a+u – Issue 653 (2025:02): Nordic Waterscapes

Architecture and Urbanism

First published in January 1971, a+u – Architecture and Urbanism – is an architectural magazine in Japanese and English that provides information on architecture around the world to a global readership. As Japan’s only monthly periodical dedicated to disseminating information on architecture around the world, a+u has been widely and actively read by the architecture community since its inaugural issue. The magazine’s research network extends around the world, covering more than 100 countries. It features in-depth reporting on architects and firms in various countries, and each issue is edited from a unique perspective to deliver the most important designs and projects. In addition, essays penned by architects, critics and historians guide the direction of tomorrow’s architecture, greatly influencing the industry inside and outside Japan.

Content

a+u’s February issue reflects on the point of connection between water, architecture, and people. Drawn from 6 Nordic countries, the 19 projects presented in this issue explore diverse pursuits, from the rehabilitation of industrial ports into lively urban centers, to questions of accessibility and the extension of habitable space onto and into bodies of water. Projects such as Lonna Sauna and Bademaschinen continue historical practices of bathing and sauna found in the region, while urban-scale developments such as Nordhavn take on the challenge of designing for a future marked by climate change and rising sea levels. With a focus on the Nordic region, this issue highlights architectural strategies for maintaining – and enhancing – our relationship to the natural environment.

Language: Bilingual (English + Japanese)