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Four Walls is a lakeside pavilion in a coastal site south of Chennai, India. Designed by London-based architects Studio Mango, the building forms the endpoint of a linear park within Sanctuary by Aarth, a new residential development for which the practice also designed the villas. Constructed as the first element within the wider masterplan, the client requested a building simple in its conception but capable of serving several programmatic requirements. A gallery space was necessary to display the villa designs, while a larger space was required for gatherings. The pavilion would frame visitors' first encounter with the lake, around which the development is organized.

The residents' request was simple and, at the same time, the greatest challenge of the project: to preserve the local vegetation as much as possible. It was with this premise that the couple approached Studio Carlito and Renata Pascucci Architecture. The plot in Maresias, on the northern coast of São Paulo, spans 1,200 m² at the foot of the Serra do Mar. The challenge was not just to build, but to do so with minimal environmental impact.

In the context of its 50th anniversary celebrations, Tabancura School invited us to participate in an architectural competition aimed at establishing a definitive master plan for the campus. The proposal sought to complete the infrastructure originally built in the late 1990s through the addition of three new buildings, as well as the design of new courtyards and gardens.

Nestled between the Pacific Coast and the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu High School reimagines what a public high school can be. This net-zero energy facility for 525 students on 5.7 acres engages directly with its coastal foothill setting, creating what the design team calls a "hillside laboratory" where learning extends far beyond classroom walls.

As one of the host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Toronto is preparing to welcome fans from across the globe. The Canadian city, the fourth largest in North America, has become a cosmopolitan center with its renowned business district and cultural venues that come alive during the summer and early fall nights. Toronto offers a beautifully diverse urban setting, with shimmering high-rises and smaller brick houses, intertwining residential and vibrant commercial areas, public parks, and even beaches. All become part of the city's striking skyline, crowned by the iconic CN Tower.

This small building is nestled quietly within a forest near the headquarters of a timber company in Ehime, Japan. The client had long been drawn to the distant mountain views from this location and envisioned building something there. Although the site contained only a small area of level ground, it was constrained by the steep slope rising behind it, requiring careful study to determine what kind of architecture could appropriately inhabit the terrain.

Can architecture shape comfort before mechanical systems enter the equation? As buildings account for nearly 40% of global energy consumption and people spend close to 90% of their time indoors, thermal performance has become one of architecture's most urgent concerns. Yet despite often being associated with insulation values, energy ratings, or mechanical systems, thermal performance begins with spatial decisions made long before technical equipment is introduced. Orientation, airflow, daylight, and the placement of openings all influence how a building absorbs, retains, and releases heat throughout the day.

The Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), in collaboration with HNTB and HOK, has been selected as the design team for the redevelopment of New York City's Penn Station. The project is part of an ongoing effort to reorganize and expand one of the busiest rail transportation hubs in North America, aiming to improve passenger circulation, increase capacity, and upgrade the station's existing infrastructure. Des

The library for the Luanda Technology Park is conceived as a cultural landmark and a place of refuge within the intensity of the city. Located within a dynamic urban environment marked by intense activity and constant movement, the building and its surrounding landscape create an atmosphere of calm and retreat. In contrast to the noise and pace of its surroundings, the library establishes a civic space dedicated to learning, encounter, and contemplation, serving both the technology park and the wider community.

Covering a broad array of subjects, this week's headline stories have reflected the wide scope of architecture's practice: its potential to respond to the climate crisis, the construction and renovation of cultural infrastructure around the world, and events that promote contemporary disciplinary reflection. This does not preclude questions about the contradiction between the technical and creative skills demanded by the discipline and the role it has come to occupy in today's market. Alongside these reflections, this week we feature projects that reinforce architecture's cultural significance in preserving knowledge, hosting co