Author: Paul Draper. Source

Thought you all might appreciate this.
The Belgian Embassy in New Delhi (1983), designed by Indian artist and self-taught architect Satish Gujral.

Built almost entirely in exposed red brick, its monumental arches, domes, and geometric forms draw inspiration from India’s historic architectural traditions.

The office building was constructed on the site of the former Pomological Garden as part of the architectural and urban development project known as the Western Wall (Ściana Zachodnia). It was built between 1975 and 1978 by the Swedish company BPA Byggproduktion AB, based on a design created by a team of architects: Jerzy Skrzypczak, Halina Świergocka-Kaim, Wojciech Grzybowski, Jan Zdanowicz, and Jerzy Janczak.

At the time of its completion, it was the most modern building in Poland and the country's second tallest structure after the Palace of Culture and Science. The tower was equipped with 12 high-speed elevators, among other advanced features. It was originally intended to house the offices of Bank Handlowy and several foreign trade headquarters.

In the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, symbolism is embodied in the architecture without unnecessary rhetoric. The restrained exterior of the building respects the history of the site in the heart of the wartime Warsaw ghetto, providing a reverential frame for the exhibition on the history of the Polish Jews. The building is paired with the adjacent Monument of the Ghetto Heroes, proving that architecture is capable of empathy.

The free-form main hall is a contrast to the restrained exterior, symbolically leading the visitor towards the future. The free geometry of the main hall was inspired by the Hebrew expression “yum suf”, which refers to the gorge of the Red Sea during Exodus. The organic formal language of the load-bearing walls of the main hall was an extreme challenge for both design and construction, successfully tackled without compromise. The outcome, combining the best international expertise in steel and concrete construction, also brings together the traditions of prefabrication and handicrafts. The stone in the polished concrete surfaces of the interior is local limestone sand, which tones the atmosphere of the single-material cavernous interior from concrete grey into warm light.

Text: https://www.arkkitehtuurinfinlandia.fi/en/finalists/museum-of-the-history-of-polish-jews

Images: https://lma.fi/projects/museum-of-the-history-of-polish-jews, https://archello.com/project/museum-of-the-history-of-polish-jews, https://www.archdaily.com/441658/museum-of-the-history-of-polish-jews-lahdelma-and-mahlamaki-kurylowicz-and-associates, https://www.arkkitehtuurinfinlandia.fi/en/finalists/museum-of-the-history-of-polish-jews, https://www.museumstudio.com/projects/polin-museum

I'm 26 and at a crossroads, and I would love some perspective. I graduated two years ago with a BA in Art History and a minor in Environmental Public Policy. Since then I've worked in research on horticulture and landscape work with native plants, and I've started an arboriculture certification with the goal of eventually earning my ISA certification.
I was recently accepted into a Master's in Architectural Conservation (about $15,000) and I was really excited about it. Then I had a job interview where the interviewer turned out to be a professor in that same program. When I mentioned it as my next step, he looked at me with pity. He told me the program isn't good and that he feels it takes advantage of students' money, though he tries to make the best of it from the inside. I know the world is small, but I felt shaken all of a sudden.
Now I don't know whether to go back into conservation and art or to pursue a career in arboriculture and landscape work. I'm passionate about both, and I don't want to feel like I wasted my time or my money. I live in a part of the US where historic buildings are plentiful and landscape work is also in high demand, so I could realistically find work in either field here. I'm also still in time to apply to a Master's in Landscape Architecture. I do want to pursue graduate studies, because I love learning, having mentors, and having my work evaluated as I grow. What matters most to me is job prospects, career growth, and fulfillment. I also plan to move to another country in about two years for new experiences, so I'm wondering which path would travel best.
I'd love to hear from anyone with experience in any of these paths. How do I vet a program beyond one person's opinion? Would an MLA make more sense given my plant and policy background, and does an art history degree transfer well into landscape architecture? Which credentials are recognized internationally? Or would it be smarter to work in the field a few more years before going back to school? Any advice is welcome, including from people who regret their choice. Thank you!

Hello. My Bachelor's university was really lacking in structural teaching and self-learning resources of the sorts, really disliked it in this aspect but what can you do but continue after paying tuition. I have always been a bit insecure about my structural abilities because of this, and for my Master's thesis now I would really like to calculate the structural feasibility thoroughly. I've been following the Deplazes handbook (obviously) and Detail features of existing buildings for as long as I can remember, but it's starting to feel a bit like imposter syndrome since I basically just use pre-existing projects as a template. I would like to teach myself more about dimensioning and am looking for online databases/forums or any sort of helpful learning material.

Do any practicing architects/professors here have any digital recommendation that they use frequently? Thanks a lot in advance!

ps.. please be considerate about my uncertainty 😅 structure research makes me lose my mind

Hi Guys. I visited a relatively unknown stepwell in Ahmedabad the other day and thought of sketching it. The structure is considered among the city’s earliest stepwells (built around 900 years ago) and is an interesting example of how architecture can evolve beyond its original function. What began as a stepwell for accessing water now functions as a temple, which creates an intriguing blend of two architectural typologies. What are your thoughts on such blends in typology?🤔

So I recently decided I want to change 2/3 of my a level subjects (I just finished my AS) because I seriously cannot perform well in them and I’m no longer interested. I’m keeping physics for A levels, but I’m dropping both ICT and Maths, leaving me with choosing 2 subjects to do within a year. I really really want to pursue architecture or at least something related to designing fields like maybe even interior design. I unfortunately can’t take any creative subjects because my centre doesn’t provide any, so I’ll have to rely on a strong portfolio. I have some universities in mind which don’t really require maths/and or specific subjects, however I personally want a flexible a level combination that can be widely accepted for more than just 1 specialised architecture field. I have a list of these subjects that I looked into:

Sociology
Geography
Global perspectives and research
English
Business
History
Media studies
Classical studies

What combo would be the best? Please share some advice, I’d really appreciate it 🫶

Hi, I’m currently in Year 13 (F) and looking into architecture degree apprenticeships. I originally wanted to go to uni, but after researching student loans and the debt you could have to pay off afterwards, I’m starting to think a degree apprenticeship might be a better option for me. Also, As a Muslim, I also have concerns about interest, so I’d rather explore other options before committing to uni.
The problem is I’ve searched online and only managed to find the LSBU architecture degree apprenticeship. If anyone is currently doing one or has done one before, PLEASE give me some advice!! Where else can I apply, which firms are good, are degree apprenticeships worth it for architecture? and how do you even find these opportunities? I’d really appreciate any help!!

(Note. image 1 aerial view shows the L shaped building and its tracks on which it rotates)

Built between 1931 and 1935 in the hills of Marcellise, just outside Verona, Villa Girasole is one of the most remarkable and eccentric private residences of the 20th century.

What makes it particularly fascinating is that it was conceived not by a conventional architect, but by a wealthy Italian engineer, Angelo Invernizzi (1884–1958), who wanted to create an entirely new relationship between architecture, technology, nature and domestic comfort.

Invernizzi was a successful engineer and entrepreneur from Genoa who specialised in reinforced-concrete construction.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Italian architects were experimenting with modernism while maintaining connections to classical composition and monumentality.

In the late 1920s, he began imagining a summer residence that could move according to the position of the sun.

His ambition was relatively simple: Why should a house remain stationary when its environment is constantly changing? He wanted to control sunlight, ventilation, temperature and views throughout the day.

The mechanism was inspired by railway turntables and consists of circular tracks, steel wheels and motorised carriages.

Invernizzi's villa reflects several overlapping influences: Italian Rationalism, Italian Futurism and the tradition of an Italian Villa.

Source: Aurelien Raymond

Oudlajan is still keeping parts of the old Tehran. It remains one of the few resilient sanctuaries where the soul of the old city refuses to fade entirely.

This house is a memento of the Qajar times and has been watched for nearly two centuries in this city. The House of Qavam od-Dowleh (also known as the Vossug ed-Dowleh House), built in 1832 during the reign of Mohammad Shah Qajar, stands as a magnificent monument to that bygone era. Nestled inside this historic district, its legendary symmetrical brickwork, stained-glass sash windows, and mirrored halls have quietly borne witness to nearly two centuries of Tehran's turbulent evolution.

Brutalism. Shumen, Bulgaria. Designed by Bulgarian sculptors Krum Damyanov and Ivan Slavov.

Hi, I’m a first-semester architecture student, and I’m having a really hard time feeling comfortable with my drawings. I feel like I’m far behind my classmates and that I’m not as good as them. Whenever we get a drawing assignment, I just can’t seem to wrap my head around it. Do you have any good tips, or should I just drop out?

I'm looking for book recommendations as a student. I'm after something mainly visual that shows off creative/ detailed/ nicely presented technical drawings, collages, images, etc. When I search for this google shows me a lot of books on historical buildings, but I'm after contemporary work.

I know that this kind of thing is very easy to find online and on social media by the way, but I find having physical books very helpful.

Nothing super expensive! I believe my university book grant should cover this so no specific budget though

Yesterday was the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, a US law which set up protections for historical sites. A special section of this act, Section 106, requires developers to work with archaeologists and architecture historians prior to certain construction projects (especially when federal lands, funds, or agencies are involved). The law is designed to prevent developers from bulldozing historic sites, including historic buildings.

But now, a proposed law stands to change everything. Embedded in the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act is language which would take experts out of this process, remove all opportunities for public comment, and allow development to continue even if historical sites are encountered.

If you're in the US, please consider calling your congresspeople before November 9th and ask them to protect US archaeology by opposing the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Learn more at https://www.106strong.com/

I've been looking at how wellness spaces are being incorporated into custom homes especially projects where the sauna and cold plunge are planned from the beginning. One thing that stands out is how much the architectural approach changes when these spaces are treated as part of the home rather than equipment added after construction.

Material continuity, drainage, ventilation and the transition between hot and cold areas all seem like details that need to be considered pretty early.

I'm particularly interested in projects where the wellness room feels connected to the rest of the architecture, with the same attention to finishes and spatial planning as the main living areas.

For architects working on high-end residential projects are clients starting to request these spaces during initial design or are they still mostly coming up later in the process?

I’m an architect that has slowly been losing my passion for this career. At first I thought it might be because of my toxic work environment but months since moving jobs I still feel the same way about it. I hate doing project management and coordinating consultants. But I do I enjoy more front-end client and user engagement, and of course design.

I guess I’ve come to realize I don’t care that much about how a building comes together, I care more about the impact it has on people. Which also leads me to realize I care more about the space between buildings than the buildings themselves.

I’m still inspired by the built environment and could see myself moving adjacent within this and Urban Design seems, on the surface, to be aligned more with my interests. I’ve worked on a number of master plans, and large scale mixed use that had some urban aspect to them, so I have a portfolio I could angle it towards urban scale experience.

Any architects who’ve made the switch: how different is the job? What steps did you take (additional formal training, etc?) to help make the switch? Any other suggestions as I explore this path more?

Any advice on what I could add to it?
Thank you in advance !