This section explores the architecture of cities through the lenses of planning, tourism, mobility, and spatial identity. From walkable neighborhoods and green infrastructure to heritage preservation and urban resilience, ArchUp highlights how architecture shapes and is shaped by urban life.
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Natural baths formed a central part of social and environmental life in traditional Islamic cities. In Fez and Marrakech, architects designed these baths to provide a sustainable thermal and water experience using building materials sourced locally and natural ventilation techniques….
Urban infrastructure in Hong Kong now includes the Central Kowloon Bypass. The 4.7 kilometer corridor links Yau Ma Tei Interchange in western Kowloon with the Kai Tak Development Area and Kowloon Bay to the east. It cuts peak-hour travel time…
Constructive deconstruction transforms Manhattan’s obsolete waterfront piers by reusing existing concrete piles, slabs, and retaining walls.Reuse as Infrastructure StrategyThe model converts derelict piers into programmable modules.These host markets, performances, and civic events.It treats decay as latent urban capital.The method aligns…
Architectural security guides the systematic clearance of informal settlements near the Grand Mosque in Makkah.Recent aerial images show large cleared zones where unplanned neighborhoods once stood. These images confirm the scale of state led redevelopment in the city’s historic core.Reorganizing…
Urban Background of the SiteThe site is characterized by tall grasses, two shrubs, and a single oak tree, forming a scene that appears natural at first glance, but in reality, it is the result of previous urban transformations.In the 1970s,…
Architectural Security begins with access control.New York City now charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan’s central business district during peak hours.This congestion pricing policy reduces traffic and reorganizes urban space.It treats vehicle flow as a design variable not just a…
Why Some Cities Become Emotional Destinations While Others Remain SilentThere is a sentence people repeat without thinking about its implications: “Paris is poetic.”Rome is romantic. Vienna is musical. New York is cinematic. These descriptions are not architectural analyses. They are…
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park: Transforming the City and the RiverRalph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park spans 22 acres along the Detroit Riverfront. This project represents a significant architectural and social transformation, redefining the relationship between the city and…
There is a dangerous misunderstanding in contemporary architectural discourse: that discussing social classes in planning is inherently discriminatory, or that acknowledging economic stratification somehow undermines the moral neutrality of the built environment. Yet the opposite is true. Cities do not…
There are moments in urban life that reveal more about a city than any masterplan, zoning document, or public consultation report. One of those moments unfolded before me on an ordinary afternoon when two drivers began circling the same block,…
Urban planning rarely collapses in a spectacular way. It usually unravels quietly in the background of bureaucratic corridors, during site visits, or in the forgotten margins of decision making. A curb here. A sidewalk there. A resurfaced parking area. Small…
The future of cities will not be shaped by skylines, but by what lies beneath them.In the coming decades, the most powerful force shaping urban life will not be technology or transportation or digital infrastructure.It will be water.How we store…
In the heart of Manchester’s northern districts, the Strangeways Manchester Regeneration Plan offers a visionary framework to reshape the urban landscape. It transforms a former industrial zone into a sustainable, human-centered district that integrates housing, work, and green spaces. Covering…
Neubiberg Residential Quarter: A Modern Model for Urban PlanningArchitects presented the Neubiberg residential quarter project at Rathausplatz in 2025 as a pioneering step toward enhancing the living experience in contemporary neighborhoods. The project clearly highlights the integration of residential density…
Manila and Water: A Complex RelationshipThe relationship between Manila and water has always been complex. The city sprawls across a wide delta, making it highly susceptible to seasonal flooding. Despite these risks, the city continues to expand outward instead of…
Wind moves differently in Florence. It carries with it the smell of marble dust and rain, a fragrance of history woven into every wall. Riding a golf cart across the hills, crossing bridges, slipping into cloisters and piazzas, the city…
There is a stretch of highway I drive almost every week. From the bridge, a particular hardscape always catches my eye. At first glance, it feels like a fragment of Islamic geometry sharp angles, rhythmic repetition, something almost ornamental. But…
I begin in the middle of a Miami street. As you advance, step by step, a question takes hold: why do these walls rise at varying heights, in a uniform color, yet remain breathtaking in their unintentional innovation? It’s a…
Lack of Public Spaces Designed for ChildrenMany parents and caregivers in Europe may not be surprised to learn that less than 10% of public spaces in many cities are specifically designed for younger children. In fact, finding a home with…
UK-based Heatherwick Studio is set to transform a historic city block in the centre of Prague into a vibrant mixed-use development known as Savarin. The project integrates shops, offices, and public spaces around a central square, breathing new life into…
Beyond Familiar DestinationsThe smart traveler understands that true discovery does not always happen at the most famous sites, but often when venturing into less prominent places. While popular destinations, luxury hotels, and “best of” lists dominate the travel scene, the…
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