At UH INFONAVIT CTM Culhuacán, one of Mexico City’s largest housing developments, AMASA Estudio has completed the rehabilitation of a deteriorated public plaza. The intervention addresses long-standing spatial and maintenance challenges common to mid-20th-century housing typologies, focusing on programmatic clarity, material efficiency, and community-responsive design.

Located in the southeast of the city within the borough of Coyoacán, CTM Culhuacán comprises approximately 15,000 housing units built beginning in 1974. Initially intended to serve over 100,000 residents from Mexico’s working and middle classes, the development reflects the social housing strategies of the era. However, as in many large-scale complexes of its kind, shared public areas have since suffered from insufficient maintenance, largely due to jurisdictional ambiguity and administrative complexity. These conditions have led to a fragmented landscape of informally appropriated, neglected, or underutilized spaces. One such space, a plaza near the complex’s tenth section, became the site for a targeted intervention. In June 2023, INFONAVIT launched a design-build tender across four sites in Mexico City. AMASA Estudio, led by Andrea López and Agustín Pereyra, submitted a winning proposal for the Culhuacán location.

rehabilitation of a public plaza at CTM Culhuacán by AMASA Estudio | image by © Andres Cedillo

Reclaiming Urban Common Space Through Programmatic Zoning

The pre-existing site featured aging recreational infrastructure: worn courts, obsolete gym equipment, and peripheral spaces with low visibility. The area was bounded by perimeter walls of two adjacent schools, creating residual zones vulnerable to informal and antisocial use. The design centers on a gabled roof structure positioned at the site’s core. This architectural element introduces spatial order and visual identity while preventing potential future encroachments and maintaining clear sightlines across the plaza. Around this organizing spine, AMASA Estudio reconfigured the site into a series of clearly defined zones: two multipurpose courts, a calisthenics area, a covered forum with seating, a children’s play area, and a 600-meter running track embedded within the pedestrian paths. These components respond to the original brief and were refined through community consultation.

Key to the project was the strategic optimization of resources. The design team’s collaboration with Desarrolladora de Ideas y Espacios enabled cost-effective implementation without compromising design intent. Shared elements, such as structural steel profiles, pigmented concrete, and corrugated metal roofing, were coordinated across all four INFONAVIT commissions, allowing for material standardization and streamlined construction. Landscape improvements integrate permeable surfaces for rainwater infiltration and align with existing pedestrian flows. Accessibility was prioritized by avoiding grade changes and using material contrasts to define circulation and program areas. Color, paving texture, and modular curb transitions help delineate functional zones and improve legibility across the site. This intervention re-establishes the public plaza as a usable and maintained civic space within a historically significant housing development. By addressing spatial neglect through design, the project demonstrates a model for reclaiming underused public infrastructure in similar urban contexts.

new program includes courts, calisthenics area, and children’s play zone | image by © Andres Cedillo

the intervention reorders circulation and visibility across the site | image by © Zaickz Moz

a gabled roof structure anchors the redesigned civic space | image by © Andres Cedillo

covered forum with lateral seating enables shaded community use | image by © Zaickz Moz

central structure introduces spatial definition and visual identity | image by © Zaickz Moz

design prioritizes legibility through color and material contrasts | image by © Gerardo Reyes Bustamante

modular curbs and paving textures articulate spatial boundaries | image by © Gerardo Reyes Bustamante

site reconfigured to discourage encroachment and enable openness | image by © Andres Cedillo

pigmented concrete and corrugated metal define the material palette | image by © Andres Cedillo

project info:

name: UH INFONAVIT CTM Culhuacán

architect: AMASA Estudio | @amasa__estudio

location: Culhuacán, Mexico City

lead architects: Andrea López | @androide08, Agustín Pereyra | @a_pereyra

design team: Luis Flores, Gerardo Reyes, Roxana León, Cesar Huerta, Yanahi Flaviel

client: INFONAVIT | @infonavitoficial

construction: Desarrolladora de Ideas y Espacios, Alberto Cejudo | @tallercd_mx

structural engineer: Juan Felipe Heredia | @jfheredia

engineering: Germán Muñoz

lighting: Gabriel Briseño

landscape: Maritza Hernández | @maritzahernandez1413

photographers: Zaickz Moz | @zaickz.moz, Andrés Cedillo | @pavelin, Gerardo Reyes Bustamante | @gerardorbustamante

video: Virgilio Cortés

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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A series of colorful solar facades and photovoltaic murals give the SunRise tower in Alberta, Canada, renewable energy. Once an aging, 12-story residential building, the retrofit by Mitrex with murals by indigenous artist Lance Cardinal can help reduce carbon emissions by using the building-integrated photovoltaics. These are solar panels that don’t look like the regular ones with a bluish tint. Instead, they resemble tiles or panels, with the energy-absorbing technology hiding underneath them. 

The building-integrated solar facades and photovoltaic murals in Alberta, Canada, work as the sunlight hits the surface of the panels. During the retrofit, the company made sure that the system was large enough to meet the energy goals of the project, so they improved the original plan, which was only for a 60 kW system, and increased it to 267 kW. That big jump can help the building exceed the 50 percent carbon reduction target.

all images courtesy of Mitrex

solar facades and photovoltaic murals in alberta, canada

The colorful solar facades and photovoltaic murals outside of the SunRise tower in Alberta, Canada, double as street art. The building-integrated panels come in a mosaic of granite tones and bright orange, yellow, blue, and purple accents. The murals are found on the northern wall of the building, standing tall at 85 feet, by the Edmonton-based Indigenous artist Lance Cardinal. These photovoltaic murals next to the solar facades in Alberta, Canada, are a tribute to First Nations and Chinese cultures, which are part of the history of the area. It is dubbed the world’s largest BIPV mural, and at the time of publishing, it is being officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. The system is not painted but built directly into the solar panel system. 

Mitrex and the building team, including the architect MBC Group and the contractor Chandos Development, worked carefully to make sure the project would be realized. Before the renovation, the energy company studied the aging building’s needs, created energy models, tested panel colors, and planned a rainscreen system to keep the building safe from different weather conditions. In the end, Mitrex’s solar facades and photovoltaic murals were installed on all four sides of the building in Alberta, Canada (the murals being on the northern wall). The total system is 267 kilowatts, enough to create around 180,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per year, and it is equal to the amount of power used by 23 homes in one year.

these solar facades and murals in Canada resemble tiles or panels with the energy-absorbing technology

they cover the four sides of the building

construction view of the solar facades and murals of SunRise tower in Canada

the retrofit by Mitrex with murals by indigenous artist Lance Cardinal can help reduce carbon emissions

view of the the retrofit by Mitrex with murals by indigenous artist Lance Cardinal

project info:

name: SunRise Retrofit

company: Mitrex | @mitrex_solar

artist: Lance Cardinal | @lancecardinal75

architect: MBC Group

contractor: Chandos Development | @chandosltd

location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 

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KOGAA’s redesign of a municipally owned ground-floor unit in Brno’s historic center establishes a new model for tourist information facilities as adaptable civic infrastructure. The project, TIC Brno, is situated on Zámečnická Street, a high-footfall pedestrian corridor connecting Náměstí Svobody and Dominikánské náměstí, and engages with both heritage constraints and contemporary urban needs. More than a point of orientation, it functions as a cultural interface: hosting micro-exhibitions, showcasing locally made products, and offering space for smaller events and launches.

Externally, the intervention introduces a new travertine stone base and a lightweight signage hood that collectively bring cohesion to a fragmented facade. These elements were developed in dialogue with preservation authorities, including the National Institute of Historical Preservation and Brno’s Department of Historical Preservation, and were designed for gradual implementation to minimize disruption to surrounding active units. The design aligns with the ‘Manual of Good Practice for Advertising and Marking of Establishments’ (2018), integrating signage into a unified and restrained visual language. In a visually saturated urban context, this approach reinforces architectural clarity and public legibility. The travertine base references materials found throughout Brno’s architectural history, while the hood introduces a lighter counterpoint, reducing visual noise and offering a calm interface at street level. Openings along the facade were adjusted to reestablish transparency and align with the building’s original tectonic logic, contributing to a more coherent relationship between interior and exterior.

all images by BoysPlayNice

Chromatic panel structure fabricates TIC Brno’s Interior

Inside the compact footprint, the spatial organization centers around a single multifunctional insert that consolidates core functions: reception, workspace, storage, product display, and public interaction zones. Designed and fabricated by KOGAA Studio in collaboration with DURO Design, a local metalwork studio, the insert is composed of iridescent titanium-clad panels applied using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process. This surface treatment produces subtle chromatic shifts in response to daylight, creating a nuanced, dynamic interior quality.

The monolithic insert also acts as a spatial device, structuring circulation and defining user interactions. Lowered portions accommodate staff and visitor desks, recessed volumes serve as display areas, and integrated storage maintains functional efficiency. A bespoke connector system developed by DURO ensures seamless assembly while preserving the sculptural continuity of the installation.

a single multifunctional insert defines the compact interior

Balancing Heritage and Change in Brno’s Civic Landscape

Beyond its informational role, TIC Brno serves as a venue for micro-exhibitions, product showcases, and smaller cultural events. The programmatic flexibility of the space allows it to evolve in step with the city’s cultural landscape, supporting Brno’s strategic goals of promoting local creativity and participatory engagement. Its content is curated in collaboration with local designers and institutions, maintaining relevance through ongoing rotation.

The project demonstrates how limited spatial interventions can carry broader urban significance. By combining material precision, contextual responsiveness, and programmatic adaptability, the design addresses the intersecting demands of heritage preservation, civic representation, and everyday usability. The juxtaposition of the ephemeral titanium finish and the grounded travertine base encapsulates the architectural intent to balance permanence with transformation. TIC Brno is part of a wider urban strategy that positions Brno as a city rooted in cultural authenticity and civic innovation. Although modest in scale, the project contributes to the redefinition of public infrastructure, establishing a replicable approach to civic architecture that prioritizes design quality and urban continuity.

iridescent panels shift color with changing daylight conditions

the monolithic insert organizes circulation and spatial use

integrated volumes accommodate display, storage, and workspaces

the titanium-clad insert was fabricated by local studio DURO Design

lowered surfaces support staff and visitor interaction

the PVD titanium coating introduces a subtle chromatic variation

the insert balances sculptural form with functional clarity

programmatic adaptability allows the space to evolve over time

travertine stone base and signage hood unify the fragmented street facade

openings were adjusted to restore transparency and align with original facade rhythms

project info:

name: TIC Brno: The Civic Counter
architect: KOGAA | @kogaa_studio

location: Zámečnická 90/2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic

lead architects: Tomáš Kozelský, Viktor Odstrčilík, Alexandra Georgescu

design team: Kateřina Baťková, Josef Řehák, Markéta Landová, Nikola Linhartová, Kristián Zámečník

client: TIC Brno, Centrála cestovního ruchu – Jižní Morava

bespoke construction and finish: DURO DESIGN

illustrations: Laura Emilija Druktenyte

passport: Plancraft 

consultant: Michal Doležel, Veronika Rút

lighting supplier: London Light

photographer: BoysPlayNice | @boysplaynice

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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CCA | Bernardo Quinzaños has developed a masterplan for La Paz, Baja California Sur, in Mexico, aimed at transforming El Cajoncito, a seasonal stormwater channel, into integrated public infrastructure. The proposal reconfigures the site as a continuous public corridor, enhancing urban connectivity, mobility, and flood resilience. Key interventions include a new sports complex, a pedestrian and cycling path, and a vehicular bridge.

The existing dry riverbed currently acts as a major physical barrier between two urban districts, extending over approximately eight kilometers. During the rainy season, this area becomes impassable due to flooding. The new plan introduces infrastructure that both mitigates these hydrological challenges and improves day-to-day circulation for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. The project connects La Paz’s waterfront malecón to peripheral neighborhoods through green infrastructure, improving accessibility and contributing to long-term urban resilience. The proposed bridge is engineered to maintain structural stability during extreme weather and seismic events, integrating flood-control measures into its drainage design. Alongside it, a dedicated pedestrian and cycling path supports non-motorized transport and includes shaded rest areas and public transit stops. Approximately 40% of the masterplan has been implemented to date, with the cycling path partially constructed and the sports complex fully completed.

all images by Jaime Navarro

Community input shaped the design of Masterplan La Paz

Located within the El Cajoncito zone, the new Sports Complex responds to a need for athletic infrastructure in La Paz. Developed through community engagement, the facility provides accessible amenities for various sports and recreational activities. It features baseball and softball fields, soccer pitches, basketball and tennis courts, a skate park, and tracks for running and cycling. The design by CCA | Bernardo Quinzaños architectural practice includes four modular baseball pavilions, allowing for standardized construction and clear user orientation via color coding. Each field accommodates different age groups and skill levels, from youth to adult users, and supports athletic progression. Supporting infrastructure includes shaded seating and integrated furniture designed to address local climatic conditions and enhance user comfort.

A key component of the complex is a multipurpose building consisting of two gabled volumes on a shared steel frame. The open structure incorporates passive ventilation strategies and provides flexible indoor-outdoor space for physical and cultural activities. The ground level includes a shaded double-height gathering area, while internal spaces host administrative functions, music classrooms, a café, and a library. The building supports simultaneous programming and community events. The project decentralizes public services traditionally concentrated along the city’s waterfront, bringing recreational and cultural infrastructure to underserved areas. It offers accessible programming for youth and adults during non-working hours, contributing to community well-being and public engagement.

masterplan La Paz reimagines El Cajoncito as a linear public corridor

the dry riverbed is transformed into resilient green infrastructure

a new sports complex anchors the regeneration strategy

the masterplan addresses seasonal flooding with integrated infrastructure

shaded seating areas address local climatic conditions

open-air structures use passive ventilation for climate responsiveness

pedestrian and cycling paths improve non-motorized mobility

color-coded fields assist with wayfinding across the complex

the bridge and paths reduce travel distances for residents

the sports complex includes baseball, soccer, tennis, and basketball facilities

modular baseball pavilions support standardized construction and use

a decentralized approach brings new amenities to underserved districts

project info:

name: Masterplan and Sports Complex La Paz
architect: CCA | Bernardo Quinzaños | @cca.mx

area: 22,727 sqm

location: La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

lead architect: Bernardo Quinzaños 

design team: Santiago Vélez, Begoña Manzano, Andrés Suárez, Carlos Molina, Cristian Nieves, Miguel Izaguirre, Sara de la Cabada, André Torres, Abigaíl Zavaleta, Víctor Zúñiga, Pablo Ruiz, Scarlett Díaz

client: SEDATU, Municipality of La Paz

builder: HABA, Alan Haro

photographer: Jaime Navarro | @jaimenavarrophotography

video: Jaime Navarro Studio, Ricardo Esquivel, Fernanda Ventura

model photographer: Arturo Arrieta, Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica (CCA)

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Located along the Knyaginka River in Knyaginino, Russia, Student Meadow project by GORA (Gorshunov Stanislav) reimagines a former grazing and event field as a multi-functional public space. The design responds to the town’s demographic context, where approximately 20 percent of residents are university students, positioning education and student involvement at the core of the intervention. The site, formerly used for local football matches, community fairs, and the annual Nightingale Melodies festival, had become largely underutilized outside of festival periods and grazing seasons. GORA’s approach preserves the meadow’s open, natural character while introducing a flexible program that adapts to seasonal and daily changes in use.

all images by Margarita Sesorova

Student-Led open space for art, learning, and community events

GORA’s architectural team, led by Gorshunov Stanislav, organizes the landscape into distinct zones, with each section managed and curated by a specific academic institute from Knyagininsky University. This framework encourages active student participation in the ongoing development, programming, and maintenance of the space. During the day, the meadow functions as an open-air classroom and a setting for informal gatherings. At night, it becomes a platform for light installations, performances, and community events, extending the area’s usability into evening hours. A key architectural feature within the site is the pavilion known as the ‘Tower.’ Designed for research and observation, the Tower serves as a space for stargazing, lectures, seminars, and workshops. Its placement and form integrate with the meadow’s topography while supporting a variety of educational and cultural activities.

Student Meadow was selected as the winning proposal in the 2021 Small Towns and Historical Settlements Competition. The project reflects a broader strategy of using landscape and architecture to activate underused urban areas, with a particular focus on community engagement and the educational potential of public space.

Student Meadow by GORA reimagines a riverside field in Knyaginino as a multi-functional public space

the project sits along the Knyaginka River, responding to the town’s strong student population

formerly a site for football matches and fairs, the meadow’s open character has been preserved

the Tower pavilion functions as a space for observation, lectures, and workshops

the Tower integrates into the natural topography of the site

each section of the meadow is managed by different academic institutes from Knyagininsky University

the design introduces flexible zones that adapt to both seasonal and daily changes in use

the architectural approach balances educational programming with ecological preservation

the project reflects a larger urban strategy of activating underused spaces through design

the meadow serves as an open-air classroom and space for informal gatherings

landscape zones are defined without imposing on the site’s existing natural features

the flexible program accommodates both spontaneous use and organized community events

the project extends public space usability into evening hours through event-focused infrastructure

at night, the area transforms into a venue for light installations and performances

project info:

name: Student Meadow

architect: GORA | @gor_architect
lead architect: Gorshunov Stanislav
design team: Gorshunov S.V., Yudina M.V., Budko E.V., Krylova E.I.

location: Knyaginino, Russia

photographer: Margarita Sesorova | @sesorovna

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Along the western edge of Slovenia’s Lake Bled, OFIS Architects revitalizes Boathouse Zaka, a 25.5-square-meter timber-clad structure. While its humble exterior reflects the vernacular scale and materiality of alpine lakeside buildings, the project introduces an experimental rooftop filtration garden, turning the boathouse into both a scientific facility and an educational device. 

A series of wooden trays sits atop the pitched roof, filled with layers of stone, gravel, sand, and soil, and planted with native alpine flower species. Lake water is pumped through this substrate, slowly filtering as it irrigates the vegetation, mimicking natural water purification processes. The filtration beds on the roof are part of a scientific experiment and a didactic tool. In this way, the roof becomes a public-facing interface of ecological care, visibly performing the environmental purpose of the building. 

all images by Miran Kambic

boathouse zaka adopts a skin that breathes in slovenia

Ljubljana-based OFIS Architects focuses on revitalization through reuse, dismantling, and restoring the original timber frame and cladding. This restoration preserves the proportions and spatial rhythm of the existing structure while grounding it in local craft traditions. The original facade is reinstalled as a series of rotated and offset wooden planks, creating a skin that breathes. This semi-transparent cladding filters light, air, and views, allowing the structure to become ‘a filter rather than a wall,’ as the team notes.

Boathouse Zaka stores two research boats used for environmental monitoring of Lake Bled, whose crystal-clear and heavily visited waters require continuous observation. Material interventions, such as replacing cold cement tiles with natural wooden flooring, improve internal comfort for researchers and maintain the structure’s coherence with its timber envelope. 

As climate pressures and tourism intensify around Lake Bled, the project suggests that future-forward architecture may not require elaborate forms but regenerative gestures that restore, teach, and protect. 

OFIS Architects revitalizes Boathouse Zaka

a 25.5-square-meter timber-clad structure

a series of wooden trays sits atop the pitched roof

lake water is pumped through this substrate

located along the western edge of Slovenia’s Lake Bled

the original facade is reinstalled as a series of rotated and offset wooden planks

a skin that breathes

Boathouse Zaka stores two research boats used for environmental monitoring of Lake Bled

OFIS Architects focuses on revitalization through reuse

the trays are filled with layers of stone, gravel, sand, and soil, and planted with native alpine flower species

project info:

name: Boathouse Zaka

architect: OFIS Architects | @ofis_architects

location: Lake Bled, Slovenia

site area: 47 square meters

built area: 25.5 square meters

client: Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia

design team: Rok Oman, Špela Videčnik, Janez Martinčič, Rok Dolinšek, Amadej Mravlak, Vladyslav Bondarenko, Adrien Riviere

technical team: Mizarstvo Ovsenik d.o.o.

contractors: Mizarstvo Ovsenik d.o.o.

landscape technology: MT Cvek d.o.o.

photographer: Miran Kambic | @mirankambic

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The Grid, designed by Trung Mai / Ad hoc Practice, is an adaptive reuse project situated within the former Gia Lam Train Factory in Hanoi. Presented at the Venice Biennale 2025, curated by Carlo Ratti, the intervention reinterprets the site’s industrial remnants into an exhibition space, framing the existing structure as a repository of spatial and cultural memory. Rather than introducing new architectural elements, The Grid exposes the site’s latent formal logic, treating it as a spatial archive. This approach aligns with the principles of behavioral archaeology, wherein the built environment is studied through the material traces of human activity. The design strategy emphasizes recontextualization, both conceptually and materially, positioning reuse as a form of dynamic preservation that engages with contemporary questions of urban development and memory.

all images by Trieu Chien

Ad hoc Practice Reimagines Gia Lam Factory’s Layered History

Hanoi’s ongoing urban expansion has led to the relocation and decommissioning of several socialist-era factories, placing their architectural and cultural legacies at risk. The Gia Lam Train Factory, formerly a mechanical hub at a key railway junction, has become emblematic of this transitional condition. The structure’s layered past, which spans colonial, wartime, and reformist periods, provides the backdrop for a design inquiry into Vietnam’s industrial narrative. The exhibition space within the factory is conceived as both an archaeological site and a testing ground for new forms of spatial engagement. By occupying part of the abandoned structure, The Grid reflects on the site’s transformation from production facility to cultural artifact. Through systematic reconstruction, the project, developed by architects at Ad hoc Practice, led by Trung Mai, frames the factory not only as a container of industrial materials but also as a repository of memory, labor, and ideology.

The grid-based design draws from two key references: the 19th-century urban planning principles of Ildefons Cerdà’s Eixample district in Barcelona, and the internal ceiling structure of the warehouse itself, a product of mid-20th-century engineering. This dual reference reinforces themes of order, equality, and modularity, principles foundational to Vietnam’s post-war industrialization. Sunlight filtering through the original ceiling panels creates dynamic light conditions across the exhibited objects and architectural fragments. This quality of light reinforces the project’s temporal focus and enhances the spatial reading of the factory’s preserved form.

The Grid reactivates the abandoned Gia Lam Train Factory through adaptive reuse

Collective Memory Transforms the Factory’s Spatial Future

Structurally, the project maintains and adapts the existing building framework. The design incorporates participatory construction methods, including collaborations with students and community members, to explore alternative futures for the site. The exhibition encourages dialogue on retrofitting strategies, slow construction, and site-responsive design, offering a critical perspective on contemporary development practices that prioritize rapid turnover and high-density production.

The Grid by Trung Mai / Ad hoc Practice positions adaptive reuse as a method of cultural inquiry. By transforming the factory into a site for reflection and experimentation, the project engages with Vietnam’s urban condition while foregrounding the role of collective memory in shaping spatial futures.

latent architectural forms are revealed rather than replaced

traces of Vietnam’s industrial legacy become spatial anchors within the former factory

The Grid treats the site as a spatial archive of cultural memory

the former mechanical hub now becomes a platform for cultural reflection

layers of history, from colonial to post-reform, inform the spatial logic of the intervention

exhibited fragments and artifacts reflect labor, ideology, and material memory

order and modularity frame the project’s formal and conceptual structure

the intervention avoids spectacle, focusing instead on subtle spatial reactivation

the space operates as both exhibition and research platform

architecture becomes a tool for reading and writing the city’s industrial past

retrofitting strategies are tested on site, advocating for slow, responsive design

the preserved ceiling structure acts as a light modulator across the space

the factory is reframed as a living document of urban transformation

project info:

name: The Grid
architect: Ad hoc Practice – Ha noi Ad hoc | @hanoiadhoc_adhocpractice

lead architect and curator: Trung Mai 

design team: Viet Phung, Trang Pham, Duong Nguyen, Ha Hoang, Lauren Lu, Ngoc Nguyen, Linh Tang

guest artists: Vy Trịnh, Jennifer Vanderpool
location: Hanoi, Vietnam

photographer: Trieu Chien | @trieuchien

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post the grid by ad hoc practice repurposes former train factory in hanoi as exhibition space appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

C+A – Coelacanth and Associates renovates KUBO-BLDG, a small four-story tenant building in downtown Nagoya, Japan. The architects’ team gives the building a new identity, more than fifty years after it was first built, with a seismic upgrade using asymmetric oval-shaped structural elements and a new concrete column-beam frame. The project transforms the aging structure into something that is at once safer, more expressive, and in tune with its urban context.

Instead of hiding the building’s new structural components, C+A chooses to highlight them by embedding oval-shaped seismic elements on the facade. These large, asymmetrical ‘icons’ visibly wrap around a triangular bracing system and frame, reinforcing the building while helping it stand out in the dense, often chaotic streetscape. The ovals are carefully arranged to strengthen the structure while still allowing generous openings throughout the facade.

all images by ToLoLo studio

Asymmetric Oval-Shaped Elements define KUBO-BLDG facade

Japanese architecture firm C+A – Coelacanth and Associates reimagines the facade of KUBO-BLDG with function in mind. The new structure creates space for balconies on each floor, semi-outdoor zones that encourage natural ventilation, and support airflow throughout the building. These additions speak directly to lessons learned from the pandemic, offering better air quality and a stronger connection to the outside. The balconies also animate the street, adding a more social and open layer to the building’s edge.

Inside, the renovation refreshes the common areas and upgrades outdated systems, while in the tenant spaces, the architects keep things intentionally raw. They preserve as much of the existing structure as possible, exposing utility lines and simplifying the layout so that future tenants can shape their spaces as needed. 

With a total floor area of just over 350 square meters, C+A’s retrofit shows how seismic safety can also drive creativity, turning technical requirements into forms of expression.

C+A – Coelacanth and Associates renovates KUBO-BLDG

C+A choose to highlight the structural elements of the building

these large, asymmetrical ‘icons’ visibly wrap around a triangular bracing system

reinforcing the building while helping it stand out

C+A – Coelacanth and Associates reimagines the facade of KUBO-BLDG with function in mind

these additions speak directly to lessons learned from the pandemic

C+A’s retrofit shows how seismic safety can also drive creativity

the renovation refreshes the common areas and upgrades outdated systems

they preserve as much of the existing structure as possible

exposing utility lines and simplifying the layout

the architects’ team gives the 50-year-old building a new identity

the upgrade inncludes asymmetric oval-shaped elements and a new concrete column-beam frame

project info:

name: KUBO-BLDG

architect: C+A – Coelacanth and Associates | @coelacanth_and_associates

location: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

site area: 108.66 square meters

building area: 98.82 square meters

total floor area: 353.17 square meters

project team: Susumu Uno, Yasuharu Rachi

photographer: ToLoLo studio | @tololostudio

The post sculptural ovals shape seismic retrofit of 50-year-old building in japan by C+A appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

The ITSUMO Dessert Shop in Batam, Indonesia, designed by kousou inc. Jakarta, in collaboration with Svetlin Petrov, represents an architectural intervention within the typical ruko (shop-house) typology of the city’s commercial areas. The project introduces a spatial and material strategy that contrasts with the surrounding built environment, known for its utilitarian structures and rapid-development aesthetics. Located in a busy port city context, the shop responds to its surroundings with a minimalist white facade, offering a visual counterpoint to Batam’s typically colorful and artificial material palette. This exterior treatment signals a shift in spatial experience, moving toward interior calm and spatial restraint.

A key feature of the design is an interior courtyard, integrated to bring natural light and controlled exposure to rain into the building. The courtyard acts as both a spatial and environmental element, supporting ventilation and creating a sensory connection to weather conditions. Hidden rain gutters, placed between the facade wall and skylight, allow rainwater to enter the courtyard during storms while controlling drainage through a secondary concealed channel.

all images by Kung Photograph

interior design focuses on a monochromatic material palette

Internally, the design moves away from decorative complexity, focusing on a monochromatic material palette dominated by black. To prevent the dark tones from creating a somber atmosphere, the interior incorporates variations in texture and finish. Materials such as natural stone, stained wood, and metal contribute to a layered and tactile quality. Exposed gray concrete surfaces and brown-toned elements provide contrast and depth within the overall composition. The interior layout positions a central work and display area while preserving and exposing parts of the original building structure. This approach creates continuity between past and present states of the site. The decision to leave portions of the original structure visible reflects an interest in material honesty and site-specific adaptation.

The design process followed an iterative model, with continuous dialogue between the architects at kousou inc. Jakarta, client, and construction team. The project required extensive material research and sample production to achieve the desired tactile and visual effects, particularly for the facade textures and interior finishes.

minimalist white facade contrasts with Batam’s colorful commercial streetscape

kousou uses Architecture as a Tool for Urban Reframing

In contrast to ITSUMO’s other locations, the Batam project employs stricter geometry and sharper formal language. This decision aligns with the project’s goal of creating site-specific identities for each ITSUMO outlet while maintaining brand consistency.

The project positions architecture as a tool for spatial transformation within dense, function-driven urban contexts. Through restrained material selection, attention to detail, and integration of environmental factors such as rain and light, the ITSUMO Dessert Shop presents an example of how commercial spaces can adopt a design-driven approach to reframe user experience and architectural presence in a rapidly developing urban setting.

the shop reinterprets the ruko typology through spatial and material restraint

interior calm is signaled by a clean, monochromatic architectural language

an inward-facing courtyard brings daylight deep into the building’s core

controlled rainwater enters the space via concealed gutters at the skylight edge

black-dominated palette softened by textured surfaces and warm wood tones

the central courtyard doubles as a ventilation and sensory element

exposed concrete and stone elements reinforce the sense of material honesty

interior spaces use natural materials to build tactile depth and contrast

dark materials are balanced with natural light and reflective textures

the interior design emphasizes sharp geometry and linear clarity

the shop demonstrates how commercial design can elevate everyday contexts

project info:

name: Itsumo Dessert Shop, Batam
architect: kousou inc. Jakarta | @kousou_inc

lead architect: Svetlin Petrov | @svetlin__petrov

location: Kecamatan Lubuk Baja, Batam, Indonesia

area: 300 sqm

general constructing: Room Studio

engineering, consulting, lighting: ERRELUCE

photographer: Kung Photograph | @kungphotograph

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post light and rain pour through internal courtyard within monochrome dessert shop in indonesia appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Located in San Miniato, Tuscany, Casa Sotto La Nuvola is a residential project by LDA.iMdA Architects, shaped by a process of reconstructive renovation. The site sits within a landscape of olive-covered hills near the historic Via Francigena, with the design responding to both topography and cultural context.

The project consists of two separate yet connected volumes: the main house and a smaller guesthouse. This spatial arrangement was developed to ensure privacy between the two functions, with an axial loggia serving as the connecting element. The building’s floor plan follows a deliberately simple and traditional form, retaining the archetypal rural house geometry of a rectangle topped with a gabled roof. While the exterior references local architectural typologies, the interior layout adopts a more contemporary approach. Bedrooms are positioned at ground level, and the living areas are placed on the lower basement floor. This inversion of traditional residential planning draws on spatial strategies seen in certain examples of modernist architecture.

all images by medullastudiomedulla

LDA.iMdA architects focuses on context, history, and materiality

The building, developed by LDA.iMdA architects’ team, follows a north-south axis, running perpendicular to the hillside ridge. This orientation was selected to integrate the structure into the terrain while minimizing visual impact on the nearby Via Francigena. Optical channels were introduced into the design to frame key landscape views, establishing a direct connection between interior spaces and the surrounding environment. The volumetric composition employs stereometric forms, reinterpreting the profile of the preexisting structure while remaining sensitive to the rural context. Outdoor spaces are designed to provide both visual and functional continuity with the landscape, and careful consideration was given to preserving the existing native vegetation.

Natural light plays a strategic role in the spatial organization, with openings positioned to suit the interior layout and enhance the quality of light in each area. Exterior materials and colors were selected to blend with the tones of historic buildings in the area, with light-toned brick as a preferred finish. Interior color schemes are predominantly neutral, allowing the surrounding views and landscape colors to become focal points within the living spaces.

the project by LDA.iMdA Architects follows a reconstructive renovation approach

Casa Sotto La Nuvola’s design responds to the Tuscan setting

The building footprint draws on historical references from the Catasto Leopoldino, an 18th-century land registry map, which recorded the existence of a similar structure on the site. Although the original building no longer stood at the time of design, the new construction maintains proportions consistent with local rural typologies, typically slender in form to suit the morphology of hilly terrain and agricultural land divisions. A key feature of the design is the valley-facing elevation, where an optical channel is framed by a projecting overhang. This architectural element creates a covered outdoor space in front of the living area, while visually lightening the building’s mass and enhancing its integration into the landscape. Throughout the project, from conceptual development to the selection of materials and finishes, the design approach maintains a consistent focus on context, history, and the material qualities of the Tuscan setting.

Casa Sotto La Nuvola is located in San Miniato, Tuscany, surrounded by olive-covered hills

a projecting overhang creates a sheltered outdoor area and lightens the overall mass

the gabled roof form references archetypal Tuscan architecture

two separate yet connected volumes house the main residence and guesthouse

an axial loggia links the two volumes, providing both connection and privacy

the building follows a north-south axis, aligning perpendicularly to the hillside ridge

optical channels frame key landscape views, connecting interior and exterior spaces

the volumetric composition reinterprets the profile of the preexisting structure

the design responds directly to the site’s topography and cultural context near the Via Francigena

outdoor spaces provide visual and functional continuity with the surrounding landscape

the exterior subtly references local architectural typologies

the volumetric composition employs stereometric forms

the building’s floor plan retains a simple, traditional rural house geometry

the inverted floor plan draws inspiration from modernist residential design

bedrooms are located at ground level, while living spaces sit on the lower basement floor

natural light is carefully directed through strategically placed openings

interior spaces feature neutral color schemes that emphasize external views

the selection of materials and finishes maintains a consistent focus on context

project info:

name: Casa Sotto La Nuvola
architects: LDA.iMdA architects | @lda.imda

location: San Miniato (PI), Italy

area: 250 sqm

wall structure: Xella Italia (Ytong)

metal sheet: Arte Arredo Arredamenti di Pieri Sandro

stairs: C.N.C. di Ceccanti Roberto & C. S.N.C.

windows: Ciampini srl – secco sistemi

small kitchen light: flos

photographer: medullastudiomedulla | @medullastudiomedulla

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post LDA.iMdA reinterprets rural tuscan house typology for geometric gabled villa appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.