakenaka clads tokyo tea shop in translucent polycarbonate screens
the screens can be easily adjusted according to the desired level of privacy.
paul clemence captures vivid hues & geometries of ruy ohtake's bioparque pantanal in brazil
the series highlights the structure’s colors, interplay of light and shadow across the curved facades, and distinct spatial planning, with a focus on fluidity and vibrancy.
exploring marine life though underwater galleries at haptic & oslo works' ethical fjordarium
the project aims to convert a previously unused parking lot into a sustainable touristic hub, with a focus on exploring the fjord's future
concrete, mon amour: stefano perego's book captures a decade of modernist architecture
documented over ten years between, the book explores the formal and material language of concrete structures built in the mid-to-late 20th century.
brutalist italy: roberto conte & stefano perego capture concrete monuments at berlin show
the two photographers documented over 100 structures from the 1960s-80s, from cemeteries and sanctuaries to port buildings and residential complexes.
extrastudio suspends holiday residence above the coastal slopes of portugal
the house is centered by a cruciform podium supported by four load-bearing walls, forming an elevated base.
extrastudio embeds 'twin houses' into the terrain of southern portugal
a suspended structure floats above the property, creating a large outdoor living room that overlooks the sea.
oscar niemeyer's monumental museum frames brazilian design exhibition by galerie philia
galerie philia's 'then and now: brazilian legacy' pairs modernism and contemporary design within an oscar niemeyer iconic in rio de janeiro.
interview: ABERTO4 at maison la roche traces le corbusier’s impact on brazilian modernism
ABERTO4 shows forty new works by 25 brazilian artists in dialogue with le corbusier's maison la roche and brazil's modernist history.
overlapping nylon ropes shape colorful curved contours for mirage installation in shanghai
mirage interactive installation translates fireworks into staggered geometric forms.
translucent metal mesh wraps MARS studio's sluice gate, echoing mountains and sea in china
the sluice remains a vital infrastructure for water regulation and a connection point for traffic, while creating a new public landmark.
'the alice in wonderland syndrome' marks elmgreen & dragset’s first solo show in los angeles
elmgreen & dragset’s 'alice in wonderland syndrome' at pace gallery LA explores scale and perception with mirrored skies and marble figures.
pace tokyo by sou fujimoto opens in azabudai hills, revealing an all-white ethereal design
the minimalist gallery space gently curves at all corners and expands over three floors.
glass drape facade by HENN revives historic augsburg theater in germany
HENN restores the historic structure while introducing two new buildings.
HENN's vertical farmhouse encloses grid terraced roof garden between two blocks in berlin
HENN's hybrid-timber structure employs a low-tech approach to minimize resource consumption.
wa upcycled table lamp by akasaki & vanhuyse is crafted from retired tokyo train parts
the lampshade is formed by stacking nine resin ring handles.
repurposed deadstock bricks compose round FLOAT bench on london's riverbank
the round, faceted bench draws from maritime objects and the nearby curved wharf.
trump signs order to make federal architecture 'beautiful again', in classical style
'making federal architecture beautiful again' sets classical architecture as the preferred style nationwide, and the default in washington, D.C.
trump selects airbnb co-founder joe gebbia as inaugural US chief design officer
gebbia will overseethe white house's national design studio, improving the usability and design of federal services.
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competitions 
TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! 2026 $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: october 30th, 2026 Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development competition / Edition #4 $ 11,773.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 Wonder Global Design Awards 2026 Season 2 deadline: january 31st, 2027 2026 Rome Design Awards Season 2 deadline: december 10th, 2026 2026 TITAN Property Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 Vancouver Tall Challenge $ 15,000.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa [IFDA] deadline: december 11th, 2026 New York High Falls Riverfront Market $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: january 18th, 2027 Underbridge #2 $ 9,290.00 USD deadline: october 19th, 2026 Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2026 $ 115,875.00 USD deadline: october 20th, 2026 all competitions
TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! 2026 $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: october 30th, 2026 
Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development competition / Edition #4 $ 11,773.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 
Wonder Global Design Awards 2026 Season 2 deadline: january 31st, 2027 
2026 Rome Design Awards Season 2 deadline: december 10th, 2026 
2026 TITAN Property Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 
Vancouver Tall Challenge $ 15,000.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 
International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa [IFDA] deadline: december 11th, 2026 
New York High Falls Riverfront Market $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: january 18th, 2027 
Underbridge #2 $ 9,290.00 USD deadline: october 19th, 2026 
Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2026 $ 115,875.00 USD deadline: october 20th, 2026 
