Domus 1095 is now available

The latest issue of Domus edited by Norman Foster, the magazine’s guest editor for 2024, is dedicated to the future of nature.

Editorial/ The future of nature

Text Norman Foster

Essays/ A new beginning for nuclear After years of mistrust, nuclear power is regaining favour with the development of small reactors and batteries as carbon-neutral energy sources

Text Jacopo Buongiorno, Fábio Duarte, Carlo Ratti

Essays/ In search of effective climate strategies Global warming exacerbates heat domes, fires and floods. However, these phenomena must be seen in a broader picture, avoiding alarmism and finding effective solutions at a reasonable cost.

Text Bjørn Lomborg

Essays/ The energy challenge has yet to be tackled The transition to clean energy will not be quick. We are too dependent on fossil carbon to produce materials. Smil’s invitation is to consume less and implement large-scale changes.

Text Vaclav Smil

Essays/ A possible revolution The know-how already accumulated on nuclear power is ready to be redeployed in a safer and more cost-effective way. The keys to this breakthrough are the miniaturisation of the amount of material used and the recycling of waste.

Text Stefano Buono

Architecture/ Northeast Pavilion, Surajkund International Crafts Mela, Faridabad, Haryana, India In Faridabad, on the site of the Surajkund Crafts Mela, a bamboo exhibition space celebrates local building techniques and expertise and their connection with nature.

Text Shaikh Ayaz

Architecture/ Tom Lee Park, Memphis, Tennessee, USA The new Mississippi riverfront in Memphis is conceived as a model for inclusive urban parks and has been built with a restorative approach to the site’s ecology.

Text Béatrice Grenier

Architecture/ ThinkStay Mt., Kobe, Hyōgo, Giappone / Japan In Japan, on the site of a historical residence on the slopes of Mount Rokkō, a series of pavilions have been built to harmonise life and work in nature.

Text Ken Farris

Architecture/ Hybrid Flax Pavilion Landesgartenschau, Wangen im Allgäu Baden-Württemberg, Germany At Wangen im Allgäu, in Baden-Württemberg, an exhibition building serves as a manifesto of a new construction system, a hybrid of wood and natural flax fibre.

Text Laura Helena Wurth

Architecture/ Vertical Farm Beijing Beijing, Chian China’s first innovation centre for urban food production is a landmark showcasing a layering of cultivation techniques through its glass facades.

Text Marina Otero Verzier

Architecture/ Amelia Tulum, Quintana Roo Mexico Designed as a geometric play of three intersecting levels, the Amelia mixed-use complex is woven into the surrounding rainforest of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Text  Jonathan Glancey

Design/ Raw-edges-design studio, Lightmass^ The London-based studio has created a lighting brand that channels all aspects of the making process through the lens of sustainability.

Textt Emma Moore

Design/ richard alexandre, karina gunadi, blake goodwyn, tanghao yu, Pyri With climate change raising global temperatures and spreading drought, creating the ideal conditions for starting wildfires, this detector made from wax and charcoal offers an innovative, effective and environmentally sustainable solution.

Text Silvana Annichiarico

A letter from/ The faces of Helsinki, balancing tradition and the onward march of newness

Text Elena Sommariva

Influences/ Paolo Desideri, the creativity uniting painters and architects

Text Valentina Petrucci

Emerging territories/ Lusail, superlative urbanism

Text Javier Arpa Fernández

Kids/ In Zanzibar, a library inspired by sun, rain, wind and necessity

Text Elena Sommariva

Dedicated to the future of nature, the November issue of Domus features a striking cover photo of British Columbia’s lush forests by Edward Burtynsky. This issue marks the culmination of Norman Foster’s tenure as Guest Editor for 2024. The renowned English architect, a leading figure in both the 20th and 21st centuries, bids farewell to Domus readers with a reminder: in architecture, as in life, the only constant is change. This theme has been woven throughout his ten issues, delivered with his characteristic understated brilliance, and applying his signature method: focusing on the micro to illuminate the macro. It's a lesson that will undoubtedly leave its mark on the history of architecture and the Domus community. In this issue, Foster emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable and effective climate strategies and energy solutions that challenge conventional thinking. He revisits his long-standing interest in nuclear power, drawing on insights from Jacopo Buongiorno, Fabio Duarte, and Carlo Ratti, who echo physicist John Lovelock’s view that nuclear energy is "the only ecological solution." Italian physicist Stefano Buono’s article further explores how existing nuclear know-how can be safely and cost-effectively reactivated.

Domus 1095, November 2024

Domus November also showcases a range of sustainable and ecological architectural projects. Highlights include the Northeast Pavilion, a bamboo exhibition space in western India that celebrates the fusion of traditional construction techniques and local knowledge with nature. In Memphis, Tennessee, Studio Gang has created an inclusive park on the banks of the Mississippi River, embodying a regenerative approach to site ecology. A historic residence on the slopes of Mount Rokko in Japan, reimagined by Osama Morishita, features a series of pavilions designed to harmonize life and work with nature. Back in Europe, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, a building born from research by the Institute for Computational Design at the University of Stuttgart stands as a manifesto for construction using wood and natural linen fiber. This innovative approach resonates with the Vertical Farm in Beijing by Van Berger Kolpa Architecten. This pioneering Chinese urban food innovation center is a transparent landmark where every process is visible. Finally, in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Sordo Madaleno has designed Amelia Tulum, a mixed-use complex that seeks to preserve historical memory from the encroaching forces of tourism and gentrification. The complex’s geometric design, interwoven with the jungle, the sea, and the built environment, creates a dynamic interplay across three levels. In the design and art section, Domus November spotlights three intriguing concepts: Lightmass, a lighting brand from London-based studio Raw Edges that prioritizes sustainability throughout its production process; Pyri, a wax and coal detector designed by the Alexandre-Gunadi-Goodwyn-Yu team to help prevent forest fires; and a study of moving photography by Irish artist John Gerrard, which offers a subtle yet powerful commentary on the depletion of fossil fuels.

Domus Contract, November 2024

The magazine’s "Diary" section, curated by the editorial team, provides a thought-provoking reflection on current events. Highlights include Loredana Mascheroni’s exploration of Helsinki’s evolving identity as a cultural capital; Paola Carimati’s piece on Studio Siriana’s "Garden of Delights" in Amsterdam’s NDSM district; Javier Arpa Fernandez’s analysis of the urban regeneration of Lusail in Qatar; and Elena Sommariva’s article on a children’s library in Zanzibar inspired by the elements.

This month’s Domus also includes the "Contract" supplement, which delves into the evolving concept of luxury. No longer defined solely by expensive materials, luxury now encompasses the creation of authentic and personalized experiences. The goal of luxury design is to create spaces that seamlessly blend beauty and practicality, tradition and innovation, offering a sense of well-being and comfort. Exclusivity lies in personalization, respect for the local context, a commitment to sustainability, and the use of local suppliers. In today’s world of information overload, true luxury is found in discretion and the opportunity to reconnect with oneself in a harmonious environment.

Editorial/ The future of nature Text Norman Foster

Essays/ A new beginning for nuclear Text Jacopo Buongiorno, Fábio Duarte, Carlo Ratti

After years of mistrust, nuclear power is regaining favour with the development of small reactors and batteries as carbon-neutral energy sources

Essays/ In search of effective climate strategies Text Bjørn Lomborg

Global warming exacerbates heat domes, fires and floods. However, these phenomena must be seen in a broader picture, avoiding alarmism and finding effective solutions at a reasonable cost.

Essays/ The energy challenge has yet to be tackled Text Vaclav Smil

The transition to clean energy will not be quick. We are too dependent on fossil carbon to produce materials. Smil’s invitation is to consume less and implement large-scale changes.

Essays/ A possible revolution Text Stefano Buono

The know-how already accumulated on nuclear power is ready to be redeployed in a safer and more cost-effective way. The keys to this breakthrough are the miniaturisation of the amount of material used and the recycling of waste.

Architecture/ Northeast Pavilion, Surajkund International Crafts Mela, Faridabad, Haryana, India Text Shaikh Ayaz

In Faridabad, on the site of the Surajkund Crafts Mela, a bamboo exhibition space celebrates local building techniques and expertise and their connection with nature.

Architecture/ Tom Lee Park, Memphis, Tennessee, USA Text Béatrice Grenier

The new Mississippi riverfront in Memphis is conceived as a model for inclusive urban parks and has been built with a restorative approach to the site’s ecology.

Architecture/ ThinkStay Mt., Kobe, Hyōgo, Giappone / Japan Text Ken Farris

In Japan, on the site of a historical residence on the slopes of Mount Rokkō, a series of pavilions have been built to harmonise life and work in nature.

Architecture/ Hybrid Flax Pavilion Landesgartenschau, Wangen im Allgäu Baden-Württemberg, Germany Text Laura Helena Wurth

At Wangen im Allgäu, in Baden-Württemberg, an exhibition building serves as a manifesto of a new construction system, a hybrid of wood and natural flax fibre.

Architecture/ Vertical Farm Beijing Beijing, Chian Text Marina Otero Verzier

China’s first innovation centre for urban food production is a landmark showcasing a layering of cultivation techniques through its glass facades.

Architecture/ Amelia Tulum, Quintana Roo Mexico Text  Jonathan Glancey

Designed as a geometric play of three intersecting levels, the Amelia mixed-use complex is woven into the surrounding rainforest of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Design/ Raw-edges-design studio, Lightmass^ Textt Emma Moore

The London-based studio has created a lighting brand that channels all aspects of the making process through the lens of sustainability.

Design/ richard alexandre, karina gunadi, blake goodwyn, tanghao yu, Pyri Text Silvana Annichiarico

With climate change raising global temperatures and spreading drought, creating the ideal conditions for starting wildfires, this detector made from wax and charcoal offers an innovative, effective and environmentally sustainable solution.

A letter from/ The faces of Helsinki, balancing tradition and the onward march of newness Text Elena Sommariva

Influences/ Paolo Desideri, the creativity uniting painters and architects Text Valentina Petrucci

Emerging territories/ Lusail, superlative urbanism Text Javier Arpa Fernández

Kids/ In Zanzibar, a library inspired by sun, rain, wind and necessity Text Elena Sommariva