Gotta love a city that surprises you. Taking its typical elements and reconstructing them in new, fun and socially aware ways has been the weapon of choice of many urban interventionists who managed to inject a dose of playfulness and provocation in the urban scenery.  Some of them have done a great job in making a point on social and political issues and serve as an inspiration to citizens to participate in reshaping their environment. And do urbanism themselves. People meet in architecture.

This is a guest post from Antonina of OpenBuildings - a community-driven and openly editable encyclopaedia of buildings from around the world. 

J. Mayer H. Architects: Metropol Parasol

image: J. Mayer H. Architects

OAB Ferrater & Associates: Seaside Promenade of the Playa Poniente

image: www.publicspace.org

BIG + JDS: Maritime Youth House

image: BIG + JDS

Selgas Cano: Factoria Joven

image: Roland Halbe

Beijing Institute of Architectural Design/Weiping Shao: Un-Forbidden City

image: Weiping Shao

Collectif Etc: Place au Changement Public Plaza

image: Collectif Etc

Studio Weave: The Longest Bench

image: David Barbour

Miralles Tagliabue EMBT: Diagonal Mar Park

image: Jason Goecke

Field Operations: The High Line

image:  Iwan Baan

Ecosistema Urbano: Eco-Boulevard in Vallecas

image: Emilio P. Doiztua, Roland Halbe

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antonina

Antonina is an architect who has recently joined the OpenBuildings team to take over Community Outreach. Believes in interdisciplinary approach to architecture and everything else, fascinated by Japanese and Dutch design, typography and all things inspired.
OpenBuildings is a community-driven and openly editable encyclopaedia of contemporary and conceptual architecture from around the world that exists as a website and application for iPhone, and recently – Android, which enable users to find, learn about and share nearby buildings of architectural merit.

Latest posts by antonina (see all)

• Inspired Architecture: Floating Homes – September 12, 2012
• Inspired Playgrounds – August 30, 2012
• Puppy Interiors – July 31, 2012
• Inspired Architecture: Building Light – July 11, 2012
• Recycled Homes – June 19, 2012