What will happen to the U.S. embassy in Kabul?

As the U.S. pulls out of Afghanistan, it’s leaving a valuable piece of real estate behind. The 15-acre U.S. embassy complex in Kabul has been the physical center of the two-decade military occupation. With the recent evacuation of its personnel, the future of the embassy complex and all $806 million worth of buildings is up in the air. To get an idea of what could happen with the now vacated embassy, I talked with architects who’ve worked on and in embassy buildings, and with one former Navy SEAL who planned a previous embassy evacuation. What happens next in the Kabul complex, they say, could either be a managed mothballing or an architectural invasion. Read my story here. — Nate Berg   What will happen to the U.S. embassy in Kabul? The sprawling complex cost roughly $806 million to build and could very well fall into the hands of the Taliban.   READ MORE   Old Navy is overhauling how it designs clothes. Here’s why An inside look at how Old Navy overhauled its entire organization to ensure that plus-size consumers could shop alongside their straight-size counterparts.   READ MORE   The unsung heroes of the pandemic? Sports stadiums Stadiums have been used for everything from COVID-19 testing and vaccine jabs to hospital beds and accommodations for essential workers.   READ MORE   Sexy dumbbells and sculptural rollers: Even fitness gear is going high design The pandemic has reshaped the look of our homes, and workout equipment is no exception.   READ MORE   Just 3% of designers are Black—Mitzi Okou is on a mission to change that After George Floyd’s murder, design organizations pledged solidarity on social media. Where Are the Black Designers? Cofounder Mitzi Okou held them to it. ​​​​​ READ MORE

You’ve heard of the circular economy. Now meet the circular city Five examples from cities like Berlin, Germany, and Malmö, Sweden, show how circular urban planning could make like healthier and safer for all of us.   READ MORE

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