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
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.
The Nobel Center, set to become an open civic institution, will be built along the waterfront between the neighborhoods Södermalm and the Old Town. It will introduce a place for exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and cultural gatherings, with an emphasis on public access. The building forms part of a continuous public route along the water, linking destinations such as Fotografiska and the Stadsmuseet.
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.
Wood: Arguably the most common material for a coffee table, whether packed with storage or not, solid wood can be a durable and style-agnostic choice. A deeper hue, like a mahogany or cherry, can lean mid-century, while a natural oak or teak feels distinctly Scandinavian. Opt for a material that's white washed or stained for a farmhouse look. Metal: Aluminum and stainless steel are common choices for the modernist or more minimal design aesthete.
For many the term is being quickly cliched; simply used as a marketing ploy: gimmicky solutions that are surface level at best but often permanent. What would happen if this formula was turned on its head and the early modernist notion of modularity - pre-produced kit-of-part components brought to and assembled on almost any site - was reintroduced as a way to better frame these settings, allowing their histories to unfold with almost no tampering.
Workplaces serve as centers to support business transactions, often with cues from traditional corporate styling but little else. For its new office in Tokyo, the staff at KOKUYO, a leading manufacturer of office furniture, stationery, and supplies, envisioned a combination work and learning hub that sparks child-like imagination. The 5,317-square-foot space, completed by DDAA in collaboration with KOKUYO's own design team, centers on the theme of learning.
The proposal is presented as a strategy for territorial and landscape activation in the eastern sector of Isla Teja, in Valdivia, in the stretch between the Architecture building of the Universidad Austral de Chile and the edge of the Rio Calle-Calle. Through the design and construction of three pavilions, the project aims to consolidate this area as a space for walking, pausing, and gathering, incorporating new architectural references that engage with the river landscape and its high ecological value.
You already know that IKEA is our go-to for reasonably priced - and trendy - home decor. And in recent years, IKEA has continued to level up its selection of design-forward, on-trend furniture pieces. However, the iconic Swedish brand still probably isn't the first that comes to mind when you're thinking about "forever furniture." But if IKEA's recent releases are any indication, that might just be changing.
The Rijksmuseum is set to expand its public presence beyond its historic walls with the creation of a sculpture garden of international scope, scheduled to open in autumn 2026. Enabled by a €60 million donation from the Don Quixote Foundation, the project will introduce a freely accessible green cultural landscape in Amsterdam, bringing together modern and contemporary sculpture, landscape design, and architectural adaptation. The new outdoor complex, officially titled the Don Quixote Pavilion and Garden at the Rijksmuseum, will present works by artists including Alberto Giacometti, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Jean Arp, Roni Horn, and Henry Moore, alongside a rotating program of temporary exhibitions.
It's the place where you rest and recharge, and chances are your sleep space is probably the one area you tend to ignore, as it's more of a private zone versus a public one in a home. That's exactly why Michigan-based mother-daughter designer duo Jean Stoffer and Grace Start of Stoffer Home wanted to make sure their first collaboration with The Company Store really prioritized bedding - even though they're accustomed to designing whole homes and large-scale kitchen projects.
Beneath the visible surface of cities lies an invisible architecture. Subways, tunnels, water systems, data cables, and bunkers form a dense network that sustains urban life while remaining largely unseen. The ground beneath our feet is not a void but a complex territory that holds the infrastructures, memories, and anxieties of our age. In recent years, as land becomes scarce and climate pressures intensify, architects and urbanists have turned their gaze downward, rediscovering the subterranean as both a physical and conceptual frontier.
In the United States, Boston, Portland, and San Francisco are just some examples of when municipal governments prioritized high-speed vehicular infrastructure over the existing urban fabric. In Canada, Montreal would have followed this trajectory if not for the intervention of several figures throughout its history, most notably Blanche Lemco van Ginkel (1923-2022). A Harvard-trained planner and architect who, along with her husband Sandy Van Ginkel, advocated for the preservation of urban heritage while applying the principles of modernist infrastructure.
A Brooklinen sale is always cause for celebration, and since 2025's sleep essentials have been begging for a 2026 refresh, consider this your lucky break. With the brand's bundles event, bulk shoppers can save up to 40% off all-in-one bedding and bath kits. Favorites like the Luxe Sateen Duvet Bundle and the Dreamweave Waffle Bath Towel Bundle are included in the discounts, as well as the Luxe Move-In Bundle if you're christening a new space or blessing a friend who's at a new address.
Aryeh Kornfeld + 28 Architects: Gubbins Polidura Arquitectos, MasArquitectos Area of this architecture project Area: 4521 ft Completion year of this architecture project Year: 2020 Photographs:Aryeh Kornfeld, Roland Halbe Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Jansen, A-Cero, Anodite, Bercia, Dialum, Interdesign Chile, Kohler, Melon Hormigones, Schuco, Silent Gliss, VitrA Lead Architects: Alex Brahm y Antonio Polidura Collaborator Architect: Hernan Fournies Structures: Alberto Maccioni / Bming Consultant: Daniel Alemparte Lightning Design: Barbara Greene / Greene During Interior Design: Rodrigo Castillo / Proimagen
In a balance of aesthetics, performance, and versatility, HIMACS shows a solid surface material of choice for many architects and designers. Taking a further step forward, the entire range of standard HIMACS sinks and basins is now officially SCS certified, containing a minimum of 8% pre-consumer recycled content. This certification enhances the material's technical and visual appeal by providing a more sustainable option without compromising quality or functionality.
