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Each decade develops its own architectural visions for the future. While some of the great forward-looking buildings of the 20th century are under monument protection, others are falling into decay – or have been targeted for demolition. A subjective glimpse at buildings that once aimed to anticipate our future and are for that very reason worth holding on to.

The traditional Japanese furniture maker Karimoku has reinvented itself as a new label. Karimoku New Standard fields products made of wood with an unmistakable Japanese touch – and collaborates in the process with designers such as Scholten & Baijings.

This fall, the presentation at Paris’ “Maison&Objet” focused on accessories of every shape and kind. Dominating themes in the trade fair halls of the “Parc des Expositions” included wood, porcelain and clever combinations of different styles.

Why develop a new product when you can simply reissue a design from the past? Contrary to one’s expectations, so-called “classics” are indeed required to prove their worth time and time again.

The “Trollstigen National Tourist Route” was recently opened in Norway. The view of the spectacular landscape can now be experienced from a series of bridges, trails, viewing platforms and a tourist center realized in a large-scale architectural project by Reiulf Ramstad Architects.

It is a well-known fact that Le Corbusier did more than just design buildings, he also furnished them, in fact went so far as to purpose-create furniture for them. Arthur Rüegg has spent years examining these designs by the French architect. Now his book “Le Corbusier. Furniture and interiors 1905-1965” has made it into bookstores.

David Chipperfield wanted to give his profession some direction. Yet this once again proves that the function of architecture and the role of the architect do indeed find themselves in a state of flux – in more ways than one.

In some of the country pavilions at the Architecture Biennale it becomes clear that the “Common Ground” of construction and a shared life cannot be a matter for the architects alone.

Venice-born architect Carlo Scarpa worked for the Venini glass manufactory from 1932 until 1947. Coinciding with this year’s Architecture Biennale the new exhibition space “Le Stanze del Vetro” has launched – with an homage to Scarpa’s Murano glass creations.

The 13th Venice Architecture Biennale is themed “Common Ground”. As expected, the architects rounded up by David Chipperfield to contemplate the space they share in common have done so in multiple different ways. Some fall back into old patterns, while others are open to embrace collective processes.

Be it made by hand thousands of years ago or manufactured now on an industrial scale, the brick is a material with a past and definitely has a strong future.

Venice’s 13th Architecture Biennale is another kaleidoscope of a presentation. A tour in images of the Giardini and the Arsenale quickly shows just how diverse, and yet how ruptured and contradictory the “common ground” is that David Chipperfield evokes as regards the architecture of all the exhibitions and pavilions.

What potential do media facades offer contemporary architecture? Ambitious concepts are expected to provide answers and highlight the artistic possibilities and the technological opportunities.

The task of remodeling and extending existing buildings is just as appealing as it is difficult. Frankfurt-based architects Schneider+Schumacher are currently working on reconstructing Poseidon House on Theodor-Heuss-Allee. Thomas Wagner spoke to Michael Schumacher about the rebuild, facades old and new, saving energy and the sustainability of “refurbishment and upgrading”.

Facades have long since outgrown their functions as mere outer shells for the buildings inside. For quite some time now they have been fulfilling a new function as energy suppliers. Sandra Gottwald spoke to Tina Wolf, architect and professor in the teaching and research unit for Technology and Design of Shell Constructions at Technische Universität München, about the challenges and developments in solar-optimized facades.

Once upon a time Karl Friedrich Schinkel was commissioned to reshape the urban design of central Berlin. And today countless buildings in Berlin and Potsdam bring him to mind, such as Alte Museum am Lustgarten. Photographer Gerrit Engels has documented them quite soberly.

That façades are more than mere functional structural components becomes abundantly clear when wandering through the streets of Lisbon. Thanks to the characteristic “azulejos”, the buildings’ countenances are just as colorful as the history of the city itself.