To many tourists, the famed places in Europe are often a repository of art, history, and culture. But every room, ornament, fountain, and door has a purpose: absolutism, a symbol of power, control, and dominance. Monarchs didn’t just live in these palaces but controlled and ruled through them. As they tightened their hold on power during the age of absolutism, they set their newfound power in structure, making each palace a political theater, reminding those that served that they are subjects and always below the king or queen.

The Iberian Peninsula can be considered the breeding ground of the Western world: Romans, Visigoths, and Christians have all left traces embedded in Iberian history. It was also the starting point of the age of explorations with Vasco da Gama, Bartholomeu Diaz, and Columbus. Simply put, the Iberian Peninsula is the cultural breeding ground of the Western world. Spain and Portugal have shared a border for centuries, their histories intertwined, yet their architectural identities differ. Spanish architecture is often categorized by ornate grandeur, palaces, courtyards, and Moorish filigree, while Portuguese architecture has more subtlety and restraint to it.

Feng Shui sits at the intersection of culture, globalisation and design. To some it may appear as an outdated superstition, yet to practitioners, it represents a long standing empirical tradition rotted in observation and luck. Yet for architects working in Hong Kong, Feng Shui is neither trivial or monolithic: it has long shaped their designs and the Hong Kong skyline.

The Forbidden City, despite being over 600 years old, is still in pristine condition. Yet, often gone unnoticed, are the conservation efforts that are required to preserve the palace. Today, the palace faces challenges of pollution, climate change and wear, yet master artisans blend traditional techniques and modern technology to preserve its original condition.

It all begins with an idea.When we think of traditional Japanese architecture, we think of the famous Hemiji castle, Kyoto’s Hanamikoji Street, or Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine. Yet, looking around at old side streets, we often fail to notice the social and economic history engrained in everyday buildings — the old shophouses of merchants, old storehouses, and the intersection of western and traditional architecture that marked the Meiji restoration. 

Japanese religious architecture is not just spiritually important, but also tells stories of devotion, power, and serves as a living record of craftsmanship, history, and philosophy – each one reflecting centuries of rebuilding, myth, and adaptation. From the ever-renewing sanctuaries of Ise to the tide-washed halls of Itsukushima, these structures mirror the Japanese approach to impermanence (mujo), harmony with nature, and the blending of spiritual and aesthetic life.