When it comes to modern art, there are two distinct purveyors: those who enjoy its unorthodoxy, and those who absolutely abhor it. In the latter camp, it’s common to hear…
In today’s globalized world, an increasing number of communities are made up of residents from divergent cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds. Though diversity brings the potential for deeper social capital,…
When asked to describe his style, Sir David Adjaye OBE had six words in reply: “I don’t do tasteful and elegant.” Indeed, for the past two decades, Adjaye Associates has…
What do cities’ metal spikes, studded window sills, and uncomfortably-shaped seats have in common? By controlling for behaviors like loitering, these elements target the homeless and impoverished—in other words, those…
As humanity has progressed through the centuries, it seems that we’ve been drawing further and further into man-made civilizations. Today, the growing emphasis on sustainability presents a new development: innovators…
From the earliest civilizations, humans have cultivated a sense of community and culture through public spaces. In ancient Greece, the Agora (literally meaning “assembly” or “gathering place”) was a geometric…
Social Movements in December of 2010, a Tunisian street vendor set himself on fire in front of a municipal office to protest the government. Aged 26, Mohamed Bouazizi had been…
Ranging from slanting benches to metal spikes, hostile architecture occurs when elements of the built environment are specifically designed to curtail “undesirable” use. Usually, the groups targeted by hostile architecture…
In the mid-20th century, a wave of concrete fortresses spread from Western Europe to the rest of the world. With their emphasis on imposing forms and raw materials, this style…
Looking back on her career, it’s hard not to equate the late Zaha Hadid with creative brilliance. As the first female Pritzker Prize winner, her portfolio is studded with cutting-edge…
In the 1800s, it was common to see Maisons Du Peuple, or “homes of the people,” throughout Europe. As countries industrialized, these buildings provided diverse communal functions for working-class citizens…
In mid-October, the Pritzker Prize-winning firm SANAA released new images for its expansion of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW). Since previous announcements in 2017, these renders depict…
