In hospitality, loud design once signalled luxury. From the 1990s to early 2010s, spectacle sold – with features like grand entrances, oversized lobbies, and expansive glass façades. But as daily life accelerates, travellers are increasingly looking for spaces that offer calm.
LIFE Architecture and Urban Design (formerly CHT Architects) is thrilled to announce the completion of The Oak Centre, the first phase of Clonard College’s 10-year Master Plan. Designed to unify and enhance the campus, The Oak Centre STEM building connects Clonard’s north and south sides, fostering a cohesive educational environment.
Project name
Oak Centre STEM Building at Clonard College
Architecture firm
LiFE Architecture and Urban Design (formerly CHT Architects)
Location
Wadawurrung Country, Herne Hill, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Photography
Elizabeth Schiavello
Principal architect
Joshua McAlister
Design team
LiFE Architecture and Urban Design
Collaborators
Sora Interiors (Interior Design), Rendine Constructions (Builder)
Interior design
Sora Interiors
Built area
Approximately 1,500 m²
Civil engineer
O'Niell Group
Structural engineer
O'Niell Group
Environmental & MEP
LiFE Architecture and Urban Design
Landscape
Site Image Landscape Architects
Lighting
About Space & Pierlite
Supervision
Rendine Constructions
Visualization
LiFE Architecture and Urban Design
Construction
Rendine Constructions
Material
Pre-cast concrete, operable glazing, aluminium battens on facade
Typology
Educational Architecture › University, STEM Education Facility
XUNAN was born as a contemporary tribute to the ancient Mayan pyramids, reinterpreted through a minimalist and brutalist lens that harmonizes with the jungle. Its name — which means “noble lady” in the Mayan language — symbolizes the bond between the sacred, the natural, and the intimate.
Architecture firm
Veliz Arquitecto
Location
Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Tools used
SketchUp, Lumion, Adobe Photoshop
Principal architect
Jorge Luis Veliz Quintana
Design team
Jorge Luis Veliz Quintana
Visualization
Veliz Arquitecto
Typology
Residential › House
In the heart of Safavi Villa, a delightful contrast unfolds between the solidity of modern Brutalism and the unparalleled elegance of Safavid Iranian architecture. This is not merely a structure, but an embodiment of the daring fusion of two eras; a place where the decisive lines of exposed concrete.
Project name
Safavid Villa
Architecture firm
Norouzdesign Architecture Studio
Tools used
Midjourney AI, Adobe Photoshop, Flux Ai Adobe Photoshop
Principal architect
Mohammadreza Norouz
Collaborators
Visualization: Mohammadreza Norouz
Typology
Hospitality › Tourist Complex
MAD’s first completed cultural project in Europe, Fenix, is a new art museum about migration, located in Rotterdam’s historic port district. The museum officially opened to the public on May 15, 2025. Rotterdam is one of Europe's most prominent cities of migration, home to residents from over 170 countries and regions.
Architecture firm
MAD Architects
Location
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Photography
Iwan Baan, Arch-Exist, Hufton+Crow
Principal architect
Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano
Design team
Alessandro Fisalli, Neeraj Mahajan, Marco Gastoldi, Edgar Navarrete, Cievanard Nattabowonphal, Jordan Demer, Chen Yien, Yuki Ishigami, Pittayapa Suriyapee, Claudia Hertrich, Gianluca Rovere, Antonio Laruffa, Nika Gasimbeyli, Paolo Pirri, Anna Spaggiari, Julian Salvadori, Giovanni Colombara, Edoardo D’Angelo
Collaborators
Associate Partner in Charge: Andrea D’Antrassi; Heritage Renovation: Bureau Polderman; Executive Architect: EGM; Construction Advisor: IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs; Steel Constructor: CSM Steel Structures; Cladding Constructor: Central Industry Group (CIG); Lighting Consultant: Beersnielsen Lichtontwerpers; Installation Design: Bosman Bedrijven; Installation Advisor: DWA; Building Physics Advisor: LBP Sight; Facade Consultant / Light Study: RFR
Built area
Gross Internal Area: 16,000 m² across two floors; Green Roof Area: 6,750 m²
Lighting
Beersnielsen Lichtontwerpers
Construction
Construction Advisor: IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs; Steel Constructor: CSM Steel Structures; Cladding Constructor: Central Industry Group (CIG)
Client
Droom en Daad Foundation
Typology
Cultural Architecture > Museum, Renovation
Villanueva Offices, located in Mexico City, were designed for a young law firm working within a limited area (177 m²) and seeking a contemporary image while maintaining the seriousness, professionalism, and order inherent to its discipline.
Project name
Villanueva Offices
Architecture firm
CF taller de arquitectura
Location
Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico
Principal architect
César Flores
Design team
Camila Pallares, Paola Azócar, Ricardo García, Shary Ramirez, Yoselín Haro, Jorge Sánchez
Collaborators
Haworth by Essmed (Furniture)
Interior design
CF taller de arquitectura
Landscape
CF taller de arquitectura
Supervision
CF taller de arquitectura
Tools used
Autodesk 3ds Max
Construction
CF taller de arquitectura
Client
Villanueva Ortiz Abogados
Typology
Commercial › Office, Workplace
A modern masterpiece carved where land meets sea. This villa on the shore of the Persian Gulf isn’t just a home—it’s a dream etched in green marble and kissed by coastal light. Crafted from single-piece green marble stones, the structure is both monolithic and organic.
Project name
Marble Ocean Villa
Architecture firm
Khatereh Bakhtyari Architect
Tools used
Midjourney AI, Adobe Photoshop
Principal architect
Khatereh Bakhtyari
Design team
Khatereh Bakhtyari Architect
Collaborators
Visualization: Khatereh Bakhtyari
Typology
Residential › Villa
At Glasshouse Bistro, architecture is not just about structure—it’s about creating an experience. Every element, from the glass block walls to the carefully curated color palette, is designed to enhance the atmosphere and make the space feel light, open, and refreshing.
Project name
Glasshouse Bistro
Architecture firm
Mozhgan Vaez
Location
Kish Island, Iran
Tools used
Midjourney AI, Adobe Photoshop
Principal architect
Mozhgan Vaez
Collaborators
Visualization: Mozhgan Vaez
Typology
Hospitality › Restaurant, Café
