Pl. des Émeutes de Stonewall
The Place des Émeutes-de-Stonewall is a public square in Paris, France. For the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the City of Paris named a square to pay homage to the riots. The new square was inaugurated by French officials on 19 June, with Stuart Milk and several Stonewall Inn activists
The Vessel | Hudson Yards
The Hudson Yards Vessel, often referred to simply as "The Vessel," is a striking architectural centerpiece located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick, it features an intricate honeycomb-like structure made of interconnected staircases, landings, and platforms. Standing at 150 feet tall, The Vessel offers a unique interactive experience, inviting visitors to climb its 154 flights of stairs and explore 80 viewing platforms that provide panoramic views of the city and the Hudson River. Completed in 2019, the copper-clad structure has become an iconic landmark, symbolizing the innovative spirit of modern urban design.
Madrid Nuevo Norte
Madrid Nuevo Norte is the big project of 21st-century Madrid.
It’s the most significant urban transformation project that Spain’s capital city will undergo, and one of the most important in Europe, designed to improve citizens' life quality and create a more efficient, sustainable, and prosperous Madrid.
The project came from the need to integrate Chamartín Station, and all its railway installations, into the city. For more than 50 years, this infrastructure has created a huge rift that divides northern Madrid, with many drawbacks for millions of citizens. This urban regeneration project will not only heal this wound by solving problems related to mobility, security, and a lack of public services, but will also position Madrid in the group of cities that are will best respond to the enormous social and economic changes of the decades to come.
A 100% sustainable city in which citizens will travel on foot, by bike, or by public transport, and in which housing, businesses, offices, and green areas create the ideal environment for living, working, and enjoying free time.
The size and, especially, the location where Madrid Nuevo Norte will be developed, represent a historic opportunity for Madrid.
The enormous scale of the project, which will regenerate more than 2.3 million square meters of disused land, makes it possible to carry out a project that extends beyond its own limits and becomes a project for the entire city.
But it is its prime location that will make Madrid Nuevo Norte a truly unique project. As Chamartín Station is at the heart of the project and Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas international airport is just 15 minutes away, the project's location is unique in Europe due to its potential for local, regional, national, and international accessibility.
Madrid Nuevo Norte creates a new city model based on the best sustainable urban planning practices.
A dense, compact people-centered city, public spaces, sustainable mobility, in which housing, offices, retail spaces, green areas, and public facilities are mixed together to complement each other, which creates the best environment for living, working, and enjoying free time. It maintains the essence that makes our city so attractive, but still strengthens its innovative and cosmopolitan nature.
A city model that takes everyone into account and was designed through participative processes that made it possible to listen to citizens and understand their different needs and ways of using their city.
As the starting point for the renovation of the northern section of the capital, Madrid Nuevo Norte is a strategically important project around which vital regional infrastructure revolves, such as the reorganization of several of Madrid's busiest traffic junctions or the covering of 20 hectares of railway tracks; and other significant, nationwide infrastructures, such as the construction of the new Chamartín station.
The L.R. Klein University Institute for Economic Forecasting, attached to the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid analyzed the repercussions that Madrid Nuevo Norte and the project’s urban development actions will have on the national economy.
Madrid Nuevo Norte is going to create a new city model focused on the well-being of Madrid’s citizens. The project will also have a significant impact on the regional and national economy, which in turn translates into more opportunities and a better quality of life for all citizens. This sustained impact over time will not be limited to the city of Madrid; the project will have an impact on the region and the country as a whole, promoting economic recovery.
In total, it has been calculated that the project will create 348,064 jobs between the construction phase and the future activity that it will generate in the offices and businesses in the new neighbourhoods.
During the construction phase, the 149,622 jobs that will be created in Madrid represent 4.8% of the population currently employed in the region.
When Madrid Nuevo Norte is finished, it will have the capacity for up to 146,488 more jobs.
The total investment for the development of Madrid Nuevo Norte is 11.1 B€. The purchase of properties will add private investment to that figure, for a total cost associated with the Madrid Nuevo Norte project of 25.2 B€.
The economic impact of Madrid Nuevo Norte will extend beyond the Region of Madrid and will add to the national GDP.
A total of 5.9 B€ in taxes will be collected by all of the Public Administrations.
*This project is still in development. The completion date is to be determined*
Akihabara Electric Town
Akihabara Electric Town—affectionately known as Akiba—is worldly famous for its densely packed buildings crammed full of anime, manga, and game paraphernalia. It's a must-go spot for visitors to Japan who want to bask in geeky otaku culture. Located in the heart of Tokyo, Akihabara Station is easily accessible via the JR Yamanote Line.
In the 1930s, this climate turned Akihabara into a future-oriented market region specializing in household electronics, such as washing machines, refrigerators, televisions, and stereos, earning Akihabara the nickname "Electric Town". As household electronics began to lose their futuristic appeal in the 1980s, the shops of Akihabara shifted their focus to home computers at a time when they were only used by specialists and hobbyists. This new specialization brought in a new type of consumer, computer nerds or otaku. The market in Akihabara naturally latched onto their new customer base that was focused on anime, manga, and video games. The connection between Akihabara and otaku has survived and grown to the point that the region is now known worldwide as a center for otaku culture, and some otaku even consider Akihabara to be a sacred place.
Madrid Rio
The city of Madrid dug 43 kilometers of tunnels into which the exit routes and motorways of the six-kilometer section along the River Manzanares disappeared. The master plan for the reclaimed riverbanks and the new urban area of Madrid RIO was designed and created by Burgos & Garrido, Porras La Casta, Rubio & A-Sala and West 8.
Development plans were then prepared for the individual components: Salón de Pinos, Avenida de Portugal, Huerta de la Partida, Jardines del Puente de Segovia, Jardines del Puente de Toledo, Jardines de la Virgen del Puerto and Arganzuela Park.
The most important of which include: the Salón de Pinos, designed as a linear green space, which links the existing and newly designed urban spaces with each other along the Manzanares River. Salón de Pinos is located almost entirely on top of the motorway tunnel and features a “choreography” of 8.000-fold pine trees and a repertoire of cuts.
Avenida de Portugal, by relocating one of the most important roads into the center of Madrid underground and providing underground parking for 1,000 vehicles, it was possible to convert the space into a garden to benefit local residents. Embellished with Cherry trees and cherry motif, the result is the creation of an extremely popular public space.
Huerta de la Partida, the old Royal Palace is now a modern interpretation of the original royal orchard and a wide variety of fruit trees in planted in groups to create an enclosed garden. For the Arganzuela Park, the dominant motive is the water. The canalized river Manzanares is surrounded by architectonical walls. The system of streams running through the park will cross through the topography and merge into the different spaces and motifs.
Puentes Cascara, serving as bridges and iconic landmarks, Puentes Cascara creates a place where the river is really experienced. Designed as a massive concrete dome with a rough texture, the bridges feature more than one hundred cables resembling whale baleens, which are fixed to the slim steel deck. The fine detailing becomes visible when entering the bridge. The ceilings are covered in a beautiful mosaic artwork done by Spanish artist Daniel Canogar.
The first part of the project was completed in spring 2007 and in spring 2011 the entire project was completed.
Arganzuela Park and the Salon de Pinos are connected by two slow traffic bridges, the Cascara Bridges.
Puente Nuevo
Puente Nuevo (Spanish for "New Bridge") is a historic stone bridge in Ronda, Spain, spanning the El Tajo Gorge and connecting the old and new parts of the city. Completed in 1793, after nearly 40 years of construction, it is the most famous of Ronda’s three bridges and stands at 98 meters (322 feet) high.
Designed by architect José Martín de Aldehuela, the bridge features three elegant arches and a central chamber, which was historically used as a prison. Puente Nuevo offers breathtaking panoramic views of the deep gorge, the surrounding countryside, and the Guadalevín River below.
Today, it is one of Andalusia’s most iconic landmarks, attracting visitors with its stunning engineering, rich history, and dramatic scenery. The bridge serves as a symbol of Ronda’s cultural and architectural heritage, making it a must-visit destination in Spain.
Alleyway Concerts
The Alleyway Concerts are a summer series held in Reading, Pennsylvania, organized by Barrio Alegria, a community engagement organization that uses the arts to foster personal and community transformation. The initiative aims to activate underappreciated urban spaces by hosting performances from local musicians and vocal artists. By employing simple, portable equipment, the concerts bring music directly into the community, encouraging residents to view their surroundings through a new, creative lens.
Barrio Alegria emphasizes the democratization of creative spaces, inviting neighborhood artists to co-create activities that reflect their cultural knowledge and skills. The organization also engages community members in promoting events, coordinating logistics, and discovering new talent annually. Through these efforts, the Alleyway Concerts not only provide entertainment but also serve as a platform for community empowerment and engagement.
One River North
Located in Denver City's River North District, the new 16-story residential tower "merges nature and architecture to inspire a well-balanced life." It features more than 13,000 square feet of open-air spaces inspired by Colorado's landscapes. What makes the glass-clad façade genuinely stand out, though, is a jaw-dropping 10-story rift that allows you to see a trail-like walkway that spans four stories as well as a water feature. For One River North, the firm took influences specifically from the nearby Rocky Mountains, which will be visible from the roof deck that features a pool, spa and garden.
“We shared how diverse our geology is, from high alpine lakes and tree line to the eastern plains,” Jeff Stoecklein, senior landscape architect at Davis, said. “All of these plants need to be adaptable to the microclimates the building is creating,” he added. The canyon will be populated with a variety of plant species to mitigate the risk of die-off of any one species and watered via an irrigation system. The canyon includes a trail-like walkway across four floors and a waterfall between the eighth and sixth floors. As the plants mature, “we will witness seasonal change,” Stoecklein said, which will create a dynamic and variable view of the building throughout the year.
Parque Genovés
Parque Genovés is a historic botanical garden located along the seafront in the old town of Cádiz, Spain. Established in the late 18th century, it has undergone several expansions and renovations, notably in 1892 under Mayor Eduardo Genovés y Puig, after whom the park is named.
Key Features:
- Diverse Flora: The park boasts over 150 species of trees, palms, and shrubs, many of which are exotic and have adapted well to Cádiz's unique microclimate. Notable specimens include:
- A centenary Drago tree (Dracaena draco).
- A Metrosidero (Metrosideros excelsa) from New Zealand, considered one of the most significant in Europe.
- Two varieties of Araucaria, some reaching heights of up to 50 meters.
- A "Palo Borracho" (Chorisia speciosa), known for its distinctive swollen trunk.
Architectural Elements: The park features several sculptures and monuments, including the "Niños bajo el paraguas" fountain, commonly known as "la fuente de los niños del paragüitas" and statues dedicated to figures such as José Celestino Mutis, the Duchess of Victoria, José María Pemán, and Félix Rodríguez. A notable waterfall and grotto, offering a picturesque setting within the park.
Layout: The park's design includes a central avenue lined with cypress trees pruned into various shapes, reflecting English topiary styles. The asymmetrical layout of the rest of the park features diverse parterres and winding paths, creating a serene environment for visitors.
Parque Genovés serves as a green oasis in Cádiz, offering both locals and tourists a tranquil space to enjoy nature and the city's rich history.
AdAmAn Alley
AdAmAn Alley is a dynamic urban placemaking project in downtown Colorado Springs that transforms a previously overlooked alley into a vibrant public space that celebrates local history, art, and community identity. Named after the historic AdAmAn Club—a group of mountaineers who climb Pikes Peak every New Year’s Eve to set off fireworks—this space now serves as a living tribute to one of the region’s most unique traditions.