Enduring Architecture
Enduring architecture prioritizes longevity over novelty, reducing maintenance and ensuring adaptability as social, environmental, and functional needs evolve.
Inside the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Built for Permanent Winter
Deep within the Arctic permafrost, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault redefines architecture as a strategic act of preservation, prioritizing long-term endurance over human comfort. By leveraging the landscape as a structural partner, the vault operates as a silent, self-sustaining guardian of biological diversity for an uncertain future.
Designing a Livable Campus in the Middle of the Desert at Masdar
Masdar Institute reimagines the traditional Arab medina as a high-density micro-city that utilizes narrow streets and self-shading structures to naturally defeat extreme desert heat. By integrating ancient cooling techniques like the wind tower with a modern solar canopy, the campus creates a walkable, human-scaled environment that transforms the harsh desert into a livable social sanctuary.
Beating the Desert Heat at the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School in Jaisalmer
The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School utilizes a stone elliptical form and traditional jali screens to transform the Thar Desert's harsh heat into a self-cooling sanctuary for education. By blending ancient Rajasthani masonry with aerodynamic design, the building serves as both a passive thermal engine and a social monument that elevates the status of female literacy in the region.
Using Wind as Architecture at the Bahrain World Trade Center
The Bahrain World Trade Center uses aerodynamic sail-shaped towers to funnel and accelerate coastal winds toward three integrated turbines. This design transforms the skyscraper into an active power plant, proving that architectural form can serve as a functional engine for renewable energy.