Design

Design

Mexican architecture studio LANZA atelier, founded by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo, is appointed to design the Serpentine Pavilion 2026. Titled 'a serpentine', the pavilion will open to the public on June 6th, 2026, at Serpentine South in London's Kensington Gardens. The announcement coincides with the Pavilion's 25th edition, which Serpentine will mark through a special collaboration with the Zaha Hadid Foundation, reflecting on the legacy of the inaugural pavilion designed by Hadid in 2000.

The Sculptural Wave Plate, one of the collection's centrepieces, captures that balance perfectly. The piece is hand-formed by artisans who work intuitively with the clay, shaping soft, undulating curves that echo the movement of fabric or the natural topography of land. Each plate is made from regionally sourced, lead-free clay and finished in a matte glaze that settles uniquely across every surface.

Casa da Rocha Quebrada by SO Arquitetos stands on the southern coast of São Miguel in the Azores, occupying the final open plot along a line of older houses facing the Atlantic. Set against lava rock and open water, the house addresses a landscape shaped by salt and wind, where buildings are designed to endure the coastal elements. The project was conceived for the parents of one of the studio's founders, a circumstance that allowed decisions to remain close to daily use and long-term inhabitation.

How did a material conceived for bridges, factories, and large-scale structures make its way to the living room bench, the apartment bookshelf, the café table? For centuries, metal was associated with labor, machinery, and monumentality-from the exposed structures of 19th-century World's Fairs to the productive logic of modern industry. Its presence in domestic interiors is not self-evident but rather a cultural achievement: the transformation of an industrial material into an element of everyday, intimate use, in close proximity to the body.

Prospect and refuge: These two themes have long guided the work of Tom Kundig. Siting houses in some of America's most breathtaking but also rugged terrains, the AD100 architect takes care to create a deep sense of shelter-nestling buildings into hillsides, even blasting into rock-and engineer awe through sweeping vistas and intimate connections to nature. "Architecture is not the center of the world," he has often said. "It's the landscape that's the center of the world for me."

Topology: Hanok is an experiment that develops a topological design workflow using AI to reinterpret the sectional logic and spatial continuity of traditional Korean architecture beyond mere formal reconstruction or structural reproduction. Rather than directly restoring the structural joints or framing system of traditional Hanok, the project focuses on its nonlinear spatial organization, the fluidity of curves, and the continuous transitions between interior and exterior.

Leisure spaces are often where different generations cross paths. Without formal programs or assigned roles, they allow people to move, pause, and remain together, each engaging space in their own way. In a built environment increasingly shaped by specialization and separation, these shared spatial grounds have become less common, giving leisure-oriented architecture a renewed relevance. Discussions around public space have repeatedly pointed to the value of openness and flexibility in supporting collective life.

Of the options famously offered by hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang, motels are often the cheapest. They also poke a soft spot in the heart of nostalgia-lovers. Some might look down upon them, but a road trip wouldn't be complete without these bastions of terrible coffee and neon splendor. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the first motor hotel in the world - the Milestone Mo-Tel in San Luis Obispo.

The project's design concept originates from the upper-level bedroom, conceived as a personal retreat oriented toward the sky and surrounding rooftops. Located on the third floor, the room is defined by a large glazed opening that frames views outward while allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the interior. The window opening is proportioned to resemble a simple hut-like frame, reinforcing a direct visual relationship with the sky and an existing mango tree preserved on the site.

Kim Donggyu Text description provided by the architects. Defining the spatial identity of an overseas brand that deals with delicate fragrances is a profound challenge. In this project, we turned to the philosophy of 'Daegang ()'. While often used in modern Korean to mean 'roughly' or 'in general,' the Chinese characters tell a deeper story: (Great) and (The Main Stay/Head-rope of a Net).

From trending styles to paint colors and furniture, interior design in 2026 is all about creating spaces that feel warm, inviting, and undeniably lived in. As a part of that shift, many once-beloved historic design details are making a dramatic comeback - and alcoves fit right in. In one of their recent design and build projects, the team at Four Brothers Design + Build blended form and function with a stove cove in the kitchen to add interest and sneaky storage with hidden shelving inside.

Fantastic 3D Laser Cut Meditative Visionary Art by Dan Schaub Artist Paints While Under The Influence Of 20 Different Drugs New Stick-On Soles Let You Forget Flip Flops And Go Barefoot This Tattoo Artist Specializes in Secret Tattoos' on the Roof of the Mouth In China, A Giant Panda Statue With Its Own Iron Man Suit Artist Transforms Scrap Metal Into Incredible Sculptures Artists Raid A Polish Scrapyard To Build A Collection Of Recycled Metal

The VARMBLIXT pendant looks so high-end, but it's below $210. The designer-quality look comes from the three intertwined, twisted, and frosted glass light strips shaped like the letter "U." When the pendant is flicked on, it provides a warm glow that isn't too strong on the eyes. The unique shape is a perfect addition to contemporary homes or minimalist spaces.

CIRCULUS Atelier is the working studio of Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. (OAD) and a built application of the practice's CIRCULUS architectural framework, which examines circularity, continuity, and long-term adaptability in design. Conceived as both a in Yokohama, , and a prototype, the project investigates how digital fabrication can inform architecture as a system that integrates exterior enclosure and interior spatial treatment within a unified logic.

Most creative desks have a cup overflowing with pens, markers, and tools, even though you reach for the same few every day. There is the Muji gel pen for sketches, a couple of render markers you trust, and then about 15 other things you keep just in case. The Pareto Principle says 80 percent of your output comes from 20 percent of your stationery, which feels accurate once you notice how often you dig past everything else.

The International Union of Architects (UIA), in partnership with UN-Habitat, has released the Stage 1 results of the third cycle of the UIA 2030 Award, identifying the projects selected as Regional Finalists. The shortlisted entries were drawn from submissions across the UIA's five global regions and will advance to the second stage of evaluation. Established in alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the award framework positions the built environment within broader discussions on sustainable urban development and global policy objectives.

Thornton says that the secret to making a small space feel expansive is to think vertically. As the eye goes up, there's an illusion of higher ceilings and a larger space. "Anything that draws attention upward instantly adds a sense of height and breathing room," he told me. But how do you actually implement these tactics IRL? Ahead, the pro shares tips for how to make the most of every square inch in your own home.

Natasha Mulhall + 27 More SpecsLess Specs Natasha Mulhall Text description provided by the architects. The Youth 2 Independence Campbell Street project (Y2I) reimagines social housing for young adults. At its core, it provides accommodation for youths interwoven with Community Hub support, social activities, and life-long learning opportunities. See allShow less About this office Published on January 16, 2026Cite: "Youth 2 Independence Campbell Street Project / Liminal Architecture" 16 Jan 2026. ArchDaily. Accessed . ISSN 0719-8884

Now, imagine bringing that same thoughtful, modular approach to one of the most notoriously cramped dining experiences: airplane meals. That's exactly what BKID co has done with their System Tray design, and honestly, it's one of those ideas that makes you wonder why we didn't think of this sooner. The project takes the organizational genius behind Korean side dish service and reimagines it for the narrow, tray-table constrained world of in-flight dining.

There are plenty of reasons the Slope Leather Dining Chair is a bestseller at West Elm. Not only is it beautiful and comfortable (a must), but it's also extremely sturdy, thanks to the angled structure of the base. Because it doesn't have armrests, it can squeeze easily into small spaces, or make larger spaces feel airy and less cluttered. Our "dining room" is a small nook between the living room and kitchen, and we were able to squeeze all six of our Slope Dining chairs into the space, with plenty of elbow room.

Thuma's Classic Lounge Chair is a smart pick for anyone who wants a comfortable reading spot that looks clean, intentional, and not overstuffed. It pairs a solid wood frame and softly rounded edges with ergonomic angles and a resilient multi-density foam seat cushion, so it feels supportive for longer periods of time, but may not be plush enough for those who want a true "sink-in" feel.

The exhibition gathers several grid installations first developed in 1976, presented here through careful re-creations of historic works. Installed directly into corners, the luminous sculptures become a fixed part of the gallery as walls, ceilings, and floors receive light as an active condition. The atmosphere of each room shifts, all while remaining unified by the straightforward presence of the simple fluorescent fixtures.

This elongated entrance sequence establishes a gradual transition from the public urban environment to the private domestic space. Enclosed by stone walls and a timber ceiling, the passage leads into a double-height living area that opens onto the central courtyard, creating immediate visual and spatial continuity across levels. The courtyard functions as the core of the house, mediating environmental performance and spatial organization.

E44 Laneway House is the first permanent home for a young couple and their cat. Within 700 square feet (65 square meters), the project responds to the habits and nuances of both human and feline occupants.

Set within a large agricultural garden in a coastal village near Lezhë, Albania, Red House by Pacarizi Studio explores how a single-family dwelling can respond to changing social structures, climatic conditions, and local building cultures. Designed by Gezim Pacarizi, the 350-square-meter home is organized around an open, partially covered courtyard with a pool at its center. The project approaches domestic architecture as a sequence of perceptual experiences shaped by light, movement, and framing, an idea articulated by the architects themselves. 'What you see through a window can be a landscape, a tree, or architecture itself,' they note.

Fast Company asked architects from some of the top firms working around the world what they thought about the look of architecture in 2026. Of course, a building designed in 2026 almost certainly will not be completed in 2026, and construction timelines are notoriously fluid.

Many interior designers are indeed looking towards neutral colors and "warm" minimalism in 2026, as reported in Apartment Therapy's annual design industry survey, the State of Home Design. But there are a few maximalist design trends that refuse to fade into the background this year - namely, room drenching, and, more specifically, stripe drenching. This pattern drench has design pros leaning into colorful, dizzying stripes from wall to wall.