22 interconnected volumes redefine retirement living in shanghai’s joyful community

Joyful Community Redefines Retirement Living as an Urban Hub

Located in Fengcheng Town, Fengxian District, approximately 30 kilometers from central Shanghai, Joyful Community by GN Architects reimagines the typology of retirement living in China. Occupying 120,000 sqm on a former industrial site, the project transforms the area into a mixed-use urban hub integrating residential, medical, cultural, and recreational programs. Rather than creating an isolated senior community, the design positions the development as an inclusive environment for multiple generations, encouraging interaction between residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

Over the past decade, China has seen the rapid development of suburban retirement communities often characterized by social isolation and inward-facing layouts. Joyful Community responds to this trend by proposing a model of integration instead of separation. The design reframes senior living as part of a broader urban ecosystem, an accessible and open ‘village’ rather than a gated enclave. This shift was reflected even in naming: the project evolved from Joyful Community to Joyful Village, aligning with the operational concept of urban public service rather than community-based management. The architectural and planning approach emphasizes diversity and openness, encouraging flexible use and shared activity across different age groups.

all images by Liang Wenjun

GN Architects designs Elevated Pathways and Activity Loops

To foster connectivity, GN Architects studio employed an ‘inside–out’ spatial strategy. The community facilities are organized in a T-shaped configuration, extending toward the city while also penetrating the residential clusters within. This dual orientation maximizes both external visibility and internal accessibility, promoting interaction between public visitors and residents. The layout ensures that each residential cluster maintains independence while benefiting from shared amenities. Over time, the boundaries between ‘public’ and ‘private’ areas are designed to become more fluid, allowing parts of the site to gradually open to the wider community.

The masterplan integrates 22 independent architectural volumes, linked through a system of elevated and ground-level pathways. Three distinct circulation routes, an Activity Loop, Interest Loop, and Exploration Loop, connect these zones. Each loop serves as both a spatial connector and a social corridor, accommodating movement, recreation, and informal gathering. The Sports Complex at the main urban interface acts as a key public gateway. Transparent corridors span across its structures, creating the Activity Loop that visually and physically connects the facility. Within the central area, glass corridors and balcony bridges form a continuous elevated path among the 22 building clusters, while covered ground-level walkways weave through courtyards to form the Exploration Loop.

Joyful Community by GN Architects redefines the model of retirement living in China

Adaptive Spaces and Evolving Uses Define the Inclusive Urban Hub

Adaptability was a key objective of the design. The plan incorporates undefined and reprogrammable spaces across the site, including first-floor studios, transparent street-facing boxes, and wide corridors within the Sports Complex. These spaces are designed to accommodate a variety of future uses, such as cafés, workshops, or galleries, allowing the community to evolve through participation and reinterpretation. Recent updates demonstrate this flexibility: the nearby family farm has opened for community engagement, and upcoming exhibitions and artist residencies are planned within the library and studio spaces. This ongoing activation illustrates how Joyful Community continues to function as an open framework for collective use and renewal.

What began as an alternative to conventional ‘utopian’ senior housing has evolved into a prototype for inclusive urban living. Through open circulation, adaptive programming, and gradual integration with its context, Joyful Community blurs the boundaries between retirement residence and neighborhood center. The result is a development that accommodates aging while simultaneously contributing to the city’s social and spatial fabric.

the masterplan integrates residential, medical, cultural, and recreational functions

the planning approach emphasizes flexibility, diversity, and shared activity

transparent bridges and corridors connect the Sports Complex at the site’s entrance

the plan maximizes external visibility and internal accessibility across the site

an activity track expands on the roof of the Sports Complex

project info:

name: Joyful Community, Shanghai

architect: GN Architects

chief architects: Guan Yiqun, Shi Liang

design team: Cong Yanfei, Shi Zhenglei, Yuan Chengxiang, Yin Guilin

client: New Development Group

location: Fengxian District, Shanghai, China

photographer: Liang Wenjun

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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reflective aluminum evokes dynamic motion effects within manga studio in tokyo

Aluminum Ceiling animates Shueisha TOON FACTORY workspace

Located in Tokyo, Shueisha TOON FACTORY Office – Phase 2 is a creative workspace designed by GAMMA Architects for a company specializing in manga and WEBTOON production. The project expands the company’s existing office by transforming a full floor within a long, east-west-oriented building. The design responds to the specific needs of drawing, storyboarding, and editing work, prioritizing both functional efficiency and an environment that encourages creative focus.

The site presented two primary challenges: limited natural light from openings on only one side and a low ceiling height of approximately 2.2 meters. Rather than concealing these conditions, the design uses them as generative elements. The ceiling becomes the central feature, finished entirely in heat-resistant aluminum tape, an industrial material not typically used for interior applications. Approximately 20 kilometers of tape were hand-applied by craftsmen in a pattern that appears spontaneous yet maintains a subtle rhythm. The surface produces fluctuating reflections that shift with movement and lighting, evoking the dynamic lines and motion effects characteristic of manga backgrounds.

all images courtesy of GAMMA Architects

GAMMA Architects Translates Illustration into Architecture

This ceiling treatment turns light into a drawing medium, creating a spatial interpretation of the act of illustration. The irregular reflections and overlapping lines register as physical traces of the design process, an architectural translation of hand-drawn energy. In the waiting area, material experimentation continues through custom furniture. A sofa inspired by Le Corbusier’s LC2 model is reinterpreted using discarded weekly magazines as upholstery. The piping is wrapped in magazine covers, integrating the visual language of print media into the physical environment. Through these strategies, Studio GAMMA Architects transforms technical constraints into opportunities for material and conceptual expression. The result is a workspace that visualizes the essence of Shueisha TOON FACTORY’s creative practice, an office where drawing, reflection, and storytelling merge into spatial experience.

Shueisha TOON FACTORY Office – Phase 2 by GAMMA Architects in Tokyo

a creative workspace for manga and WEBTOON production

designed to support drawing, storyboarding, and editing workflows

the interior addresses limited daylight and a low ceiling height

ceiling design becomes a key architectural feature

reflections shift with movement, recalling the energy of manga motion lines

custom furniture extends the theme of material experimentation

a Le Corbusier–inspired sofa is upholstered with recycled weekly magazines

the design visualizes Shueisha TOON FACTORY’s creative process

project info:

name: Shueisha TOON FACTORY Office – Phase 2
architect: GAMMA Architects

location: Tokyo, Japan

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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polygonal green cutouts animate kakushin tokyo office’s interiors by moriyuki ochiai

Kakushin Office evokes an indoor forest canopy

Located in Tokyo, Japan, Resonance of Green / Kakushin Office by Moriyuki Ochiai Architects is an office and retail space designed for an automotive enterprise. The interior takes inspiration from the company’s signature hue of green, translating it into a spatial composition that evokes the atmosphere of a forest canopy. Throughout the space, polygonal forms in varying shades of green unfold across ceilings and walls. On the ceiling, layered geometric panels create a gradation reminiscent of overlapping leaves, while on the walls, textured green surfaces suggest new growth and movement. These elements introduce a dynamic visual rhythm, guiding perception and encouraging engagement within the workspace.

all images by Daisuke Shima

Moriyuki Ochiai sculpts a composition of geometric forms

Along the walls and counters, stratified materials reference the layers of earth beneath a forest floor, emphasizing texture and grounding the luminous forms above. The combination of these vertical and horizontal elements generates a dialogue between surface, color, and structure, linking the artificial environment to natural processes of growth and transformation.

The design by studio Moriyuki Ochiai Architects responds to natural light throughout the day and across seasons, allowing the green tones and layered materials to shift in appearance as illumination changes. This variability contributes to an atmosphere of openness and adaptability, reinforcing the workspace’s role as a setting for creativity and exchange. Through its use of color, geometry, and light, Resonance of Green establishes a sensory landscape that connects occupants to the idea of renewal and vitality. The result is a spatial composition where material expression and environmental responsiveness converge to shape an interior that embodies both nature and innovation.

Resonance of Green office brings the atmosphere of a forest canopy indoors

polygonal green forms unfold across the ceiling and walls

layered geometric panels create a gradation reminiscent of overlapping leaves

the design translates the company’s signature green into a spatial experience

textured wall surfaces evoke the movement and vitality of new growth

light and shadow interact across the faceted green ceiling panels

a contrast between luminous greens and grounded textures defines the interior

natural light shifts across the green geometries, changing their tone throughout the day

subtle variations in hue create depth and dimension within the workspace

ceilings and walls converge in a continuous play of texture and reflection

the interior evolves with daylight, enhancing a sense of openness and adaptability

project info:

name: Resonance of Green/Kakushin Office – A Forest Where Luminous Green Forms Resonate and Reverberate

architect: Moriyuki Ochiai Architects | @moriyukiochiai

design team: Moriyuki Ochiai, Jun Ueda, Homa Mahmodi, Theo Todd

constructor: Kakushin Group

special paint: Osamu Yamaguchi

lighting: Endo Lighting

client: Kakushin Group

location: Tokyo, Japan

photographer: Daisuke Shima | @daisuke_shima_photography

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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wiki world’s timber treehouse cluster hides among metasequoia forest in china

Treehouses as Companions to Birds in Wiki World’s Forest Retreat

Merryda Wiki World – Secret Camp is a forest retreat developed by United Investment Merryda Hotel Management Group in collaboration with Wiki World, located on Cihui Street in Dongxihu District, Wuhan. Set within a metasequoia forest frequented by migratory birds, the project features over a dozen treehouses positioned carefully among the trees. Designed as part of Wiki World’s Wiki Building School initiative, the project explores new forms of habitation that engage directly with the natural environment.

Inspired by local birds, seeds, and natural forms, the design seeks to integrate the treehouses into their surroundings. Each structure, named Time Machine, Nomadic Land, Playground, Daydreamer, Red Windmill, and Unicorn, interprets elements of the forest ecosystem through form and material. All existing trees were preserved, and the cabins are built on fully elevated prefabricated timber structures to minimize site disturbance. The ground remains unpaved, maintaining the forest’s natural ecology. The project includes participatory features such as Letters from Birds and the Evolution of Birds exhibition, encouraging visitors to engage with the forest environment and learn about local species. A small birdhouse-making activity further connects users to the theme of coexistence between humans and wildlife.

all images by Arch-Exist

Wiki World’s cabin Cluster Blends Art, Architecture, and Ecology

Each treehouse presents a unique spatial and conceptual response to the forest context. Nomadic Land translates the idea of temporary settlement into a compact, self-contained dwelling. Time Machine, finished in reflective silver, introduces a futuristic contrast to the natural setting. Playground recalls childhood imagination through playful circulation and interaction with the trees. Daydream uses mirrored metal cladding to reflect the forest, blending the structure into its surroundings. Red Windmill employs a vibrant red palette, standing out as a visual marker within the canopy. Unicorn features a vertical loft form, clad in silver panels that reference mythical symbolism. Together, these structures form a network of elevated dwellings that reinterpret the idea of living among trees through material and spatial experimentation.

The retreat, conceived by Hubei-based firm Wiki World, functions as both an accommodation site and an open forest art gallery. Temporary installations, exhibitions, and workshops are hosted throughout the year, emphasizing collaborative creation and environmental awareness. The Forest Reception serves as a hub for creative projects and eco-friendly design experiments, including the production of bird-inspired objects and natural material studies. The project also hosts the Wiki Building School Sino-French Construction Festival, which invites participants to explore sustainable construction and the concept of small-scale living in natural environments.

Prefabricated Timber Cabins Embrace Minimal, Low-Impact Living

In line with Wiki World’s philosophy of ‘Build Small, Dream Big,’ the design promotes a minimalist approach to habitation. Each cabin focuses on the relationship between human behavior and the surrounding environment, redefining comfort through proximity to nature. By minimizing scale, the architecture encourages sensory engagement.

All structures employ glued laminated timber systems, digitally modeled for precision and fully prefabricated for on-site assembly. The 2-meter-wide home concept reflects a flexible, modular approach to domestic space, allowing variation without compromising efficiency. Facades are clad in hand-fired carbonized wood panels, providing durability and a natural finish. Each cabin is elevated, avoiding ground contact and artificial landscaping. The modular timber components are connected through small metal joints, enabling disassembly and reuse. This approach ensures minimal impact on the existing forest ecosystem and supports Wiki World’s commitment to sustainable, low-impact building practices.

project info:

name: Merryda Wiki World-Secret Camp

architect: Wiki World
design team: Mu Wei, Feng Zhaoxian, Wu Baorong, He Wen, Xu Xiaodong, Liao Xiaotian, Wang Yuanying, Chen Liang

location: Wuhan, China

photographer: Arch-Exist | @archexist

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farshid moussavi shapes houston’s luminous ismaili centre with perforated screens

A new cultural center for Houston

A luminous new building has opened as a dedicated space for the Ismaili Muslim community in Houston, Texas. Designed by London-based studio Farshid Moussavi Architecture, the 150,000-square-foot Ismaili Centre is the first in the United States and the seventh in a global network of architecturally significant institutions located in London, Lisbon, Dubai, Dushanbe, Vancouver, and Toronto.

The center is located near Houston’s Museum District and engages with its surroundings through a measured composition of stone, perforated metal, and glass. The design, developed in partnership with AKT II (structure) and DLR Group (architect and engineer of record), reflects the Ismaili community’s long tradition of building spaces that embody learning and cultural exchange.

the Ismaili Centre will be a new civic landmark for Houston, Texas | image © Iwan Baan

Farshid Moussavi’s luminous structure

The architecture of Farshid Moussavi’s Ismaili Centre is defined by its balance of openness and enclosure. At its center is a five-story atrium, framed by stepped staircases in textured stone and wrapped in geometric perforations that diffuse daylight across interior surfaces. The upper volumes are clad in delicately patterned metal screens, creating a soft interplay between solid and void that shifts with the sun’s movement.

From the exterior, the design team sculpts a composition which reads as a series of interlocking planes — horizontal eivans extending outward to form shaded terraces and verandas, a recurring motif in Persian and Islamic architecture. These transitional spaces, lined with slender columns, temper the Houston sun while framing long views across the nine-acre landscape designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz.

Farshid Moussavi designs the first Ismaili Centre in the United States

light geometries of perforated screens

Farshid Moussavi curates a material palette to emphasize tactile precision throughout its Ismaili Centre. Pale limestone masonry grounds the building, its rhythm broken by areas of subtle relief. The upper screens introduce a lighter register which evoke the fine geometric order characteristic of Islamic architectural ornament. Inside, the surfaces shift between smooth stone, finely grained wood, and perforated metal panels, establishing a continuity between the sacred and the civic spaces within.

Light enters through clerestory openings and skylights, filtering downward through layered planes. This controlled luminosity animates the central atrium — a generous, processional space that serves as both circulation and gathering zone, where shifting daylight brings the geometry to life.

slender columns line shaded verandas that extend the building into the surrounding gardens

Beyond its architectural qualities, the Ismaili Centre Houston is conceived as a public institution. The program includes an exhibition gallery, black box theatre, educational rooms, café, banquet halls, and a prayer hall. These spaces will host cultural, intellectual, and community-oriented events, and will expand the center’s role beyond worship to include gathering and shared learning.

Farshid Moussavi describes the project as embodying ‘His Highness the Aga Khan’s vision of a space that welcomes all, fostering dialogue, learning, and cultural exchange.’ The design’s openness, both physical and social, encapsulates that intention, and uses architecture as a medium for connection rather than separation.

geometric perforations and patterned metal screens define the building’s luminous surfaces

Set within nine acres of gardens, the complex is framed by carefully choreographed plantings that reinterpret Islamic garden traditions through a Texan lens. Nelson Byrd Woltz’s landscape integrates native species and water features to create a calm, restorative environment. Reflecting pools extend from the main facade, reinforcing symmetry and emphasizing the building’s quiet monumentality.

The Center’s proximity to Houston’s cultural institutions — the Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, Asia Society Texas, and the Museum of Fine Arts — places it within a broader dialogue of civic architecture. Its measured form, rooted in Islamic geometry yet contemporary in execution, offers a new architectural landmark for the city — one that speaks through proportion, craft, and light.

stone and metal surfaces balance weight and delicacy across the center’s interlocking forms

upper screens evoke the fine geometric order characteristic of Islamic architectural ornament

project info:

name: Ismaili Centre

architect: Farshid Moussavi Architecture | @farshidmoussavi

location: Houston, Texas

architect and engineer of record: DLR Group

structure: AKT II

landscape: Nelson Byrd Woltz | @nelsonbyrdwoltz

visualizations: courtesy the Ismaili Centre

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fran silvestre restores limestone farmhouse in spain as off-grid home and workspace

fran silvestre arquitectos renovates farmhouse in girona, spain

In the heart of Canet d’Adri, Girona, Fran Silvestre Arquitectos breathes new life into an abandoned farmhouse, transforming it into Mas Cadalt, a contemporary rural dwelling where British designer Terence Woodgate and his partner Paula Woodgate continue their London-based work, surrounded by the Catalan countryside.

The Spanish farmhouse preserves the traditional construction system typical of the Empordà region, using irregular limestone masonry bonded with lime mortar, reinforced at the corners and openings with finely cut ashlar blocks. After repairing and reconstructing the original walls, the architects introduced a cork-based insulation layer for improved thermal performance. Inside, a new white skin enhances brightness and conceals mechanical and electrical systems, while limestone flooring creates a consistent material palette throughout the home.

all images by Fernando Guerra

Mas Cadalt is a home and studio for Terence Woodgate

The project questions whether a way of life can be restored with the same precision used to recover an ancient object. Fran Silvestre Arquitectos’ response begins with understanding the site’s essence, its materials, and the stories embedded in its walls. The Valencia-based architects maintain the original volume and typology of the farmhouse, while spatial transformations remain minimal and deliberate. Each existing space finds new life within a specific part of the updated program. The kitchen occupies the triple height of the old tower, the living room opens toward views of the Sierra de la Cadalt, and the lower level, once reserved for livestock, is reinterpreted as a flexible multipurpose area. An adjacent outbuilding, once used for farm tools, has been repurposed into a garage with an upper-floor studio, where Terence Woodgate designs his furniture and lighting collections.

Mas Cadalt is fully self-sufficient, equipped with photovoltaic panels, batteries, and an autonomous water system supplied by custom-designed cisterns, one of which has been transformed into a pool. The surrounding six hectares of land, partially cultivated, produce food for the inhabitants. The architects describe the renovation process as one shaped by patience and humility, restoring the damaged pieces and adding only what was missing.

Mas Cadalt’s restored limestone facades in Canet d’Adri, Girona

the house opens to views of the Sierra de la Cadalt

a repurposed water cistern now forms a compact pool framed by limestone paving

this cluster of stone volumes nestled in the Catalan countryside

limestone masonry and traditional roof tiles maintain continuity with the local vernacular

interior spaces balance warmth and precision

the living area features a long dining table

minimalist interiors combine limestone floors with custom furniture

the former livestock level is reinterpreted as a lounge area

the ensemble of restored volumes blend with the surrounding mountain terrain

a self-sufficient residence, equipped with photovoltaic panels

reach existing space finds new life within a specific part of the updated program

the team maintains the original volume and typology of the farmhouse

Mas Cadalt glows softly within the wooded slopes of Girona

project info:

name: Mas Cadalt

architect: Fran Silvestre Arquitectos | @fransilvestrearquitectos

location: Canet d’Adri, Girona, Spain

built area: 385 square meters

plot area: 675,746 square meters

principal in charge: Fran Silvestre

project team: María Masià, Susana León

collaborating architects: Pablo Camarasa, Ricardo Candela, Estefania Soriano, Carlos Lucas, Sevak Asatrián, Javi Herrero, Facundo Castro, Anna Alfanjarín, Laura Bueno, Toni Cremades, Susana León, David Cirocchi, Neus Roso, Nuria Doménech, Andrea Raga, Olga Martín, Víctor González, Pepe Llop, Alberto Bianchi, Andrea Blasco, Laura Palacio, Carlos Perez, Jovita Cortijo, Claudia Escorcia, Diana Murcia, Olga Fernández, Daniel Fenollosa, Andrés Jiménez, Álvaro Navarro, Diana Chilingaryan, Maria Barberá, Roberto Marañón

interior design: Alfaro Hofmann

developers: Terence Woodgate | @terencewoodgate.studio and Paula Woodgate

technical architect: Xavier Baldrich

structural engineer: Windmill Structural Consultants

construction: Construccions Costa Burch S.L.

photographer: Fernando Guerra | @fernandogguerra

video: Jesús Orrico | @jesusorrico

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herzog & de meuron-restored breuer building opens as sotheby’s HQ in new york

marcel breuer’s brutalist icon reopens in new york

An icon of Brutalist architecture in New York, the Breuer Building reopens this week as the new global headquarters of Sotheby’s. The Marcel Breuer-designed museum has stood at 945 Madison Avenue since 1966, and has since been home to the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Frick. Its latest transformation by Herzog & de Meuron marks the continuation of its public legacy. designboom attended a preview of the renovated building to learn about the project from the Sotheby’s team and architect Wim Walschap, Senior Partner at Herzog & de Meuron.

‘This building is an example of postwar modernism and Brutalism with a very distinct beauty,’ says Walschap. ‘It was designed specifically for public use. It has endured as an icon and much-loved landmark in New York, proving also its timeless appeal.

‘Our goal was to preserve the building’s integrity, its purpose, and legacy, while preparing it for a dynamic new use that puts art at the center.’

the Marcel Breuer-designed museum has stood at 945 Madison Avenue since 1966. image © designboom

herzog & de meuron’s sensitive renovation

The Breuer Building”s adaptive reuse for Sotheby‘s, undertaken by Herzog & de Meuron with New York–based PBDW Architects, is approached with respect for its legacy as a New York icon. The architects retain the weight and texture of Marcel Breuer’s bush-hammered concrete, which continues to express itself as both surface and structure. Along Madison Avenue, a subtle lighting scheme renews the facade’s sculptural presence after dark.

Inside, the reconfiguration restores the original gallery sequences conceived for the Whitney Museum while equipping them for Sotheby’s program of exhibitions, auctions, and events. Office partitions have been removed to reestablish spatial continuity, while updated environmental systems and new lighting calibrate the galleries for both fine art and design objects.

‘We worked closely with Sotheby’s to ensure that the building does more than just retain its identity,’ Walschap explains. ‘We’ve tried to reactivate it and prepare it for the next generation of use, balancing preservation and transformation.’

Sotheby’s Breuer building lobby. image © designboom

new galleries for sotheby’s global headquarters

The new galleries for Sotheby’s Global HQ at the Breuer Building in New York open with exhibitions drawn from The Leonard A. Lauder Collection, The Cindy and Jay Pritzker Collection, and Exquisite Corpus, a major private collection of Surrealist art. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Crowns (Peso Neto) (1981) and Maurizio Cattelan’s America (2016) also feature among the inaugural displays. These shows remain free and open to the public, extending Breuer’s original vision of accessibility.

‘The opening of Sotheby’s at the Breuer is a historic moment for New York City, the art world, and our company,’ says Steve Wrightson, Sotheby’s Global Head of Real Estate, Facilities & Security. ‘The Breuer building, deeply woven into the architectural landmarks and history of New York, perfectly complements our portfolio of marquee locations in Hong Kong, Paris, London, and Zurich.’

Sotheby’s third-floor Breuer galleries, featuring works from the Modern Evening Auction, highlighted by Dorothea Tanning’s ‘Interior with Sudden Joy’, Frida Kahlo’s ‘El sueño (La cama)’, and Victor Brauner’s ‘Maison hantée’ [left to right]. photography by Stefan Ruiz, courtesy Sotheby’s

Herzog & de Meuron’s intervention works largely through precision rather than addition. The rhythm of exposed concrete, dark granite floors, and carefully proportioned window openings remains central to the experience. The gallery ceilings are stripped back to their original profiles, and support new track lighting systems that adjust between exhibition and salesroom use. On the second floor, a flexible hall now accommodates talks and events.

A restaurant designed by Roman and Williams will open in the spring, completing the building’s reactivation. ‘Those who knew it in earlier incarnations will be moved by how we’ve reimagined 945 Madison Avenue,’ says Lisa Dennison, Sotheby’s Executive Vice President and Chairman, Americas. ‘Breuer’s design, with its remarkable ability to embrace many styles and eras of art, is especially meaningful for Sotheby’s.’

The Cindy and Jay Pritzker Collection. image © designboom

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Crowns (Peso Neto) (1981). image © designboom

The Leonard A. Lauder Collection. image © designboom

project info:

name: Breuer Building

original architect: Marcel Breuer (1966)

renovation architect: Herzog & de Meuron | @herzogdemeuron

executive architect & preservation: Platt Byard Dovell White Architects (PBDW) | @pbdwarchitects

location: 945 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, USA

site area: 1,200 square meters (12,916 sqft)

gross floor area (GFA): 7,268 square meters (78,232 sqft)

previous coverage: August 2025

client: Sotheby’s | @sothebys

design team: Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Wim Walschap (Partner in Charge), Philip Schmerbeck (Associate, Project Director), Jackie Bae (Associate, Project Manager), Bethany Herrmann (Project Designer), Farhad Ahmad, Marija Brdarski, Javier de Cárdenas Canomanuel, Sebastian Frowein, Nathan Mehl, Melodie Sanchez

structural engineering: Silman Structural Solution / TYLin

MEPFP engineering: AMA Group USA

lighting design: Tillotson Design Associates

AV & low voltage consulting: TMT Technology

acoustic consulting: Eligator Acoustics Associates

geotechnical consulting: Langan Engineering and Environmental Services

vertical transportation: DTM Inc.

life safety: Homes Keogh Associates

code consulting: Gillman Consulting Inc.

waterproofing & special inspections: Socotec Engineering, Inc.

contractor: J.T. Magen

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interplay of brick and concrete gives shape to three vaults in ahmedabad residence

Ahmedabad Residence Defined by Three Vaults

Located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, at the end of a mango tree-lined street, Teen Vaults is a residence defined by its interplay of brick, concrete, and light. Originally conceived by Vaissnavi Shukl as a weekend home with a pool and pavilion, the project evolved into a full-time residence for a family of four. The house is organized around three parallel exposed RCC vaults, each serving a distinct function: one accommodates the kitchen and dining area, another contains the formal living space, and the third houses a study and reading lounge. This tripartite structure establishes a clear architectural order while creating varied spatial experiences.

The design emphasizes material honesty through the use of exposed brick load-bearing walls and raw concrete vaults. These are complemented by off-white terrazzo floors from Bharat Floorings that extend throughout the interiors, introducing a subtle visual continuity. Custom solid teak furniture and brass accents add warmth and tactility. Building services, including HVAC and lighting, are intentionally left exposed, integrated into the architectural expression rather than concealed.

all images courtesy of Vaissnavi Shukl

Teen vaults, crafted in brick and concrete

At the center of the layout lies a courtyard planted with frangipani and tulsi, providing natural ventilation and a visual pause within the plan. A folded concrete staircase with reclaimed teak treads and a wooden-bead railing connects the two levels. The upper floor contains the bedrooms, designed for privacy and quiet retreat. Lighting and art are carefully integrated into the spatial composition. Two light installations by Radhika Sanghvi animate the double-height living and dining areas, while Olie sconces highlight the textured brick surfaces. Handwoven dhurries from Enii Living and serigraphs by Esther David further contribute to the home’s crafted interior environment.

Through the articulation of vaults, material expression, and open spatial planning, Teen Vaults demonstrates an approach that balances architectural clarity with domestic functionality. The residence, designed by architect Vaissnavi Shukl, reflects a dialogue between structure and comfort, where design choices support everyday living while maintaining a strong formal and material identity.

a nandi statue nestled amongst the dense plantation signals one towards the entrance courtyard

a stone pathway surrounded by spider lily planters with mango and frangipani trees leads to the entrance

the open courtyard marks the ceremonious entry into the house

the central spine of the house is a long walkway that stretches from the eastern to the western end

light installations animate the double-height spaces

the staircase railing provides safety, but also creates a fun ornamental partition

custom solid teak furniture and brass accents add warmth and texture

off-white terrazzo floors unify the interior spaces

bedrooms offer privacy and quiet retreat, opening toward the garden

handwoven dhurries and artworks enrich the material palette

project info:

name: Teen Vaults
architect: Vaissnavi Shukl | @vaissnavishukl

location: Ahmedabad, India

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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grid of operable windows fronts slender residence by okuwada architects in osaka

Okuwada Architects completes narrow residence in osaka

House in Abeno by Okuwada Architects is situated on a narrow 45.2-square-meter site in Osaka, adjacent to a bustling shopping arcade. The two-story wooden residence feels open and connected to the city through its grid of full-height windows and terraces.

Given the site’s width of only 2.73 meters, the architects avoid enclosing the home with solid walls that would make it feel smaller; instead, they prioritize large windows with a facade composed of stacked aluminum-framed openings that capture fragments of the surrounding houses, the street across the road, and the arcade beyond. The living room on the second floor features a wall of glass that opens the home to the sounds and atmosphere of the neighborhood: the calls of the greengrocer and the background music of the arcade.

all images by Keijiro Yamada

the House in Abeno connects with a local shopping arcade

The Osaka-based Okuwada Architects draws on Osaka’s tradition of community-run shopping arcades, which are collectively maintained and cleaned by local residents. Positioned beside one such arcade, House in Abeno enables its owners to take part in this collaborative upkeep. Two terraces on the upper floors connect the home to the arcade roof, allowing residents to step directly onto it to assist with maintenance. ‘I hope that this house will transcend boundaries and connect architecturally with the arcade and neighboring residences, becoming a presence that embraces the city,’ lead architect Ken Okuwada explains. If similar houses were to multiply, the arcade roof could evolve into a continuous pedestrian ‘aerial road’ that extends the city’s social fabric above ground level. The first-floor approach is paved in the same asphalt as the road, creating a welcoming threshold and suggesting that the home belongs as much to its surroundings as it does to its inhabitants.

The building achieves openness through two load-bearing walls that are placed along the 45-degree corners of the site, distributing forces diagonally in both directions and eliminating the need for bracing across the glazed southern facade. A slanted wall on the third floor, formed by the diagonal road line, acts as a structural support while maintaining a comfortable ceiling height.

House in Abeno by Okuwada Architects is situated on a narrow 45.2-square-meter site in Osaka

the two-story wooden residence feels open through its grid of full-height windows and terraces

a facade composed of stacked aluminum-framed openings

the residence is connected to a bustling shopping arcade

capturing fragments of the surrounding neighborhood

the living room on the second floor features a wall of glass

opening the home to the sounds and atmosphere of the neighborhood

the building achieves openness through two load-bearing walls

two terraces on the upper floors connect the home to the arcade

if similar houses were to multiply, the arcade roof could evolve into a continuous pedestrian ‘aerial road’

load-bearing walls eliminate the need for bracing across the glazed southern facade

the home belongs as much to its surroundings as it does to its inhabitants

project info:

name: House in Abeno

architect: Okuwada Architects | @okuwada_architects

location: Abeno Ward, Osaka, Japan

design team: Ken Okuwada, Yuji Aoki

construction: Katayama Architects

photographer: Keijiro Yamada

The post grid of operable windows fronts slender residence by okuwada architects in osaka appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

rammed-earth residence unfolds around central planted courtyard on mexico’s coast

Rammed Earth and Concrete Shape Coastal Home by JVL Architects

Located in Cabo del Este, Baja California Sur, Mexico, Casa del Este by JVL Architects is a fully off-grid residence designed for a North American family. The project combines rammed earth, concrete, and oak to create a durable and context-responsive dwelling that aligns with the region’s arid climate and natural landscape.

Designed as both a retreat and a permanent residence, the house accommodates up to twelve occupants across a main volume and an independent guest casita. The program includes three en-suite bedrooms, social areas, a shaded terrace, a pool and jacuzzi, outdoor cooking and dining spaces, and a three-car garage. The spatial organization prioritizes sea views and wind protection, while ensuring safe and accessible areas for children. Access is defined by a blind wall that preserves privacy and frames a gradual approach to the main entrance through rammed-earth walls and a brick threshold. A central courtyard forms the heart of the house, referencing traditional Mexican architecture. Surrounded by a concrete pergola, the courtyard allows filtered light and natural ventilation while maintaining openness during hurricane season. A torote tree occupies the center, enclosed by endemic vegetation and an earthen floor that reinforces the building’s material identity.

From the courtyard, a sequence of interior and exterior spaces opens toward the terrace, infinity pool, and the Pacific Ocean, located 40 meters away. The social spaces connect directly to the exterior, creating a visual and spatial continuity from the interior to the sea. Bedrooms are arranged to preserve direct views and privacy, with two on each level. The guest casita sits apart, opening onto a private courtyard enclosed by rammed-earth walls. The terrace integrates key outdoor amenities, including a barbecue and bar, firepit, pool, and jacuzzi. A concrete staircase, finished in polished cement and fine sand, extends toward the beach, completing the spatial progression from the house to the shoreline.

all images by César Bejar

Casa del Este Integrates Material Honesty and Structural Clarity

The material palette combines rammed earth, exposed concrete, clay, marble, and oak. Concrete surfaces retain visible formwork textures, producing a horizontal grain that complements the earth walls’ tactile character. The interior design by Mariana Cabrera maintains visual consistency through custom-made furniture, textiles, and finishes emphasizing texture, durability, and material coherence. Sustainability and autonomy are central to the project. Casa del Este operates entirely off-grid through a solar power system. Water is delivered by tanker and treated on-site through a three-tank filtration and storage system, supplying both domestic and irrigation needs. Native plant species, such as agave, ocotillo, torote, and cardón, were selected for the landscape to minimize water use and integrate the building into its environment.

Structurally, the house was designed to maintain the visual continuity of its rammed-earth walls. Columns are integrated within the wall thickness wherever possible to preserve material consistency and avoid visual interruption. At the double-height social area, two 10.5-meter-long window axes open toward the courtyard and terrace, supported by discreet 50×50 cm columns aligned with the architectural grid. The reinforcement structure was modeled in 3D to ensure precision and clarity between concept and construction.

Casa del Este reflects studio JVL Architects’ continued focus on site-specific design and material expression. The project establishes a dialogue between vernacular techniques and modern construction, using rammed earth not only as structure and enclosure but as a means to connect architecture with landscape and climate.

Casa del Este by JVL Architects is located on the coast of Cabo del Este, Baja California Sur

rammed earth, concrete, and oak define the project’s material palette

a central courtyard organizes the home, referencing traditional Mexican architecture

the house was designed to respond to the region’s arid climate and coastal landscape

the sequence of spaces connects the courtyard, terrace, pool, and ocean beyond

the water system filters and recycles resources for domestic and irrigation use

bedrooms are oriented toward the sea, ensuring uninterrupted coastal views

the guest casita opens onto a private courtyard enclosed by rammed-earth walls

the material palette combines rammed earth, exposed concrete, clay, marble, and oak

the interior features custom furniture and natural textiles

project info:

name: Casa del Este

architects: JVL Arquitectos | @jvlarq

location: Baja California, Mexico

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post rammed-earth residence unfolds around central planted courtyard on mexico’s coast appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.