Architecture

April 2, 2023

National Library of France Completely Transformed After a 15 Year Renovation

After 15 years, Bruno Gaudin Architectes has completed work on the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF). The massive undertaking saw the firm touch every part of this national archive, which is spread across two sites: the Richelieu and François-Mitterrand. Tackled in two phases, the first of which was completed in 2016, the fulfillment of the project has revolutionized the library for both its employees and the public.

Read Article

March 28, 2023

Abandoned High School Bought for $100K Is Transformed Into Stunning Apartment Building

With the right vision, an abandoned building can have a second life. In 2019, Jesse Wig saw the opportunity to turn an empty high school in Homestead, Pennsylvania, into a completely new type of space. The sellers were asking $100,000 for the 50,000-square-foot building. The 34-year-old real estate agent bought it, unsure of what he’d do with it. Three years later, it’s now known as Bowtie High, a 31-unit luxury apartment building.

Read Article

February 25, 2023

Design for One of China’s Largest Libraries Is a Contemporary Canyon of Books

Dutch architectural firm MVRDV has won a competition to build what will become one of China's largest libraries. The sprawling design for the Wuhan Library combines traditional and non-traditional spaces all housed under a sculptural roof inspired by the city's rivers. Described by the firm as a “canyon of books,” the sprawling complex covers approximately 1.5 million square feet.

Read Article

February 21, 2023

These Chic Pre-Fabricated Homes Will Bring Your Utility Bills Down to $0

With home heating costs on the rise, the idea of a home that stays warm even in the absence of a furnace might seem like a pipe dream. But it's actually quite possible, thanks to the passive house—or passivhaus—concept. Formally conceived in the 1980s, a combination of engineering and architecture merged to create structures that require little to no heating or cooling.

Read Article

My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.