The eerie silence currently outside the Serena Hotel in Islamabad serves as a stark contrast to the kinetic fury that has defined the last seven weeks of global geopolitics. Within these high-security walls, the most consequential direct engagement between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 1979 revolution is unfolding. This […]
architecture
Gaza’s New Peace Architecture
Pakistan’s decision to join President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” on Gaza is best read as an assertion of presence at a table that is already being built, not a departure from its settled position on Palestine. In its formal acceptance, Islamabad tied participation to UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and framed its purpose […]
From a great height: Tokyo sky decks offer fresh perspective
The seemingly endless sprawl of Tokyo can be hard to take in from the ground. But sky-high observation decks dotted across the Japanese capital offer a fresh perspective. Among the most popular are the two decks at the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan, which attracted an average of 4.5 million visitors a year […]
‘Women build the city’: Vienna’s space for female architects
Women may hold up half the sky, but when it comes to designing the public spaces and buildings in which they live, their voices have too often been silenced. A visionary project in Vienna aims to turn that notion on its head, with a suburb in the Austrian capital designed by and for women. It […]
Indian architecture laureate Doshi has no plans to slow down
Trailblazing Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi vowed Thursday to use his award, considered architecture’s Nobel equivalent, to escalate his campaign for proper housing for the poor as the country battles a massive shortage of homes. The 90-year-old told AFP he had no plans of slowing down as he received well-wishers at his home in the western […]