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Architecture City Guide: The Latest Architecture and News

Tokyo Architecture City Guide: 30 Iconic Buildings to Visit in Japan's Capital City

One of the world's leading metropolises, Tokyo is home to extraordinary architecture that fascinates through its blend of traditional values and high-tech expression. The 1923 earthquake and the bombardments of World War II dramatically influenced the image of the city and its architecture, giving rise to modern urban environments with complex infrastructure.

The Japanese capital constitutes the most populated metropolitan area in the world, housing 33 million inhabitants. Divided into 23 wards and numerous neighbourhoods, the city features a diverse blend of atmospheres and urban fabrics that support an amalgamation of architectural typologies.

© Keishin Horikoshi / SS Tokyo© Ken’ichi Suzuki. ImageThe Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei + Shimizu Corporation© Nacása & Partners Inc.. ImageMiyashita Park by Nikken Sekkei© Kawasumi Kobayashi Kenji Photograph Office. ImageTokyo Institute of Technology Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza by Kengo Kuma & Associates+ 30

Amsterdam City Guide: 25 Places to See in the Capital of The Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Its origins lie in the 12th century when fishermen living along the banks of the River Amstel built a bridge across the waterway near the IJ, then a large saltwater inlet. Most of the city’s territory is below sea level and therefore it lies on land that has been reclaimed from the water.

Amsterdam is all about practical urban planning, amazing cycling infrastructure, tulip-lined canal bridges, and old merchant houses that tilt at impossible angles. I visited Amsterdam again last year and discovered some new places.

Courtesy of MVRDV© de Architekten Cie.© Jannes Linders© Jannes Linders+ 49

Chicago City Guide: 23 Buildings You Shouldn’t Miss

On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago had roughly 200 inhabitants. Four years later, in 1837, it was upgraded to The City of Chicago – an interesting fact given that there are still 19 incorporated towns in Illinois. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 killed 300 people, destroyed about 3.3 square miles (9 km2), and left more than 100,000 residents homeless. However, by that time Chicago had become the world’s fastest-growing city and its population had risen over 300,000 inhabitants. The fire meant these ambitious citizens had to start again.

With admirable strength, the city was reborn from the ashes and some of Chicago’s best architecture was constructed immediately after. Structures like the Rookery Building (1888, Frank Lloyd Wright), the Auditorium Building (1889, Louis Sullivan) and the Monadnock Building (1893, Burnham & Root, Holabird & Roche) are a few examples of the high standards the city was aiming for.

© BallPark via Wikimedia Commons© Virginia Duran© Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia Commons© Will Taubert via Wikimedia Commons+ 25

Zürich City Guide: 23 Spots Architecture Enthusiasts Shouldn’t Miss

© Virginia Duran
© Virginia Duran

The historical Roman town has been busy at work and new exciting buildings, squares, and public parks have bloomed across the city. Since my first trip to Zürich in 2014, a lot has happened around good old Turicum.

After a compelling trip organized by Visit Zürich and my friend Philipp Heer, we were able to visit some of the newest, most interesting and uplifting places of the city. Flitting hither and thither, Roc Isern, David Basulto, and I enjoyed the privilege of a tailored itinerary, access to Zürich's gems, and perhaps the most inspiring, the architects behind these amazing structures.

© Virginia Duran© Philipp Heer© Virginia Duran© Visit Zürich+ 24

Barcelona City Guide: 23 Places to See in Gaudi’s Birthplace

In Barcelona, the cradle of contemporary urbanism, the landscape is enriched with endless layers of history. Since its first settlers, Roman colonists, generation after generation built here, one on top of another.

Romans, Visigoths and a brief Islamic period are still embedded within the city's prettiest streets. These old architectural stories are delightfully present nowadays. At first glimpse, the traveler can spot a 14th century stone cathedral coexisting with a computer-generated undulating structure – in harmony. Not many cities manage temporary tension as good as Barcelona.

Casa Milà by Antoni Gaudí. Image Courtesy of DicasvfaleTemple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia. Image © Roc IsernMercat Fira de Bellcaire Els Encants by b720 Arquitectos. Image © Rafael VargasHotel Porta Fira by Toyo Ito / b720 Arquitectos. Image © Nicanor Garcia+ 26

Tel Aviv City Guide: 6 Bauhaus Buildings to See in the White City

When members of the Bauhaus school fled Germany, many of these talented visionaries made their way to Tel Aviv. At the time, the city was in its fledgling stages and served as the ideal blank canvas for this idealistic concept. Today, the city boasts over 4,000 Bauhaus buildings and has earned distinction as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Last year, for the 100th anniversary of Bauhaus, the city opened the White City Center in partnership with the German government to actively promote the preservation of this iconic architectural style. The White City Center hosts exhibitions where visitors can learn more about this iconic style. The Bauhaus Center is also worth a visit and hosts weekly guided tours on Fridays for a small fee. For those who are planning a visit here’s our list of the top six must-see Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv.

An Architectural Guide to Belfast: 20 Unmissable Sites in Northern Ireland's Capital

The city of Belfast is enjoying a resurgence of life. Having been gripped by decades of conflict over politics and religion, the Northern Irish capital has been transformed by peace over the past ten years, and now hosts an array of sublime architecture old and new, by renowned architects past and present.

The urban landscape of Belfast, transitioning between industry, culture, arts, commerce, and education, makes the city a worthy destination for architects and designers. Influenced by Irish and British vernacular styles, shaped by the demands of shipbuilding, linen, security, and now post-conflict confidence, the city remains somewhat of a blank canvas for creatives to experiment, reflect, and dream.

Belfast City Hall. Image © ShutterstockThe Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast. Image © ShutterstockHarland and Wolff cranes in the Titanic Quarter. Image © ShutterstockThe Ulster Museum. Image © Shutterstock+ 37

An Architectural Guide to Dublin: 30 Things to See and Do in Ireland’s Capital

Dublin is one of the world’s most beloved cities. The Irish capital welcomes over 5.6 million tourists every year from around the world, seeking out the city’s red brick rows, cobblestone streets, and lush green parklands.

Dublin has good reason for being on any architect’s travel list. Modest Georgian tenements, sensitively altered by local architects, stand alongside major civil and public works by some of the world’s most renowned international firms, while warm art nouveau and art deco cafes sit alongside the sleek, modern headquarters of the world’s largest tech firms.

An Architectural Guide to Nantes: The French City of Weird and Wonderful Art

Situated in the Loire region of France, Nantes could be regarded as a “tale of two cities” from many angles. Once a bustling node for European shipping, former vast, industrial warehouses have become a hotbed of cultural and artistic expression. Meanwhile, divided by the Loire river flowing towards the Atlantic, a maze of Haussmann-style terraces, ornate cathedrals, and monumental museums sit in contrast to an island of outlandish mechanical contraptions, and young, modern, free-spirited innovation.

The sheer variety of artistic and architectural wonders alone make Nantes a destination for architects and designers. Merged with culinary excellence, highly-instagrammable hotels, and a determination by public and private officials to maintain and expand on the city’s vibrant, playful design scene, and Nantes becomes a must-see, undiscovered architectural gem.

Passage Pommeraye featuring Ode to Laziness by Philippe Ramette. Image © Marc Domage and LVANThe architecture school at Nantes featuring Bx Pallas by Block Architectes. Image © Philippe Piron and LVANInstallation at La Cantine du Voyage by Appelle Moi Papa. Image © Philippe Piron and LVANLes Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh+ 46

Crowdfunded Architecture Tourbooks Help You Discover Cities' Best Kept Secrets

Cities have a wealth of experiences, landmarks and sights to offer the eager traveller, who despite their ambitions, may begin to feel overwhelmed under the weight of culture and geography that saturates their travels. It is easy to get lost not only during pilgrimages to iconic locations, but also in the number of places to go and things to see, guided on overpriced tours and by consumerist maps. But worry not, for a new Kickstarter campaign has been launched for the Architectour Guide – a hardcover curated compendium of key spots that’s got you covered during your next urban crawl.

“The guide is made for the urban explorer, an individual who loves discovering cities in a different way,” explains Virginia Duran, the London-based architect and urban planner responsible for the campaign. “Architectour Guide collects the best spaces of a city inspiring travelers to craft their trips in a unique way, making it easier for us to visit, understand and photograph each of these places. As a consequence, we travelers will be helping to keep buildings alive.”

via Kickstarter. Courtesy of Virginia Duran.Crowdfunded Architecture Tourbooks Help You Discover Cities' Best Kept Secretsvia Kickstarter. Courtesy of Virginia Duran.via Kickstarter. Courtesy of Virginia Duran.+ 8

All The Architecture To See in Rio de Janeiro During the 2016 Olympics

Rio de Janeiro is a city of sights and sounds. As diverse as its people is the collection of impressive architecture found in Brazil’s second most populous city—from Eurocentric historical architecture to 20th century regionalist modern marvels, not to mention the city’s growing crop of contemporary cultural venues. The combination of mountainous terrain, lush rainforest, and the ocean inspires many to create lively and unique architecture.

In preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city has enlisted a crop of internationally renowned architects including Santiago Calatrava, whose work joins Rio's existing masterpieces from architects such as Oscar Niemeyer. But apart from its "Capital A" Architecture, the city of Rio is home to thousands of residents living in the now-famous favelas—interesting subjects of inquiry for those interested in the concept of spontaneous urban growth. There’s a building for just about every architecture fan visiting Rio this year or anytime in the future.

Santa Marta. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/Flickr user alobos Life</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/'>CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</a>' class='thumbs__img b-lazy' data-nr-picture-id='57a21e21e58ece9bcf00000e' data-pin-nopin='true' data-src='https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/57a2/1e21/e58e/ce9b/cf00/000e/thumb_jpg/Santa_Marta_Favela__flickr_alobos_Life.jpg?1470242324' height='125' longdesc='http://www.archdaily.com/575928/ted-talk-how-painting-can-transform-communities-haas-and-hahn' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' title='Santa Marta. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://www.flickr.com/photos/armandolobos/5920954662/'>Flickr user alobos Life</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/'>CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</a>' width='125'>Cidade das Artes. Image © Nelson KonMetropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/Flickr user vincentraal</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a>' class='thumbs__img b-lazy' data-nr-picture-id='57a21dc2e58ece9bcf00000b' data-pin-nopin='true' data-src='https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/57a2/1dc2/e58e/ce9b/cf00/000b/thumb_jpg/Catedral_Metropolitana_do_Rio_de_Janeiro__flickr_Vincentraal.jpg?1470242179' height='125' longdesc='https://www.archdaily.com/792656/city-guide-all-the-architecture-to-see-in-rio-de-janeiro-during-the-2016-olympics/57a21dc2e58ece9bcf00000b-city-guide-all-the-architecture-to-see-in-rio-de-janeiro-during-the-2016-olympics-image' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' title='Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://www.flickr.com/photos/vincentraal/9136698555/in/photolist-eVo64M-eVo3gR-eVnYar'>Flickr user vincentraal</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a>' width='125'>Museum of Tomorrow. Image © Bernard LessaRio Municipal Theater. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/Flickr user gameoflight</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/'>CC BY-NC-SA 2.0</a>' class='thumbs__img b-lazy' data-nr-picture-id='57a21d59e58ece1e6100004d' data-pin-nopin='true' data-src='https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/57a2/1d59/e58e/ce1e/6100/004d/thumb_jpg/Theatro_Municipal_Rio_de_Janeiro___ph_flickr_Boris_G..jpg?1470242132' height='125' longdesc='https://www.archdaily.com/792656/city-guide-all-the-architecture-to-see-in-rio-de-janeiro-during-the-2016-olympics/57a21d59e58ece1e6100004d-city-guide-all-the-architecture-to-see-in-rio-de-janeiro-during-the-2016-olympics-image' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' title='Rio Municipal Theater. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://www.flickr.com/photos/gameoflight/13084341645/in/photolist-kWfhuy-kWdM16-kWdEVk-kWfo5b'>Flickr user gameoflight</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/'>CC BY-NC-SA 2.0</a>' width='125'>Niterói Contemporary Art Museum. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/Flickr user gameoflight</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/'>CC BY-NC-SA 2.0</a>' class='thumbs__img b-lazy' data-nr-picture-id='57a21d72e58ece9bcf00000a' data-pin-nopin='true' data-src='https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/57a2/1d72/e58e/ce9b/cf00/000a/thumb_jpg/Niteroi_Contemporary_Art_Museum___Niemeyer_ph_flickr_Boris_G..jpg?1470242154' height='125' longdesc='http://www.archdaily.com/417751/ad-classics-niteroi-contemporary-art-museum-oscar-niemeyer' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' title='Niterói Contemporary Art Museum. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://www.flickr.com/photos/gameoflight/13034234305'>Flickr user gameoflight</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/'>CC BY-NC-SA 2.0</a>' width='125'>Maracanã Stadium. Image © Schlaich Bergermann und partnerParque Lage. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/Flickr user Jonas Santin</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/>CC BY-NC 2.0</a>' class='thumbs__img b-lazy' data-nr-picture-id='57a21debe58ece9bcf00000c' data-pin-nopin='true' data-src='https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/57a2/1deb/e58e/ce9b/cf00/000c/thumb_jpg/Parque_Lage__ph_flickr_Jonas_Santin.jpg?1470242250' height='125' longdesc='http://www.archdaily.com.br/br/761201/arte-e-arquitetura-a-piscina-do-parque-lage-por-penique-productions' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' title='Parque Lage. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://www.flickr.com/photos/93906643@N08/8552874061/in/dateposted/'>Flickr user Jonas Santin</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/>CC BY-NC 2.0</a>' width='125'>Museu de Arte Moderna. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/Wikimedia user Halley Pacheco de Oliveira</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 3.0</a>' class='thumbs__img b-lazy' data-nr-picture-id='57a384c8e58ece17c8000062' data-pin-nopin='true' data-src='https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/57a3/84c8/e58e/ce17/c800/0062/thumb_jpg/1280px-MAM_-_Museu_de_Arte_Moderna_do_Rio_de_Janeiro_02.jpg?1470334147' height='125' longdesc='http://www.archdaily.com.br/br/758700/classicos-da-arquitetura-museu-de-arte-moderna-do-rio-de-janeiro-affonso-eduardo-reidy' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' title='Museu de Arte Moderna. ImageImage © <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MAM_-_Museu_de_Arte_Moderna_do_Rio_de_Janeiro_02.jpg'>Wikimedia user Halley Pacheco de Oliveira</a> licensed under <a href=https://www.archdaily.com/tag/'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 3.0</a>' width='125'>+ 20

ArchDaily's Most Useful Articles of All Time

As summer draws to an end and we enter into the last quarter of 2014, we decided to round-up a selection of the most useful articles we've published over the past three years. Ranging from The 40 Architecture Documentaries to Watch in 2014 to The 10 Most Overlooked Women in Architectural History, we've also brought together app guides, career tips, and city guides. Alongside links to open-source CAD files and cut-out people, we've also featured book recommendations, study tips, and links to our complete coverage of some of the world's major architectural events and prizes. Delve into our collection and discover what our readers have found most useful!

Architecture City Guide: Tel Aviv

This AD Architecture City Guide is dedicated to the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, originally established as a garden-city on the sandy shores of the Mediterranean in 1909. Although widely known as “The White City” for boasting the world’s largest collection of International Style Buildings, Tel Aviv is not merely a monochromatic Bauhaus colony: it presents a rich mosaic of locally interpreted styles, from Eclectic to Brutalist to contemporary, which are the result of foreign and locally-born architects who adapted to the local cultural and climatic conditions.

Join us for our architectural city guide through the "Non-Stop City" after the break…

The Pagoda House by Alexander Levy, 1925. Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons El Al House by Dov and Ram Karmi, 1963. Image © Justin Kliger Rubinsky House by Lucian Korngold, 1937, (Renovated by Bar Or Architects). Image Courtesy of Bar Or ArchitectsTel Aviv Museum of Art – Extension by Preston Scott Cohen, 2010. Image © Amit Geron+ 27

Architecture City Guide: Beirut

Following a brutal 15-year civil war that tore the city apart, Beirut has recovered remarkably; it was voted the number one destination to visit by the New York Times in 2009, and, more recently, received a similar title by Frommer's. The city is in the second phase of one of the biggest urban reconstruction projects in the world, run by Solidere, which has brought architects like Steven Holl, Herzog & DeMeuron, Zaha Hadid, Vincent James, and Rafael Moneo to the local scene. In less internationalized parts of the city sit the landmarks of the 1960s and 1970s, Beirut's pre-war glory days, including buildings by names such as Alvar Aalto, Victor Gruen, and the Swiss Addor & Julliard. With a city growing as fast as Beirut it is impossible to have a final city guide, so we look forward to hearing your suggestions and building on this over the years.

Photos and a map of Beirut's most exciting buildings after the break...