Building character – architecture that connects

From Norway, we feature an inspiring interview about the Student Society in Trondheim, where a semi-transparent brick façade wraps around the new extension like a stage curtain – an architectural gesture perfectly suited to a venue that hosts concerts and community life alike. In Denmark, the “Accordion Houses” reinterpret student living with a dynamic façade that shapes the urban landscape.
 
A thermally refurbished school complex in France shows how colour and terracotta can give an existing building a completely new identity. In Germany, we present a milestone project: in this issue, we feature for the first time a red photovoltaic roof installed on a historic ensemble – combining architectural heritage with future technology.
 
Our second interview focuses on sustainable social housing in The Netherlands: 28 affordable residential units that combine architectural quality with long-term responsibility. And here in Vienna, an eight-storey record in monolithic brick construction demonstrates how far innovative masonry solutions can go – safely, efficiently and sustainably.