CIRCULUS Atelier is the working studio of Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. (OAD) and a built application of the practice’s CIRCULUS architectural framework, which examines circularity, continuity, and long-term adaptability in design. Conceived as both a workplace in Yokohama, Japan, and a prototype, the project investigates how digital fabrication can inform architecture as a system that integrates exterior enclosure and interior spatial treatment within a unified material logic.

The building’s exterior is defined by KNIT, a modular facade system developed and fabricated by the practice using large-scale 3D printing. Rather than functioning as a conventional cladding, the facade operates as a woven surface composed of repeated printed units. Variations in geometry across the modules create depth and shadow, allowing the facade to respond to changing light conditions over time. The fabrication process remains legible, with the method of production directly expressed in the architectural surface.

all images courtesy of Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. (OAD)

Suspended 3D Printed Elements Shape CIRCULUS Atelier’s interior

Inside the atelier, Studio Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. (OAD) applies the same material approach in a different manner. Flexible 3D printed elements are suspended from the ceiling, forming a draped installation that introduces a soft overhead layer above the workspace. This suspended system filters daylight, moderates acoustics, and defines spatial zones without enclosing them. The ceiling is treated as a hanging field shaped by gravity and material behavior rather than as a rigid, fixed plane.

The interior installation relies on the inherent flexibility of the printed material, allowing elements to fold, overlap, and deform naturally. Through digital fabrication, softness becomes a controlled architectural attribute rather than a purely ornamental effect. Both the KNIT facade and the interior components are designed to be demountable, repairable, and reconfigurable, aligning with the CIRCULUS framework’s emphasis on reuse and adaptability.

overall view of the CIRCULUS atelier, wrapped in a 3D printed KNIT facade resembling a woven surface

a studio Designed for Adjustment, Reuse and Long-Term Flexibility

All elements are produced in-house using 3D printing, enabling precise geometric control while limiting material waste. Architecture is treated as an evolving assembly rather than a finished object, capable of adjustment and transformation over time. As a working studio, the atelier provides a setting in which material performance, spatial comfort, and durability can be evaluated through daily use.

CIRCULUS Atelier operates as both a functional workplace and a test site for architectural research. By integrating design, fabrication, and occupation within a single environment, the project presents an approach to architecture that prioritizes continuity, material behavior, and long-term flexibility within a circular design system.

detail of the KNIT facade around the window opening reveals the layered rhythm of the 3D printed components

the KNIT modules showcase subtle variations created through digital fabrication

interior view of the atelier workspace beneath a softly draped, textile-like suspended 3D printed installation

after 3D printing, the discharged material is reused as a wall-mounted object, reflecting circular principles

close-up of a soft, flexible 3D printed component used in the suspended interior installation

rejecting the fixed geometry of conventional shelving, 3D printed cells are assembled to form a unique shelf

light passing through the suspended elements creates a layered and atmospheric ceiling condition

a folded 3D printed screen resting on a chair, emphasizing the softness and flexibility of the material

the draped installation gently defines zones within the workspace without enclosing the space

oblique view of the suspended elements, emphasizing depth, repetition, and material softness

project info:

name: CIRCULUS Atelier
architect: Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. | @o.a.d.co.ltd

location: Yokohama, Japan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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THINK TANK completes the redevelopment of Kinshasa’s historic Zando Central Market in Congo into a climate-responsive civic infrastructure designed to accommodate 20,000 vendors, nearly six times its original capacity. Once conceived for just 3,500 traders, the 1970s-era market had become dangerously overcrowded, unsanitary, and structurally exhausted. Located in the heart of the Congolese capital, the new 80,500-square-meter complex replaces the former building with a covered yet porous commercial environment that integrates retail, logistics, cold storage, food courts, and essential public services, including a fire station, police post, infirmary, and administrative facilities.

The team approaches the project as an African market first and foremost. The architecture relies on passive principles, including thermal mass, cross-ventilation, stack effect, and deep shade. The structure is composed of open concrete frames topped by large mushroom-shaped slabs, an echo of the former market’s iconic roofscape. These canopies protect vendors and shoppers from solar radiation while allowing hot air to escape naturally through height differences in the structure. Terracotta brick facades wrap the market, patterned with moucharabieh-like perforations inspired by Congolese textiles, allowing air to pass through the building while filtering sunlight.

all images by Martin Argyroglo

an award-winning model of material restraint and climate logic

The redevelopment by the Paris-based team at THINK TANK received the 2025 Holcim Foundation Award – Regional Winner (Middle East Africa), with the jury praising its structural clarity, contextual sensitivity, and use of only two primary materials, concrete and terracotta brick. The panel described the project as ‘a landmark for Kinshasa,’ highlighting its mushroom-shaped slabs and breathable facades as both technically effective and symbolically resonant. 

The building is constructed almost entirely from concrete and brick. Both materials were selected not only for durability and performance, but also for their local availability. Concrete aligns with regional construction skills and structural demands, while brick has deep roots in Congolese architectural traditions.

To support local economies, three brick factories within 60 kilometers of the site were reactivated to supply the project. The material strategy also reduces operational complexity, with finishes being integrated into the structural logic, eliminating the need for layered systems or specialized maintenance. Elevators were replaced by gently sloped ramps, keeping the building low-tech and robust over time.

THINK TANK completes the redevelopment of Kinshasa’s historic Zando Central Market in Congo

water, plants, and urban biodiversity

The architects organize the plan around five open courtyards, introducing vegetation and daylight into the deep footprint of the market. These patios are planted with native species and function as microclimatic regulators, social gathering spaces, and biodiversity pockets. Planters are integrated into railings, and surrounding streets are lined with trees to form a green corridor connecting to Kinshasa’s nearby botanical garden. Rainwater is collected and stored in tanks, then reused for irrigation, cleaning, and fire safety. The system reduces dependence on municipal infrastructure while reinforcing the building’s resilience during heavy rains or service interruptions.

Before THINK TANK’s market redevelopment, Zando had become one of Kinshasa’s most precarious urban zones. Years of neglect had led to blocked streets, lack of sanitation, uncontrolled sprawl, and nightly violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the site was closed, creating an opportunity for authorities to initiate a full regeneration of the area. The new structure reorganizes circulation, introduces fire protection systems, establishes waste management zones, and integrates security and healthcare services directly into the building. 

a climate-responsive civic infrastructure designed to accommodate 20,000 vendors

participatory planning

The architects expanded the minimal original brief into a detailed program through workshops involving city officials, vendors, fire services, and municipal departments. Stalls are offered in multiple sizes, rented by linear meter or square meter, allowing vendors from different income levels to coexist. Informal trading areas are preserved rather than erased, acknowledging their central role in Congolese urban culture.

Universal access is built into the architecture. Wide, gently sloped ramps connect all levels, responding to the high number of disabled citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to conflict and disease. This ensures that upper floors remain accessible without reliance on mechanical systems.

Visually, the design draws from both Congolese building traditions and the modernist legacy of African brutalism. The mushroom-shaped slabs, once a defining feature of the original market, are reinterpreted as structural, climatic, and symbolic devices. Their geometry provides shade, distributes heavy loads, and gives the building a recognizable civic identity. The terracotta facades use patterns inspired by wax textiles and tattoo motifs, combining ventilation with cultural reference. The natural color of local clay allows the building to sit within Kinshasa’s landscape without visual dominance.

the complex replaces the former building with a covered yet porous commercial environment

integarting retail, logistics, cold storage, food courts, and essential public services

the structure is composed of open concrete frames

large mushroom-shaped slabs top the market

these canopies protect vendors and shoppers from solar radiation

height differences in the structure allow hot air to escape naturally

terracotta brick facades wrap the market

the architecture relies on passive principles, including thermal mass, cross-ventilation, stack effect, and deep shade

the building is constructed almost entirely from two materials: concrete and brick

the terracotta facades use patterns inspired by wax textiles and tattoo motifs

the design draws from both Congolese building traditions and the modernist legacy of African brutalism

project info:

name: Zando Central Market 

architect: THINK TANK | @thinktank_archi

location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

surface area: 80,500 square meters

team: THINK TANK / Egis Bâtiment International / Novablok (feasibility) / Ayo Bet Façades

lead architects: Marine de la Guerrande & Adrien Pineau

client: SOGEMA (Dieudonné Barakani)

award: Holcim Foundation Awards 2025 – Regional Winner (Middle East Africa)

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The new Tiffany & Co. flagship store in Beijing has opened in the Taikoo Li Sanlitun district, with a rippling facade designed by Dutch studio MVRDV that gives the building a landmark presence within the dense shopping district. Located at a crossroads in the northern portion of the complex, the four-story building meets a steady flow of pedestrian movement and long sightlines from multiple directions.

The project responds to its site with its continuous envelope of Tiffany Blue which can be read from all directions. This facade behaves as an architectural surface that engages light and movement, allowing the store to read as part of the district’s fabric while maintaining a clear identity associated with the iconic jewelry brand.

images © Tiffany & Co.

the facade of vertical glass fins

The architects at MVRDV wrap the building’s exterior with vertical fins of translucent glass, rising the full height of the Tiffany & Co. Beijing flagship. Each fin carries a gentle curvature, producing a layered surface that shifts with the viewer’s position. The fins create depth and identity without reliance on applied graphics, a strategy which allows material and geometry to carry the expression.

The glass softens views toward the interior while maintaining a sense of permeability. ‘When viewed from an angle, the layering effect of the dense glass fins amplifies the effects of the light, highlighting the facade’s shape,’ explains MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs.

‘The light filtering through and reflecting off of the translucent glass creates a delicate interplay that is constantly changing as you move. And, as you pass close to the building, you see glimpses in between the fins to the jewellery inside.’

the Tiffany & Co. Beijing flagship occupies a four story building at a Sanlitun crossroads

daylight as a design tool

MVRDV harnesses daylight to activate the facade of the Tiffany Beijing flagship through subtle variation. The glass carries a natural blue tone that becomes more pronounced as light passes through multiple layers. At night, integrated lighting embedded within the mounting brackets illuminates the fins evenly to create the soft glow long associated with Tiffany’s visual language.

Attention to construction details shapes the experience. The lighting hardware remains recessed within custom supports, allowing the glass edges to remain visually continuous. This approach keeps focus on the material surface itself rather than its fixings, reinforcing the sense of precision that characterizes the project.

The facade has been engineered for disassembly, with glass fins and brackets designed for removal and future reuse. This strategy extends the life of the system beyond a single retail cycle and reflects an interest in adaptability within its ever-changing commercial context.

MVRDV designs the facade as a continuous surface shaped by vertical glass fins

translucent glass layers adjust with movement and changing daylight

the facade allows partial views into the retail interior

integrated lighting emphasizes the natural blue tone of the glass

MVRDV harnesses daylight to activate the facade through subtle variation

the demountable system supports future reuse of materials

project info:

name: Tiffany Facade Beijing

architect: MVRDV | @mvrdv

location: Beijing, China

client: Tiffany & Co. | @tiffanyandco

completion: 2025

photography: © Tiffany & Co.

founding partner in charge: Jacob van Rijs
head of interior: Aser Gimenez Ortega
design team: Simone Costa, Türker Naci Şaylan, Monica Di Salvo, Natalia Lipczuk, Sanel Beciri, Sofia Mermigka Angeli
co-architect: AT ZERO DESIGN LIMITED
contractor: Permasteelisa Gartner Hong Kong Limited
lighting designer: Cooley Monato Studio

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The Poet’s House by NextOffice is the restoration and adaptive reuse of a 1970s residential building in downtown Tehran, formerly the home of Iranian poet and dissident Ahmad Shamlou. The project converts the house into a cultural center while retaining key architectural features of the original structure, including its brick facade, rounded corners, and expressive lintels characteristic of the period.

The intervention centers on a second-floor interior wall inscribed with a handwritten poem by Shamlou addressed to his wife and muse, Aida. Rather than treating the inscription as a preserved artifact, the design extends this wall into a spatial and semi-structural element that organizes circulation throughout the building. Known as the ‘Aida Wall,’ the new steel structure rises from the courtyard to the rooftop, forming a three-dimensional promenade that connects interior programs and visually opens the house toward the surrounding city.

the Poet’s House is the adaptive reuse of a 1970s residential building in Tehran | image by Parham Taghioff

Steel Intervention Reinforces the Poet’s Brick House by NextOffice

The original building’s brick load-bearing structure required reinforcement to accommodate the new public program, which includes exhibition spaces, a library, bookstore, café, and restaurant. The structural intervention was made explicit rather than concealed, with the steel wall functioning as both reinforcement and architectural framework. This strategy establishes a clear dialogue between the existing masonry structure and the inserted contemporary system.

Through this reconfiguration, the formerly private courtyard is repositioned as a public open space, supporting the building’s transformation from a domestic setting into a cultural venue. The steel intervention is deliberately reversible, allowing for its removal without permanent alteration to the original structure. Material selection by design studio NextOffice emphasizes contrast and adaptability, with steel chosen for its capacity to weather over time and respond formally through cutting, bending, and articulation.

The Poet’s House demonstrates an approach to adaptive reuse that balances preservation with transformation. By integrating structural necessity, spatial organization, and cultural reference into a single architectural element, the project reframes a private residence as a public institution while maintaining the legibility of its original form and history.

the former home of poet Ahmad Shamlou transforms into a public cultural center | image by Ehsan Hajirasouliha

original architectural features, like the brick facade and rounded corners, are retained | image by Parham Taghioff

structural reinforcement is expressed rather than concealed within the design | image by Parham Taghioff

the steel element functions as both architectural framework and structural support | image by Mahdi Kamboozia

a clear dialogue is established between the original masonry and new steel insertions | image by Parham Taghioff

the intervention is designed to be reversible without permanent alteration to the building | image by Parham Taghioff

named the Aida Wall, the steel intervention organizes circulation across the building | image by Parham Taghioff

the project balances preservation with architectural transformation | image by Ehsan Hajirasouliha

the project introduces exhibition spaces, a library, bookstore, café, and restaurant | image by Ehsan Hajirasouliha

steel is selected for its adaptability and capacity to age over time | image by Ehsan Hajirasouliha

the Poet’s House by NextOffice repositions a private residence as a public cultural space | image by Parham Taghioff

project info:

name: The Poet’s House
architects: NextOffice

lead architect: Alireza Taghaboni 

design team: Elnaz Kharaghani, Hoodad Zoroufchiyan, Meysam Ebrahimi Moaghaddam, Roza Bemani, Ali Ghods, Farzad Farasat, Hadi Irani, Gelare Geranseresht, Negar Mansouri, Mohammad Motamedi, Elahe Babaei, Homa Asadi, Asal Karami, Shadi Bitaraf, Marziyeh Norouzi, Mohammad Amin Abedin, Soroush Attarzadeh, Ehsan Ahani, Saba Salehi, Mohammad Mardi, Ali Jahani
location: Tehran, Iran

photographers: Ehsan Hajirasouliha, Parham Taghioff, Mahdi Kamboozia

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Arid reworks and extends a two-story corner building from 1951 in the Patissia district of Athens into a hybrid residential, co-living, and co-working building. The project, dubbed Veil, renovates the original fabric and adds three new floors above it, resulting in an 850-square-meter building that engages directly with its neighborhood’s spatial logic.

The intervention is shaped by Karamanlaki Street’s characteristic morphology, where setbacks generate ‘prassies,’ semi-open front gardens. These transitional spaces become a guiding principle for the new volume, which pulls back, carving out terraces and voids that preserve openness and visual continuity along the street. This restraint allows the building to sit comfortably within its context, maintaining lightness despite its increased height.

The architects integrate contemporary elements into the existing structure, with its marble surfaces, wooden floors, and timber window frames. The added volume above introduces perforated aluminum panels that wrap the facade, softening the mass and blurring its edges, creating a layered composition where structure and surface, concealment and exposure become one.

all images by Giorgos Kordakis, unless stated otherwise

arid reworks the polykatoikia as a shared living model

The Athens-based team at Arid improves ventilation and privacy with a double-skin facade system that allows light to filter and reflect in constantly changing ways. Movable louvers and rotating panels regulate daylight, producing shifting transparencies and a kinetic quality. As the sun moves, the appearance of Veil changes, transforming the upper floors into an almost immaterial presence hovering above the older base.

Programmatically, the project rethinks the social model of the Athenian polykatoikia. Alongside a range of residential units, the building incorporates coworking spaces, a shared coliving apartment, and a communal roof garden. These shared areas extend the idea of collective urban living, updating it for contemporary patterns of work and habitation while remaining rooted in Athens’ long tradition of dense, mixed-use residential life.

the project embedded within patissia’s dense residential fabric | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

the renovated 1950s corner building|  image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

perforated aluminum mesh mediates between interior life and the surrounding fabric | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

rooftop terraces carve out semi-private outdoor rooms | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

perforated aluminum panels filter light across the facade

terraces wrapped by a double-skin facade create transitional spaces

operable metal screens allow controlled openness

the new volume reads as a soft, filtered presence

forming a layered urban profile

the building reads as luminous presence

shifting transparencies emerge as sunlight filters through the double-skin facade

the retained concrete base contrasts with the contemporary metal-clad extension

maintaining privacy for residential units | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

a hybrid residential, co-living, and co-working building | image by Vasilis Fotiou

interior partitions echo the exterior’s filtering logic | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

mesh-filtered daylight softens the living environment | image by Vasilis Fotiou

project info:

name: Veil

architect: Arid | @arid_architects

location: Patissia, Athens, Greece

area: 850 square meters

design team: Mathilda Beraha, Dimitris Sotiropoulos, Giannis Schinas

contractor: Calen

mechanical engineer: HMeng

structural engineers: Andreas Alexandropoulos, Dimitris Antonopoulos

facade: Rometal

lighting design: Anastasia Philipopoulou

landscape design: Scape

photographers: Giorgos Sfakianakis | @g_sfakianakis, Giorgos Kordakis | @yiorgoskordakis, Vasilis Fotiou 

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Set within the rugged terrain of the Andes, the Rumi Ñahui Cabin by Rtresarquitectos negotiates its presence through reflection, fragmentation, and elevation, allowing the site to remain the dominant force. Facing east, the building adopts a faceted envelope composed of angular elements that recall suspended rocks scattered across the hillside. These articulated surfaces visually break down the volume, offering protection from prevailing winds. The geometry softens the mass of the cabin, translating geological conditions into an architectural language.

A continuous wall of reflective glass mirrors the surrounding landscape, dissolving the edges of the cabin and reducing its visual impact from a distance. Rather than functioning purely as transparency, the facade absorbs the colors, textures, and changing light of the Andes, while also capturing the afternoon sun. 

The volume is elevated above the ground, allowing the rocky landscape to flow freely beneath it, a gesture that minimizes physical intervention on the terrain and contributes to improved thermal performance by reducing direct ground contact.

all images by Vinicios Barros

rumi ñahui cabin by rtresarquitectos adopts passive strategies

Rumi Ñahui Cabin operates as a response to the landscape. Through elevation, reflection, and material restraint, the Cajamarca-based team at Rtresarquitectos delivers a project where architecture allows the Andean landscape to remain the primary protagonist.

Inside, the landscape continues to shape the spatial experience. A large horizontal window facing east frames the surrounding topography, while semi-reflective glazed panels extend exterior views into the interior, visually dissolving enclosure. The furniture reinforces this dialogue: reflective kitchen fittings and a sculptural washbasin evoke carved, suspended rocks, translating the site’s geological character into a domestic scale.

Environmental performance is embedded throughout the project. The compact rectangular plan and east–west orientation are calibrated to optimize solar gain, while passive strategies, such as thermally massive materials, airtight windows, and controlled ventilation, support thermal efficiency. These are complemented by active systems, including photovoltaic panels and a biodigester for waste management, consolidating a sustainable approach that remains quietly integrated into the architecture.

a faceted east facade fragments the cabin’s mass

the glass-clad volume stretches horizontally across the rocky Andean hillside

shielding the elevated cabin from prevailing winds

situating the cabin within the vast andean topography

a narrow access route weaves through rocks toward the elevated glass volume

the mirrored surface blends the cabin into its rocky setting when viewed from a distance

the sculptural washbasin echoes the geology of the site

steel grating steps trace the natural rock formation, minimizing ground disturbance

the sculptural washbasin echoes the geology of the site within the interior

exposed concrete, timber ceilings, and filtered daylight define the restrained interior palette

interior spaces frame the landscape through large horizontal openings

exposed concrete, timber ceilings, and filtered daylight define the restrained interior palette

framing views while hovering above the slope

a project where architecture allows the landscape to remain the primary protagonist

the facade absorbs the colors, textures, and changing light of the Andes

project info:

name: Rumi Ñahui Cabin

architect: Rtresarquitectos | @rtresarquitectos

location: Andes, Peru

design team: Roberto Rojas, Danny Zamora, Jehu Rodriguez, Nilton Murga, Diana Ordóñez, Lesslie Castro, Damar Pacheco

photographer: Vinicios Barros

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Wild Souls is a clean-eating venue designed by studiomateriality and located at the corner of two busy streets in the Kolonaki district of Athens. Positioned within a dense urban context, the project integrates into the city’s daily movement while establishing a clear architectural identity at the street corner.

The exterior is fully clad in terracotta tiles, giving the building a consistent material presence on all visible facades. The use of terracotta introduces a warm, earthy surface that references natural materials and aligns with the plant-based focus of the food concept. The uniform treatment of the facade allows the store to remain visually legible from multiple directions within the surrounding streetscape.

Wild Souls is a clean-eating venue located at a street corner in Kolonaki, Athens | all images by Antonis Sarris

Wild Souls’ Square Plan Organized Around Communal Dining

Inside, the design team at Athens-based studiomateriality organizes the layout around a clear square plan that promotes openness and visibility across the space. A large, centrally positioned tiled communal table anchors the ground floor and accommodates shared seating for up to ten people. This element structures circulation while supporting informal gathering and collective dining.

The upper level introduces a contrasting atmosphere through extensive use of greenery. Planting defines the seating area and creates a quieter environment removed from street activity below. This level functions as an interior retreat, offering a spatial shift through light, vegetation, and reduced visual density.

the building establishes a clear architectural presence within the surrounding streetscape

Consistent Materiality Shapes Wild Souls’ Interior Experience

Material choices remain consistent throughout the project. Terracotta surfaces, muted tones, and natural textures are paired with planting to establish a cohesive interior language. The design avoids excessive formal gestures, allowing materiality, proportion, and spatial organization to support the program. Wild Souls is conceived as a place for eating and social interaction, where architectural elements frame everyday use within one of Athens’ most active neighborhoods.

the materiality references natural surfaces and earthy tones

the interior layout is organized around a clear square plan

openness and visual continuity define the ground-floor space

a centrally placed tiled communal table anchors the interior

extensive planting defines the upper-floor seating area

the upper floor functions as a quieter interior retreat

terracotta surfaces continue throughout the interior spaces

muted tones and natural textures establish material consistency

the layout supports informal gathering and collective dining

architectural elements frame everyday dining and social interaction

project info:

name: Wild Souls
architect: studiomateriality | @studiomateriality

location: Irodotou 14, Kolonaki, Athens, Greece

area: 115 sqm

photographer: Antonis Sarris | @thecaptainanton

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Located along the Zhujia River in Jiang’an District, Wuhan, LuxeIsland Farm, designed by Various Associates, forms the core of the 230,000-sqm LUXEOASIS development. Positioned between northern hillsides and a southern pier, the project is conceived as a small-scale retreat that combines ecological recreation, educational programs, retail, and cultural activities within a unified landscape framework. Commissioned for both architectural and interior design, Various Associates developed LuxeIsland Farm as a spatial experiment in community interaction and environmental integration. The project explores the themes of ‘Future, Fun, and Interaction’ through an architectural language that juxtaposes geological massing with craft-based detailing.

The farm masterplan adopts a circular layout that connects animal enclosures, creative workshops, retail spaces, and dining areas. New structures are embedded within the terrain, creating a continuous rhythm across the valley. Volumetric forms resembling scattered stones or meteorites emerge from the ground, interwoven with misting systems and vegetation. Semi-submerged animal enclosures with green roofs reduce visual impact while enhancing the sense of immersion in the landscape. Each building is characterized by the use of natural materials such as bamboo, timber, and stone. Bamboo weaving, referencing local craft traditions, is reinterpreted as a structural and aesthetic device, forming roofs and facades that mediate light and shadow across the site.

all images by SFAP

Bamboo pavilions and earthen forms shape LuxeIsland Farm

Set against the hillside, the animal enclosures are designed with minimal intervention to preserve the existing terrain. Their partially earth-sheltered configuration blends the farm into its surroundings, while open paddocks and shaded frameworks create varied environments for alpacas, deer, and other animals. The design emphasizes both safety and proximity, encouraging educational and recreational interaction between visitors and animals.

The creative workshop is a lightweight bamboo-woven pavilion composed of a domed canopy and stone-like supports. Triangular perforations in the bamboo surface allow filtered daylight to create dynamic shadow patterns. The open layout functions as a café, rest area, and flexible workspace, with operable facades connecting directly to surrounding greenery. A secondary pavilion, a ‘silver disc,’ houses an ice cream and donut station. Its metallic surface contrasts with the earthy tones of adjacent structures, serving as a visual focal point within the site. A nearby feed house encourages closer interaction between visitors and animals, reinforcing the site’s social and experiential role.

The feed barn and washroom are designed as a paired composition, characterized by bamboo-and-metal roofs that appear to float above textured stone and cement finishes. The design team at Various Associates uses artisanal coatings and muted color palettes to emphasize material honesty and spatial coherence across programmatic functions. At the Forest Star Stage, a flexible outdoor area supports events and performances. Defined by sawdust flooring, hay bale seating, and ambient lighting, it transforms from a daytime resting area into an evening gathering space.

LuxeIsland Farm by Various Associates anchors the LUXEOASIS development along Wuhan’s Zhujia River

LuxeIsland Farm integrates ecology, leisure, and rural urbanism

Material selection reflects ecological awareness and formal precision. Bamboo, timber, and red earth establish a connection with the regional landscape, while metal and concrete articulate a contemporary contrast. Through these combinations, LuxeIsland Farm demonstrates how natural materials and constructed form can coexist within a performative and educational setting.

By blending architectural form, environmental design, and cultural programming, Various Associates positions LuxeIsland Farm as both a functional agricultural environment and an evolving social landscape, an example of how contemporary rural architecture can integrate ecology, leisure, and urban experience.

the project integrates ecology, recreation, and cultural activities within a unified landscape framework

Various Associates designed both the architecture and interiors as a spatial experiment in environmental integration

the masterplan adopts a circular layout linking animal enclosures, workshops, and dining spaces

scattered, stone-like structures emerge from the terrain, blending architecture with the valley landscape

semi-submerged animal enclosures reduce visual impact while enhancing immersion in nature

natural materials such as bamboo, timber, and stone define the farm’s architectural language

set against the hillside, the animal zones preserve the existing topography with minimal intervention

open paddocks and shaded frameworks create diverse environments for alpacas, deer, and other animals

bamboo weaving is reinterpreted as a structural and aesthetic device throughout the project

a silver disc pavilion houses an ice cream and donut station, contrasting with the site’s earthy tones

the creative workshop features a lightweight bamboo-woven dome supported by stone-like columns

the design encourages close, educational interaction between visitors and animals

material choices reflect ecological awareness, combining bamboo, timber, and red earth with concrete and metal

triangular perforations in the bamboo canopy filter natural light into dynamic shadow patterns

the feed barn and washroom pair share bamboo-and-metal roofs that appear to float above stone surfaces

artisanal coatings and muted materials create a consistent and tactile interior palette

LuxeIsland Farm operates as both an agricultural landscape and a social environment rooted in ecology and design

project info:

name: LuxeIsland Farm
architect: Various Associates | @various_associates

location: Wuhan, China

area: 500 sqm

interior area: 150 sqm

client: Luxelake’s Cultural Tourism

lead designers: Lin Qianyi, Yang Dongzi

design team: Hou Jinwang, Li Min, Zhang Junbiao, Pan Baizhen, Li Zebing, Lin Liangji, Huang Yongliang

structural design: UDG

landscape design: WTD

photographer & videographer: SFAP

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Tùr House is a speculative architectural research project by Barry Wark Studio that explores adaptability, disassembly, and long-term material reuse as foundational design principles. The proposal challenges conventional notions of buildings as fixed and disposable objects, instead framing architecture as a system capable of evolving over time through repair, modification, and reconfiguration.

The residential project is centered on a single-material building envelope composed of large-scale 3D printed sand blocks. This facade operates as an independent outer layer, separated from the structural frame and interior spaces. By avoiding complex, multi-layered wall assemblies, the design proposes a simplified and circular construction approach in which materials can be removed, reused, or replaced with minimal waste. Each sand block is printed at a scale sufficient to form a thick, load-bearing facade that also functions as the building’s thermal barrier. Openings are carved directly into the monolithic elements, with recessed glazing that maintains thermal continuity while admitting daylight. The fractured geometry of the elevations allows individual components of the facade to be added or removed over time without disrupting the overall architectural coherence.

the white, 3D printed blocks when first built | all images by Analog1

Flexible Interior Framework Supports Long-Term Spatial Change

Behind the envelope, a lightweight structural system of steel and 3D printed columns supports a flexible interior layout. Glass partitions provide acoustic separation while allowing internal spaces to be reconfigured independently of the outer shell. The spatial sequence progresses vertically, with open communal areas at ground level transitioning into more private rooms above, before expanding again into a double-height living space and mezzanine.

The house is initially situated at the edge of a forest and is conceived to change alongside its environment. Recesses and ledges within the thick facade are designed to collect organic matter such as leaves, moss, and lichen, allowing weathering to become an integral aspect of the architectural expression. Rather than resisting environmental influence, the building incorporates gradual transformation as part of its material and spatial logic. Through material density, controlled openings, and long-term adaptability, Tùr House by Barry Wark Studio positions architecture as a durable framework capable of evolving slowly over time in response to both use and landscape.

entry pathway to the house, 100 years later

forest has grown around the building over time

100 years later, blocks weather and merge with the environment

the project by Barry Wark Studio explores adaptability, disassembly, and long-term material reuse

rain and leaves begin to take hold of the facade

Tùr House in the landscape when first completed

large-scale 3D printed sand blocks are used as Tùr House’s sole facade material

living room with a large, sliding picture window with views over the landscape

living room with monolithic blocks and timber wall

kitchen view with 3D printed stone column

project info:

name: Tùr House
architect: Barry Wark Studio | @barry_wark

renders: Analog1

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Designed by MET Team Architects, the Tokyo Flagship Shop for Japanese stationery brand PLOTTER occupies a narrow urban site, where the store’s sculpted facade emerges as two interlocking volumes. The brand is known for its minimalist leather binders that reinterpret the traditional notebook, and this dual-volume composition, one symbolizing the past and the other the future, anchors both the architectural concept and the brand narrative. Strict height regulations further shape the compact building, requiring the design to articulate identity through form rather than scale.

all images by Kenya Chiba

MET merges Past and future within a compact vertical sequence

MET Team Architects describes their concept as an ‘embrace’ that brings the two volumes into a spatial relationship that reflects PLOTTER’s balance between tradition and innovation. Rather than being read as separate elements, the masses interlock and support one another, generating a dynamic interior organization. A skip-floor system replaces conventional levels, allowing the space to unfold vertically as a continuous sequence and guiding visitors upward through the narrow footprint.

Material choices made by the Tokyo-based firm reinforce the connection between product and place. A washi paper ceiling introduces a tactile softness, while a leather-wrapped counter extends from the entrance to the upper floors, functioning simultaneously as display surface, circulation guide, and handrail. This continuous element anchors the spatial experience, turning movement through the store into a tactile journey. Within its limited dimensions, the flagship becomes an immersive architectural expression of PLOTTER’s design philosophy.

the sculpted facade emerges as two interlocking volumes

the PLOTTER flagship shop occupies a narrow urban site

the dual-volume composition symbolizes the past and the future

detail of the sculptural facade

a washi paper ceiling introduces a tactile softness

material choices reinforce the connection between product and place

the flagship becomes an immersive architectural expression of PLOTTER’s design philosophy

a leather-wrapped counter extends from the entrance to the upper floors

strict height regulations further shape the compact building

the store facade in the evening

two interlocking volumes shape the exterior

the compact store emerges within the dense neighborhood

project info:

name: PLOTTER Tokyo Flagship Shop
architects: MET Team Architects
lead architect: Angel Estevez

location: Tokyo, Japan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom

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