It is not for nothing that light is considered the fourth dimension of architecture. Lighting specialist OCCHIO knows all about its power, managing to enliven even cold, black concrete with its luminaire systems.

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Photographer: ewout huibers / concrete

Every day, 180,000 people around the world move to the city. And all those people need a place to live. But with rising demand comes rising rent, making it virtually impossible for young potentials and the middle class to find rental housing that is not only affordable, but also caters to the needs of the modern urban citizen. In a time characterised by flexibility, community and sustainability, the available rentalhousing increasingly fails to meet modern-day demands.

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Logiplaces Landscape Puzzles by Planbureau

With Logiplaces a favourite city can be captured in concrete, turned into a one-of-a-kind tabletop sculpture, and divided into a 16 or 36-piece puzzle.

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Villa préfabriqué in Collonges by Pierre-Alain Dupraz; photo courtesy of the architect

Geneva-based architectural practice Pierre-Alain Dupraz have recently realised this single family residence overlooking the Salève mountain. Composed of prefabricated concrete modules stacked atop of each other to form the minimalist residence, ‘Villa préfabriqué’ was completed earlier this year. (more…)

Château Cheval Blanc by Atelier Christian de Portzamparc; photo © Erick Saillet

A Parisian architectural practice Atelier Christian de Portzamparc, led by the Pritzker Prize-winning Christian de Portzamparc, have realised this dynamic, concrete-clad winery located in the historical southwestern French commune of Saint-Émilion. A new home to the producer of one of the region’s finest wines, Château Cheval Blanc, the 5250-square-meters building blends seamlessly with its hilly surroundings and boasts 52 concrete vats, a wine barrel cellar, a tasting room, several workshops and office spaces as well as a beautifully lit, adjacent terraced garden. (more…)

Selvika National Tourist Route by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter; photo courtesy of the architects

Overlooking the Arctic Ocean and surrounded by the spectacular, coastal scenery of Havøysund, north Norway, this winding concrete structure has been developed by Oslo-based practice Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter. One of the 18 National Tourist Routes in Norway, it was realised ‘to single out and magnify the experience of walking from the roadside down to the seaside at this very special place.’ The striking, serpentine path has been officially inaugurated less than a month ago, on 22 June. (more…)

Holiday house Vitznau by Lischer Partner Architekten Planer AG; photo by Roger Frei

A Swiss architectural practice Lischer Partner Architekten Planer AG have completed this concrete-clad, minimalist holiday residence located in Vitznau. Boasting spectacular views of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland’s fourth largest lake, the interior of this two-storey house has been lined with larch wood block panels following ‘the clients’ desire was to live in a timber house.’ (more…)

‘Akita’ desk accessory collection by Tatsuya Akita for Plant & Moss

A young Japanese designer and recent Northumbria University graduate Tatsuya Akita has recently realised this collection of desktop accessories for the British design brand Plant & Moss. Stemming from Akita’s ongoing ‘Scars of Production’ project which explores the manufacturing process and how it ‘leaves the ‘scars’ [on products] as identities rather than obliterating any indication as to how they were made,’ the ‘Akita’ collection comprises three bold pieces: a desk lamp, tape dispenser and a pen stand. (more…)