Architecture News

In the vibrant coastal town of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, a distinctive architectural endeavor, Amplitude Coliving, has taken shape. Conceived by the Mexican firm Estudio Zero, this apartment complex is a striking display of design, characterized by its pink-hued concrete and undulating arched motifs. These forms are not merely aesthetic; they draw inspiration from the organic flow of sound waves, embodying a dynamic interpretation of energy and communal living. The project reimagines shared residential spaces, blending private living with integrated common areas designed to cultivate spontaneous social interaction among its inhabitants.

Completed in 2025, Amplitude Coliving spans 390 square meters on a 315.5-square-meter plot within La Punta, an area renowned for its modest, independently built structures. Estudio Zero, headquartered in Querétaro, collaborated closely with the client to bring to life the concept of "amplitude." This vision extends beyond a mere physical dimension, encompassing the abstract notions of sound wave propagation and the escalation of energy intensity. The architects translated these fluid concepts into tangible architectural elements, evident in the building's facade where arches and columns elegantly ascend and taper, mirroring a waveform.

The design ethos extends to nurturing a sense of community, serving as a mutual language between the architects and their client. It transcends a simple form, representing a philosophy on how vitality and collective spirit permeate the structure. The complex is intelligently organized through a succession of courtyards, open corridors, and interconnected communal zones, meticulously crafted to facilitate various degrees of social engagement. A central courtyard acts as the social heart, featuring a swimming pool, a communal kitchen, and a dining area. This co-living arrangement allows residents to rent individual rooms while sharing these vibrant common spaces, fostering organic interactions rather than rigidly programmed encounters.

The architectural details reinforce the dynamic concept. Open balconies, adorned with scalloped railings, encircle the courtyard, leading to diverse apartment layouts. These include studios, larger units with private gardens, and impressive double-height loft units on the main facade's upper level, distinguished by unique roof vaults. The material palette resonates with the Oaxacan coastal environment, employing terracotta-pink, hand-applied stucco, board-formed concrete, and tropical hardwood for doors, window frames, and bespoke millwork. These warm, natural textures beautifully contrast with the diffused light filtered through glass blocks in the bedrooms and the delicate spiral steel staircases and cable railings, which lend a subtle nautical flair to the overall massing. The tapered, hourglass-shaped concrete columns, flaring to meet the balcony slabs, visually echo a waveform, integrating the structural language directly with the 'amplitude' concept. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that the building is perceived as a living entity in motion, rather than a static fixture.

Sustainability and climatic responsiveness are integral to Amplitude Coliving's design. Strategic openings, shaded open-air passageways, deep overhangs, and spatial porosity are engineered to maximize air circulation throughout the building. The substantial thermal mass provided by the concrete and stucco construction plays a crucial role in moderating internal temperature fluctuations, ensuring a comfortable indoor environment. Furthermore, the installation of solar panels coupled with battery storage guarantees operational continuity during the region's tropical weather events. This innovative project stands as a testament to thoughtful design, creating a harmonious balance between architectural expression, community building, and environmental responsibility, enriching the architectural landscape of Puerto Escondido.

In Riehen, Switzerland, the Fondation Beyeler museum has undergone a significant expansion, spearheaded by the renowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. This ambitious project introduces a collection of new structures deliberately designed to integrate harmoniously with the existing park environment. Zumthor's approach prioritizes a gentle assimilation of architecture into nature, ensuring the new additions feel like an organic extension of the landscape rather than stark interventions.

Situated within the verdant grounds surrounding the original Fondation Beyeler, which was conceived by Renzo Piano in 1997, the recent additions comprise three distinct buildings. These include an art gallery constructed from rammed concrete, a cultural venue encased in glass, and an office facility distinguished by its timber cladding. Rather than consolidating these various functions into a single monolithic structure, Zumthor's studio, Atelier Peter Zumthor, opted for a decentralized arrangement across the museum's expansive parkland. This thoughtful scattering of buildings facilitates a deeper integration with the natural surroundings, making each structure appear as if it has always been an intrinsic part of the site.

Zumthor articulated his design philosophy, expressing a desire for the new constructions to blend so effortlessly that their presence would feel inherently natural. He noted with satisfaction how visitors perceive these buildings as if they have always been there, a testament to his successful integration strategy. From an external perspective, the buildings gracefully complement the site's topography, while their interiors boast spacious, unconstrained volumes that exude expressive beauty without conforming to rigid formulas.

The Wyss Museum, a three-story edifice, features a distinctive Y-shaped floor plan meticulously crafted to circumvent existing trees, thereby preserving the park's natural arboreal landscape. Its exhibition spaces are endowed with expansive windows that offer captivating vistas of the surrounding foliage, blurring the lines between inside and outside. The museum's walls are fashioned from rammed concrete, enriched with Jura limestone aggregate, which imparts a warm, yellow hue to the facades. This local Jura limestone is also incorporated into the building's terrazzo flooring, as well as its solid stone staircase and seating elements, further grounding the structure in its regional context.

Adjacent to the Wyss Museum is the Ammann Pavilion, a single-story building envisioned as a communal lounge and a versatile venue for cultural gatherings. This includes a spectrum of events such as performances, lectures, and film screenings. Its walls, crafted from glass set within oak frames, immerse the interior in the surrounding park's ambiance. Cherry and pear wood surfaces introduce warmth to the internal spaces, which are characterized by stepped flooring that ingeniously doubles as auditorium seating, enhancing its adaptability for various events.

The Erlen Torhaus building houses art logistics facilities and administrative offices. An underground passage connects it to the existing museum, streamlining operations. The ground floor, dedicated to processing art deliveries, is elegantly clad in varnished oak, while the upper-level workspaces are distinguished by large windows that frame views of the park. As part of the broader expansion of Fondation Beyeler, Atelier Peter Zumthor collaborated with Vogt Landscape Architects to refine the park's landscaping. This collaboration included the strategic placement of outdoor artworks by celebrated artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Pierre Huyghe, Rachel Whiteread, and Fujiko Nakaya, further enriching the visitor experience.

Beyond Zumthor's new trio of buildings, existing structures within the museum complex have also undergone restoration and repurposing. The Orangerie building, for instance, was transformed by French architect India Mahdavi into a greenhouse complete with an adjoining shop for plant enthusiasts. This renovation unveiled the original timber roof structure and introduced subtle light-green accents, refreshing the space while honoring its history. Swiss firm Forsberg Architekten revitalized the museum's Ammann Atelier, converting it into art education and workshop areas, and also created a music listening lounge in the adjacent Salon room. The expanded Fondation Beyeler initially opened with limited visitation on September 26th, with a full public inauguration scheduled for January 15th, 2027.