Israel-Hamas war: The Siege of Gaza

Damage in Gaza Strip, October 2023 - Photo by Naaman Omar Apaimages, Wiki Palestine, Creative Commons.

In the wake of the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on October 7, Israel declared war on the Gaza-based terroristic organisation. The country immediately sieged Gaza City, cutting out water, fuel and electricity – and then bombed so-called strategic targets where Hamas militants could have hidden, but also entire residential neighbourhoods, hospitals, schools, markets, and religious buildings. So far, 9.500 Palestinians have been killed.

Marcus Byrne creates graffiti architectures with Artificial Intelligence

'When life imitates art' by Marcus Byrne - Image by Marcus Byrne.

Marcus Byrne’s graffiti architectures capture the beauty in the decay with the art project When life imitates art. Through AI, the Australia-based Irish graphic designer, digital artist, and visual storyteller celebrates the spray can as a democratic tool for freedom of expression.

Passages Insolites 2021: unexpected urban installations take over Quebec City

Delirious Quebec @ PASSAGES INSOLITES 2021 - Photo by Stéphane Bourgeois_EXMURO, courtesy of Passages Insolites 2021.

Upside-down cars turned into planters, buried libraries and a monumental arch of gilded baguettes. Passages Insolites 2021 takes over Quebec City with serendipitous urban installations by local and international artists.

Covid-19 has re-shaped iconic carnival capitals from Rio to Venice and New Orleans

Venice Carnival - Photo by Archipanic.

Carnival 2021: Oscar Niemeyer’s Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro has been transformed into a Covid-Drome and works as a vaccine drive through, Venice empty streets offer locals a chance to reflect on ‘overtourism’ while New Orleans residents, orphan of the traditional Mardi Gras parade, have transformed their houses into floats.

The Line: Saudi Arabia unveils the masterplan for a 170km long smart city without cars

THE LINE project @ NEOM, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced THE LINE, a 170km urban belt of hyper-connected future communities, without cars and roads and built around nature. Breaking ground in the first half of 2021, the smart city is a direct response to some of the most pressing challenges such as legacy infrastructure, pollution, traffic, and human congestion.

‘Fata Morgana’ pavilion by Hozan Zangana: Middle Eastern heritage meets social distancing in Dubai

Dubai Design Week 2020 Abwab. FATA MORGANA by Hozan Zangana - Courtesy of Dubai Design Week.

Seven pillars and safely distanced public seatings compose Hozan Zangana’s ‘Fata Morgana’ centripetal installation in the heart of Dubai where people can safely cross each other’s paths according to Middle Eastern construction techniques.

Coronavirus closes China to the world… and to the global design business as well

Coronavirus disrupts Chinese business

China is facing a progressive isolation disrupting travel and business due to the Corona virus outbreak. Some of the country’s international events like DesignShanghai have being canceled, multinationals like Apple and Ikea shut the their stores, the stock exchange goes on a rollercoaster and major production plants stop, pausing whole supply chains on a global scale.

Chinese metropolis Wuhan braces for Corona virus lockdown

Wuhan in Lockdown

In order to contain the Corona virus outbreak the Chinese government has quarantined the whole city of Wuhan. We look into he most ambitious lockdown in the history of human civilization which turned a vibrant metropolis into a ghost town where silence reigns on empty streets, emergency hospitals are being built in few days and people living in high-rise apartment blocks shout words of encouragement to their neighbours at night

CES 2020: 5 future mobility innovations on show

5 Future mobility innovations debuting at CES 2020. 'Vision AVTR' car design by Mercedes Benz - © Mercedes Benz.

Urban flying taxis, solar-powered compact electric tricycles and Jurassic Park-inspired electric wheelchairs… CES 2020: flying taxis, solar-powered electric tricycles and Jurassic Park-inspired wheelchairs. Archipanic’s Editor in Chief Enrico Zilli picks 5 future mobility innovations debuting in Las Vegas.5 future mobility innovations debuting in Las Vegas.