Architecture Article

In a tranquil residential street in the Munich district of Altschwabing, between the Münchner Freiheit and the englischer Garten, our client purchased a property with an atypical, lowrise 1920s building, with a view to developing a new apartment block. Even if the quarter and its demographics have changed significantly in recent decades, Schwabing still holds onto an artistic and free-thinking atmosphere. The quarter is vibrant with pubs, local and international eateries, cinemas, galleries, long-established theatres, day-care centers, and schools.

Across Europe and North America, pedestrianisation is increasingly being deployed as a context-specific urban strategy shaped by distinct economic, social, and spatial pressures. As cities continue to reassess the role of streets in the wake of economic shifts, climate pressures, and changing mobility patterns, pedestrianisation is emerging as a tool in current urban transformation efforts. Across London, New York, Houston, and Stockholm, ongoing pedestrian-first projects are testing different pathways toward more resilient and walkable cities, ranging from statutory planning and capital construction to research-driven visioning. London’s Oxford Street is advancing through consultation and governance reform to address retail decline; New York’s Paseo Park is moving from a temporary pandemic intervention into permanent infrastructure; Houston is accelerating the pedestrianisation of its downtown core in preparation for a global sporting event; and Stockholm’s Superline is using design research to rethink the future of an inner-city motorway. These initiatives reveal how pedestrianisation is being actively negotiated, designed, and built today, adapting to local motivations while converging on a shared objective of streets that perform as resilient public spaces rather than traffic conduits.

In contemporary architectural discourse, scale is often mistaken for influence. Large firms, landmark projects, and master-planned developments dominate visibility. It goes on to reinforce the idea that architectural ambition is measured by size, reach, or spectacle. Yet across India and similar contexts, a quieter but equally consequential body of work is emerging. It is led by small but mighty practices operating with limited resources, close client relationships, and an intimate understanding of local conditions.

On a plot of land with quintas and lush groves, located in Parque Leloir, a minimal-sized house was projected that would, in the short term, change its function. Thus, this refuge in the middle of the forest was conceived, which was initially designed as a rehearsal room for a music band, but the pandemic and the desire to live in a place with more garden turned it into a family home.

World Super Market is located on the basement level of MATRO Department Store, composed of a series of continuous retail units. The owner has concentrated the multi-national brand resources of Matro Luxury Centre here, creating a commercial environment that balances global vision with everyday warmth. Architect Yoshihiko Seki of KiKi ARCHi, serving as the lead designer, drew inspiration from the concept of a “color spectrum,” unifying color and texture into a woven visual rhythm. Through flowing color cues, the design unfolds an experiential commercial narrative centered on materiality and color.

In South Korea, beaches with surfable waves are rare. This scarcity has fostered unique local cultures in the few coastal towns where surfing is possible. Yangyang-gun stands as the symbolic birthplace of this culture and remains a vibrant hub for the community today. Waveworks Yangyang was established here as a “workation” center—a space designed for the coexistence of work and vacation. Within its open, multi-purpose interior, individuals work with a sense of freedom that reflects the modern era of the mobile office.