Fondation Beyeler Doubles Its Park in Zumthor's 2026 Expansion

Peter Zumthor's expansion of the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, Switzerland, will open nearly 10,000 square meters of previously private parkland to visitors — almost doubling the size of Beyeler Park — when previews begin on September 26, 2026.

The extension adds three new buildings to Renzo Piano's existing museum. The three-story Wyss Museum contributes approximately 1,500 square meters of exhibition space, organized around existing trees. The Ammann Pavilion serves as a public space for cultural events. The Erlen Torhaus houses artwork handling facilities and workspaces. Historic structures on the site will be adaptively reused.

The full opening follows on January 15, 2027, accompanied by a year-long cultural program.

What does the expansion mean for the museum?

The project signals a broader shift: established cultural institutions are growing by opening landscape rather than adding iconic volume alone. By nearly doubling the park and distributing new program across three modest buildings, the Fondation Beyeler positions its grounds as public infrastructure for Riehen, not just a setting for art.

Preservation and collective memory also drive the Sharjah Architecture Triennial's A Journey into Architecture Archives, which has released three documentary films on Baghdad, Damascus, and Tunis. Curated and directed by George Arbid, the project combines archival research, fieldwork, and oral histories with contributions from architects, archivists, residents, and historians.

The films build on earlier editions focused on Beirut, Cairo, and Rabat. The 2026 iteration expands the initiative's geographic scope while treating archives, in the project's framing, not simply as repositories of the past but as active sites for research and the production of architectural knowledge.

What happened to Jean Nouvel's La Querola d'Ordino?

A fire severely damaged Jean Nouvel's La Querola d'Ordino residential development in Andorra in the early hours of September 22. Designed in collaboration with Ribas & Ribas Arquitectes and Jordi Sala, the seven-building complex had been completed but was not yet occupied.

According to the Andorran government, approximately 10,000 square meters of residential space and 12,000 square meters of parking were affected. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and authorities are continuing to assess the damage and the future of the complex.

Conceived as a low-density residential ensemble, La Querola distributes its buildings across the steep mountainous site, allowing them to follow the terrain.

What will the Luxembourg Pavilion ask in Venice?

Looking ahead to the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale, the Luxembourg Pavilion will examine the consumption and distribution of domestic space through Excess! On the Overconsumption of Living Space.

The selected proposal by housing expert Céline Zimmer and architects Bùi Quý Sơn and Paul-Antoine Lucas of Exutoire will place housing conditions in Luxembourg and Vietnam into dialogue. The exhibition examines the relationship between living space, economic and demographic growth, and finite ecological resources. It will also consider housing affordability, cooperative models, and alternative approaches to how space is produced and inhabited.

The exhibition opens at the Luxembourg Pavilion in the Arsenale when the Biennale begins on May 8, 2027.

Safdie Architects to restore Brooklyn's first Carnegie library

Safdie Architects will restore Pacific Library in downtown Brooklyn, the first Carnegie library built in the borough, which has served the community since 1904. Developed with New York-based AYON Studio, the renovation adds approximately 1,500 square feet while restoring historic elements and expanding public spaces.

The design introduces a two-story glass solarium within gardens around the building, providing dedicated spaces for children and teenagers and bringing daylight into the lower level. The original roof shape and skylight will be restored, alongside a new interior skylight at the upper level. A new elevator, reconfigured circulation, classrooms, and upgraded building systems will support accessibility and community programming. The project targets LEED Gold certification.

Cocentaina joins Open House Valencia for a third year

Cocentaina will participate in Open House Valencia for the third consecutive year as a Guest Municipality, opening six historic buildings and archaeological sites on October 3 and 4, 2026.

The program includes guided visits and three urban routes exploring the town's medieval urban fabric, its relationship with water, and local traditions. Featured sites include the Palau Comtal, a historic air-raid shelter, the Monestir de la Mare de Déu del Miracle, and the Casa-Museu Centre d'Estudis Contestans.

Park Associati's mobility hub lands in Bolzano

Park Associati has designed La Casa della Mobilità in Bolzano, Italy — a headquarters consolidating the city's Department of Infrastructure and Mobility, Mobility Division, and STA – Strutture di Trasporto Alto Adige. Selected through an international design competition, the project replaces an existing building with approximately 6,000 square meters above ground and 2,000 square meters below.

Located between Bolzano's historic center and railway station, the compact eight-story volume establishes a new urban edge and creates a small public square at its entrance. Its aluminum façade draws on the pattern of traditional Alpine shingles and incorporates photovoltaic technology into the cladding.

From Riehen to Bolzano, this week's projects share a method: build on what exists — a park, an archive, a 1904 library — and extend it toward new public roles.