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Are We Teaching Architecture All Wrong?

Are We Teaching Architecture All Wrong?

Lessons from Félix Candela’s revolutionary structures, and the future of design education.

Hamid Hassanzadeh
July 24, 2026

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There is a danger when every building has to look spectacular; to look like it is changing the world. I don't care how a building looks if it means something, not to architects, but to the people who use it.

David Chipperfield

👋 Hi Everyone:

💭 I love newsletters like this because they remind me how broad architecture really is. In just a few minutes, you can move from the elegance of Félix Candela’s thin-shell structures to the future of AI-powered design, from stadiums and skyscrapers to architectural photography and education.

📰 Today we’re revisiting the timeless work of Félix Candela, exploring why some believe architecture schools are preparing students for the wrong profession, and taking a look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ proposed $3 billion stadium and SOM’s latest residential tower on Chicago’s waterfront.

🌍 We’re also traveling to Baku, where fifteen remarkable buildings reveal the city’s layered architectural identity, while a new collection of award-winning architectural photography reminds us how powerful storytelling can be in shaping the way we experience architecture.

⚙️ If you’re curious about computational design, we’ve also published a practical guide to the history and future of parametric design from its origins to the technologies transforming architecture today.

🎓 If you’re ready to build the skills shaping architecture’s future, explore our BIM Masterclass: Data Automation in Revit & Claude with Charles Vidal from BIG and The Diffusion Architect 3.0: Flux Era with Ismail Seleit. To unlock even more expert-led workshops and courses, check out PAACADEMY Pro and our Full Access Membership.