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It’s that time again. It is the time of year when the architects turn their attention from their Dec. 25th deadline to thoughts of Christmas. Here we are, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling glass storefronts in our offices, staring out at the rolling hills covered with snow, thinking of the innate hierarchy implied in the Santa/Elf relationship, and the pleasing use ... Read More
6 months ago

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More from Coffee with an Architect

If movies were about Architecture

“Apocalypse Now”: an architect goes grossly over budget. Another architect is sent out to find him and value-engineer the project, in the jungle, during a war. “It’s a wonderful life”: An architect mishandles his finances. Jumps off a bridge. Is saved by his guardian angel / building inspector and shown what the world would be like without his architecture. “The ... Read More

a year ago 87 votes
A simple description

The structural exploration reflects the dichotomy of the diametrically opposed forces creating intrinsic tension within the interstitial forms which have been bifurcated and articulated throughout the design exploration phases resulting from the pedological rigor employed throughout the process and within the contextual visualizations of the urban fabric and the liminal spaces between which have been juxtaposed with while simultaneously creating ... Read More

a year ago 105 votes
Design explained using venn diagrams

Design is hard. If only the process could be explained using simple venn diagrams. Unfortunately, this isn’t that: More Design in charts – HERE, and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE

a year ago 104 votes
Design explained using pie charts again

Design is hard. If only the process could be explained using simple pie charts again. Unfortunately, this still isn’t that: More Design in charts – HERE, and HERE and HERE and HERE

a year ago 103 votes

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These Apartments Are Like Sculptures You Can Live In

In the heart of Brighton, Melbourne, Wood Marsh has delivered a fresh take on coastal living with Esplanade Brighton, a medium-density housing project that’s bold in form but deeply respectful of its surroundings. Set across a former brownfield site, the development includes 24 townhouses and 11 apartments spread over four distinct buildings, all woven into a lush native garden.

19 hours ago 1 votes
Andrés Duany and Others on the Legacy of Léon Krier

With tributes from Witold Rybczynski, Gerhard W. Mayer, James Howard Kuntsler, and Jeff Speck.

21 hours ago 1 votes
These 4 Homes Are a Cat’s Dream Come True

As pet-friendly design evolves, more homeowners are asking architects and interior designers to consider the needs of their cats, not just as pets, but as part of the family. From built-in walkways to custom furniture, these four homes show how thoughtful design can create spaces where cats thrive and aesthetics remain intact. Whether it’s climbing, hiding, or simply observing from above, each project offers creative solutions for living stylishly with feline companions.

19 hours ago 1 votes
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3 days ago 3 votes
This Renovated 1960s Apartment Balances Vintage Charm and Modern Precision

Tucked inside a postwar building in Conca D’Oro, a northern neighborhood in Rome defined by dense urban growth and enduring mid-century structures, this apartment project by Italian studio 02A reveals what happens when renovation meets restraint. Housed in a 1960s brick-and-concrete building, the home retains its original layout while embracing a refreshed material language and nuanced spatial interventions.

4 days ago 5 votes