Will genre-busting architect Junya Ishigami revolutionize his profession? Is Sidewalk Toronto a model for smart neighbourhoods everywhere? In its October issue, dedicated to Innovators and Innovation, Azure takes a deep and incisive look at today’s most forward-thinking problem solvers, civic projects and idea accelerators. 

Starting in the Greenpoint district of Brooklyn, New York, we take a tour of A/D/O by Mini’s in-house accelerator, Urban-X, which is investing in future cities one game-changing start-up at a time. In Canada, meanwhile, the design details for Sidewalk Toronto have been released: Four of our experts weigh in on the promise and potential pitfalls of the world’s most ambitious plan for a smart community. We also sit down for a one-on-one conversation with the architect behind this year’s Serpentine Pavilion: Tokyo-based Junya Ishigami, who is calling on his industry to reimagine architecture in a more holistic way. 

Also in the issue, Flow Architecture and Magrits turn a once-cramped Victorian terraced house in London’s Kensington neighbourhood into a spacious, light-filled home, Utrecht’s new parking garage for bikes (the world’s largest) welcomes riders under a towering perforated canopy, and the ruins of a historic fort in Cape Town are transformed into a beckoning canalside oasis. Plus: what’s trending in the world of design for 2020? Think biophilic bounty, a Brazilian boom and 1970s style, among other trends. 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight on Lighting 

Ingo Maurer’s Georgian Revival, smart suspension systems and more. 

Textiles 

New fabrics for upholstery, windows and walls. 

Materials 

From stone and metal to composites, the latest in exterior cladding.

The October Issue of Azure is also available in print here. We want to hear from you – please send any comments about the issue to [email protected]