1 WTC; The Port Authority and the Durst Organization

Goodbye 2012. We don’t even miss you. Now, onto more pressing issues, like what cool architecture will make headlines in 2013? Yes, we foresee some big names and a starchitect or two in the mix, but there are plenty of sleeper candidates in there too. Pirated buildings? Check. Cardboard buildings? Check again. If all goes to plan, we may even see the world’s tallest skyscraper be built in just in time for the launch of Breaking Bad season 5.5 (coming March 2013). Click on through for our pick for the top architecture to watch this year.

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With New Year’s Eve fast approaching, we’re all looking for the ultimate party pad, right? Ideal conditions include ample space to boogie down, a heated pool (bonus points for a jacuzzi), and sleek yet comfy furnishings that will enable us to sleep off our wicked hangovers. With those prerequisites in mind, we’ve trotted around the globe to find 10 slick homes that are well suited for end-of-the-year revelry. See them all—and best wishes for 2013! 

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What would Christmas be without lights? The shining-star tree topper, the twinkling icicle fixtures, the glow-in-the-dark plastic Nativity scenes. Come to think of it, a little illumination makes everything better: parties, romantic dinners, even buildings. Yup, we’re suckers for glow-in-the-dark, lit-up facades — especially now during the winter months, when the days are short and the nights long. So to get even further into the holiday spirit, we’ve collected some pretty sparkling examples of illuminated architecture. Click through to see our 10 picks, and make sure you share your favorites in the comments section below!

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It’s the end of the world as we know it — at least that’s what the 5,000-year old Mayan calendar says. But should the apocalypse really hit — on Friday! —  you’ll feel just fine riding it out in one of these bunker homes (just remember to stock up on plenty of canned goods). We scoured the globe and picked the 10 best windowless, square, sturdy boxes that should withstand any of the floods, plagues, and who knows what else 12/12/12 will bring. Click through to see our list, and make sure to share your favorites in the comments section below!

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With over 900 discrete openings, Openings Studio was an incredible timesaver for DLR Group as they wrapped up the CDs for Joplin High School in Missouri.

Architecture isn’t all about willful form making. There are also the pesky important details that have to be worked out that eat up a lot of your design time. Take door schedules, for instance. You’d give anything not to have to sift through those endless Excel spreadsheets and just get back to making things, right? Well, try out ASSAABLOY’s Openings Studio™ program, which takes care of the tedious task of door scheduling and lets you focus on design. Continue.

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“Kosmaj Toy”, 2012 by Los Carpinteros at Sean Kelly

You would expect to see architects wandering the stalls of Design Miami or lounging by the entrance yearning to be chosen to design next year’s pavilion. But cross the parking lot and head into Art Basel Miami Beach and you’ll find that architecture is quietly taking over the art world. Proof of architecture’s ascension: Low Carpinteros’ spiky, sculptural Kosmaj Toy, pictured above, sold within 10 minutes of the opening, according to the New York Times ArtBeat. Indeed, scale models of buildings, cross-sectional drawings, feats of engineering, wild architectural fantasies, and even some full-scale built prototypes could  all be found at the Miami Convention Center (which is itself at the center of an oedipal architectural contest between OMA and BIG). Given that architecture is the mother of all arts, the strong architectural themes at ABMB might indicate a reunification is underway — and we couldn’t be more excited.

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite architecture-inspired art at ABMB. Click through to see them all, and don’t forget to share your favorites in the comments section below.

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The Russian Pavilion on display at the 2012 Biennale in Venice

Architizer is hosting the world’s definitive architectural awards program, with 50+ categories and 200+ jurors. As part of an ongoing series, we’re spotlighting projects that fit into “Plus” categories, including “Communication,” that tap into topical and culturally relevant themes. To see a full list of categories and learn more about the awards, visit architizerawards.com.

Communication is key— at least that’s what any good relationship expert would tell you. Thankfully, technology is advancing at a rate greater than ever before, making it easier to communicate our ideas on a global scale. Architects and designers play an ever-increasing role in this world, developing interactive platforms that allow us to express ourselves, while also creating the structures that house the world’s data.

Of course, good communication is not always based in technology. A simple, but recognizable campaign advertised on your local street corner can have the same impact as a meticulously intricate, computer-oriented project. It has been proved time and again, whether based in real time or streaming through the pipelines of the net, our success and failures as a culture of people are closely linked to our ability to communicate. Click through for the best architecture + communication!

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Photo via Interesting Buildings

Architects have a thing for science fiction: museums that look like spaceships, skyscrapers covered in fish-scaley material, and all other sorts of mind-boggling structures. The great Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, who died last week, was perhaps the most futuristic of them all. Some of his most famous projects, like the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (above), appear to float above the ground, while his masterwork, Brazil’s capital Brasília, represents the designer’s vision of a utopian super city. Inspired by Niemeyer’s imagination we’ve compiled a roundup of other outstanding”sci-fi” buildings. Click through to see our picks, and be sure to share your favorites in the comments section below!

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Rem D. Koolhaas isn’t the only architect to take the fashion plunge. Arquitectonica’s Laurinda Spear has just launched her own accessories line, available at Arquitectonica Shop, filled with exuberantly printed scarves and ties. And, boy, do we mean “exuberantly printed.” Just how brash are Ms. Spear’s textiles? Think groovy blue and lime green waves; purple and acid yellow polka dots; and, le print de résistance, a purple camouflage design made of sexy mermaids. Really. Click through to see the photos!

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Don’t know what to get the stylin’ architect in your life for the holidays? No problem: Architizer’s got you covered. We’ve combed the globe for the coolest, weirdest, and most fashion-forward bags, T-shirts, accessories, and even shoes that even the most discerning design snobs will love. And don’t worry: we’ve included plenty of (not-so-basic) black. Click through to see our picks!

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