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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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…
Telosa city is a speculative urban proposal led by BIG for an organization founded by entrepreneur Marc Lore. It presents an American desert settlement planned from the ground up around a mobility network, community governance, and large scale public space….
Most architectural journeys in New York begin on foot. You walk the grid. You feel the city. You breathe the scale, the rhythm, the texture. But not this time. This was New York through a windshield — a moving frame,…
Miami is not just a city; it is a laboratory of sun-drenched urban beauty, where design choices echo cultural identities and architectural ambition. From the soft, pastel dreams of Art Deco to the raw minimalism of modern concrete landmarks, Miami…
Few American cities have curated a more deliberate mythology than Orlando. From the moment you set foot on its meticulously maintained grounds, you sense that everything has been designed for spectacle. This is a city where fantasy is not merely…
Dutch studio JA Joubert Architecture has completed the Lake Views development, a striking mixed-use complex beside Tirana Park Lake in Albania. Covering 135,000 square metres, the project includes 1,150 residences alongside public and commercial spaces, blending urban density with landscape…
By ArchUp EditorI once read something strange before landing in Miami. A theoretical essay titled Archigenetics, published by a Saudi architecture studio, suggested that architectural patterns and aesthetic instincts might be inherited — not just culturally, but biologically. At the…
Shanghai: A City on the Frontline of Climate ChangeLocated at the mouth of the Yangtze River, Shanghai is one of the world’s most dynamic and vibrant cities. It is home to the busiest port in the world, serves as China’s…
At the heart of Beijing stands the Forbidden City, not just as an architectural marvel, but as a profound symbol of imperial power, order, and philosophy. The Forbidden City symbolism is deeply woven into the history of its construction, as…
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