Arch.itect.us

Not many of us would think of industrial towers as impressive pieces of modern architecture, but a closer look reveals that they are, in fact, amazing structures. They have to be able to not only do the job they were built for – guiding smoke or steam, storing agricultural products, or cooling fluids – but [...]

Once we move from childhood to adulthood, playfulness seems to take a back seat to responsibility. Many of us lose that sense of wonder and fun that makes all of our daily activities seem wondrous. Two recent UK public art projects have used absurdity to inject a sense of wonder and fun back into the [...]

Just when it seems like there’s nothing new to do in the world of advertising, someone figures out a completely unique way of communicating a commercial message. Amsterdam-based advertising and design firm MISTERWILSON developed RainCampaign, an innovative street advertising method that only appears when it rains, then becomes invisible when the pavement dries out.

The RainCampaign [...]

The military buildings of today are relatively bland and plain, but in centuries past military architecture was something to be admired. Military forts, whether they were stand-alone installations or incorporated towns within their walls, had to be tough enough to stand up to attacks and well-designed enough to effectively return fire when required. Star-shaped forts [...]

When a city’s economy begins to fail, those in charge have some choices to make. Should they pump money into local businesses? Should they let the public see just how bad it’s getting? One town in England is taking a novel approach to the scores of closed-up shops on its main street: they’re putting up [...]

Model cities aren’t just the stuff of kids’ toys. They’re used all over the world for urban planning, architectural proposals and research. But while miniature cities are useful, they’re also a unique kind of art. Older models give us a very real glimpse into what cities looked like in past generations, while new models can [...]

If there’s one toy that can transcend cultural, age and geographical barriers, it’s Lego. The timeless toy has been enjoyed by children all over the world and from all walks of life. But it’s not just a child’s toy – Lego is a full-time hobby for plenty of adults, too. These impressive works of Lego [...]

One of the oldest and largest cathedrals in the world hid a fantastic secret for centuries, one that was often rumored but not confirmed. The vast, splendid Hagia Sophia, which is now a museum, sits atop an ancient series of underground tunnels said to connect the cathedral with the Basilica Cistern, Princes’ Islands and Topkapi [...]

The term “off the grid” has been proudly used for many years by those who choose to produce their own electricity or live without electricity. But there’s a whole other perspective to living off the grid: those who do it out of necessity. The majority of these can be defined as squatters: people living in [...]