For today’s edition, we’ve got a bundle of interesting articles, insights, and trends just for you. Let’s take a look:

• Starbucks is breaking new ground, literally and technologically, with the opening of its first-ever 3D-printed store in the United States.

• Designed by UNStudio, the parametric Al Wasl Tower, characterized by its dominant ceramic facade nearing completion, is poised to transform the skyline of Dubai.

• MVRDV and Zecc Architecten have won the competition to transform the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen, Netherlands, into a public swimming pool, aptly named “Holy Water.”

• The Arena in Diriyah, a new cultural landmark by Diriyah Gate Company and HKS, Inc., blends 300 years of Saudi heritage with the future of entertainment and public gatherings.

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Warm regards,
Parametric Architecture

Starbucks to Open First 3D-Printed Drive-Thru in Texas

The 3D-Printed Pick-Up Only location is being built in Brownsville, Texas, and will operate exclusively as a drive-thru and walk-up café, making it the perfect stop for coffee lovers on the go.

UNStudio’s 302 Meter Tall Al Wasl Tower in Dubai Nears Completion

Located in the Al Wasl district, the Al Wasl Tower designed by UNStudio is developed as a Mixed-Use tower with a striking twisting form emphasized by a twisting vertical boulevard of balconies.

10 Aesthetic and Functional Facade Cladding Types for Exterior Design

Facade cladding involves covering a building's exterior with materials that protect against environmental factors, enhance user comfort, and improve aesthetics.

MVRDV and Zecc Architecten Transform Heerlen Church into Public Swimming Pool

MVRDV and Zecc Architecten have won the competition to transform the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen, Netherlands, into a public swimming pool, aptly named “Holy Water.”

The Arena in Diriyah Builds on 300 Years of Heritage

The Arena in Diriyah, a new cultural landmark by Diriyah Gate Company and HKS, Inc., blends 300 years of Saudi heritage with the future of entertainment and public gatherings.

Woven Narratives: Inside the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka

At Expo 2025 Osaka, the Philippine Pavilion, “Woven,” designed by Carlo Calma Consultancy and Mikan, showcases sustainable architecture and immersive storytelling under the theme “Nature, Culture & Community: Woven Together for a Better Future.”

xFigura: Your All-in-One AI Sandbox for Collaborative Architectural Ideation

xFigura is a bold new AI design platform built by architects for architects, developed by PAACADEMY instructor George Guida to meet the creative and collaborative demands of modern practice.

Gateway Arch: America's Gateway to the West

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis symbolizes America's westward expansion and stands as the tallest monument in the U.S., renowned for its historical and architectural significance.

Space Architecture: How Can We Design Habitats on Mars and the Moon?

Ever thought of living on the moon? Or on Mars, perhaps? We have always been curious about this question and found it fun as kids to just wonder, for a moment in time, what exactly is possible beyond the cosmos.