The transformative power that architecture exerts on places, in exteriors and interiors, is plain to see in any context. There is an ongoing, unstoppable process pursued with the goals of adding value, conversion, restoring memory, growing economies, and changing behaviors. This all produces different results in the setting and the community – some unexpected. As we have done in all Wonder Books published thus far, this Spring 2024 edition presents a selection of completed and future projects, including many architectural and urban regeneration and conversion projects. Examples in this book include The Red Church in Olomouc, Czech Republic, Palazzo Velabro in Rome, the Generator Building in Manchester, the Linley House in Bristol, the Hotel Mix in Brussels, the Carlton Cannes, and the Rosewood Munich.
Yet, as Ico Migliore and Mara Servetto remind us in their interview, we should remember that one goal runs through all design and that is to transform people. The redevelopment and new build projects all come out of the idea of transforming a space’s solids and voids, as well as the knowledge of the people who use them. This applies to all places, whether for culture or commercial spaces, urban landscapes, or hospitality destinations. The goal is to trigger a process of rethinking behavior, objectives, and values, in a type of maieutic effect. The project’s physical and intangible space in itself often encapsulates a dual sense of journey and destination.
