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Critics often dismiss traditional or historicizing architecture as mere “Disneyland” — a fake, nostalgic fantasy out of step with modern life. But millions visit Disney’s Main Street every year, drawn to something they rarely find in real cities: beautiful, human-scaled streets that feel alive. This article examines why this longing is genuine and why our... The post I’d rather live in a nostalgic Disneyland than a modernist wasteland appeared first on The Architectural Uprising.
2 weeks ago

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More from The Architectural Uprising

Press release: Is this the ugliest building in America?

Architects and Urbanists Unveil 2025’s ‘Ugliest Buildings in America’ Ignominious winners to be ‘dishonored’ at the International ‘Aesthetic Atrocity’ Awards this May (New York, NY) An international panel of architects and urbanists has determined that Simmons Hall at MIT is winner of the 2025 Aesthetic Atrocity Award.  The dishonorable title will be awarded to the... The post Press release: Is this the ugliest building in America? appeared first on The Architectural Uprising.

2 months ago 39 votes
Why the World Needs Beautiful Architecture Again

Modern cities often feel soulless—a monotony of glass, steel, and concrete boxes. What happened to buildings that inspire awe? Architecture used to reflect identity, culture, and meaning. Today, it’s become a global uniform—a style that looks the same whether you’re in New York, Beijing, or Milan. But the tide is shifting, and the potential for... The post Why the World Needs Beautiful Architecture Again appeared first on The Architectural Uprising.

4 months ago 46 votes
How Germany’s Most Beautiful City Was Destroyed… and Rebuilt

Dresden, a stunning city in Germany, was nearly wiped out during World War II when it was bombed, leaving only ruins behind. But its story didn’t end there—this is a tale of how Dresden came back to life, and rose from the ashes like a phoenix. Before the war, Dresden was known as the “Jewel... The post How Germany’s Most Beautiful City Was Destroyed… and Rebuilt appeared first on The Architectural Uprising.

5 months ago 43 votes
The Classic Planning Herald International: A Window into the Global New Traditional Architecture Movement

The Classic Planning Herald International is a new quarterly magazine from the Classic Planning Institute. The project offers insights into what is happening in the New Traditional Architecture community and aims to challenge the modernist dogma. In this article, Michelle Sofge will tell us more about the Herald’s mission, its open approach to partnerships, and... The post The Classic Planning Herald International: A Window into the Global New Traditional Architecture Movement appeared first on The Architectural Uprising.

6 months ago 89 votes

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This Artist’s Treehouse Is Changing How We See Tiny Homes

In an episode from Tiny House Giant Journey, a YouTube channel dedicated to unique home tours, host Jenna visits the Black Crane Treehouse, a striking, mid century-inspired retreat perched in the treetops above Mission Lake in Washington State. Designed as an artist residency, this small but highly intentional space blends architecture, craftsmanship, and nature into one unforgettable experience.

10 hours ago 1 votes
Reading List 07/05/2025

A microscopic electric motor, California’s CEQA rollback, a US shipbuilding startup, Chinese map obfuscation, and more.

2 days ago 5 votes
This 1970s Home Gets a Family-Friendly Makeover

In Calgary’s quiet residential landscape, a dated 1970s bungalow has been thoughtfully transformed into a warm, family-first home by Mera Studio Architects. With just 1,700 square feet, the design embraces curves, storage solutions, and playful moments, proving that even modest footprints can feel elevated, functional, and full of life. The clients, a young family, were already design-aligned with the studio through previous collaborations, and this shared language led to a renovation that balances minimalism with charm.

3 days ago 4 votes
The Irony of Nigeria’s Resilient Democracy and Growing Legacy of Urban Tyranny

Planning policies reflect a deep disdain for the poor, prioritizing elite aesthetics over social equity.

5 days ago 5 votes
Open Borders

A border is an idea so powerful that we never even have to see it to believe it. Or believe in it. Global borders can be sites of peace and conflict, violence and celebration, opportunity and confinement. And borders as they exist today – which is to say, increasingly militarized and clearly defined – are

6 days ago 9 votes