The Humaniti mixed-use complex in Montreal is approaching completion, designed by Lemay to achieve WELL Certification and to encourage its residents to interact with their living space. Described as a smart vertical community, the 39-floor, H-shaped complex will feature apartments, a hotel, 57,000sq ft (5,300sq m) of office space and 17,000sq ft (1,600sq m) of retail and commercial space. “The source of inspiration is really two-fold," said Andrew King, senior

OMA have unveiled plans for a new shopping centre in Australia that will integrate public spaces, community amenities and facilities for childcare and education to create a more communal experience. Commissioned for Sandhurst Retail, the Wollert Neighbourhood Centre will be located in the Wollert suburb of Whittlesea, just north of Melbourne. Due to break ground in 2023, the 9,000sq m (97,000sq ft) facility is intended to be a neighbourhood asset

LUO Studio recently completed a new community centre in Hubei province, China, by adding a timber frame to a set of existing foundations for a residential project that had been abandoned. It was necessary to find a new home for the Party and Public Service Center of Yuanheguan Village because its existing location had been earmarked to be part of a new hotel development. What's more, there were only two

Pendulum have won an award for their conceptual design of a modular stadium complex that is intended to provide a platform for economic development in growing communities. The Future Stadia design won the 'Sports and Recreation Project (Concept)' category of the annual Rethinking the Future awards, which are aimed at identifying and promoting "outstanding work in the field of architecture and design across the world." Pendulum's design proposes an initial

Steven Holl Architects have topped out the Shanghai Cofco Cultural and Health Center, which is aimed at being "a social condenser" for residents of the dense surrounding housing. Designed in 2016 and expected to be completed mid-to-late 2020, the 7,520sq m (81,000sq ft) development comprises a mix of public realm, a canalside park, space for recreational and cultural programs, amenities and health facilities. An open, spacious design contrasts that of

A 25ac (10ha) site in New Orleans is to be transformed by into an environmental, recreational and educational amenity that will use natural processes to store and treat excess stormwater. Designed by Waggonner & Ball, Mirabeau Water Garden will provide a place for stormwater to drain to, be stored and be naturally filtered. In addition to reducing the impact of potential flooding on streets and homes, it will be a

Open Platform and JAJA Architects have won a competition to create a new multi-storey car-park and mobility hub in Aarhus, Denmark, with a wooden design that will incorporate space for activities, creativity and socialising. Working with Rama Studio and Søren Jensen Engineers, the firms sought to design a facility that would play an active role in the development of the district in the future. The car-park itself will cover 19,300sq

Dattner Architects have been chosen to transform the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center North Campus in Brooklyn into an affordable housing complex with integrated leisure, wellness and community elements. The project, which is part of a wider initiative to create more affordable housing in Brooklyn, will see three buildings demolished on the 102,000sq ft (9,500sq m) site, as well as the redevelopment of a former hospital building. A total of 266

Partisans have unveiled their vision for a new community of the future where "small town and rural lifestyles are enhanced by the benefits and attributes of urban living." The concept was developed for the town of Innisfil in Ontario, Canada, which is situated about 60km (37mi) north of Toronto. A new transit hub is set to be built in the town over the next four years, which will provide access

The second day of the World Architecture Festival Awards (WAF) 2019 saw mixed-use, cultural and community projects celebrated across a number of categories. The ‘Culture - Future Projects’ award was won by White Arkitekter for The New GoDown Arts Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, recognised for its clearly articulated "combination of social, traditional and environmental objectives" and a "good list of local materials and construction". STUDIO V Architecture won in the

Emaar have unveiled the masterplan for a new self-contained town in Dubai called the Valley, focussed on providing a balanced lifestyle for residents, a strong sense of community and family-friendly living. Once complete, the AED 25 billion ($7b, €6b, £5b) project will cover 200ha (494ac) and have over 4,500 homes. Set in green landscaping, it will mix its residential offer with open spaces, as well as retail, entertainment, recreational, educational

MAD Architects have inserted a number of organically-shaped bubbles into the fabric of Beijing's Qianmen district to provide new space, new use cases and incentives for younger generations to return to the area. The Hutong Bubble 218 project sees organically-shaped interstitial interventions inserted into the restrictive context of a former hospital on a hutong – a narrow street or alley. The hospital had already been converted into accommodation for around

Architects Hesselbrand have designed the 120-room Acquarossa Spa & Hotel in the Swiss Alps with elements for sustainability and fostering a sense of community among both guests and residents of the local area. The Acquarossa is aimed at bringing people together in a social and relaxed atmosphere based on their mutual interest in wellbeing and experience-based tourism. Located in the village of Acquarossa in Ticino, Switzerland, it provides views of

Construction work has begun on Pixel, a new residential-led, mixed-use project in Abu Dhabi's new Maker's District. Designed by MVRDV, the development aims to provide residents with a lifestyle based around outdoor living and community spirit – an innovative approach in the Emirates, as it deviates from the prevalent typology of disconnected towers. The 85,000sq m (915,000sq ft) development features 525 apartments, shops, offices, and amenities situated around a lively

Retirement community developer PegasusLife is gearing up to launch a collection of 'later living' residences in Tetbury – a picturesque village in the Cotswolds, UK. Called the "Steepleton", the property, which was designed by British studio Proctor and Matthews Architects, comprises nine buildings, each housing 133 one-to three-bedroom flats. According to PegasusLife, Steepleton's "layout draws on the idea of ancient settlements, with a farmstead at the centre and a variety

American architecture firm Studio Gang have revealed the first set of renderings of their vision to regenerate the historic Tom Lee Park in Memphis, Tennessee. Part of what has been described as a "holistic redevelopment" of the Memphis riverfront, the revitalised public space, which Studio Gang is redesigning in collaboration with SCAPE Landscape Architecture, will take design cues from various riverside structures, machines, and transport vessels – such as docks,

The State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta has fully reopened, following a US$192.5m (€169m, £152m) renovation project which has transformed the 20-year-old indoor venue. Completed in phases, the redevelopment has been driven by Tony Ressler, owner of the Atlanta Hawks NBA franchise, which is the arena's primary tenant. Ressler acquired the Hawks in 2015 and made upgrading the venue, formerly called Philips Arena, a priority focus in his plans to

Denmark-based urban planning and architecture practice Lendager Group have won a contest to build the UN17 Village, a residential community which incorporates all "17 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals". The future 400-home complex, which is set to rise in Copenhagen – arguably the world’s most eco-friendly city – will be built with upcycled waste and nontoxic materials, such as glass, concrete, and wood. According to Aarstiderne Arkitekter, who

The first property from new hotel brand Salt, launched by the team behind Lux Resorts, has opened in Mauritius. The 59-bedroom Salt of Palmar has been conceived to champion sustainability, connect with the local community and introduce culturally curious travellers to the “real, unvarnished Mauritius,” the company said. Its distinctive look is born out of collaboration between local Mauritian architect Jean-François Adam of JFA Architects and French artist Camille Walala,

American cryptocurrency company Blockchains LLC has selected Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects (EYRC) and Tom Wiscombe Architecture to design a futuristic city on the outskirts of Reno in Nevada, US. The brainchild of lawyer and Blockchains CEO Jeffrey Berns, Innovation Park – the new Fintech community – will occupy 67,000 acres of land and feature a number of residential units, offices spaces, commercial facilities, and recreational squares. According to Blockchains,

Danish architecture firm 3XN have pulled back the curtain on their designs for the Blackwattle Bay fish market in Sydney, Australia. Described by the company’s founder, Kim Nielson, as a future "iconic destination" for the country, the 3.6-hectare waterfront emporium and public attraction will feature a number of open-air restaurants as well as customisable modular spaces for social events and performances. The estimated AU$250m (US$182.1m, €158.7m, £138.6m) complex, which was

Corippo, a 200-hundred-year-old village located in the Verzasca valley, is undergoing a transformation which could see it become the first albergo diffuso (“scattered hotel”) in Switzerland. Scattered hotels are effectively regenerated municipalities, endangered districts which get a new lease on life by becoming interactive, multi-venue destinations for travellers interested in full-scale immersion tourism. The plan to save the highland hamlet, the population of which has been diminishing exponentially for half

Thonburi Healthcare Group is planning a residential project for retirees in Bangkok with a focus on wellness and integrated healthcare services. Jin Wellbeing County includes 13 seven-storey buildings with a total of 1,300 units, an Aged Care Center for assisted living, and a Wellness Center with spa, providing preventive healthcare services for physical, emotional and mental conditions. Architecture firm ThomsonAdsett, which specialises in universal design, is responsible for the overall

Construction is underway for a mountaintop retreat in Utah focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. Summit Powder Mountain, near Eden, is a ski village planned by architects and environmental designers Studio Ma to include residences and leisure communities that will host a year-round community of creative professionals and social entrepreneurs. The project is taking shape on a 10,000-acre public site surrounded by ski slopes. The centrepiece of the village will be

The International Well Building Institute (IWBI) has officially launched the WELL Community Standard – designed to help set up a new global benchmark for healthy communities. A rating system centered on human health and wellness, the new standard takes into consideration evidence-based research and has been developed through consultation with physicians, scientists and public health professionals, as well as architects, city planners and engineers. The programme builds on the principles

Zanzibar’s accelerating development boom has taken yet another step forward, with the announcement of a new resort billed by its backers as “the largest premium hospitality investment and resort in East Africa” and featuring its own dedicated private airport. The Zanzibar Amber Resort has been conceived by real estate firm Pennyroyal Gibraltar Ltd. Development and South Africa’s Pam Golding Property group as a “luxury tropical community”, traversing 411 hectares developed

A luxurious new home designed to emulate a stylish and intimate leisure resort has been completed in Nevada, overlooking the Las Vegas Valley. The custom-made property, designed by US practice SB Architects, is the first architectural "inspiration home” to be added to Ascaya – a new community of 313 luxury estate homesites being built in the McCullough mountain range, 1,000 ft (305m) above the valley floor, by billionaire Hong Kong