This weekly review brings together important developments in architecture and urban planning, beginning with the United Nations' observance of the International Day of Peace. This event underscores the significance of creating environments that foster harmony, social stability, and human dignity. Against a global backdrop of increasing isolation and various crises, the articles collected emphasize architecture's role in promoting peace and coexistence through community-oriented and memory-rich spaces. A recurring theme is the adaptive reuse of existing structures to meet contemporary needs, a stark contrast to large-scale new constructions emerging in various global cities. The review also spotlights innovative projects across Dubai, Oxford, Portland, and Paris, featuring contributions from renowned international firms.
In Europe, a significant new initiative, "Right to Housing! Now and Forever," seeks signatures to advocate for affordable, sustainable, and equitable housing across the European Union. This movement prioritizes leveraging existing building stock and implementing robust financial and protective measures to ensure housing accessibility for all. Concurrently, in Chicago, Google revealed updated designs for the Thompson Center's revitalization, a landmark by Helmut Jahn. Developed in collaboration with Architecture Plus Information (A+I), now part of Perkins&Will, this project aims to prevent demolition and transform the center into a dynamic hub for work, culture, and community within the Loop. Meanwhile, the African Futures Institute in Accra, founded by Lesley Lokko, inaugurated its new headquarters by converting a former warehouse, thereby establishing a permanent venue for architectural education, research, exhibitions, and public engagement programs.
Globally, landmark architectural projects are progressing, encompassing eagerly anticipated openings and newly announced designs. In Los Angeles, MAD Architects' Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opened its doors to the public. Trinity College in Toronto saw the completion of the Lawson Centre for Sustainability by Mecanoo and RDHA. This marks the college's first new building since 1979, designed around a farm-to-table concept that integrates a rooftop urban farm, a communal kitchen, and student residences. In Spain, a consortium led by Sener, RSHP, and ERRE was chosen to design Valencia's new Central Station, an underground railway hub that includes the renovation of the historic Valencia Nord Station. Also in Spain, BIG unveiled Macondo Park in Madrid, a temporary cultural landscape designed for Shakira's residency, which is intended for deconstruction and reuse after the concerts.
The "Picasso 2030" architectural and landscape project, aimed at transforming the Musée national Picasso-Paris, has advanced to a new stage with the selection of five finalist teams. This initiative involves creating a new sculpture garden for Pablo Picasso, adding a contemporary wing for temporary exhibitions, and redesigning the ground floor and basement of the historic Hôtel Salé. The shortlisted teams include Antoine Dufour with Wagon Landscaping; Lina Ghotmeh with Pierre Antoine Gatier and Florence Mercier; NeM / Niney et Marca with RCR and Jacqueline Osty; Stanton Williams with Atelier PNG and Vogt; and Francesca Torzo with Dubrigny Architectes and Sarah Price Landscapes. The proposed garden will feature approximately ten of Picasso's bronze sculptures, blending elements of classical French gardens, Scandinavian landscapes, and climate-responsive design. The new exhibition wing will cater to the demands of an international museum while respecting its protected heritage context. The Hôtel Salé's public facilities will be reorganized to provide visitor services, educational spaces, and areas for events and screenings. The winning team is expected to be announced in January 2027.
Portland Parks & Recreation has selected three teams to proceed to the second phase of the design competition for Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The shortlisted teams are BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, with Jennifer Bonner / MALL; Studio Egret West, with West of West; and SWA Group, with PLACE and Thomas Phifer and Partners. Following an initial stage that received 50 submissions from over 150 firms globally, these three teams will now develop conceptual designs for the entire 30-acre park, with a particular focus on the Bowl area. The competition brief calls for improved river access, ecological restoration, and inclusive design, all while strengthening the park's role as a civic focal point and a year-round destination for Portland. Proposals will integrate existing features like the Japanese American Historical Plaza, mature cherry trees, and Salmon Street Springs Fountain, while reimagining underutilized spaces. The conceptual designs will be publicly exhibited in Portland and online in early 2027, with the winning team announced in spring 2027.
The new headquarters for Dubai Holding, a global investment company, is designed by SOM and will introduce a distinctive circular form to Dubai's skyline. Located near the Jumeirah Emirates Towers and the Museum of the Future, the building is envisioned as a connected workplace campus. Its radial floor plates are arranged around a series of garden terraces, with an open-air atrium running through the building's height, bringing natural light into the interior. The project, developed with an integrated architectural, structural, and interior design approach, features a compression-based lower structure and an upper structure suspended by steel cables, creating column-free central spaces and making the building appear to float above the landscape. The façade incorporates sculpted vertical glass fins calibrated for solar exposure, while gardens, sculpted landforms, and pedestrian walkways designed by Field Operations connect the headquarters to its surroundings. The project also emphasizes energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, elevated garden terraces, and outdoor workspaces.
Foster + Partners has unveiled the design for the Daubeny Buildings, part of the Ellison Institute of Technology's Oxford campus. This project involves three buildings that will house the Plant Biology Institute and the Generative Biology Institute. The design repurposes structures that were already under construction, retaining a significant portion of their existing superstructure while incorporating new elements to meet the institute's operational, scientific, and architectural needs. Two new atria link the three buildings, providing shared spaces for learning and interaction. The western atrium includes meeting rooms, seminar spaces, a café, and a 175-seat auditorium, while the eastern atrium features stepped terraces, collaborative workspaces, and a 250-seat auditorium. A rooftop greenhouse serves as a defining element for the Plant Biology Institute, highlighting its research focus. Flexible laboratories and support areas are organized to accommodate specialized research requirements, and the integration of retained structures with new connections creates a unified environment that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific research, and community engagement.
This week's architectural developments underscore a global movement towards innovative design, sustainable urban solutions, and the thoughtful integration of new and existing structures. From addressing housing crises in Europe to creating cultural landmarks and advanced research facilities worldwide, these projects highlight a commitment to building responsive and resilient communities.
