kong xiangwei studio’s flying bird art gallery frames the rolling tea gardens of china

Dali Wuliangshan Flying Bird Art Gallery

The Dali Wuliangshan Flying Bird Art Gallery, designed by Kong Xiangwei Studio, is located on Phoenix Mountain in Yunnan, China. Set within the northern foothills of the Wuliang Mountain National Nature Reserve, the gallery and observatory emerges at an elevation of 2,300 meters (7,545 feet) in a landscape known for its canyon terrain, warm air currents, and role as a vital migratory corridor for birds across East Asia.

The mountain has long hosted one of China’s most significant bird banding research sites. Over twenty-five years, more than 67,000 birds from 304 species have been tagged, building a detailed ecological archive of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This deep history of observation forms the cultural and ecological foundation for the new gallery.

Phoenix Mountain is also blanketed by an 87-hectare organic tea plantation, where terraces of greenery stretch across rolling slopes. Within this cultivated landscape, smart feeding stations and bird-watching hides already create a careful dialogue between humans and migratory life.

images © Kong Xiangwei Studio, Archi-Translator Photography

a light-touch intervention by Kong Xiangwei Studio

The project by Kong Xiangwei Studio arises within a courtyard complex that includes guesthouses and a single-story café. To establish a cultural center for the complex, the existing café was chosen as the base for the gallery. Its foundations allowed Kong Xiangwei Studio to insert a new architectural element while maintaining minimal impact on the existing structures.

The design adopts a principle of ‘light-touch intervention.’ A lightweight steel structure was placed above the original café, creating a new second floor. Its form, resembling outstretched wings, is immediately legible in the landscape. The sharply pointed apex and open span convey a sense of suspension, as though the building itself were caught mid-flight within the valley. This approach transforms the gallery into both a functional cultural space and a sculptural landmark.

Kong Xiangwei Studio built the gallery above an existing café within a courtyard complex

inviting the tea gardens in

The ground floor of Kong Xiangwei Studio’s art gallery retains the café, while the upper level functions as the exhibition space. Here, transparency defines the architecture: expansive glazing dissolves boundaries, allowing the tea gardens, forests, and distant valleys to flow into the room. Photographs of migratory birds are displayed on freestanding walls, positioned so that visitors glimpse living birds in flight beyond the glass as they view the still images inside.

The central spatial feature is the pointed apex, supported by the steel frame and recessed to dramatic depth. It frames the valley in a single sweeping view, immersing visitors in the landscape. In sunlight, the white structure channels light into the gallery, while in fog, it softens into a diffused vessel of mist.

the lightweight steel structure resembles wings suspended over the valley

transparent glazing draws views of tea gardens and distant mountains into the interior

photographs of migratory birds are displayed on freestanding walls inside the gallery

the soaring pointed apex frames the valley and channels shifting light conditions

project info:

name: Dali Wuliangshan Flying Bird Art Gallery

architect: Kong Xiangwei Studio

location: Fenghuangshan Tea Village, Bixi Township, Nanjian County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan, China

designers: Kong Xiangwei, Cui Jun, Gao Zhuojian
photography: © Kong Xiangwei Studio, © Archi-Translator Photography | @archi_translator

The post kong xiangwei studio’s flying bird art gallery frames the rolling tea gardens of china appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

formant studio layers brutalist and industrial textures at marne café in mexico city

a raw immersive interior at marne café

Tucked into the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City, FORMANT Studio’s Marne Café brings together architecture, gastronomy, and tactile design. The café and bakery take a timeless approach to contemporary space-making — grounded in high-quality, locally sourced products and a strong material sensibility. Inside, a raw yet composed brutalist palette defines the atmosphere.

Exposed concrete and metal structures, dark wood, and pared-back industrial lighting form the backbone of the interior, while accents of color in the upholstery and wall-mounted artworks offset the otherwise neutral environment. Photographs framed in metal add to the layered visual language, and suspended ceiling speakers infuse the space with a carefully curated soundscape, reinforcing the immersive atmosphere.

all images courtesy of FORMANT Studio

formant studio ….

Spanning 130 square meters, Marne Café is loosely divided into two zones, with the first a restaurant and counter space that opens onto the street, and tucked further inside, a wine bar tucked. Despite their different uses, both areas are stitched together by a consistent material and spatial language. All furnishings — tables, stools, chairs, lighting, and even the service counter — were custom-designed by Mexico City-based FORMANT Studio to reflect the project’s functional needs and aesthetic restraint. The layout follows a subtle logic that allows guests to flow easily through the space, sit briefly, or stay longer depending on the rhythm of their visit.

Marne Café brings together architecture, gastronomy, and tactile design

a raw yet composed brutalist palette defines the atmosphere

tucked into the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City

characterized by locally sourced products and a strong material sensibility

exposed concrete meets metal structures

engulfing dark wood and pared-back industrial lighting enhance the ambiance

the café is loosely divided into two zones

all furnishings were custom-designed by FORMANT Studio

transitioning between open and more intimate spaces

photographs framed in metal add to the layered visual language

industrial lighting finishes

project info:

name: Marne Café
architect: FORMANT Studio | @formant.studio

location: Mexico City

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

The post formant studio layers brutalist and industrial textures at marne café in mexico city appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

cristian nanzer’s house on el dragón rises from cyclopean stone base in argentina

house on el dragón: a dwelling perched on a hill

The House on El Dragón by Estudio Cristian Nanzer is located in the Punilla Valley of Córdoba, Argentina, near Cerro El Dragón between the towns of La Falda and Huerta Grande. The setting is defined by semi-arid mountain terrain, where steep foothills mark the transition between the valley and the Sierras Chicas. From its elevated plateau, the home takes full advantage of the panoramic views, aligning its orientation toward the northwest.

The topography plays a decisive role in how the dwelling is positioned. Set on the highest point of the plot, it commands the landscape while maintaining a measured relationship with its immediate surroundings. The stone and concrete architecture is guided by both the physical conditions of the site and the expansive horizon beyond.

images © Gonzalo Viramonte

a concrete house on a Cyclopean stone base

The team at Estudio Cristian Nanzer organizes its House on El Dragón across two levels with a linear layout. The ground floor is conceived as a solid plinth built from cyclopean concrete walls. These heavy, stone-filled walls hold the more functional spaces: guest rooms, a workshop, service areas, and the garage. From here, the main entrance also connects to a terrace that extends outward, linking this grounded base to the surrounding terrain.

This first level establishes a sense of permanence. The thick walls both anchor the house and echo the geological formations of the region, creating a tactile dialogue between construction and site.

House on El Dragón is set on a plateau in Córdoba’s Punilla Valley

cristian nanzer’s precise and durable architecture

Above the stone base, the upper floor of Estudio Cristian Nanzer’s House on El Dragón is defined by an exposed concrete frame. Organized around a modular grid, the structure makes legible the hierarchy of spaces. Six-meter spans accommodate the open living and social areas, while the three-meter modules define the private rooms. A large entrance hall separates these two zones and frames views to the south as one enters from the main access.

Cantilevered slabs extend the upper volume outward, forming galleries around the perimeter on every side except the southern facade. Here, the linear circulation runs along the length of the house, buffered by a suspended partition that filters light and punctuates the wall with three large openings. These framed views act as controlled apertures, allowing the southern corridor to register the movement of daylight overhead while maintaining its protective enclosure.

the ground floor is built of cyclopean stone concrete walls

the upper floor is an exposed concrete structure supported by a modular grid

six-meter spans define the social areas while private zones use three meter modules

stone and concrete unify the material palette throughout the project

project info:

name: House on Cerro El Dragón

architect: Estudio Cristian Nanzer | @cristian.nanzer

location: Punilla Valley, Córdoba, Argentina

area: 530 square meters

completion: 2022

photography: Gonzalo Viramonte | @gonzaloviramonte

lead architect: Cristian Lanzer

technical direction: Cristián Nanzer, Ricardo Tesoreiro
collaborators: Lourdes Cuadro, Juan Dimuro
structural engineer: Edgar Morán
construction management: Ricardo Tesoreiro
builder: Juan Pacheco
electrical installations: Gabriel Canelo
carpentry: Urbantek Company / urbantek.com.ar

The post cristian nanzer’s house on el dragón rises from cyclopean stone base in argentina appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

rural housing prototype in india by project terra grows with time and family needs

Project Terra proposes prototype for rural housing in india

House of Nostalgia by Rutvi Patel and Jay Patel of Project Terra offers a case study in how rural housing in India might evolve in response to changing needs. The 100-square-meter home functions as a modular prototype, exploring how local materials, phased construction, and traditional spatial arrangements can support rural communities facing demographic and environmental transitions.

Located in a small village in Gujarat, the house is composed of three separate modules, each approximately 40 square meters, that reflect different construction methods and uses. One module features a sloped tiled roof and mezzanine level, another is capped with a flat reinforced concrete slab, and the third incorporates a bamboo-reinforced slab for service areas. Together, these modules accommodate shifting patterns in rural domestic life, including smaller family units, aging residents, and the common practice of incremental building over time. The total cost is kept relatively low, with each module constructed for around ₹7 lakhs (~$8,300 USD), allowing for financial flexibility and future expansion.

Project Terra presents a prototype for rural housing | all images by The Space Tracing Company

House of Nostalgia relies on passive strategies for ventilation

Avoiding cement entirely, the Vadodara-based team at Project Terra builds the structure on a dry stone foundation, with lime mortar and lime plaster used throughout. Locally made brick and bamboo contribute to structural integrity while keeping embodied energy low. The architects also eliminate the need for mechanical ventilation or cooling systems. Instead, the house relies on passive strategies through its thick, breathable walls, shaded outdoor spaces, and orientation. For instance, the east-facing veranda receives morning sunlight, while the south-facing facade is protected by a teak grove that regulates solar exposure throughout the day.

The layout connects the three volumes through a central 20-square-meter module that opens to courtyards on both east and west sides. These transitional spaces echo older village homes where outdoor areas formed an essential part of daily routines. Materials and details are drawn from regional construction practices, such as brick jalis for ventilation and corbelled chhajjas for shade and rain protection. Lime-plastered terracotta steps in the courtyard also reflect local customs, doubling as informal seating.

While House of Nostalgia draws from familiar spatial elements, it doesn’t attempt to replicate a traditional home. It presents a modular system that acknowledges the evolving realities of village life, economic precarity, climate adaptation, and intergenerational shifts, while maintaining continuity with place-based construction knowledge.

the south-facing facade reduces heat gain

the east-facing veranda, opening from the central module, basks in the morning sun

corbelled overhangs provide weather protection for the windows

playful terracotta lime-plastered steps double as seating

module A with 350 mm thick walls and a sloped roof brings light and air inside

the living space opens to the farm

module C is connected to the east by a door and the west by a window

the central module connects the two larger ones

these modules accommodate shifting patterns in rural domestic life

project info:

name: House of Nostalgia
architect: Project Terra | @project.terra_
lead architects: Rutvi Patel, Jay Patel

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

The post rural housing prototype in india by project terra grows with time and family needs appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Eclipse Atlas Is a Searchable Archive Capturing the Alluring Phenomenon Through the Ages

Anyone who’s donned protective glasses and spent hours camped outside with eyes toward the sky knows the strange, life-changing experience of witnessing a solar eclipse. The lunar equivalents are intriguing, too, and have fascinated people around the world for millennia.

A new archive collects maps, illustrations, and newspaper clippings documenting this alluring phenomenon from 1654 to the present day. Eclipse Atlas is a veritable trove, particularly the section cataloging ephemera from across the globe. There are 17th-century diagrams depicting the phases of totality, early photographs chronicling the events, and vivid advertisements prodding people to hop on the train so they don’t miss “the thrill of a lifetime!”

In addition to historical documents, Eclipse Atlas also shares footage from recent events and offers insight into how to best view those coming in the next few years.

See some of our favorite finds below, and explore for yourself on the project website. (via Kottke)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Eclipse Atlas Is a Searchable Archive Capturing the Alluring Phenomenon Through the Ages appeared first on Colossal.

new photographs show MAD’s fenix museum of migration come alive in rotterdam

fenix Museum of migration in Motion

The Fenix Museum of Migration by MAD has now been open in Rotterdam for several months, establishing itself as an iconic civic landmark along the city’s industrial waterfront. Rising above the historic port district, the museum occupies a restored warehouse once tied to the flow of migrants who departed from Rotterdam for destinations across the world. Now, with newly captured images months after its opening in May 2025, the project can be understood as not just a renovation, but as an active and lived-in landmark shaped by visitors’ reflections and spiraling movement.

‘Everything is in motion — people, time, light, the sea,’ says Ma Yansong. ‘This building invites us to rethink moments of arrival and departure, and to reflect on the reasons we set out in the first place.’ That sense of continuity between past and present is what connects the sculptural building to its cultural and urban context. Before the museum opened to the public, the architects documented their design process through a film titled ‘Ma Yansong: Journey to Design the Fenix Tornado’ — watch it here!

the Fenix Museum of Migration is sited in Rotterdam’s historic port district | image © Hufton + Crow

a spiraling monument for convergence in rotterdam

At the heart of the Fenix Museum of Migration in Rotterdam, MAD’s tornado-shaped staircase has emerged as the defining element. Two spirals rise independently, crossing and separating before joining at platforms that overlook the coastal Dutch city.

The team at MAD compares the project to similar occupiable monuments such as Heatherwick Studio’s now-iconic Vessel or the Little Island along New York’s Hudson River: ‘These projects, like the tornado, operate at a similar scale and share a strong commitment to experiential design.’

‘But where Vessel is often described as an Escher-like stair maze or built for spectacle, and Little Island as a floating garden for urban escape, the tornado in Fenix takes a different approach. It is less about retreat or display and more about convergence.

a ‘tornado’ staircase forms the centerpiece of the museum | image © Iwan Baan

mad’s Tornado Staircase as Civic Space

MAD’s Ma Yansong describes the Fenix Museum’s configuration as ‘random yet precise,’ a system designed for fluid movement that creates chance encounters. The result lends a choreography of visitors’ movements, as the layout organizes spontaneous interactions and encourages both individual reflection and collective experience as visitors ascend the spiraling structure.

The adaptive reuse of the museum’s warehouse preserves the industrial shell, a memory of the surrounding neighborhood. This warehouse had been restored by Bureau Polderman, while MAD introduced interventions to alter its historic atmosphere. The opening of the central roof floods the interior with daylight to animate both the preserved concrete structure and the new stainless-steel spiral.

‘The shaping and shifting of global politics, geography, culture, and art are largely rooted in these migrations,’ Ma explains. ‘We hope this museum not only commemorates the past or tells stories of hardship, but more importantly, reveals hope and courage — offering inspiration for people today and in the future to look ahead.’

the spirals rise independently before meeting at shared platforms | image © Arch-Exist

Structurally, the spiraling staircase demonstrates a high level of engineering innovation. Measuring 550 meters in length and rising thirty meters high, it cantilevers outward up to seventeen meters at certain points, achieved through a spatial truss system developed with roller coaster specialists. Its reflective cladding, shaped with CNC technology, captures shifting skies, waterfront activity, and the movement of passersby.

The experience of climbing the stairs is never fixed. Perspectives shift with each step, encounters take place at the landings, and the view culminates in the rooftop platform where the city and river unfold as a broad horizon. The architects describe it as both a journey and a gathering place, where movement is transformed into architecture.

Inside, the collection includes historical artifacts and contemporary commissions, presented in an open plan that encourages visitors to move fluidly between past and present. Wim Pijbes, President of the Droom en Daad Foundation, emphasizes this universality: ‘At some point in life, people make the decision — whether due to war, poverty, faith, or other reasons — to pack everything they own into one or two suitcases and start over on the other side of the world. What we must do is understand those emotions and give them form.’

the reflective stainless steel surface mirrors light and movement | image © Arch-Exist

the restored warehouse structure contrasts with the new intervention | image © Hufton + Crow

visitors ascend thirty meters to a rooftop platform overlooking Rotterdam | image © Hufton + Crow

project info:

name: Fenix Museum of Migration | @Fenix

architect: MAD | @madarchitects

location: Rotterdam, Netherlands

previous coverage: November 2018, November 2020, January 2025, May 2025

photography: © Arch-Exist, © Hufton + Crow, © Iwan Baan

The post new photographs show MAD’s fenix museum of migration come alive in rotterdam appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

asymmetric roof tops prefabricated holiday home by team v architecture on dutch island

TEAM V architecture completes Simmerhûs Island Home

On the Dutch island of Terschelling, Team V Architecture has completed Simmerhûs, a prefabricated holiday home that maintains a custom, site-specific character. Despite being constructed from a standardized, off-site timber-frame, which was transported on just three lorries and assembled on-site within three days, the house uses its playfully asymmetrical roof to blend prefabrication and sustainable construction with a home that is intimately connected to its surroundings. Eight solar panels, colour-matched to the ceramic roof tiles, are discreetly integrated into the roof, giving the house an A++ energy label.

‘Nothing is standard in this home,’ says Do Janne Vermeulen, co-founder and director of Team V Architecture.

Team V Architecture completes Simmerhûs on the Dutch island of Terschelling | all images ©Ossip van Duivenbode

ASYMMETRIC ROOF FOR PLAYFUL EFFECT

The compact 75m² holiday home by Team V Architecture Studio is defined by its subtle, yet striking asymmetry, leading to a highly efficient structure. The roof, made of large, flat, rust-colored ceramic tiles, each hand-glazed by Royal Tichelaar, is unexpectedly rotated by five degrees in relation to the floor plan. This playful effect continues throughout the interior, which balances functionality with a serene, minimalist Japanese aesthetic. Finished with wild pine veneer and ash, the interior design by Kranen/Gille offers varied sightlines and creative perspectives of the home.

the compact 75m² home is constructed from prefabricated timber frames

PREFABRICATED TIMBER CONSTRUCTION WITH HIGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Built by contractor Vreeker B.V., the home combines timber construction with full insulation, triple-glazed windows, solar panels with power storage, a heat pump, and a rainwater system that supplies purified water to both house and garden. On the church-facing side, the gutter line runs parallel to the ridge, creating a varying overhang, while on the opposite side it diverges, producing a sloping roof edge.

Commissioned by Dutch cultural entrepreneur Anne van der Zwaag, the home is furnished with art and design from her own collection and serves as a unique getaway available for vacation rentals. Located in a culturally and historically sensitive area, Simmerhûs respects its surroundings through its modest size, closed street-facing façade, and natural tones. From design to construction, the local community was actively involved, transforming the house into a living part of Terschelling’s social and ecological landscape. The community continues to care for the home and its garden, reinforcing its role as a shared, sustainable, and site-specific asset.

Kranen/Gille designed the custom interior, blending clean lines and minimalist Japanese influences

walls and furniture is finished with wild pine veneer and ash

the interior is custom-built by Vreeker B.V.

eight solar panels, colour-matched to the ceramic roof tiles

the roof itself is made of large, flat, rust-coloured ceramic tiles, each hand-glazed by Royal Tichelaar

its Douglas fir cladding, charred and brushed using the ancient Shou Sugi Ban technique by Zwarthout

the roof tiles, which subtly shift color with changing light, reflecting the church’s grey tones

Simmerhûs reinterprets local barn typologies with dark wood and brown-red gabled roofs

project info:

name: Simmerhûs Island Home
designer: Team V Architecture | @team.v.architecture

interior designer: Kranen/Gille | @kranengille
commissioner: Anne van der Zwaag
contractor: Vreeker B.V.
roof tiles: Royal Tichelaar
location: Terschelling, Netherlands

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lisa kostyra | designboom

The post asymmetric roof tops prefabricated holiday home by team v architecture on dutch island appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

jgstudio transforms public bathroom into undulating concrete installation in ecuador

Umbral installation transforms an existing bathroom in Quito

Umbral is a site-specific intervention in Quito, Ecuador, by JGStudio Arquitectura, commissioned by Boonker and Rinnova as part of a temporary architecture exhibition. The project involves the transformation of an existing bathroom into an immersive spatial installation, realized within a one-week construction period.

The design investigates the dual nature of concrete as both fluid and structural. Custom prefabricated concrete elements are used to explore this transitional state, capturing the moment in which the material shifts from motion to solidity. This quality becomes central to the spatial experience, shaping both interior and exterior elements of the intervention.

all images by JAG Studio

JGStudio Arquitectura explores concrete’s fluid-to-solid form

Umbral installation is composed of three zones, each drawing conceptual reference from planetary environments. The first, Earth, is a green space where vegetation emerges through concrete modules, introducing organic contrast to the rigid material system. Mars is defined by red-toned surfaces that emphasize temperature, contrast, and intensity through chromatic treatment. Saturn features soft whites and beige hues, evoking spatial clarity and a sense of expansion through lighter material finishes.

The design team at JGStudio Arquitectura reconfigures the original bathroom to prioritize spatial perception and sensory engagement. Functionality is reduced to its minimal expression in favor of an environment that encourages observation, pause, and material interaction.

site-specific installation Umbral transforms an existing bathroom in Quito

custom concrete elements shape both the interior and exterior spaces

the project explores concrete’s fluid-to-solid transformation

prefabricated blocks highlight the material’s transitional nature

vegetation emerges through modular concrete units

the intervention was commissioned for a temporary architecture exhibition

organic and architectural elements intersect in the green space

the project features light-colored finishes and a calm material palette

the original bathroom is reimagined as a contemplative space

concrete is treated as both structure and sensory medium

light and shadow animate the surfaces throughout the space

white and beige tones create spatial expansion

each zone references a planetary environment to shape atmosphere

project info:

name: Umbral

architects: JGStudio Arquitectura | @jgstudioec
lead architects: Javier Gallardo, Stephany Soria

location: Quito, Ecuador

construction team: Boonker and Rinnova
photographer: JAG Studio | @jag_studio
videographer: Nicolas Arturo

The post jgstudio transforms public bathroom into undulating concrete installation in ecuador appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

M:OFA brings gaudí and renaissance inspiration to india with fonte d’amore courtyard

fonte d’amore: architecture as a ‘love letter’

The Fonte D’Amore courtyard in New Delhi by Manifestation of Fluid Architecture (M:OFA) is a 645-square-foot transformation of an overlooked interior atrium into a sculptural core of the home. With its design led by principal architect Manish Gulati, the stone space fuses craft and technology into a deeply personal architectural gesture.

Conceived as a wedding gift from husband to wife, the courtyard draws on two shared influences: a proposal at Rome’s Trevi Fountain and the couple’s admiration for Antoni Gaudí’s fantastical forms in Barcelona. Its name, Fonte D’Amore — Italian for ‘Fountain of Love’ — sets the tone for an environment whose structure is informed by memory.

images © Ekansh Goel

undulating stone by M:OFA

At the base of the courtyard, the architects at M:OFA employ symmetry to ground its Fonte D’Amore in Renaissance logic, while above, its form dissolves into undulating stone surfaces. Over three levels, the geometry shifts from order to expression, a sculptural volume that links the home’s vertical axis. Balconies overlook the fountain and oculi pierce the ceiling, pulling daylight through the space in shifting patterns.

The daily rhythm of light becomes choreography. Morning sun filters across the fountain through the eastern skylight, midday light washes the walls evenly, and evening brings golden tones grazing a mural wall. At night, backlighting illuminates the water and allows the stone and water to dynamically merge.

Fonte D’Amore transforms a forgotten courtyard into the sculptural heart of the home

parametric design in new dehli

Fonte D’Amore is designed by M:OFA to be experienced beyond the visual. Jasmine creepers climb the green walls, filling the courtyard with fragrance, while tiered planters across the terraces add softness to the stone structure. Air and water interact: breezes drawn through the oculi mix with fine mist from the fountain, creating a microclimate that cools Delhi’s heat.

Behind the fluid skin lies a rigorously engineered framework. A parametric steel grid shell, composed of straightened segments for ease of fabrication, supports the courtyard’s organic surfaces. The stone cladding was realized through full-scale clay prototypes scanned for accuracy, along with CNC-milled formwork.

Lighting, electrical systems, plumbing, and structural loads are concealed within the shell. Every curve was digitally coordinated, balancing the appearance of effortless flow with technical integration. Acoustic qualities, water movement, and air circulation were modeled through rapid 3D-printed iterations to ensure comfort and function alongside sculptural form.

its geometry draws inspiration from the Trevi Fountain and Antoni Gaudí

the courtyard was designed by Manish Gulati of M:OFA as a wedding gift

jasmine creepers and tiered planters infuse fragrance and greenery

the dome acts as both crown and conduit for air light and water

project info:

name: Fonte D’Amore

architect: Manifestation of Fluid Architecture (M:OFA) | @mofa_studio

location: New Delhi, India

principal designer: Manish Gulati

area: 645 square feet

photography: © Ekansh Goel | @ekansh_goel

The post M:OFA brings gaudí and renaissance inspiration to india with fonte d’amore courtyard appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

a-fact architecture factory plans riverfront museum district for podgorica, montenegro

a New Museum and park for Montenegro

A new Museum District and Park of Arts & Culture in Podgorica, Montenegro is set to transform the city’s relationship with its riverfront. Designed by Milan- and London-based a-fact architecture factory, in collaboration with LAND, Maffeis Engineering, and Charcoalblue, the competition-winning project will consolidate cultural institutions within a landscape that strengthens the link between the city and the Morača River.

The masterplan brings together the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Natural History Museum, and the House of Architecture. These institutions are arranged within a public park that doubles as civic terrain, extending cultural life beyond enclosed galleries. Programs include permanent and temporary exhibition halls, research facilities, educational laboratories, and social spaces, all of which flow outward into terraces, a botanical garden, and a flexible plaza for events.

The layout establishes a porous boundary between indoors and outdoors, ensuring that exhibitions, gatherings, and everyday encounters unfold across both architectural and landscaped settings. This approach positions the district as a civic hub as much as a museum destination.

two monumental volumes frame a new public landscape | images © EmmeWorks

monolithic design by a-fact architecture factory

Three sculptural volumes designed by a-fact architecture factory will emerge from the riverbank museum masterplan of Podgorica, Montenegro. Their boulder-like massing is conceived as a continuation of the topography. Designed by the team to be clad in stone, the buildings recall the mountains that surround Montenegro while introducing a precise and contemporary architectural language. The material strategy ties the complex to its geographical setting while projecting an image of cultural renewal for Podgorica.

Inside, circulation is organized to encourage fluid movement between galleries and shared spaces. The design anticipates varied programming, allowing institutions to function independently or converge for larger cultural events.

a green roof merging with the landscape overlooks the riverwalk

green roofs project over Podgorica riverbank

One of the defining elements of the museum masterplan is its treatment of the roofscape. The excavated ground is returned in the form of planted, accessible roofs that merge with the landscape and extend public space upwards. These green surfaces enrich biodiversity, create shaded outdoor meeting places, and offer elevated views across the river and city.

The surrounding park, developed by LAND, employs a blue-green infrastructure approach. It preserves 290 existing trees while introducing over 500 new ones alongside 900 shrubs, reinforcing ecological continuity. This strategy strengthens Podgorica’s biodiversity while providing shaded pedestrian routes and comfortable outdoor areas.

Environmental responsibility is integral to the project. Passive design methods minimize energy demand, while advanced engineering reduces heating, cooling, and water consumption. The use of local materials supports a low-carbon construction process, and the integration of vegetation enhances thermal comfort and resilience.

roof vegetation blurs the line between building and landscape, while fostering local biodiversity

between stone, light and water, the new museums create a fluid threshold between city and landscape

the museum interior becomes a stage for art and encounter, open to the sky and the landscape above

project info:

name: The new museum district and the park of arts & culture of Podgorica
architect: a-fact architecture factory | @afact_architecturefactory

location: Podgorica, Montenegro

client: Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State

landscape design: LAND Italia Structural and Facade

engineering: Maffeis Engineering

experience design: Charcoalblue

status: international competition, 1st Prize

completion: 2024

visualizations: © EmmeWorks | @emme.works

The post a-fact architecture factory plans riverfront museum district for podgorica, montenegro appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.