Miami researchers are testing a textured seawall designed to hold back water and create a home for marine organisms

BIOCAP tiles reimagine seawalls as dynamic, ecologically active systems that have the potential to enhance coastal resilience.

Shahin Vassigh, Professor of Architecture, Florida International University • conversation
April 16, 2025 ~7 min

Building with earth could transform sustainable construction – here’s how

Stigma surrounds earthen architecture, but it has huge potential to build sustainable structures at scale.

Rabia Charef, Senior Research Associate in Circular Economy & Digitalisation, Lancaster University • conversation
Dec. 16, 2024 ~6 min


5 lessons from ancient civilizations for keeping homes cool in hot, dry climates

Builders knew how to keep people cool in hot, dry climates thousands of years ago. It’s time to get that knowledge back.

Adriana Zuniga-Teran, Assistant Professor of Urban Geography, University of Arizona • conversation
Aug. 30, 2024 ~8 min

5 lessons from ancient civilizations for staying cool in hot, dry climates that today’s builders often ignore

Builders knew how to keep people cool in hot, dry climates thousands of years ago. It’s time to get that knowledge back.

Adriana Zuniga-Teran, Assistant Professor of Urban Geography, University of Arizona • conversation
Aug. 30, 2024 ~8 min

Stirling Prize 2024: a welcome turn towards reuse and retrofit but too safe to represent the UK’s ‘best’ architecture

The formula for winning based on previous prizes means it’s likely a big name will win for a project in the south of England.

Robert Grover, Senior Lecturer in Dept of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath • conversation
Aug. 6, 2024 ~7 min

Cities with empty commercial space and housing shortages are converting office buildings into apartments – here’s what they’re learning

Turning excess office space into apartments isn’t a panacea for the housing shortage, but it’s producing thousands of new units yearly and is more sustainable and economical than new construction.

John Weigand, Professor of Architecture and Interior Design and Interim Dean, College of Creative Arts, Miami University • conversation
June 13, 2024 ~9 min

UK cities need greener new builds – and more of them

Access to nature is provenly beneficial. Yet the UK’s urban green spaces are poorly funded and are vulnerable to local government budget cuts.

Peter Larkham, Professor of Planning, Birmingham City University • conversation
June 4, 2024 ~8 min

How to prevent America's aging buildings from collapsing – 4 high-profile disasters send a warning

Too often, signs of trouble are ignored until a problem becomes a crisis. Here are some clear warning signs residents should watch for. If you see something, say something – it could save lives.

Abieyuwa Aghayere, Professor of Structural Engineering, Drexel University • conversation
Jan. 16, 2024 ~9 min


Acapulco was built to withstand earthquakes, but not Hurricane Otis' destructive winds – how building codes failed this resort city

The best science is not always the best engineering when it comes to building codes. It’s also a problem across the US, as an engineer who works on disaster resilience explains.

Michel Bruneau, Professor of Engineering, University at Buffalo • conversation
Nov. 7, 2023 ~9 min

Billions of birds collide with glass buildings – but architecture has solutions

By adding stickers to glass walls and dimming lights, cities can be safer places for migrating birds.

Paul Dobraszczyk, Lecturer in Architecture, UCL • conversation
Oct. 16, 2023 ~7 min

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