designboom visits Japan's inaugural Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025, which runs from October 4 to November 30 across the twin cities of Fukuyama and Onomichi. Conceived as a triennial event by the Kambara-Tsuneishi Cultural Foundation, the festival invites 23 architects and artists from Japan and abroad to explore the future of cities and the role of architecture in revitalizing local communities through a series of exhibitions, site-specific installations, and talks.
Emerging from the NQRW train at 14th Street, Union Square presents a smorgasbord for the senses. The smell of patchouli sold by street vendors, the stoic silence of people playing chess, the "good luck" and "bad luck" spots drawn in chalk on the sidewalk to navigate. This slice of Manhattan where midtown turns into downtown has been an important area to New Yorkers for decades-and these days, it's one of the most exciting neighborhoods in the city.
In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture works through strategically placed needles that trigger healing throughout the entire body. Urban planner Jaime Lerner's concept around targeted architectural interventions find success in China as well as neighboring countries in Asia, where localities are revitalized through simple interventions. Libraries, specifically, are bringing in social, cultural, and economic transformation to the continent. Necessity drives innovation. Rapid urbanization, limited public funding, and diverse geographic and cultural contexts have forced architects and communities to think beyond traditional library models.
"It became obvious with our partners that the level of business was not sustainable," Levine told San José Spotlight. "We tried multiple pivots over the last nine months in terms of dining room layout, menus, etc. and just didn't find a formula that connected with guests."
"The House of Culture and Governance in Delfzijl will bring together a theater, library, and town hall under one roof, conceived to respond directly to its urban context."
The project revitalizes public life in Jalpa de Méndez by transforming and improving key public spaces, fostering community interaction and local economic development.
The transformation of Yancheng's railway station platform into a municipal park showcases a revolutionary approach, preserving the area's historical structures while integrating modern functions.