A brief about you

I am an architect and urban designer, currently working as a Landscape Architect at a renowned office in Milan, Italy. My academic background includes an engineering Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Politechnika Wrocławska in Poland (with an Erasmus semester at Politecnico di Torino) and a Master in Architecture and Urban Design from Politecnico di Milano, in Italy.

Throughout my studies, I participated in over 25 extracurricular workshops and competitions, landing a few wins, honourable mentions, and exhibitions in both the architecture and illustration fields. I'm passionate about nature, sustainability, and architectural drawings that tell a story. You will always find me with a giant sketchbook and dozens of ideas per minute.

Concept story

The most important thing for me was to adaptively reuse the existing structure as a productive vessel capable of contributing to the local community in the most sustainable way. In that spirit, I distributed functions in an effort to maximise the usability of the space, so that the building could generate enough revenue to sustain itself.

I picked vertical farming, at different scales of cultivation and with a focus on regional plants that reliably grow and are consumed locally, so that the produce could not only be used by the inhabitants, but also distributed to the wider community through the ground floor market. Additionally, I made a point of keeping the structure accessible and letting people in, with the goal of enabling denizens to shape the building's character.

Engagement with international architects

I am always open to exploring new collaborations, interesting projects, sharing ideas, and learning more on the go.

Future goals

Going forward, I'd like to continue designing while prioritising people and nature, develop landscape and urban designs, and maybe someday work in illustration too. My dream job would be to hand-draw architectural visualisations and, more in general, to illustrate architecture.

A brief about the team

Phang is an Architectural Designer based in Singapore. Originally from Malaysia, he holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and currently works at WOHA Architects. Having lived and worked across multiple countries, his experience spans architecture, urban design, and masterplanning, with an interest in sustainability, community, and how cities respond to changing needs.

Austin is an Energy Engineer based in Singapore. Originally from Malaysia, he holds a Master's degree in Renewable Energy from Universiti Malaya. His expertise includes building energy optimisation, computational building simulation, and sustainable building design, with a focus on improving building performance and energy efficiency.

Concept story

We were inspired by the concept of time, how La Pyramide has endured as a significant landmark in Abidjan, and how its next chapter can give the building a new life.

Rather than viewing the project as simply the renewal of an existing building, we saw an opportunity to create a “second life” for architecture. La Pyramide becomes a place for research, archiving, and the exchange of knowledge, documenting the past while exploring how buildings across the region can be adapted and given new purpose.

This idea extends beyond the building itself. By integrating the French Institute and Cité Esculape Park into a unified design, the project seeks to create a broader civic and cultural impact on its surrounding neighbourhood, turning La Pyramide from a singular landmark into a catalyst for the future of Abidjan and the region.

Programs and tools

Given the short timeline, we focused primarily on developing a clear narrative and understanding the site through extensive site analysis. Rather than investing heavily in detailed modelling, we used minimal 3D modelling to test the overall massing, spatial relationships, and design intent.

We also explored a range of passive and active environmental strategies, particularly in relation to natural ventilation, façade openings, and solar exposure. We used environmental simulations to test different façade orientations and identify the most suitable areas for photovoltaic panels, allowing the environmental strategies to inform the design rather than being added afterwards.

For the final visuals, we used our basic 3D model as the foundation for quick renderings, followed by post-production to develop the atmosphere, landscape, and overall visual narrative. The tools were therefore used primarily as a means of testing and communicating ideas, rather than as an end in themselves.

Engagement with international architects

Definitely. We would be very interested in engaging with international architects and participating in collaborative projects in the future. We believe that working with architects from different cultural and professional backgrounds can offer valuable perspectives on how different cities respond to similar urban conditions.

Beyond architecture, we also see collaboration across different disciplines as an important part of creating meaningful and lasting impact. Bringing together different knowledge, experiences, and ways of thinking can help us better understand complex urban challenges and develop more holistic responses.

Future goals

Coming from Malaysia, we have both experienced the rapid growth and transformation of our cities over the years, through demolition, new development, densification, and adaptive reuse. Seeing these changes first-hand has made us increasingly interested in how we can continue to develop our cities without constantly replacing what already exists.

We see adaptive reuse as an increasingly important direction for the future of architecture. With so many buildings already around us, each carrying embodied carbon, cultural value, and layers of history, we believe that upgrading and reimagining what exists can be just as important as building new.

Our aspiration is to work towards cities that can grow and evolve while retaining their character and memory, where densification, adaptation, and reuse become tools for giving existing buildings and communities a new life.

A brief about the team

We are a team of three designers with backgrounds in environmental design, architecture, and architectural studies, with a shared connection to Columbia GSAPP. Our work explores how architecture can respond to environmental challenges while supporting local culture and everyday public life.

Sumi Kim — B.A. Environmental Design, Sookmyung Women's University; M.Arch, Columbia GSAPP. Yeon Lee — B.S. Architecture, University of Michigan; M.Arch, Columbia GSAPP. Eunho (Emily) Kim — HBA in Architectural Studies, University of Toronto; M.Arch, Columbia GSAPP.

Concept story

RE:WEAVE began with our research into Abidjan's cultural life and urban challenges. We were drawn to its vibrant fashion culture and young population, while recognising waste and heat as pressing concerns. We also observed a contrast between the surrounding business district's bustling days and quieter evenings. These observations led us to explore how La Pyramide could support local creativity, address environmental challenges, and welcome people throughout the day and night.

Fashion became the connection between these ambitions. We reimagined La Pyramide as a place where public markets, education spaces, garment workshops, and material laboratories come together to support the local fashion industry and everyday public life. This mix of programs connects learning, making, selling, and sharing, with the aim of sustaining activity beyond conventional working hours.

A circular approach to materials is central to the proposal. We propose combining discarded textiles, pineapple leaf fibres, cacao husks, and recovered fishing nets with a mycelium binder to develop new composite fabrics. In parallel, recycled PET would be processed into yarn for new textiles. Intended for fashion products and architectural shading, these materials would connect local waste streams to creative production and return them to the market in new forms.

Climate strategies are integrated into this material cycle. Rotating façade panels provide adjustable shading, while a central vertical void combines natural airflow and cascading water as a proposed passive cooling strategy. A rooftop rainwater collection system would supply water for cooling, dyeing, cleaning, and cultivation, connecting the building's environmental systems with its productive activities.

Through these connected systems, we explore how an existing landmark can become a shared resource for cultural expression, material experimentation, and public life.

Programs and tools

Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator, Gemini (NanoBanana).

Engagement with international architects

We would welcome opportunities to engage with international architects and participate in collaborative projects. Our different educational backgrounds have made us appreciate how varied perspectives can inform a shared design process. We are especially interested in collaborations that bring local knowledge into conversation with new approaches to materials, climate, and public space.

Future goals

We hope to create architecture that grows from a close understanding of the people, cultures, and climates of each place. We are particularly interested in adapting existing buildings, exploring material reuse, and creating inclusive public spaces. As we develop, we want to carry these interests into built work through collaboration with communities, makers, and other disciplines.