Fitzroy Gasworks, a historic industrial area established in the 1860, is getting renewed by the government agency Development Victoria. It is currently being transformed into a new precinct, with affordable and sustainable homes, sports and education facilities, and public spaces. If you enjoy urban renewal and mixed-program development, this is something to keep an eye on.

Architecture firm Woods Bagot is designing two residential buildings within Parcel C. The completed parcel will contain 539 build-to-sell homes, including 10 affordable homes, 43 ‘at cost’ homes, and 7 SDA homes. The design is inspired by the rhythm and geometry of Fitzroy’s traditional terrace housing, featuring layered balconies, plantings and pocket gardens. A shared entry arcade connects the two buildings to foster community connection. If you want to know more about the Fitzroy Gasworks renewal, click here.

The Berlin studio of David Chipperfield Architects has made a second design attempt for the Nobel Center that is planned to open to the public in 2031. The Nobel Center will be the world center for the Nobel Prize and will contain workshops, lectures, events and exhibitions. A building permit was recently applied for with a series of blocky volumes, timber structural frames with facades using reclaimed brick.

The volumes respond to the topography of Södermalm, with the ambition to be an extension of the historic skyline. The updated design aims at ‘respectful dialogue’ with the historic area of central Stockholm, as the previous design was rejected due to the lack of it. The revised design seems to again spark fierce public debate, but who knows - perhaps this time the permit will be approved?

Read more about the Nobel Center here.

Marc Leschelier, notable for his architecture without function, or “pre-architecture”, inhabits the central square of Fortezza da Basso in Florence with 18 monolithic structures in an installation called “Ancient / New Site”.

Made by concrete canvas, these installations plays with perception as they appear to be lightweight, like fabric, but is actually structural and load bearing. The installations create a walkable field of art that visitors are encouraged to interact with in different ways.

Marc Lescheliers work is a critique against the professions tendency to create fixed systems and functions. His installations are meant to exist “prior to function and use”. He celebrates ambiguity by positioning himself in the interplay between soft and hard, as he brings monolithic pieces of “fabric” into Pitti Uomo 109, one of the most famous mens fashion events in the world. Read more about the installation by clicking this link.

In 2004, William Crawford and Peter Brewin from Wales developed rapidly deployable shelters for humanitarian disaster relief with a new invention. The concept was an inflatable formwork shelter with a cement-filled geotextile lining that was delivered to site folded within a crate. On site it would unfold using an inflatable plastic membrane, hydrated and within hours the shelter would be ready for inhabitation.

Concrete canvas (CC) consists of a 3-dimensitonal fibre matrix containing a specially formulated dry cementitious mix. A PVC backing ensures the CC is completely waterproof. When hydrated, water mixes with the cementitious mix and the hardering process begins.

Concrete canvas provides a thin, waterproof and low carbon alternative to traditional concrete, but what does this really mean for construction?

The material can be installed up to 10 times faster than conventional concrete and offers a 95% material saving, which translates to a typical 60% total cost saving, but so far its applications are limited and the material untested. What do you think, could this material be a game changer for architecture in general?

If you want to read more about concrete canvas, check out the full deep dive here!