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The following is a summary of Right Heart Remodeling After Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Patients With Pulmonary Atresia or Critical Stenosis With Intact Ventricular Septum, published in the November 2023 issue of Cardiology by Irwin et al.

In this study, the researchers focused on evaluating the changes in the right ventricle (RV) following pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia or critical pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS), comparing these changes with those observed in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). While the remodeling of the RV post-PVR is well-documented in TOF, its characterization in PA/IVS patients remains underexplored. Their investigation utilized cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to analyze the RV changes in these patient groups.

The study involved a retrospective cohort, including PA/IVS patients who underwent PVR at Boston Childrens Hospital between 1995 and 2021. This cohort was matched with TOF patients by age at PVR in a 1:3 ratio. The primary outcome was assessed through median regression modeling, focusing on the post-PVR indexed RV end-diastolic volume. The analysis comprised 20 PA/IVS patients (cases) matched with 60 TOF patients (controls), with a median age at PVR of 14 years.

Interestingly, pre-PVR-indexed RV end-diastolic volume was similar across both groups, although cases displayed higher RV ejection fraction before the procedure (51.4% versus 48.6%; P=0.03). Furthermore, pre-PVR RV free wall and left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain were alike, while LV midcavity circumferential strain was notably reduced in cases (15.6 versus 17.1; P=0.001). Following a median post-PVR period of 2 years, both groups exhibited comparable reductions in indexed RV end-diastolic volume. However, cases continued to exhibit higher RV ejection fraction (52.3% versus 46.9%; P=0.007) and less reduction in RV mass (4.5 versus 9.6 g/m2; P=0.004) compared to the TOF group. Despite no significant changes in post-PVR RV and LV longitudinal strain values, LV circumferential strain remained lower in cases. The findings suggest that PA/IVS patients demonstrate similar RV remodeling patterns after PVR, highlighting specific differences such as reduced RV mass reduction and relatively higher RV ejection fraction in comparison to TOF patients. Further exploration focusing on diastolic parameters is warranted to fully understand these distinctive outcomes.

Source: ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.031090

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Assessment of Right Heart Remodeling Post PVR in Patients with Pulmonary Atresia or Critical Stenosis and IVS - Physician's Weekly

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Cypress Park New Beginnings Community by Kadre Architects and Lehrer Architects. Image courtesy of Kadre Architects.

A new supportive housing concept in Los Angeles has been introduced by LA-based practices Kadre Architects andLehrer Architects.The design teams sharedit can become a new model for design resourcefulness and occupants dignity at a time when the city, as do many others in America, faces a desperate need.

The new 95-unit Cypress Park New Beginnings Community was inaugurated in early December after first breaking ground in May of 2022. The new housing schemeaimed to serve displaced populations and environmental and/or socio-economic crises.

Their brief called for the construction of 350-square-foot micro-housing units on a disused plot between the Arroyo and Golden State Parkways. Site conditions for the 35,000-square-foot development were extremely challenging in an echo of Lehrers previous work on theTiny Homes Villagesin different parts of Los Angeles.

Faced with this challenge, the design team responded with a cohesive arrangement centered around an open space and rendered in a bright color palette that evokes the Chicano art movement with work from artists Patssi Valdez and Frank Romero.

On-site case management and private bathrooms and kitchenettes are included. The results offer an enhancement of autonomy and stability over previous designs and could become a new model for the typology in Los Angeles and other beleaguered communities.

New Beginnings provides a template for creating dignified, vibrant communities out of ordinary building blocks. Taking painterly cues from local Chicano Artists, Frank Romero and Patssi Valdez, this previously overlooked site is transformed into a vibrant living painting that will provide daily joy for the future residents. This new emergency housing prototype for the City of Los Angeles allows families to stay together and thrive, during our housing crisis, shared Kadribegovic, founder of Kadre Architects andformer partner at Lehrer Architects.

The Cypress Park New Beginnings Community provides formerly houseless fellow Angelenos with the grace of place. It takes what was a throwaway devalued sitehidden in plain view from the thousands of drivers and cars passing daily and unveils it as the mixed up, dense, joyous eclectic urban jewel that it actually is. Making this a place of community transforms the way we perceive this whole precinct and enhances our city the way such projects must, Lehrer Architects founder, Michael B. Lehrer, added.

The need for supportive and affordable housing in Los Angeles County has become the most hot-button issue for the city and for Mayor Karen Bass, as was demonstrated by her presence at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the New Beginnings Community on January 3rd. Her office is working to ease restrictions to building as it simultaneously works with state officials to fund new developmentssimilar in scope to the Lehrer/Kadre design. It now joins a list of others, including the record-setting Weingart Center, in spearheading the movement toward proactive change.

I am glad that Northeast New Beginnings considers some of the best lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that we serve people experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect, LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis said finally in a statement. As the city and county of Los Angeles continue to work together to solve homelessness, I am thrilled to see that our efforts are already bearing fruit.

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Kadre and Lehrer Architects team up for a new transitional housing community in Los Angeles - Archinect

Grey brick chimneys contrast the interlocking white-rendered blocks of Hallen, a home in southern Sweden completed by local studio sa Hjort Architects.

Designed for the studio's founder, sa Hjort, the dwelling is located on the outskirts of Kivik, where it is surrounded by woodland and enjoys views out across the Baltic Sea.

The studio had originally intended to restore a 1920s home already on the site, but when this proved unsuitable it developed an entirely new design, which was required by planning to match the volume of the previous structure.

Hallen was conceived as a home that would embrace the surrounding landscape, playing with the contrast of light and dark in reference to its dual condition between dense woodland and the open coast to create a "tranquil" retreat.

After living many years in the original house, I had a clear idea of how I wanted the house to work and how we wanted our life to be there," Hjort told Dezeen.

"I wanted to create a tranquil atmosphere that made us slow down, as opposed to the fast-paced lifestyle we live day to day in a big city."

"The closeness to nature was very important and the minimal palette of materials allow the surrounding landscape to take a prominent role," she added.

The blocky form of Hallen steps down and opens up towards the coast, presenting a more enclosed facade to the nearby road and large windows towards the sea.

"Like the neighbouring houses, it was important that the house was visible from the road, however, I did not want it to look too oversized or dominant," explained Hjort.

"The five smaller volumes derived from breaking up one large volume to complementthe landscape and the gentle slope towards the ocean," she added.

Internally the home also reflects this idea, with bedrooms on the upper storey and tucked in between the more exposed living, dining and kitchen areas that occupy the ground floor.

Two glazed corners in the living and dining room allow the landscape to be a "constant presence", with framed views of the woodland provided by a narrow window in the kitchen and smaller openings in the bedrooms.

"The building slowly reveals itself as you enter the front door...the entrance is dark but offers views towards the ocean in one direction and the forest in another," Hjort said.

"As you walk around you enter the various volumes that are different in height, size and atmosphere. A constant presence is the surrounding landscape," she added.

Finishes were chosen to feel like a "warm, protective enclosure," with pale wooden carpentry and floors, white-painted walls and exposed brickwork around the fireplaces.

A large L-shaped terrace wraps the northern, sea-facing side of the home, creating a sheltered space onto which the living areas can spill out.

Other homes in Sweden recently featured on Dezeen include a red-painted home in Boden by Claessen Koivisto, and House Tjurpannan by HengessonGonzaga, a cabin clad in tar-coated timber to reference the nearby boathouses.

The photography is by Jim Stephenson.

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sa Hjort Architects completes blocky home on Sweden's southern coast - Dezeen

In 2023 we presented just shy of 40 Buildings of the Week, featuring short Q&As with architects about recently completed buildings in the United States. It's your turn to help us crown a US Building of the Year by voting for your favorite. The winner will be announced at the end of January.

The 2023 iteration of the US Building of the Week began a year ago with the redevelopment of federal public housing in Boston, and it wrapped up last month with a commercial development in suburban Houston. In between were a few dozen buildings in a variety of typologies, the majority of them with cultural, educational, and institutional; residential (single- and multi-family), commercial, and mixed-use also appeared. The geographical reach was also diverse, with the buildings found in 20 states plus the District of Columbia. Not surprisingly, nearly half of the projects are located in two states: California and New York.

As in previous years, when taking into account other characteristics size of projects, new construction vs. adaptive reuse, urban vs. suburban vs. rural, ages of architects/firms, etc. the curated assemblage of buildings paints a portrait of American architecture in the third decade of the 21st century and captures some of the trends, architectural and otherwise, preoccupying architects in the United States.

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Vote for US Building of the Year 2023 - - World-Architects

The Multiple Facets of the Architect: Exploring the Works of lvaro Siza Vieira

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When it comes to contemporary Portuguese architecture, the initial association often leans towards tradition. The historical significance of the program, the importance of typologies for the locals, and the construction methods all play a role. These associations are not unfounded, but they are not limiting either. In this context, Portugal boasts a prominent figure who exemplifies this balance: lvaro Siza Vieira.

Siza is the foremost representative of Portuguese architecture. There are many reasons for this distinction. It is not only because he was the first Portuguese architect to receive a Pritzker Prize in 1992 or for the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2012. It is not solely due to his extensive and prolific career. Above all, his unique and simultaneously universal approach to architecture sets him apart. His involvement on national and international fronts highlights a characteristic likely intrinsic to his nature: the ability to embody many facets within a singular entity, just like his compatriot Fernando Pessoa.

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While his architecture possesses a distinctive and highly individual language, Siza's projects showcase a range of repertoire, solutions, and formal experimentations proportional to the longevity of his career and the contemporaneity regarding current techniques and materials. These characteristics stem from the attitude he adopts towards the profession. Siza does not draw analogies; architecture is an autonomous discipline but by no means isolated. He understands the multidisciplinarity of the field and knows the extent of its reach but does not concede applications or transpositions of other disciplines, like 1960s linguistics or sociology. For him, architecture is realized in the appropriate constructive response to the given problem. It engages in a dialogue with these other fields but manifests itself tectonically through design, construction, and technique.

The emphasis on the latter point is a significant aspect of his work. The focus on construction methods is integral to what makes each project unique. In Portugal, reverence is shown through respect for tradition and culture. However, in other countries, the distinctive construction methods inform his projects, adapting to the context of everyone involved in the work. This approach provides diverse solutions to be assimilated and expanded in future projects. This architectural stance, balancing the precision of technique with the flexibility of formal and programmatic solutions, is a legacy that Siza Vieira has already passed on to some. The work of Carlos Castanheira follows the same principle.

Just as Siza "mentored" Castanheira, he also had his mentors. During his undergraduate studies in Porto, the architecture program underwent a curricular renewal led by Carlos Ramos. This allowed students access to foreign publications showcasing the works of an extensive list of prominent figures in modern architecture, a period coinciding with a totalitarian government in Portugal. Furthermore, Siza was Fernando Tvora's student, later becoming a collaborator and colleague. Following what seems like a tradition, Siza became a professor, repeating the cycle that shaped him. Between architectural theory and practice, his references to his predecessors and profound technical knowledge come together, constantly evolving and adapting in his ongoing production.

His international involvement was spurred by the economic context in Portugal, which "forced" him to build abroad. However, the foreign experiences brought new techniques and perspectives that undoubtedly influenced his approach to design. Much can be said about the placements, framings, and the variety of forms in his projects. Whether in Portugal or abroad, his architecture is remarkably in harmony with the context, always unmistakably reflecting the essence of Siza.

The architect was the subject of the documentary SIZA, directed by Augusto Custdio and available on the streaming platform Gallery. ArchDaily is a partner of Gallery for the premiere session of the documentary, which will take place in So Paulo at MASP on December 12, as well as for the global release on December 15, which can be watched live.

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The Multiple Facets of the Architect: Exploring the Works of lvaro Siza Vieira - ArchDaily

Chicago-based architect Kimberly Dowdell, who holds degrees from both Cornell and Harvard, currently serves as a principal at global design firm HOK. She also served as president of the National Association of Minority Architects from 2019 to 2020. (Credit: American Institute of Architects)

According to Kimberly Dowdell, there are so few Black women architects that most of them can tell you where they stand in the order of Black women who have received their licenses. She is number 295.

While its a small number, the Chicago-based architect recently added an even smaller one to her rsum number one. In December, the American Institute of Architects selected Dowdell, principal of global design firm HOK, as its president, making her the first Black woman to fill the role. Her appointment marks a huge stride for the organization, which was founded in 1857 and has historically consisted of mostly white men. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Dowdell spoke on what it means for her to be chosen for the position.

Particularly as a Black woman, because architecture has historically not had many people in leadership who are women or people of color, and certainly not women of color, I think it represents a new sense of hope for a more diverse future, she said.

Less than one percent of architects are Black women. Dowdell, who served as president of the National Organization of Minority Architects from 2019 to 2020, partially blames this on low entry-level salaries and a high cost of education for architects. She said people from under-resourced families are often steered towards higher-paying jobs in fields like medicine and law. One of her goals in her new post is to advocate for better pay for architects.

Part of the reason why I think focusing on the money piece is important is because it does actually have an impact on peoples decision-making to pursue architecture, she told the outlet.

For the AIA, a large part of Dowdells appeal is her dedication to diversity and inclusion. She has served on numerous equity committees, where she has helped firm leaders design initiatives to foster a sense of belonging among employees.

We have to show people whats possible, we have to enable them to have access to the profession through education and licensure support to pay their basic expenses, and then we have to make sure that they are in firm or workplace environments that can help them to flourish, she said.

At 40 years old, she is also the first millennial woman to serve as the AIAs president. With half of the organizations membership being over the age of 50, Dowdell has made it clear she intends to draw in some younger members. When she led the groups annual leadership summit earlier this year, she chose intergenerational workplace as a theme, and led cross-generational conversations about what the expectations are, particularly around return-to-office people wanting to work remotely.

During her campaign for president, Dowdells slogan was envision new possibilities. The slogan encapsulates her forward-thinking approach to not only the study of architecture, but the field of architecture. Having stepped into this position a week ago, I think it actually does help people to envision new possibilities, indeed, she said.

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Meet the American Institute of Architects' First Black Woman President - The Story Exchange

The "ruin-like" concrete frame of a former chemistry laboratory has been transformed into a series of workspaces for the University of Twente in Enschede, the Netherlands, in this project by Civic Architects and VDNDP.

Providing a new home for the International Institute for Geo-Information Sciences (ITC), the building was designed to be a "sustainable symbol" for the campus.

It repurposes an abandoned 1970s structure to house bright interiors organised around courtyard gardens.

Local studios Civic Architects and VDNDP sought to "embrace the imperfections" of the existing building, using its concrete frame to support a demountable steel structure and partition walls that could easily be reconfigured to suit future needs.

"The original building was designed for machinery and, due to its low ceilings and significant depth (40 metres), was very, very dark it proved difficult to repurpose," founding partner at Civic Architects Jan Lebbink told Dezeen.

"Our approach involved a shift in programming: rather than forcing the existing structure to conform, we tailored the building's organisation to suit it," he added.

Entry to the ITC is via a large hall envisioned as its "social heart", set back beyond a small garden and featuring a large tiered wooden staircase, providing space for staff and students to gather and leading up to the first-floor restaurant.

Inside, four atria planted with trees and plants provide fresh air and natural light throughout the building, each containing a metal spiral stair to allow them to act as social connectors between floors.

"During the competition, we uncovered that the original ground floor was merely concrete poured without a structural purpose," Lebbink told Dezeen.

"Seizing this opportunity, we designated the atriums as spaces reserved for nature, featuring trees planted directly in local soil, with people as guests rather than the other way around."

"Taking this concept one step further, each of the four atriums was crafted with its own unique natural character, incorporating wood, water, and stone generously," he continued.

The workspaces themselves are divided between a ground floor of smaller, more focused work rooms and an upper storey of higher "more dynamic" areas.

This division is also reflected externally, with wood-framed smaller windows on the ground floor and large areas of glazing on the upper storey sheltered by horizontal louvres.

The interior design, completed in collaboration with Studio Groen+Schild, prioritised bio-based and recycled materials, with oak frames and bamboo flooring.

"This principle extended to all our chosen products, each carefully selected for its sustainability and robust materiality that embraces imperfections," explained Lebbink.

"This, combined with the almost ruin-like quality of the existing structure, contributed to the warm and inviting atmosphere that users fondly describe as 'homey," he continued.

Elsewhere in the Netherlands, Civic Architects recently converted a heritage-listed 1930s brick town hall building in Waalwijk into a shoe museum. The studio has previously also created a public library inside a locomotive shed.

The photography is by Stijn Bollaert & Mike Bink.

Project credits:

Building physics: Arup Installation: Valstar Simonis, Croonwolter&dros Structural engineer: Schreuders bouwtechniek Landscape designers: DS Landschapsarchitecten, Flora Nova Lighting: Joost de Beij Contractor: Dura Vermeer Bouw Hengelo, Trebbe Sustainability advisor: Buro Loo

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Civic Architects and VDNDP "embrace imperfections" for university retrofit - Dezeen

What person, project, transaction, or market trend had the greatest impact on your industry this year? One continuing trend with huge impact on our industry is mixed-use, community-centered development buildings and public spaces integrated into the fabric of neighborhoods with a diversity of architecture and a strong visual identity all with the mission of being a catalyst that expands the potential for future development.

What emerging trends will drive investment and development in 2024? Health, wellness and community-focused design within a mixed-use environment, with walkable neighborhoods providing active and passive recreation, and diverse commercial activities that drive demand for residential uses. Other trends include emphasis on initiatives to strengthen DEI, climate resilience and low-carbon solutions such as electrification and use of circular materials.

What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2023? Our mixed-use development in Corktown, Detroits oldest neighborhood, was a wonderful opportunity to revitalize Corktowns historic commercial and residential neighborhoods in the context of community-building. Corktowns new Ford Innovation Campus was key in creating the increased demand for the residential and hospitality program.

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2023 Year in Review: Andrew West, Elkus Manfredi Architects - New England Real Estate Journal Online

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Gramercy Senior Living, Los Angeles, CA by Kevin Daly Architects. Image credit: Paul Vu

The American Institute of Architects has unveiled the winners of its Design for Aging Review Award 2023. The award, overseen by the AIAs Design for Aging Knowledge Community, seeks to recognize architects who demonstrate innovative design solutions to improve the quality of life for older adults within specific project constraints.

Five projects have been honored for the 2023 edition, chosen by a five-person jury. Projects were chosen based on their ability to demonstrate innovative solutions that improve the quality of life for older adults within specific project constraints.

Below, we have listed the five winning projects. More information on the awards can be found on the AIA website here. You can also review the top prize-winning architects and designers of 2023 by reviewing our end-of-year coverage here.

Aegis Living Lake Union, Seattle, WA by Ankrom Moisan Architects

Aegis Living Lake Union, Seattle, WA by Ankrom Moisan Architects. Image credit: Magda Biernat Photography

Project excerpt: Drawing on the natural beauty of Lake Union and the regions history as the training site for the 1936 U.S. gold-medal-winning rowing team, the project references the craftsmanship of wood rowing shells and their motion across the water. Expressed by simple, high-quality materials, they evoke patterns in water and the movement of oars. This motif continues throughout the buildings design with subtle nods to rhythms of rowing seen in the brick herringbone detailing around windows, the entry canopy, and custom-designed steel balcony railings.

Cooperwood Senior Living, Flowood, Mississippi by Duvall Decker

Cooperwood Senior Living, Flowood, Mississippi by Duvall Decker. Image credit: Andrew Welch

Project excerpt: Cooperwood Senior Living was conceived as a full living environment that includes private units and numerous delightful public spacesoutdoor patio space, a cafe, a theater, and a salon that overlooks the water. All of the projects residential units face east or west, and each includes multiple large windows that offer views of the sunrise or sunset. Theyre protected from the Souths hot sun by shades that shelter the interior from heat and glare and simultaneously reflect light back onto the projects faceted facade. By opening the interior to views of the water, ducks, songbirds, and other seasonal fauna, Cooperwoods residents are presented with a sense of discovery.

Gramercy Senior Living, Los Angeles, CA by Kevin Daly Architects

Gramercy Senior Living, Los Angeles, CA by Kevin Daly Architects. Image credit: Paul Vu

Project excerpt: Across 70,000 square feet, Gramercy Senior Housing accommodates residents who make less than 50% of the areas median income and includes a commercial cafe, ample community spaces, and a public plaza on the entry-level. The teams design emerged as six discrete buildings that reflect the scale of the single-family homes that surround it. With bustling Washington Boulevard to the south and a swath of Craftsman homes to the north, the complex appears as an array of structures connected by an exterior walkway system finished with an organic trellis that contrasts with mirror steel hoods that protect windows from southern exposure.

Rose Villa Senior Living Phase 3, Portland, OR by Scott Edwards Architecture and Gawron Turgeon Architects

Rose Villa Senior Living Phase 3, Portland, OR by Scott Edwards Architecture and Gawron Turgeon Architects. Image credit: David Papazian

Project excerpt: Schroeder Lofts is a five-story, wood-framed multi-use building with below-grade parking, amenities, a child care facility, and 35 independent living lofts. A palpable sense of outdoor living is prompted by oversized windows, garden terraces, and balconies that further activate the neighborhood. On its first floor, community spaces are connected by a covered arcade that draws the sidewalk into the building. The central hub for those spaces is a recreation room that doubles as a lounge, game room, and teaching kitchen. Also along the arcade is a medical clinic, quilting club room, and a resident-operated second-hand shop called Treasure House.

Stonewall House, Brooklyn, NY by Marvel Architects, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, PLLC

Stonewall House, Brooklyn, NY by Marvel Architects, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, PLLC. Image credit: Joshua Simpson

Project excerpt: The buildings massing, which relies on brick as a design feature, abuts the adjacent rectory to the north and steps down from the corner through three setbacks that offer common outdoor roof terraces. Entry into the buildings 6,800-square-foot community space is marked by a cantilevered canopy. Together, these features allow Stonewall House to hold the corner and connect it to the campus while also providing a safer and friendlier experience along the sidewalk.

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AIA honors five projects in 2023 Design for Aging Review Award - Archinect

From Trash to Ornament: Architects and Designers Give New Life to Discarded Objects

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A vital aspect of a circular economy lies in shifting our view of waste. Labeling an item "waste" implies voiding its value and ending its useful role in a traditionally linear economy. While the item might be out of sight and out of mind, its life continues in the landfill. This shift in perspective regarding waste means opening our minds to the opportunity that the abundance of junk presents. These designers and architects have managed to not only effectively reclaim discarded objects but also to make them look precious, imbuing them with new meaning and value through their careful curation.

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In Seattle, South Korean designer and artist Jay Sae Jung Oh takes discarded household items and turns them into ornamental leather-wrapped chairs. The "Salvage Chair" series was born out of the desire to bring attention to disposable culture.

"The genesis of my inspiration lies in the everyday objects that inhabit our lives. Despite living surrounded by so many objects, we often fail to acknowledge their value and are constantly consumed by the pursuit of new things." - Jay Sae Jung Oh

Her process involves gathering abandoned items and assembling them into new forms that she then wraps with leather cords. Obscured by the leather, these objects take new shapes as they meld into one another, creating complex pieces that exist in between furniture and sculpture.

In Bangalore, India, Interior design studio Multitude of Sins designed a restaurant interior using less than 10% newly sourced materials. Commissioned by the artistic community of "Bangalore Creative Circus," this 2,134 sqft project was completed in 2021. Through an unconventional curatorial process, MOS designed surface finishes, lighting, furniture, and art installations almost entirely from a city-wide donation drive, salvage markets, and dumping yards. Their design process relied heavily on what was available within the city's discarded resources, resulting in a distinctive array of colors and textures.

The entrance arches were fashioned from scrap metal and coated in a teal hue, while chandeliers were ingeniously crafted from bike chains and metal filings. Upcycled vehicle headlights were repurposed as lighting fixtures, and the flooring was composed of discarded display flooring samples. A patchwork collage of discarded wallpaper swatches creates an eye-catching backdrop for the food counter.

Designed by Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP, the Zero Waste Center challenges our ways of consumption through both its program and its aesthetics. Located in Kamikatzu, Japan, its facade is a collage of 700 windows donated by the local community. The building's interior and exterior comprise a patchwork of used items and locally harvested cedar wood.

In an interview with Stirworld, the architects detailed the meticulous process behind their design. They worked closely with the town and volunteers, measuring each of the 700 windows and noting glass thickness and necessary repairs. These measurements then informed the elevation drawings. While for most, the irregularity of the items would be seen as undesirable, the architects decided to embrace their imperfection.

Most of the logs, fittings, furniture, and other materials used in this project are uneven. In an economy of mass production and consumption, uneven materials are disliked and considered ugly and imperfect because they are difficult to pack, load, and control, and their quality is difficult to guarantee. Therefore, waste is generated in order to achieve uniformity, and those that are out of specification are discarded. However, we considered the uneven shapes as a unique characteristic of the object and treated it with affection in its uneven form, which we believe gives the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center a lot of character. - Hiroshi Nakamura

The architectural field holds vast potential to explore new aesthetic directions and types of beauty by using discarded materials at our disposal. By working with the uneven, dissimilar, and aged, new aesthetics can help us re-evaluate our relationship with waste and give new life to the discarded. This presents a new role for architects and designers, not just as makers of new things but as curators of the existing.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 03, 2023.

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