pablo luna studio crafts fluid bamboo ‘belalu dome villa’ in tropical bali

Belalu Dome Villa: Organic architecture in the Jungle

Pablo Luna Studio‘s newly completed Belalu Dome Villa rises among the lush landscape of Bali with a dramatically curving roof structure. Conceived as part of Belalu Bali Boutique & Spa Experience, the villa reflects the retreat’s vision of combining ecological awareness with contemporary comfort. Its dome form symbolizes the architects’ ideas of unity, continuity, and gentle protection, and harmonizes with the layered greenery that defines the Indonesian island’s terrain.

The architecture favors organic expression over linear composition. Arched bamboo frames spring directly from the ground, joining above in a continuous sweep that shapes both roof and wall. Without straight columns or visible separations, the form reads as one fluid gesture to lend curved, fluid interiors. The structure appears to breathe with its setting, light shifting through woven bamboo as air moves across its surface.

images © Mo Arpi

Pablo Luna Studio curates fluid interiors

Inside Pablo Luna Studio’s Belalu Dome Villa, three interconnected spaces unfold. The central bedroom opens toward a semi-open bathroom and private garden, where textured limestone walls and ulin wood finishes bring tactile richness. The floor, wall, and ceiling each transition into the next without sharp distinction. This creates a softening of spatial boundaries, linking occupants to their surroundings.

The layout extends toward an indoor jacuzzi that opens onto the living area, maintaining a consistent sense of continuity. Here, the team‘s craftsmanship plays a central role as custom furnishings, woven details, and natural stone surfaces speak to the local building traditions that inform Pablo Luna’s architectural language.

Belalu Dome Villa rises from the jungle landscape of Bali with an organic form

a material palette of bamboo and hardwood

The architects at Pablo Luna Studio curate a restrained palette of bamboo, limestone, slate, and hardwood to ground the Belalu Dome Villa in its tropical context. The materials absorb and diffuse daylight, creating a balanced environment that remains temperate and inviting throughout the day. The dome’s curvature ensures both shade and ventilation, essential to the region’s humid climate.

As light filters through the bamboo weave, interior shadows shift in quiet patterns. Breezes enter through generous openings that frame the surrounding forest, carrying the scent of vegetation and moisture. Within this dialogue of form and environment, the villa becomes a space for reflection and renewal.

Pablo Luna Studio designs the villa as part of Belalu Bali Boutique and Spa Experience

curved bamboo arches create an open structure without straight columns

the architecture flows continuously from ground to roof in one fluid movement

filtered sunlight and cross ventilation bring calm and comfort to the space

project info:

name: Belalu Dome Villa

architect: Pablo Luna Studio | @pablolunastudio

location: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

area: 80 square meters (860 square feet)

photography: © Mo Arpi | @mo_arpi_studio

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recycled materials transform abandoned triangular lot in colombia into colorful urban space

Participatory Design revives Community Park in Neiva

Community Park Veinte de Mayo, designed by Taller Ciudad Portátil, is located in the Veinte de Mayo neighborhood in Neiva, Colombia. The project occupies a 94 sqm triangular plot that had previously been abandoned and associated with insecurity and neglect. Through a process of participatory design and collective construction, the site was transformed into a compact public space that addresses the neighborhood’s limited access to communal areas, with less than 4% coverage, while fostering social interaction and environmental resilience.

The park’s geometry defines its spatial and organizational logic. The triangular form guided the distribution of hard and green surfaces, urban furniture, and structural elements such as columns and a pergola. The resulting composition balances 50% permeable green surfaces with 50% hardscape, integrating planters with native, low-water-consumption vegetation. With limited financial resources, construction was achieved through community self-management. More than fifteen local families participated in collective building sessions, contributing labor, materials, and time. The use of recycled and donated elements shaped both the structure and its identity. This process not only enabled construction within budget constraints but also reinforced community ownership of the space.

all images courtesy of Taller Ciudad Portátil

Urban Regeneration utilizes Low-Impact Construction

Material selection reflects a circular and low-impact approach. Concrete with recycled aggregates, reclaimed pine wood, and metal profiles were used for structure and furnishings. Autonomous solar lighting was installed to ensure energy efficiency and nighttime usability. The pergola, elevated to 2.6 meters and designed with segmented elements, enhances shade and ventilation, improving thermal comfort under Neiva’s warm climate. Ten cubic volumes emerge from the ground plane, five serving as structural supports and five functioning as urban furniture, including benches and chess tables. Architects at Taller Ciudad Portátil utilized color as a unifying element throughout the project. A collectively chosen palette of reds, yellows, whites, and blacks was applied to floors, columns, and a community mural, reinforcing neighborhood identity and visual coherence.

Beyond its physical construction, the project demonstrates the capacity of participatory architecture to improve urban and social conditions simultaneously. The park increased public space availability, introduced vegetation that enhances microclimate conditions, and reactivated community engagement. Within its small footprint, Community Park Veinte de Mayo illustrates how collaborative design and circular construction methods can generate lasting social, spatial, and environmental value.

Community Park Veinte de Mayo occupies a 94-square-meter triangular plot in Neiva, Colombia

the project was designed by Taller Ciudad Portátil through a participatory and collaborative process

the site, once abandoned and unsafe, has been transformed into a public gathering space

more than fifteen families contributed labor, materials, and time to the park’s construction

hard and green areas are distributed in equal measure, balancing permeability and usability

recycled and donated materials formed the foundation of the park’s structure and identity

concrete with recycled aggregates was used for the primary surfaces and structural base

project info:

name: Community Park Veinte de Mayo

designer: Taller Ciudad Portátil | @tallerciudadportatil

location: Neiva, Colombia

promoter: Municipality of Neiva (Mayor Germán Casagua Bonilla) + Secretariat of Housing and Habitat of Neiva + Community of the Veinte de Mayo Neighborhood

project management and supervision: Arch. Marwin Victoria + Arch. Julián Losada

construction team: Camilo Sierra, Camilo Castro, María Del Mar Echeverry, Yenni Paola Cabrera, María Angelica Vega, Luisa Fernanda Solano, Christian Sánchez, Julián Castrillón, Jessica Natalia Medina, Juan Sebastián Daniels, Eliana Cardozo Chaux, Tania Vásquez, Anny Johanna Vargas, Roberto Escobar, Valeria Montenegro, Paula Moopan, Víctor Quintero, Daniel Losada, José Reinel López, Jorge Reyes, Luis Fernando Carvajal, Laura Daniela Azuero

community management: Luz Bei Benítez

allied partners: Taller Ciudad Portátil, Constructora León Aguilera, Constructora Cosmos, RM Ingeniería Integral, Eng. Carlos Rojas, Eng. William Giraldo, Eng. Miguel Puentes, Eng. William Tamayo, Eng. Carlos Moreno, Councilman Miller Osorio, Industrias Carvicam, Vinaki Arquitectos, Con.Kreta, BM Topografía, Disso Arquitectos, Puro Arte

video: Harvey Valenzuela + Marwin Victoria

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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perforated brickwork forms pixelated pattern upon restored seoul building by NOMAL

NOMAL reconstructs a 1960s structure in Seoul’s Sinchon district

Originally constructed in 1966, the Cracker building, restored by NOMAL, reflects a period of rapid urban growth in Seoul. Beginning as a two-story structure, it was gradually expanded with additional masonry and lightweight steel floors. These extensions, added without coherent planning, created structural instability, with several columns even extending beyond the property boundary.

Zoning regulations and parking requirements ruled out demolition and new construction, making renovation the only viable path. NOMAL approached the project through structural reinforcement and spatial reorganization. The foundations were stabilized, the upper floors rebuilt, and the footprint adjusted to comply with current codes. The reconfiguration divided the building’s three bays into two main volumes and a vertical circulation core with an elevator and stairwell. A perforated brick facade was introduced, serving multiple functions: providing daylight and privacy, minimizing visual intrusion on neighboring properties, and creating a distinct material identity. The pixelated pattern of the brickwork references digital music visualizers, a subtle nod to Sinchon’s cultural past.

all images by Roh Kyung

cracker’s design combines functionality with cultural reference

Sinchon was historically associated with youth culture, live music, and independent businesses, but over time, these qualities diminished with gentrification and the dominance of large commercial franchises. The project aimed not only to stabilize the structure but also to re-engage with this cultural history. The new design balances practical considerations with symbolic gestures. The perforated brick facade allows the building to shift visually between day and night, absorbing light during the day and emitting a soft glow after dark. This dual role underscores the project’s intent to combine functionality with cultural reference.

Although a single building cannot transform an entire district, Cracker represents an attempt to support Sinchon’s renewal by introducing a space rooted in both architectural clarity and historical memory. Through careful structural intervention and contextual design, NOMAL studio positions the project as part of an ongoing dialogue about urban identity and continuity in a changing city.

Cracker by NOMAL redefines a 1960s building in Sinchon, Seoul

the project revives a structure first constructed in 1966

NOMAL stabilizes foundations and rebuilds the upper floors

a perforated brick facade defines the renewed exterior

the pixelated pattern references digital music visualizers

at night, the facade glows softly outward into the street

project info:

name: cracker

architect: NOMAL | @nomalnotnormal

design team: Minyuk Chai, Bokki Lee, Seyeon Cho, Haewon Lee

constructor: Woorimaeul A&C

area: 247.36 sqm

location: Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea

photography: Roh Kyung | @rohspace

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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brick and turquoise tiles clad vaulted aghajoon communal kitchen in iran

Aghajoon Kitchen Reinterprets Vernacular Yazd Architecture

Aghajoon Kitchen is a permanent public facility designed to replace an informal, roofless village kitchen that had long functioned as the social hub of Khalilabad, Yazd, Iran. Serving both practical and cultural purposes, the new structure, developed by Seyed Amirhossein Sahiholnasab, accommodates communal cooking while continuing its role in religious ceremonies, weddings, and gatherings.

The design takes reference from Yazd’s architectural traditions and the memory of a now-demolished school adjacent to the site. Materials such as brick, mud plaster, and turquoise tiles were selected to ensure visual and cultural continuity with the surroundings. The building’s turquoise-clad axis organizes circulation while emphasizing its symbolic role as a setting for community rituals.

east facade with openings designed for food distribution | all images courtesy of Seyed Amirhossein Sahiholnasab

Seyed Amirhossein Sahiholnasab revives communal kitchen

Located on a narrow urban plot bordered by residential buildings and the former school, the site posed limitations for daylight and natural ventilation. Seyed Amirhossein Sahiholnasab’s architectural team addressed these constraints through cubic skylights placed on the roof and recessed brick screens on the eastern facade. The design also balanced contemporary sanitation standards with respect for local context. Integration of the structural and architectural systems enabled cost reduction of approximately 15%, while maintaining proportions consistent with regional construction practices.

The building is organized around a large brick-clad arch supported by a steel truss resting on short base walls. This structural strategy provides both stability and formal clarity. Turquoise tiles define the southern facade and the building’s interior spine, marking circulation points and referencing traditional ornamentation. Two cubic skylights on the roof and perforated brickwork on the eastern wall provide daylight and ventilation. Brick, plaster, and tile were used throughout, executed with local craftsmanship combined with precise detailing.

the building in relation to its historic surroundings, including remnants of an old school and adjacent brick houses

Turquoise Axis Organizes Aghajoon Communal Kitchen

The 22 × 11-meter site is organized along a central axis, visually reinforced with turquoise tiles and culminating in a basin for washing large pots. The project is distributed across three levels. The basement houses storage rooms, a mechanical room, restrooms, and a women’s ablution space. The ground floor features a main cooking area, restrooms, and men’s ablution space. Finally, the mezzanine organizes a rest area accessed via a turquoise-tiled stair.

The basement benefits from thermal mass to maintain cool conditions, while evaporative coolers positioned at the peak of the arch enhance summer comfort. Overall, the layout promotes intuitive circulation, thermal efficiency, and operational clarity, while reinforcing the site’s role as a cultural and social center.

close-up of a distribution opening on the east facade

overall view of the building within the surrounding fabric

the design draws inspiration from local Yazd architectural traditions

the building illuminates at night within the neighborhood fabric

project info:

name: Aghajoon Kitchen
lead architect: Seyed Amirhossein Sahiholnasab

design team: Pasha Nobahar, Mohammad Amin Sahiholnasab

location: Khalilabad, Yazd, Iran

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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manuel cervantes draws on hacienda traditions to shape regenerative coastal living in mexico

Rancho Sereno integrates wooden volumes with coastal setting

Rancho Sereno, designed by Manuel Cervantes Estudio, is a 22,000-sqft residence within the 3,000-acre regenerative development of Xala on Mexico’s Pacific Costalegre coast. Set 120 meters inland from the shoreline, the house is positioned to protect native dunes and vegetation, integrating architecture with the surrounding coastal ecosystem. The residence is organized as a series of single-story wooden volumes interwoven with gardens, creating a porous boundary between indoors and outdoors. This arrangement draws inspiration from the spatial rhythms of traditional Mexican haciendas, reinterpreted in a contemporary, low-impact form that prioritizes connection with the landscape. Sustainability guided the material approach. More than 95% of the structure is built from renewable wood, including framework, roofing, windows, and doors, reducing reliance on heavier structural elements such as steel and aluminum.

all images courtesy of Manuel Cervantes Estudio

material continuity defines Rancho Sereno by Manuel Cervantes

Operable wooden panels and louvered shutters promote natural cross-ventilation, allowing ocean breezes to replace mechanical cooling systems. Exposed walls highlight the natural tones and textures of wood and micro-cement, emphasizing a tactile and material-driven experience. The flooring, executed by a Belgian team known for collaborations with Axel Vervoordt, employs micro-cement applied in a technique that produces smooth, joint-free surfaces. This continuous treatment enhances spatial flow and reinforces the relationship between interior and exterior spaces.

Manuel Cervantes Estudio’s Rancho Sereno avoids excessive glazing and heavy construction systems, relying instead on natural ventilation, shading, and simple material choices to reduce environmental impact. The result is a residence that merges architecture and landscape, balancing traditional references with contemporary methods to create a low-impact coastal dwelling rooted in its site.

Rancho Sereno’s outside lounge al fresco

Rancho Sereno’s outside lounge al fresco

outside lounge

sun deck and pool

bedroom

bathroom

dining room

Rancho Sereno’s outside lounge al fresco

project info:

name: Rancho Sereno at Xala | @xala.mx
architect: Manuel Cervantes Estudio | @manuelcervantes

location: Xala, Mexico

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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MAD shares latest images of shenzhen bay cultural plaza as it nears completion

clustered monoliths take shape in shenzhen

The Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza, designed by MAD, is approaching completion in the city’s Houhai district. First unveiled in June 2020, the project has been documented through several phases of construction, with images released in February 2025 marking significant progress. MAD has now shared one final set of photographs by Zhu Yumeng ahead of the plaza’s expected opening later this year.

Designed as a public space between Shenzhen’s central business district and the bay, the development extends across 51,000 square meters. Its total built area of 188,000 square meters includes multiple exhibition halls, theaters, and public facilities. As construction concludes, the plaza will become a landmark of the larger Shenzhen Bay Culture Park, focusing on ecology, urban infrastructure, and public life.

images © Zhu Yumeng

mad’s green urban living room

From the outset, the architects at MAD emphasized the plaza’s role as a civic landscape. ‘Shenzhen Bay Culture Plaza should be a green urban living room that grows alongside the city’s development,’ notes lead designer Ma Yansong. The architecture merges public gathering areas with an expansive green roof that overlooks the city’s broader ecological network.

The plaza’s exhibition hall is embedded beneath rolling lawns, creating continuity with adjacent parks and green belts. Pedestrian bridges extend connections into surrounding neighborhoods and commercial districts, while the slopes and open courtyards above host walking paths, picnic areas, and spaces for informal social activity.

the program includes nine exhibition halls, a theater, a lecture hall, and an art collection library

Landform and Ecological Integration

By moving much of the program underground, MAD frames the surface as a landscape intervention rather than a conventional building. This approach is a reminder of Shenzhen Bay’s role as an ecological corridor along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, a habitat for migratory waterbirds. Planting strategies prioritize native vegetation, and a variety of tree species have been selected to enhance seasonal biodiversity while supporting avian feeding areas.

This new topography shifts with the seasons and offers shaded areas in summer and open clearings in winter. The landscape’s integration of ecological systems with public amenities means that the project stands as both a cultural space and a contributor to the bay’s environmental resilience.

the project was first unveiled in June 2020 and completion is expected by the end of 2025

Programmatic flexibility is a defining feature of MAD’s Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza. The central pool can be converted into an open-air theater for concerts or outdoor film screenings, and courtyards and green terraces provide platforms for markets, performances, and community events. A network of bicycle lanes and walking paths links the site to main city routes and extends its reach as an everyday, easy-to-access public amenity.

Visitors arriving from surrounding commercial centers will be able to cross directly into the rooftop park or descend into underground cultural spaces without encountering traffic.

The program includes the North Hall, South Hall, and Theme Hall, which together provide nine exhibition halls and approximately 50,000 square meters of display space. Additional facilities such as a 720-seat stone theater, a 330-seat lecture hall, and an art collection library contribute to the cultural program.

a main exhibition hall is enclosed by a green roof that connects to surrounding parks

the landscape integrates ecological restoration with public spaces

outdoor spaces include terraces, courtyards, and a pool that can become an open-air theater

name: Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza

architect: MAD | @madarchitects

location: Shenzhen, China

status: under construction

previous coverage: June 2020, February 2025

photography: © Zhu Yumeng | @yumeng_zhu_coppakstudio

area: approximately 51,000 square meters
gross construction area: 188,000 square meters

principal partners: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano

principal associate partners: Tiffany Dahlen, Li Jian

design team: Zhang Chao, Li Cunhao, Zhang Kai, Xu Shaohua, Ma Yiran, Li Hui, Yoshio Fukumori, Zhang Yaohui, Sun Feifei, Li Gang, Ning Tong, Haruka Tomoeda, Natawat Warotdulyavat, He Xin, Zhang Jiahao, Li Leyuan, Cao Xi, Maria Soledad, Sun Jingyi, Gan Mengjia, Wang Fei, Pan Jifu, Xu Tianyang, Tian Jin, Zou Dengyu, Yang Xuebing, Li Xinyun, Huang Jinkun, Lin Zihan, Jiang Linyun, Luis Torres, Neeraj Mahajan, Zhang Tong, Wang Yiwei, Wei Yunzhao, Raquel Valdes, Emma Sanson, Niu Shaobo, Huai Wei, Kenji Hada.

client: Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports
construction: Nanshan District Construction and Public Works Bureau

construction agent: China Resources Land (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.

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circular aperture welcomes natural light within gabled tokyo house by KIAS

KIAS designs a residence within Zenpukuji Park’s greenery

KIAS‘ House in Zenpukuji Park is located within the rich natural surroundings of the historical temple area in Suginami Ward, Tokyo. This residence began with the careful designing of living spaces opening towards the verdant landscape of the park. The ground floor houses a small art gallery open as a venue for young artists, while the owner’s living quarters occupy the upper floor. A 9-meter bench facing the park is positioned in front of the gallery, providing a social space for visitors and the local community.

all images by Norihito Yamauchi unless stated otherwise

a composition of richly layered spaces defines the house

The living room on the upper floor features a circular window on its eastern side, welcoming the morning sun. Natural light casts a circular pattern on the floor, shifting throughout the day. The south-facing, horizontal window, reminiscent of traditional Japanese shoji screens, maximizes the incorporation of the park’s green scenery into the living space. Afternoon light illuminates the living spaces through a skylight set into the pitched roof. Furthermore, a tall, vertical window piercing the second-floor flooring brightens the vertical circulation space within the staircase connecting the upper and lower floors.

Studio KIAS’ design follows the sequence of space, windows, structure, and exterior finishes. This sequence inverts the hierarchy, prioritizing space over structure and creating a pleasing disjunction between exterior, structure, and space. The result is a dwelling formed by richly composed spaces.

KIAS designs a residence within Zenpukuji Park’s natural landscape

layers of window openings mediate the relationship with nature

a 9-meter bench extends toward the park, inviting community use | image by Nanako Ono

the house balances private living with a public-facing art gallery | image by Nanako Ono

living spaces are oriented to maximize connection with the park | image by Nanako Ono

glazing elements define the sequence of daily light transitions

project info:

name: House in Zenpukuji Park
architect: KIAS | @kias_studio

structure: BSI

contractor: Suiga

location: Suginami, Tokyo, Japan

area: 132.5 sqm

photographers: Norihito Yamauchi,  Nanako Ono | @nanakoono_

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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MADE arhitekti’s twisting pāvilosta house seems to be carved by latvia’s coastal winds

a residential extension for gathering in Pāvilosta

The Pāvilosta House in Latvia, designed by MADE Arhitekti, serves as a large guest space that extends the client’s main residence located next door. Built as a place for family and guests, the house is sited along the coastline with the water’s edge and horizon beyond visible over the treetops.

The design team was informed both by the traditional architecture of the town and the natural forces that define its climate. The project aligns with the traditional gabled silhouettes found along the streets of Pāvilosta, while at the same time introducing a subtle geometric twist to its rooftop that seems to have been carved by the sweeping coastal winds.

images © Jānis Vēveris

made arhitekti learns from rural latvia

MADE Arhitekti’s Pāvilosta House is located within an area of transition, between rural homes and the endless Baltic coast. The town of Pāvilosta is known as a settlement where life is shaped by close contact with nature, particularly the wind, waves, and shifting dunes. The architects acknowledge this relationship by turning a traditional roofline into a twisting vector, a movement that is intended to echo the surrounding landscape.

Conversations with the client emphasized the importance of atmosphere as much as program. The building responds to this through a material and structural approach that pays tribute to natural forces, with timber construction and a slate roof shaped as if molded by water and wind. The impression is of a structure that seems to gradually rise out of the rolling terrain.

the Pāvilosta House by MADE Arhitekti is as an extension of the client’s main residence

the l-shaped guest house

At the heart of the Pāvilosta House is a large open living space designed by MADE Arhitekti for communal activity. This central volume connects to a kitchen on the northern end and expands toward the exterior with a west-facing facade. A ten-meter (33-foot)-wide opening allows the space to open broadly onto the courtyard, emphasizing the fluid relationship between inside and out.

Along the street-facing edge, the program shifts toward privacy. Four bedrooms are grouped in pairs, organized around two entrances that link back to the courtyard. With this layout, the architecture balances openness and enclosure, and creates areas for quiet retreat away from the main gathering space.

the design balances the local vernacular of gabled forms with a twisting geometry

a durable slate roof ties the house to regional traditions

a large communal living space extends toward the courtyard

the structure is built of cross laminated timber and glued laminated beams

project info:

name: Pāvilosta House

architect: MADE Arhitekti | @madearhitekti

location: Pāvilosta, Latvia

design team: Miķelis Putrāms, Linda Krūmiņa, Māra Starka, Krists Lūkins

completion: 2025

photography: © Jānis Vēveris | @janis.veveris

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Explore Trailblazing Street Photography in ‘Faces in the Crowd’ at MFA Boston

When playwright Tennessee Williams reflected on the oeuvre of photographer Stephen Shore in 1982, he said, “His work is Nabokovian for me: Exposing so much and yet leaving so much room for your imagination to roam and do what it will.” The sentiment mirrors not only the power of Shore’s work but the capacity of street photography, more broadly, to provoke wonder and curiosity where we least expect it: the everyday.

Shore was among the first to adopt color photography as an artistic medium, traveling throughout America to document quotidian scenes of life in rural towns and big cities alike. His work followed behemoths of the medium like Walker Evans and Robert Frank and set the stage for others who emerged in his footsteps, including Alec Soth, Nan Goldin, and Martin Parr, among many others.

Shore is included in Faces in the Crowd: Street Photography at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which explores the ever-evolving techniques and approaches that photographers use to document people and daily life. Seminal works from the 1970s to the 1990s by Shore, Garry Winogrand, Helen Levitt, Dawoud Bey, and Yolanda Andrade, among others, are complemented by more recent contributions to the genre by artists like Parr, Luc Delahaye, Katy Grannan, Amani Willett, and Zoe Strauss.

Today, smartphones with powerful digital cameras have made photography more accessible than ever—and also completely transformed the medium. With people always unabashedly filming—taking photos, making videos, posting to social media—in the city, “photographers are now less concerned with surreptitiously capturing an image and much more likely to collaborate with their subjects in the street,” the MFA says.

The difference between snapshots and art is perhaps partly in intention, although that line is often purposely blurred. Bey’s striking “A Man and Two Women After a Church Service,” for example, captures a seemingly simple scene, yet the composition and clarity are a testament to timing and technical expertise. In what feels like simultaneously a public and private moment, the 1976 image glimpses both a particular scene and an American historical period.

Whether taken decades ago or snapped within the past few years, the images in Faces in the Crowd invite us into each experience. Luc Delahaye’s “Taxi,” for example, captures a solemn, intimate, enigmatic moment as a mother holds her young son in her arms in the back of a vehicle.

Yasuhiro Ishimoto’s crowd photo, taken from the hip, immerses us in the thrum of a city thoroughfare. And Yolanda Andrade captures an uncanny blip when a street performer disappears behind the unsettlingly large head of a puppet. The MFA says, “Drawn to photography’s narrative potential, many employ the camera as a tool of transformation, taking everyday pictures from the ordinary to the strangely beautiful or even ominous.”

Faces in the Crowd opens on October 11 and runs through July 13, 2026. Find more on the museum’s website. You might also enjoy A Sense of Wonder, a monograph of the work of Joel Meyerowitz that was just released by SKIRA.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Explore Trailblazing Street Photography in ‘Faces in the Crowd’ at MFA Boston appeared first on Colossal.

arquitectura-G embeds blue concrete core with spiraling staircase in portuguese residence

Arquitectura-G embeds blue concrete core in Portuguese house

In Sintra, Portugal, Arquitectura-G completes House II, the latest intervention within a long-abandoned quinta de recreio, a rural estate historically devoted to agriculture and leisure. The project forms part of an ongoing sequence of works by the studio’s team, which seeks to conserve and rehabilitate the site’s buildings and reactivate the broader territory.

Strict regulations limited any change to the building’s external profile, facades, or roof, so Arquitectura-G responded by hollowing out the existing interior, retaining only the perimeter walls, and inserting a new structural body of blue-pigmented concrete. Rising from the basement cellar, this inserted core incorporates a helical staircase and extends upward to form the slabs of the upper levels. It culminates beneath a skylight on the first floor, where daylight streams into the central void and organizes the surrounding rooms.

the staircase culminates beneath a skylight on the first floor | all images by Maxime Delvaux, unless stated otherwise

historic wine cellar reinterpreted as a self-sufficient dwelling

Envisioned as a self-sufficient landscape of vineyards, orchards, forests, gardens, and livestock, the Barcelona-based team of Arquitectura-G transforms this estate under the principles of permaculture, an approach to design that works with natural ecosystems to create sustainable, regenerative, and resilient ways of living

The building itself, once a hybrid structure combining a wine cellar with living quarters for workers and servants, stood for decades as a fragmented volume of interlinked spaces stitched together by multiple staircases. The architects reinterpret this mixed typology into a single dwelling that preserves the memory of its dual past.

The blue concrete spine organizes the residence. On the ground floor, an open-plan arrangement of kitchen, dining, and living areas gathers around the staircase. Bedrooms occupy the upper level at both ends of the plan, while a secondary lounge occupies the skylit heart of the house, transforming what had been a utilitarian and subdivided structure into a unified domestic space in Portugal.

this inserted core incorporates a helical staircase and extends upward to form the slabs of the upper levels

daylight streams into the central void and organizes the surrounding rooms

Arquitectura-G’s response to the strict regulations

the team hollows out the existing interior

the blue concrete spine organizes the residence

transforming what had been a utilitarian and subdivided structure

bathroom marble mirrors the core color of the home in soft blue hues

baby blue tones are combined with butter yellow finishes

the bathroom becomes a canvas of blue

Arquitectura-G’s latest intervention within a long-abandoned quinta de recreio

project info:

name: House II

architect: Arquitectura-G | @arquitecturag

location: Sintra, Portugal

lead designers: Jonathan Arnabat, Jordi Ayala-Bril, Aitor Fuentes, Igor Urdampilleta

project team: João Salsa

structural engineering: Gepectrofa

building services engineering: GPIC / Campo d’Agua / GET / Amplitude Acoustics

project management: Gonçalo Bonniz / gbarquitectos

photographer: Maxime Delvaux | @maxdelv

process photographer: Francisco Ascensão | @francisco.ascensao

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