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?
Dar es Salaam—a city whose name translates to “house of peace”—is the largest urban area in Tanzania and is reportedly the second-fastest growing city in the world. It is home to 6 million citizens, most of whom have immigrated from rural areas in the country, with the population projected to double by 2030. However, 80 […]
Read More… from Building an affordable Green residential complex in Tanzania
In line with our ongoing student competition FuturArc Prize (FAP) 2022: Reinterpretation, we are highlighting projects that follow the theme. Submit your entries by 25 February 2022 and win cash prizes for the best proposals! In recent years, effects from the COVID-19 health crisis has snowballed into a supply chain disruption around the world. In […]
Read More… from Built to last: Crafting new uses from discarded containers
In line with our ongoing student competition FuturArc Prize (FAP) 2022: Reinterpretation, we are highlighting projects that follow the theme. Submit your entries by 25 February 2022! An important tenet of sustainability is to make good use of what already exists. This means reusing existing buildings instead of demolishing them (which is energy-intensive and emits […]
Read More… from Ways to upcycle water and waste in buildings
Each December, FuturArc wraps up with a Year-End Issue that reflects on current efforts in sustainability, articulates the learnings from the past and points to what we can focus on in the future. For the online edition of FuturArc, we often report on events and projects that underline Green discussions in the moment. In case […]
