Architectural Cases

Architecture News

Celebrity Style

Building materials

Architecture Awards

English

Building materials

A' Design Award 2026: Inspiring Submissions Through Past Residential Architecture Winners

Slide 20
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 9
Slide 10
Slide 11
Slide 12
Slide 13
Slide 14
Slide 15
Slide 16
Slide 17
Slide 18
Slide 19
Slide 20
Slide 1

The globally acclaimed A' Design Award is now welcoming entries for its 2026 competition, urging designers, architects, and forward-thinkers from every creative sector to present their finest creations. This prestigious platform, with a submission deadline of February 28 and results to be revealed on May 1, represents an extraordinary opportunity for the design community to achieve international acknowledgment. The competition emphasizes how previous laureates in residential architecture continue to shape modern living concepts, from sprawling rural estates to dense urban apartments and cutting-edge senior living facilities. Both established firms and emerging talents are encouraged to submit their work and potentially follow in the footsteps of these distinguished projects.

Winning an A' Design Award transcends merely receiving a physical accolade; it serves as a powerful catalyst for career progression. Benefits include international exhibitions, a coveted place in the exclusive hardbound yearbook, and visibility in leading design publications. Honorees also gain entry into the World Design Rankings, have their projects translated into over 100 languages, and receive extensive public relations support, ensuring their innovative architectural concepts reach a broad audience of developers and peers globally.

Recognizing Excellence Across Design Categories

In its previous iteration, the A' Design Award witnessed a notable increase in projects that pushed the boundaries of domestic design. Examples such as the Ripple House by Sam Alawie and the Park Wellstate Nishiazabu Senior Residence illustrate a growing trend towards architectural designs that harmoniously blend aesthetic sophistication with practical social benefits. These projects exemplify a commitment to creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also significantly enhance the quality of life for their occupants.

While residential design remains a focal point, the competition provides a robust framework supporting a wide array of creative disciplines. The program encompasses numerous categories, including the Good Industrial Design Award, Good Architecture Design Award, Good Product Design Award, Good Communication Design Award, and Good Fashion Design Award. For those whose work spans multiple disciplines, an even broader range of categories is available for exploration, ensuring that every innovative idea finds its rightful place for recognition.

Elevating Careers Through Global Recognition

The A' Design Award acts as a springboard for professional advancement, offering laureates far more than a simple trophy. Winners benefit from international showcases, inclusion in a premium hardbound annual publication, and features in influential design media. Furthermore, their projects are cataloged in the World Design Rankings, translated into numerous languages, and promoted through comprehensive public relations efforts. This extensive exposure ensures their architectural visions gain global prominence among developers and industry professionals, significantly boosting their career prospects and visibility.

To uphold the competition's high standards of excellence, every submission undergoes a rigorous evaluation by the Grand Jury Panel. For the 2025–2026 cycle, this panel comprises 318 distinguished design professionals, academics, and industry experts. This meticulous peer-review methodology guarantees an impartial and objective assessment, allowing only the most innovative and impactful designs to emerge as winners and be celebrated during the annual gala event, reinforcing the award's reputation for fairness and prestige.

LACMA's Peter Zumthor-Designed David Geffen Galleries: A New Era of Art Exhibition
Building materials

LACMA's Peter Zumthor-Designed David Geffen Galleries: A New Era of Art Exhibition

Historic Austrian Farmhouse Transformed for Modern Living
Building materials

Historic Austrian Farmhouse Transformed for Modern Living

VMA Design Studio's Elemental Zoological Pavilion for Łódź Zoo
Building materials

VMA Design Studio's Elemental Zoological Pavilion for Łódź Zoo

Building materials

Typewriter Reimagined: A Functional Gaming Computer

Slide 6
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 1
This article showcases an innovative project where a classic typewriter is ingeniously repurposed into a modern gaming computer, blending nostalgic design with contemporary functionality.

Where Vintage Charm Meets Digital Play

Bringing a Bygone Era to Digital Life: The Typewriter's Transformation

The YouTube channel Prototype has embarked on a remarkable endeavor, converting an antique typewriter into a fully operational 'gaming' computer. This inventive creation not only allows for modern computing tasks like browsing and typing but also facilitates gaming. The designer has carefully maintained the original look and feel of the typewriter, retaining its metallic chassis, circular keycaps, mechanical strike arms, sliding carriage, and the iconic bell. The integration of three-dimensionally printed components is key to its modern capabilities.

The Internal Metamorphosis: Crafting Space for Modern Electronics

To prepare the typewriter for its new role, the creator first had to remove several original parts. This included the old motor, the ink ribbon mechanism, and certain side brackets, all to carve out sufficient internal space for contemporary computer hardware. This crucial step laid the groundwork for integrating the essential components that would transform the vintage machine into a digital powerhouse.

The Brain of the Machine: Integrating Core Computing Elements

A computer necessitates fundamental components such as a central processing unit, a power supply unit, and other critical electronic modules. The creator thoughtfully redesigned the keyboard, opting for a sleek, modern alternative that is considerably slimmer than the original. Furthermore, a bespoke printed circuit board (PCB) was fabricated, serving as the primary electronic foundation beneath the keys, subsequently linking to a microcontroller. This intricate setup ensures that each key press is accurately registered and transmitted, making the typewriter a viable interface for contemporary computing.

The Heart of Interaction: How Key Presses Translate to Digital Input

The keyboard's switches are laid out in a grid, enabling the system to pinpoint the exact location of a key press by detecting the closure of a circuit at a specific row and column. An Arduino, an open-source electronics platform, then interprets this positional data and forwards the corresponding character to the computer. This ingenious mechanism is what makes the revamped typewriter a functional gaming computer, bridging the gap between its mechanical heritage and digital future.

A Nod to the Past: Preserving the Typewriter's Signature Movement

Beyond its internal modifications, the creator fashioned a new plastic enclosure for the typewriter, providing ample room for the computer components while preserving its classic aesthetic. A highlight of this transformation is the retention of the original moving hammer system. This allows the computer to shift horizontally with each key press, mirroring the distinctive action of traditional typewriters, a feature powered by a servo motor that adds a nostalgic charm to the modern device.

The Ongoing Journey: Towards a Fully Integrated Experience

Although the keyboard and its mechanical motions are now synchronized, the project is still in progress. The creator plans to embed the computer and a display within the typewriter's frame. Currently, the device is primarily showcased for its typing capabilities. However, a forthcoming second part of the video series is anticipated to demonstrate the typewriter's full potential as a gaming platform, illustrating how users can engage with games on this unique fusion of a revived laptop and an antique typing machine.

See More
Conway's Arcade: Limitless Play Through AI-Powered Hardware
Building materials

Conway's Arcade: Limitless Play Through AI-Powered Hardware

Designers Transform Discarded Rice into Innovative Materials
Building materials

Designers Transform Discarded Rice into Innovative Materials

ABERTO5 Exhibition Transforms Eduardo Longo's Casa Bola in São Paulo
Building materials

ABERTO5 Exhibition Transforms Eduardo Longo's Casa Bola in São Paulo

Building materials

Innovating Horticulture: Biodegradable Pots from Organic Waste

Slide 12
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 9
Slide 10
Slide 11
Slide 12
Slide 1
This initiative introduces a groundbreaking material science endeavor focused on replacing conventional plastic containers prevalent in the horticulture, floriculture, and gardening sectors. It seeks to mitigate the ecological footprint of single-use plastics by establishing an alternative production paradigm, aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 12 for responsible consumption and production. The core of this research revolves around developing biodegradable planting vessels, emphasizing waste reduction, material reuse, and principles of circular design.

Cultivating Change: From Waste to Growth, Sustainably.

A Novel Approach to Horticultural Sustainability: Addressing Plastic Waste with Biodegradable Alternatives

The "Biodegradable Pots" project is a material research initiative aiming to tackle the pervasive use of plastic containers in the horticulture, floriculture, and gardening industries. Driven by the significant environmental impact of single-use plastics, this project proposes an innovative production model that aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The research primarily focuses on waste reduction, material reintegration, and circular design principles through the creation of biodegradable plant containers.

Transforming Organic Byproducts into Valuable Resources: A Circular Economy Perspective

This project delves into the possibilities of reusing organic waste from three main categories: discarded natural fibers and plant matter from floriculture, food byproducts such as eggshells from restaurants, and wood waste, including sawdust, sourced from carpentry workshops. These materials, traditionally considered disposable, are re-envisioned as valuable raw resources, capable of being integrated back into the production cycle, thereby fostering a more sustainable approach to material consumption.

Pioneering Sustainable Design: Adonis Evangelista's Biodegradable Pot Prototypes

Under the guidance of Lígia Lopes, designer Adonis Evangelista meticulously collected, sorted, cataloged, dried, and processed various organic materials through a series of experimental trials. The team explored numerous material combinations and fabrication techniques, including molding, industrial sewing, and biomaterial folding. Each prototype underwent rigorous evaluation for structural integrity, longevity, water drainage efficiency, and compatibility with plant growth, ensuring the creation of functional and eco-friendly alternatives.

Innovating with Nature: Crafting Plant-Friendly Biodegradable Containers

Adonis Evangelista's research, overseen by Lígia Lopes, prioritized the selection of natural binders that are harmonious with plant pH levels. This crucial consideration guarantees that the resulting containers not only facilitate healthy plant development but are also entirely biodegradable, leaving no lasting environmental trace. The extensive prototyping and testing phases conclusively demonstrated the feasibility of converting organic residues into effective plant pots, ready to supplant their conventional plastic counterparts.

Embracing Circularity: Reducing Plastic Dependency Through Innovative Material Design

By transforming organic waste into functional planting containers, this project powerfully demonstrates how design-led material innovation can significantly lessen reliance on plastic and champion circular economy principles. The findings suggest a viable and scalable pathway for the mass production of biodegradable pots. This success opens doors for further advancements in material optimization, manufacturing processes, and broadening production capacity.

Fostering Sustainable Practices: The Role of Biodegradable Materials in Horticulture

With its emphasis on treating waste as a valuable resource, the project plays a pivotal role in promoting more sustainable consumption and production habits. It positions biodegradable materials as essential components within contemporary horticultural and gardening systems, offering a responsible and environmentally conscious solution for cultivating plants.

See More