Design Atlas
Projects, stories and industry knowledge are coming into view.
On the BEC screen network
A changing mix of projects, industry news and supplier films currently appearing across Built Environment Channel.
AIA · 17 Aug 2026
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from the 2026 recipients of the Gold Medal, Neil Durbach, Camilla Block and David Jaggers. For almost three decades, their work has demonstrated that architecture can be intellectually rigorous, deeply affecting and profoundly civic.
Wingårdhs
Project description provided by Wingårdhs - Fyrtornet is Malmö's new timber high-rise – a striking addition to the skyline and the final piece completing Hyllie Square. It’s the first landmark to greet travelers as they arrive from the continent, a falu-red timber tower reaching proudly skyward, the tallest of its kind in Scandinavia. The ground floor welcomes a public foyer and a living room for the people of Malmö. On the second floor, a district library remains open into the evening, with reading rooms oriented towards the square, offering spaces to pause and reflect. Above, office floors unfold with warm timber interiors and triple-height, glass-enclosed terraces that bring in natural light and air. At the top, a shared rooftop garden opens to expansive views of the Öresund Strait. Sustainability shapes every facet of Fyrtornet. The building's design reduces its carbon footprint from the structural timber frame to the cedar shingle façade. It stands as Scandinavia’s tallest office building, constructed entirely of timber. Integrated solar panels on the glass façades and a geothermal energy system further enhance efficiency and resource-conscious design. More than a structure, Fyrtornet is a meeting place and a key element in the Embassy of Sharing district. The public foyer seamlessly blends with commercial spaces and a district library, encouraging encounters between different groups and enriching urban life. A recessed entrance and overhanging roof create a sheltered urban space, inviting people to gather. Two façades are dressed in red cedar shingles, while the other two feature double-glazed curtain walls that reflect the city beyond. Fyrtornet combines thoughtful, holistic design with innovative timber construction and a commitment to social and ecological sustainability. It is an architectural statement that both respects Malmö’s urban context and aspires to shape its future. A crafted addition to the city’s skyline that we hope will enhance Malmö’s built environment and inspire those who encounter it.
AIA · 17 Aug 2026
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from the 2026 recipients of the Gold Medal, Neil Durbach, Camilla Block and David Jaggers. For almost three decades, their work has demonstrated that architecture can be intellectually rigorous, deeply affecting and profoundly civic.
Cardin Julien
Project Description provided by Cardin Julien - Espace citoyen des Confluents transforms a former industrial brownfield into a vibrant civic hub, where nature shapes community life over the long term. Today, a library, cultural spaces, and municipal services form a public complex crisscrossed with pathways, rest areas, and an active mobility network connecting neighbouring districts. Inspired by the transformation process specific to the former petrochemical plant, the design engages the site in a reverse dynamic, recreating conditions that support environmental recovery. Situated at the intersection of Laval’s Saint-François and Duvernay-Est districts, the project addresses two defining challenges: remedying a long-standing lack of local amenities while restoring the ecological capacity of a vulnerable territory. Water forms the backbone of the design. A network of interconnected retention basins manages 100% of on-site stormwater and structures the flow of activity in the space. Visible and integrated into the pathway, this surface hydrology fosters the gradual establishment of a rich and resilient biodiversity. More than 300 trees, wildlife corridors, and intentionally preserved spontaneous vegetation form an evolving ecosystem, offering residents the rare experience of a dense green space within an established urban setting. Here, nature becomes a living framework that shapes uses, social relations, and a sense of belonging.
AIA · 17 Aug 2026
The ArchiNations series is dedicated to celebrating the diverse stories, experiences, and contributions of those in our architectural community who have come to Australia from around the world. Together, we'll consider how the profession can better recognise and benefit from diverse experiences, the often-overlooked value of international expertise, and the role diverse teams play in fostering innovation, challenging assumptions and creating better outcomes for both practice and the communities we serve.
Paul Bernier Architecte
Project Description provided by Paul Bernier Architecte - Mont-Jasper Chalet Paul Bernier Architecte Mont-Jasper Chalet Perched at high alƟtude on the western slope of Mont-Jasper and overlooking Lake Archambault, the project seeks to preserve the striking panoramic views while integraƟng harmoniously into its surroundings. The chalet opens generously toward the spectacular views of Lake Archambault and the LaurenƟan mountains, while maintaining an inƟmate relaƟonship with the surrounding forest. Set on a natural plateau, the folded form of the house follows the contour of the mountain ridge, beyond which the ground falls away, revealing the tops of tall conifers rooted into the mountainside. CanƟlevered elements—the primary bedroom and the terrace—take advantage of this vantage point, offering occupants the sensaƟon of being suspended between sky and earth. Upon arrival, the building splits into two pavilions—the house and the garage—linked by a roof that frames a visual opening toward the lake and distant mountains. This opening marks the entrance to the home. The house is composed of two volumes: a sleek, refined, bright and luminous volume that accommodates the living areas, and a lower, more enveloping volume, covered with a Douglas fir structure, which houses the primary bedroom and the kitchen. The living area opens up to sweeping views, aŌernoon light, and evening sunsets. The difference in height between the two volumes allows a high clerestory band that captures morning light, ensuring sunlight throughout the day. Extending from the living room, a canƟlevered terrace conƟnues the living spaces outdoors and strengthens the connecƟon to the landscape. In the lower volume, the space becomes more inƟmate. The exposed Douglas fir structure creates a warm and comforƟng atmosphere. The kitchen is set within it, like a wooden cocoon open to the living area. Concealed behind the bookshelf, the primary suite unfolds into a sequence of spaces leading to the resƟng area, oriented toward the forest and elevated above the natural ground. The chalet takes advantage of the sloping terrain by incorporaƟng a garden-level floor accessible from the exterior – a space dedicated for guests and children. This approach minimizes excessive site disturbance. Materiality also contributes to anchoring the chalet within its context. The exterior cladding, made of local white cedar, weathers naturally; its tone, which silvers over Ɵme, resonates with the forest. The Douglas fir structure further reinforces the dominant presence of wood in this natural seƫng. Inside, red oak is used for built-in furnishings with refined detailing, complemenƟng and harmonizing with the raw Douglas fir framework. Natural stone, concrete, and select VeneƟan plaster surfaces complete a durable, robust, and Ɵmeless paleƩe. Other surfaces remain white and luminous, allowing the surrounding landscape to take center stage.
AIA · 17 Aug 2026
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from the 2026 recipients of the Gold Medal, Neil Durbach, Camilla Block and David Jaggers. For almost three decades, their work has demonstrated that architecture can be intellectually rigorous, deeply affecting and profoundly civic.
Verstas Architects
Project description provided by Verstas Architects - Lapland Central hospital extension turns the 1980's hospital into a patient-centered campus that supports active rehabilitation and healing. The new humanely efficient hospital is a public building integrated into the living city, moving away from the concept of an isolated institution. Originally completed in the 1980s, the Lapland Central Hospital was designed by one of Finland's most renowned hospital architects, Reino Koivula. The extensions double the current premises of the hospital, including e.g. emergency outpatient clinic, observation ward, operation rooms, psychiatric wards and facilities for several supporting functions. The extensions create conditions for extensive synergy of operations, transforming the whole hospital campus into a more integrated and efficient whole. The new section of the hot hospital and parking building are positioned to the east of the existing hospital. Wooden surfaces under the entrance canopy and in the interior create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The psychiatric hospital is located west of the central hospital building. Its patient wards and outdoor yard are situated next to a small forest, bringing nature into the treatment process. The patient is at the center, with good customer experience, safety, effective treatment, and staff well-being as key goals. The architecture of the new buildings is consistent and recognizable. The primary facade material for the psychiatric hospital is wood with a translucent finish, while the facades of the hot hospital feature white concrete and aluminum. Vertical lamellas and floor-level overhangs provide weather protection and reduce the need for mechanical cooling. The modular facade solution allows for the flexible placement of spaces of various sizes along the facade, thereby supporting the adaptability of the interior. The revised layout of the hospital campus is based on creating a new east-west oriented internal connection, which serves as the spatial and functional unifying backbone of the plan. The architecture conveys humaneness and patient-centered care, while evoking images of Lapland's nature. Materials, spatial solutions, and natural light create a safe, healing environment that serves both patients' effective treatment and well-being of the staff. Public artworks implemented on the hospital campus enliven the surroundings and promote active rehabilitation.
