In urban areas, is it better to clear land for new developments or add to what’s already there? While constructing on greenfield sites is associated with lower initial costs, it often results in the loss of green spaces and endanger biodiversity in cities. In contrast, densifying urban centres can support a better quality of life […]
Read More… from Infill with impact: Architectural additions that enrich urban spaces
“We cannot turn back time, but we can grow forests, revive water sources and bring back soil” was a key message for this year’s World Environment Day on 5 June, calling for attention to the topics of land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. The underlying ‘thread’ of all three themes is the importance of water […]
Read More… from Drought resilience is highlighted for World Environment Day 2024
What distinguishes architecture that is made for the private and public realms? One aspect could be the degree of privacy that is afforded to each user by way of thresholds. But to Riken Yamamoto, who has been bestowed the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the traditional notions of freedom and privacy should be deconstructed while rejecting […]
Shaping a more sustainable built environment is a process that takes place over many years. As architects and designers—which make up FuturArc‘s contributors, interviewees and collaborators—we understand the importance of time in realising projects, as well as the importance of taking a pause to learn from what we have created. Looking back at the myriad […]
Read More… from A look back at FuturArc’s stories and happenings in 2023
There is a paradox of housing provision, where many properties stand empty within inaccessible areas while at the same time people are facing a global housing crisis. In urban areas, the urgent need for housing is often met by constructing collective homes—but in the attempt to build faster, many factors such as community and liveability […]
Read More… from Making collective urban housing more liveable
The ocean covers 70 per cent of our planet and represents over 95 per cent of the biosphere. It also produces at least half of the planet’s oxygen while absorbing around 30 per cent of carbon dioxide, making it a key ‘carbon sink’ in buffering the impacts of climate change. Despite humanity’s utter reliance on […]
Read More… from The necessity of safeguarding ocean ecosystems: World Oceans Day 2023
Initially patented as an alternative to tree-based materials, and with the intent to reduce deforestation, plastic bags and other types of single-use plastic has grown to cause problems for the environment due to their widespread use and lack of recycling management in many places. The production of plastic is among the world’s most energy-intensive manufacturing […]
Read More… from World Environment Day 2023: Solutions to Plastic Pollution
From all the print and online stories FuturArc published this year, which were most popular? Which ones struck a chord with our readers? And what can we learn to face increasing climate and planetary challenges in the years ahead? Over Instagram votes and taking into account the view counts of each post, here’s a wrap […]
Read More… from A look back at 2022: Readers’ favourites & most-viewed stories
Before the proliferation of air-conditioners (ACs), a main task of architecture was to create enclosures that befit its specific climate. In tropical regions, this translated to wide openings that invite breeze, coupled with overhanging roofs that could shelter against hot sun and rain; subtropical climates relied on thick walls that could keep out the cold […]
Read More… from Can we cool buildings without overheating the planet?
Nowadays, the title of an architect could refer to separate professions with physical and digital counterparts—architects are traditionally practitioners that deal with the physical built environment, but the same title has grown to be used by those crafting networks in information technology (IT), data systems or software. As the divide between physical and virtual environments […]
Read More… from Architectural practice in Web 3.0: What is the true ‘cost’?
In the aviation industry, animals have a connotation of danger and disruption. Wildlife that strays into airport territory could cause delays with a ripple effect on flight schedules—along with the larger risk of machine damage. However, Nature’s creatures and winged machinery may not be as adverse as many would imagine. In fact, they have long […]
Read More… from Animals are aiding airport operations: Bee quality officers, falcon patrols and more
In densely built-up urban areas, it is possible—and increasingly affordable—for high-rise buildings to generate renewable energy through photovoltaic cells and wind turbines. But to properly balance supply with demand, the energy needs to be stored in batteries, which are still high in cost. Researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) have come […]
Read More… from Could high-rise lifts and empty flats be turned into batteries?
