ArchDaily.com

On a rocky outcrop overlooking Lake Memphremagog, two blocks of wood gently harmonize with their surroundings. Two rectangular volumes, one laid atop the other, form a house. The first block resembles a bridge between two plateaux, straddling a natural gully that continues to drain runoff from heavy rains.

Over the past two decades, Albania has actively reshaped its urban identity through contemporary architecture. A national strategy aimed at improving infrastructure, housing, and the international profile of its cities has led to a wave of bold, modern developments - particularly in the capital, Tirana. One of the latest additions to this evolving architectural landscape is Lake Views, a mixed-use development by JA Joubert Architecture. Located on a prominent lakefront site beside Tirana's largest park, the Olympic swimming complex, and the newly developed ring road, the project occupies a key threshold in the expanding urban fabric.

Nestled on historic Wukang Road, a 1930s heritage garden house has been transformed into the flagship store of emerging fashion brand XiaoZhuo. Surrounded by lush greenery and marked by distinct seasonal changes, the space now embodies XiaoZhuo's crisp brand identity—celebrating creativity, curiosity, and playfulness—while offering visitors guidance and relaxation beyond mere shopping.

Architecture of the Earth. Yumeshima, the site of the Expo, is a reclaimed island with inherently weak ground conditions. As a prerequisite for construction, a volume of soil equivalent to the weight of the proposed building had to be removed from the site.

Located in the Atacama Region, Chile, the Research Center of the Colla Indigenous Community in the municipality of Copiapó arises from the concrete need to have an infrastructure that supports development, innovation, and research programs driven by the community itself, including the cultivation and botanical study of medicinal plants from the mountainous canyons.

Located in the eastern part of Lisbon, the Convento do Beato originated from a small hermitage built in the 15th century, which later evolved into a convent that played a significant role in the religious, social, and economic life of the city.

The project involved a complete renovation of an apartment in a late-1930s Prague building, boasting exceptional views of the Vltava River. The primary objective was to adapt the layout to the needs of a young family while preserving and enhancing the inherent qualities of the original interior. A specific requirement was the integration of a dedicated storage solution for family bicycles.

The historic city of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria has had more than its fair share of calamity after the outbreak of the war in 2011. After seeing destruction caused by fierce battles between armed groups and the central government, as well as occupation by ISIL, the earthquake in February 2023 brought further damage. Behind the headlines, however, is an ancient city tracing its founding to the dawn of civilization on the banks of the Euphrates River, with living architecture from the Ottoman and French Mandate periods. A winner of the ArchDaily 2025 Next Practices Awards, the

In the wake of the pandemic — a moment that prompted many families to reconsider how and where they live — WORKac's Riverhouse offers a deeply personal interpretation of contemporary domestic architecture. Designed by the studio's founders, Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, for themselves and their two children, the house reflects a broader cultural shift toward smaller footprints, ecological responsibility, and a more deliberate relationship with place. At once a family home and a lived-in architectural experiment, Riverhouse balances environmental intelligence with spatial invention and an unmistakable sense of character.

In an age dominated by screens and digital images, the full character of a designed object often remains hidden. Only when encountering an object in person can one sense its texture, notice how it interacts with light, or even perceive its subtle smell. These sensory qualities— so difficult to convey online—reveal why design fairs continue to matter. Increasingly, these fairs have become spaces for experimentation in contemporary design, where ideas about materials, collaboration, and social responsibility are publicly explored. Curated programs, exhibitions, and experimental installations transform these events into environments where designers, manufacturers, and researchers test new possibilities for the built realm.