This section offers in-depth explorations of architectural problems, solutions, and evolving frameworks. From academic papers to field-based investigations, ArchUp publishes insightful research that informs practice and theory.
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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…
In August of last year, I came across a research project titled Last Meal, a speculative investigation into how the explosive rise of food-delivery logistics is reshaping not only urban movement but the architecture of living itself. The study argued…
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…
There is a small but unforgettable moment in the history of the Cold War, a moment that belongs less to geopolitics and more to the strange power of architecture. During a diplomatic exchange between President John F. Kennedy and Soviet…
There are cities where time behaves normally, cities where the decades stack in clear layers like sediment on a riverbank. And then there are places where the clock hesitates, where the years fold into each other so tightly that you…
I once sat in a lecture where the speaker, after stacking dozens of sketches of so-called Islamic cities, announced that there is no such thing as Islamic architecture. He claimed the category was invented by Orientalists. It was a striking…
By Ibrahim JoharjiCities today are being remade not by planners, but by delivery riders. A sleek curtain rises on a new urban reality: restaurants carving delivery windows, teams of motorbike riders forming in silent corners, and architectural space being quietly…
The Architectural Flaw No One Dares to Fix There’s a silent intruder haunting the skylines of our new suburbs and it’s not a billboard or a satellite dish. It’s the elevator machine room. Obtrusive. Inelegant. Unnecessary. And worst of all?…
When wandering major cities or historic neighborhoods, the eye is inevitably drawn to the storefront sign—an element that boldly interrupts the cityscape, embodying a spectrum from sophisticated taste to visual chaos. The sign is far more than a functional label…
Saudi Arabia today faces a structural gap between government-backed mega urban projects—such as the tallest towers and grand developments in Jeddah—and the residential reality in suburban areas, where construction quality is often poor, and design lacks architectural standards or clear…
In the wake of escalating rhetoric and missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, communities in neighboring regions — from the Gulf (Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia) to the Levant (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria) — are facing a new reality….
✧ In an era where the question is shifting from “Who built the most?” to “Who built the best?”, a long-standing debate resurfaces regarding the roles of Egyptian and Saudi engineers in the architectural renaissance of the Gulf. A trending…
Humanity’s deep-rooted impulse to preserve sacred texts, cultural symbols, communal memories is inseparable from architecture. Throughout history, buildings served not only as shelters but also as living archives of belief, knowledge, and identity. This exploration navigates the nexus between faith,…
In a world where ideas are usually built with rulers and pencils, a surprising project involving LEGO and architecture is redefining how we look at architectural design. With 150,000 LEGO bricks, Richard Paules has transformed a childhood hobby into an…
As the largest annual gathering of people on Earth, Hajj brings together nearly three million Muslims from around the globe to perform one of the core pillars of Islam. Each year, the government of Saudi Arabia faces immense logistical challenges…
A Groundbreaking Innovation in Sustainable MasonryIn 2024, after two years of intensive research and development, NEUF architect(e)s, Webster & Sons, and Permacon introduced DUAL, a revolutionary concrete brick designed to address one of the construction industry’s most urgent challenges: carbon…
After decades of being confined to the archives, Frank Lloyd Wright’s last residential design, Frank Lloyd Wright RiverRock, has finally been built in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. This home, originally conceived in 1959 as The Penfield House and now named RiverRock…
Toyota has unveiled the completion of Phase 1 of its Woven City project in Japan, a futuristic urban prototype designed to test next-generation mobility and sustainability solutions. Announced at CES 2025, the Toyota Woven City Japan project aims to redefine…
IntroductionEastern Blocks II offers a visual and analytical exploration of post-war concrete suburbs across ten cities in the former Eastern Bloc. The Eastern Blocks II Book combines over 180 photographs with historical context to highlight how prefabricated architecture shaped urban…
The Role of Solar Energy in the Future of TransportationSolar energy is revolutionizing transportation by promoting sustainability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Solar-powered transportation is expanding with the integration of solar panels into electric vehicles, trains, and buses. These…
Derwent London: Are the New Business Lounges Redefining Workspaces?The Evolution of Workspaces in the Modern EraThe concept of workspaces is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements and shifting employee expectations. Are Derwent London’s new lounges the future of workspace? Offices…
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