As we leave the first month of the new year behind, we looked at the most viewed architectural news of 2023, written by our Country Reporters and Editors in the WAC Country Editors/Reporters Program, a volunteer-based program of the World Architecture Community.

WAC's volunteer-based program, which was launched in 2017, includes articles that emphasize the importance and power of local architecture, local techniques, local materials, sustainability and innovation, with Country Reporters and Editors from different countries of the world.

These stories mostly remain unknown and unexplored in the global media. The Country Reporters and Editors who wrote the most viewed articles in 2023 are Taiwan Country Reporter Chaolee Kuo, US Country Editor Mert Kansu, India Country Reporter Rashi Jain, Pakistan Country Reporter Sadia Siddiqui and WAC editor-in-chief Berrin Chatzi Chousein.

Kris Yao-designed memorial in Taiwan, a comprehensive interview with academics and researchers regarding to the devastating Turkey-Syria Earthquake, Tranquil abode: A disaster resilient dwelling in Pakistan, are among the most-viewed articles of 2023. 

The Country Reporters and Editors of the WAC below are published according to a statistical data. The list includes the Country Editors/Reporters whose stories have exceeded 2,000 views in 2023.

Do you want to join the WAC Country Editors/Reporters Program? 

If you're passionate about journalism and architectural writing? And, if you want to be face of your country and join the WAC’s Country Editors/Reporters Program. You can read WAC's application details on this page and send your applications.

Read on for the 5 WAC Country Reporters/Editors with their most read articles (in alphabetical order of the reporters/editors...):

Shigeru Ban's PPS system in Yenisehir Indoor Sports Hall in Mersin. Image © İrem Su Eliaçık, Voluntary Architects’ Network/Facebook

Shigeru Ban's Paper Partition Shelters For Turkey-Syria Earthquake Victims (written by Berrin Chatzi Chousein)

One of the most viewed news of 2023 was Shigeru Ban's Paper Partition Shelters (PPS) for the victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake in Mersin and Hatay provinces of Turkey.

The shelters, entirely made from paper tubes and fabric curtains, were installed in the evacuation centres - one of them in Yenisehir Indoor Sports Hall in Mersin, and the other within temporary tents as a field hospital in Hatay. The acclaimed humanitarian architect Shigeru Ban installed the shelters together with his Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN).

At the time of this writing, the story received over 3,200 views. 

Read more about Shigeru Ban's Paper Partition Shelters.

Image © Record the Truth

Han Pao-Teh Memorial Museum by Kris Yao in Taiwan (written by Taiwan Country Reporter Chaolee Kuo)

Han Pao-Teh Memorial Museum by the Taiwanese renown architect Kris Yao was the second most viewed story of 2023 within the WAC Country Editors/Reporters Program. Penned by WAC's Taiwan Country Reporter Chaolee Kuo, the memorial museum pays homage to Han’s museology and values of education.

Envisioned as a concrete volume, the memorial museum seamlessly combines the exhibition and teaching spaces together. Shaped by geometric configuration with the architectural concept of "cube within a cube", the museum reveals the power of its structure with its simplicity and metaphorical meanings. 

At the time of this writing, the story received over 6,200 views. 

Read more about Han Pao-Teh Memorial Museum by Kris Yao. 

Photo by Çağlar Oskay via Unsplash

Lessons From Turkey-Syria Earthquake & Rebuilding For A Resilient Future (written by US Country Editor Mert Kansu)

One of the most striking news of the early 2023 was the Turkey-Syria earthquake earthquake. WAC's US Country Editor Mert Kansu interviewed with academics and researchers from the University of Virginia to get more insights on causes and consequences of the earthquake.

Kansu's comprehensive  interview includes Osman E. Ozbulut, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering in the Department of Engineering Systems and Environment at the University of Virginia, Brian Vella, who teaches Construction Law at the University of Virginia Law School, Rich Schragger from the University of Virginia. 

"Our political and legal culture generally favors landowners," said Professor Rich Schragger. 

At the time of this writing, the story received over 3,450 views. 

Read more about the interviews with academics and researches on Turkey-Syria earthquake.

An areal view of Mayo College © Bharath Ramamrutham, via Architectural Digest

Where Education Meets Aesthetics: Discover 5 Indian Schools With Remarkable Architectural Brilliance (written by India Country Reporter Rashi Jain)

WAC's India Country Reporter Rashi Jain looked at 5 Indian schools that have remarkable architecture. Underlining why the architecture of some educational institutions is different, Jain reevaluates these important institutions in terms of functionality, brightness, modesty, aesthetics and functionality.

Drawing attention to the perfect combination of architecture and learning, the author examines each building from its historicity to the movements it was influenced by and today's modern elements.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 3,050 views. 

Read more about 5 Indian Schools with remarkable architectural brilliance.

Image © WM Creative Studio and Baitussalam Welfare Trust

Tranquil Abode: The Disaster Resilient Dwelling by WM Creative Studio & Baitussalam Welfare Trust (written by Pakistan Country Reporter Sadia Siddiqui)

Tranquil Abode: A Disaster Resilient Dwelling in Pakistan was penned by WAC's Pakistan Country Reporter Sadia Siddiqui. The Tranquil Abode house was built to provide shelter for victims of the floods that hit Pakistan in 2022. 

Built as part of the Bahaal Pakistan Program initiated by Baitussalam Welfare Trust, the house highlights the vernacularity of the region with its ragged contours. The Tranquil Abode house was made of stone, mud, lime and bamboo; the house was built with inexpensive and easily available materials.The house, described in depth with its detailed plans and local construction techniques, is one of the most read news of 2023.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,150 views. 

Read more about Tranquil Abode: The Disaster Resilient Dwelling. 

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