It seems not one day goes by without the mention of global warming and the catastrophic effects it has unleased this year. In East Asia where I am based, this year has seen two typhoons, Yagi and Bebinca, batter Chinese coastal cities of Hainan and Shanghai respectively. The latter was even described in local media […]
A stupa describes a hemispherical and often truncated mound-like shape in traditional architecture, with one of the most popular examples in Indonesia being Borobudur Temple and its array of ‘perforated’ masonry.1 Similar ideas of a grand yet ‘airy’ structure informed this residential architecture in Tangerang’s sweltering climate, where the average maximum temperature is around 35 […]
The first quarter issue of 2025 of FuturArc aims to look deeper into Green, sustainable educational projects that may not be your regular classroom-type set-up or cookie-cutter schools. We hope to explore spaces that attempt to allow learners to discover knowledge in more hands-on, immersive settings that are not apart from Nature. As a prelude […]
Read More… from Ah Yone Oo, Irrawaddy Flower Garden and New Day School: Prelude to Next Issue
FEX events in major cities throughout the Indonesian archipelago serve to highlight and provide an avenue for knowledge-sharing amongst architects, designers and construction industry professionals who share a Green vision. Each session has been supported by various chapters of the Indonesian Institute of Architects (IAI), which allows for registered architects to receive credit points that […]
Read More… from FuturArc Exchange and Exhibitions (FEX) | 4Q 2024
Although it can be difficult to envision Earth’s temperatures before our lifetimes, climate proxy data1 over the past 2,000 years shows that we are living in a thermally unprecedented era. Over the past two centuries that correspond with industrialism, average global temperatures have been on an anomalous rise, to the point of surpassing the 1.5 […]
Read More… from In Conversation with Philippe Rahm: A Climate-first Approach to Architecture
Rammed earth is an ancient construction technique that has been gaining niche popularity in recent years, as environmentally conscious architects seek to design low-energy and resilient buildings amidst a warming climate. Principal architect Peeraya Suphasidh spoke of her inclination to revive this building method: “Although the technique was invented thousands of years ago, it has […]
Read More… from Chonburi Multi-purpose Building: Applying Rammed Earth Construction in Thailand
RESPONDING TO CLIMATE AND SITE Sri Lanka experiences both dry and wet weather conditions throughout the year. Bandaragama, which is located in the Western Province of the country, has a typical tropical climate. The architecture of Avinya Academy is designed with an open layout that promotes ample natural cross ventilation. Additionally, the large-span roof features […]
Singapore is one of the world’s most humid countries, with a mean annual relative humidity of 82 per cent and a daily variation ranging from 90 to 60 per cent from mornings to afternoons, frequently reaching 100 per cent during periods of heavy rain.1 This, combined with day temperatures that average up to 33 degrees […]
Read More… from SJ Campus: Cooling Through Passive and Active Design Elements
The city of San Juan is regarded as the geographical ‘heart’ of Metro Manila, the Philippines’s largest metropolitan area. This strategic city predominantly consists of residential areas, with the largest population group comprising 20–24 years old.1 Although there are numerous shopping centres that cater to this young demographic,2 they are largely closed-off, heavily air-conditioned outfits. […]
Read More… from The Corner House: An Indoor-outdoor Community Space with an Adaptable Envelope
“We turn towards Nature as our guiding force at Jamun Grove,” Amit Aurora and Rahul Bansal, Partners at groupDCA revealed how they designed their office. At first glance, the low-rise outfit looks like a cluster of cosy cottages, one that will not bring to mind a working environment. But who is to say how or […]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new campus at Nalanda University on June 19, 2024, near the ancient ruins of Rajgir, Bihar.1 Flourished over 1,600 years ago, it is one among the greatest centres of learning in the ancient world. Considered by historians to be the world’s first residential university, Nalanda operated from 427 CE […]
A Call to Return by Lakshmi Swaminathan offers a tender and reflective portrayal of the renowned architect Didi Contractor. The narrative unfolds in an intimate and vivid style, where Lakshmi gracefully assumes the role of a sutradhar1 or narrator, though she wisely steps back to allow Didi’s voice and thoughts to take centre stage. It […]
