After revealing their designs for a stadium in Qiddiya City earlier this year, architecture firm Populous has released images for another FIFA-compliant stadium in Saudi Arabia. Aracmo Stadium is a new 47,000-seat venue that is scheduled to host games in the upcoming 2027 AFC Asian Cup and will be fully compliant with FIFA’s stadium requirements.

Located in Al Khobar, it's inspired by the city's position on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. This has translated into a façade of translucent overlapping sails forming a spiral motif. This form, reminiscent of flowing waves, allows light to penetrate the inside of the stadium via strategically placed openings. The renderings show how these openings give the stadium a glittering appearance, just hinting at the events occurring inside.

The spiral shapes continue within the venue, thanks to ramps and walkways that lead spectators to their seats. With a focus on inclusivity and visitor experience, all the seats are designed to have an uninterrupted view of the pitch. At the same time, a cooling system will keep players and patrons comfortable.

Aracmo Stadium, listed as a venue in the Saudi Arabia bid book for the 2034 World Cup, will sit at the heart of a mixed-use masterplan designed by Populous. All told, the stadium and its surroundings will take up approximately 800,000 square meters (roughly 8.6 million square feet) with a focus on community amenities. These include new sports facilities, retail areas, entertainment zones, and public realm spaces with an aim of providing an unparalleled sports and entertainment experience.

“The building’s open design invites the community to gather, celebrate, and create lasting memories, making it a symbol of Al Khobar’s rich heritage and vibrant future,” shares Shireen Hamdan, senior principal and general manager of Populous KSA. “The design will become iconic in the football world and will be synonymous with Saudi Arabia’s vision to further develop Al Khobar into a global sports destination, attracting visitors from around the world.”

Populous has revealed its design for Saudi Arabia's Aracmo Stadium, which will host games for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and will be FIFA-compliant.

The 47,000-seat stadium has a glittering design inspired by its location on the shores of the Arabian Gulf.

The venue will host sporting and entertainment events and is designed for the comfort of spectators.

Aracmo Stadium is just one of the structures being built as Saudi Arabia looks to host the 2034 World Cup.

Populous: Website | Facebook | Instagram

All images © Populous.

Related Articles:

15 Incredible Pavilion Designs for Osaka Expo 2025

Colorful Cubic Design for Saudi Arabia’s New Cutting-Edge Stadium

Zaha Hadid Architects Is Building an Enormous Leisure & Entertainment Center in UAE

Foster + Partners Is Designing a New Airport Inspired by the Sand Dunes in Saudi Arabia

READ: Glittering Design for Saudi Arabia’s New Stadium and Potential World Cup Venue

“The Trees” Stockwood Discovery Center, Luton, UK, 2022

For nearly a decade, Jin Choi and Thomas Shine of Choi + Shine Architects have turned to the community to produce elaborate crocheted lacework for their public installations. From the Netherlands to the United States to Japan, they've used the power of art to bring people together and create something beautiful for all to enjoy.

While Shine focuses on the structural aspect of the installation, Choi creates a crochet pattern that can be produced by people of different skill levels. Often referencing 16th-century patterns, Choi notes that lace weaves across many cultures and traditions, making it the perfect item to bring people together. While the duo initially turned to volunteers in order to produce large-scale work in a tight timeframe, they quickly realized that working with others instilled their art with a deeper meaning.

“Through community involvement, the work enables participants to share the ownership and sense of achievement,” the architects tell My Modern Met. “It is most rewarding when participants enter the studio every day, asking ‘How is our work today?’ or when they tell us, ‘My sons, who never spoke to me like that before, told me that they are proud of me,’ with such joy and pride in their eyes.

“When we witness many different people from all walks of life, young and old, different languages and origins, come together, laugh together, and help each other, we understand the purpose of art.”

The finished pieces are quite impressive, with the lace providing a familiar warmth to structures that are often quite modern. And though most of the public who view these pieces don't see the group effort that goes into completing them, this process is an important part of the story for Choi and Shine.

“For us, making art is as significant as the outcome, if not more so. It is a process of finding one’s own power to create while taking part in a change with our artwork that contributes to the beauty around us,” they share.

“In its making, we hope to share the power of making art—the power of telling the story in its quiet beauty, the experience of working with focus and rigor for a common goal, the experience of being the creator and sharing the memory of making every stitch with others—our collective journey for empowerment.”

The power of the creative journey will once again be on display this September when Choi + Shine reveals a reimagination of their popular URCHINS installation. Set to be displayed in Barcelona during Manifesta15, the pieces were realized during a three-week workshop that involved hundreds of crocheters working with 70 miles of marine cord.

Choi + Shine Architects are known for their elaborate lacework public installations.

“Arizona!” Scottsdale, Arizona, 2018

“The Power of One” Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Grand Studio, 2023

“Arizona!” Scottsdale, Arizona, 2018

The pieces are a marriage of modern structure and traditional lace patterns.

“The Trees” Stockwood Discovery Center, Luton, UK, 2022

“Arizona!” Scottsdale, Arizona, 2018

“The Lace” Amsterdam Light Festival, 2016 (Photo: Janus van den Eijnden, ©2016)

Around the world, the architects hold community workshops to help produce their public art.

Making of “The Trees”

Assembly of “The Power of One”

Making of “Arizona!”

“When we witness many different people from all walks of life, young and old, different languages and origins, come together, laugh together, and help each other, we understand the purpose of art.”

Making of “The Trees”

Making of “The Lace”

Choi + Shine Architects: Website | Instagram | Facebook

All images ©2016-2024 Choi+Shine Architects except where noted. My Modern Met granted permission to feature Choi + Shine Architects.

Related Articles:

Gigantic Crocheted Doilies Take Over Gallery Walls Like Beautiful Spider Webs

65-Foot-Tall Hand-Crocheted Tree “Grows” Inside Zurich’s Central Train Station

Immersive Installation Invites Viewers to Traverse a Suspended Crocheted Spiral

Master Yarn Artist and Team of Refugee Women Cover House in Pink Crochet as a Symbol of Hope

READ: Architects Work With Global Crochet Communities To Create Giant Lacework Installations

“Deadly Bite” © Ian Ford, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Behavior: Mammals
“Ian Ford documents the moment a jaguar delivers a fatal bite to a caiman in the Pantanal. A call over the radio alerted Ian that a jaguar had been spotted prowling the banks of a São Lourenço River tributary. Kneeling in the boat, he was perfectly placed when the cat delivered the skull-crushing bite to the unsuspecting yacare caiman. The South American Pantanal wetland supports the highest density of jaguars anywhere in the world. With prey being so abundant, there is no need to compete for food, and the usually solitary big cats have been seen fishing, traveling, and playing together.” Location: Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil Technical details: Sony α1 + 400mm f2.8 lens; 1/800 at f4 (-1 e/v); ISO 400

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has released some of this year's extraordinary, highly commended photos ahead of its October winner's announcement. From a jaguar preying on a caiman to a close-up look at a David Bowie spider, the photographs show off the marvels of the natural world.

The 60th competition, organized by London's Natural History Museum, attracted a record-breaking 59,228 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 117 countries and territories. An international panel of industry experts judged entries on their creativity, originality, and technical excellence.

These photographs are just a taste of the 100 images that will be on display during the forthcoming Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. The selection includes Randy Robbins' haunting photo of a deceased doe covered in frost, the first smartphone photo to be honored in the competition. In fact, the circle of life is on display in many images, including William Fortescue's evocative black-and-white image of mating lions and Tommy Trenchard's image of a shark struggling as it was hauled aboard a Spanish longliner.

“In this selection, you see species diversity, a range of behavior, and conservation issues,” shares Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel. “These images represent the evolution of the competition through the years, from pure natural history to photography that fully embraces representation of the natural world—the beauty and the challenges. It is a powerful selection with which to kickstart a milestone anniversary.”

As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations, the Museum’s flagship exhibition will feature a timeline of key moments in the competition’s history.

“Over the decades, Wildlife Photographer of the Year has pushed the boundaries of wildlife photography as the competition evolved alongside technological advancements,” says Museum Director Dr. Doug Gurr. “But still today, the competition remains true to one of its founding objectives: ‘to enhance the prestige of wildlife photography in the hope that ultimately the awards would benefit animals by creating greater public interest in them and in that all-important topic—conservation.’”

Scroll down to preview more highly commended images from the competition and stay tuned for the October 8 announcement of the winners.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has released some of the 60th edition's extraordinary, highly commended photos.

“Ziggy Spider” © Lam Soon Tak, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Invertebrates
“Lam Soon Tak spots a vibrantly colored David Bowie spider carrying an egg sac. Lam was exploring the highlands of Malaysia when he came across this spider. Perched on broken branches beside a river, the bright white disc of eggs in the spider’s jaws and its orange body stood out against the lush green moss.
Found in Malaysia, Singapore and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, this spider was named in 2008 by arachnologist and Bowie fan Dr Peter Jäger. He thought the striking markings up to the spider’s head region resembled the make-up worn by the singer during the 1970s.”
Location: Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
Technical details: Nikon Z 8 + 105mm f2.8 lens; 1/125 at f20; ISO 250; multiple flashes + DIY diffusers

“Stormy Scene” © William Fortescue, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Behavior: Mammals
“William Fortescue uses a backdrop of storm clouds lit by the setting sun to show mating lions. It was the rainy season when William visited the Serengeti National Park. He watched the lions mate several times before the female broke it off. It wasn’t until William viewed an enlarged image that he noticed the saliva trails and the explosion of insects from the male’s mane. Lions can mate throughout the year, but synchronizing the births of cubs increases the reproductive success of a pride. Female pride members display cooperative behaviors, including raising cubs together to ensure their survival into adulthood.”
Location: Namiri Plains, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Technical details: Nikon Z 9 + 70–200mm f2.8 lens; 1/1000 at f5; ISO 320

“Hooked” © Tommy Trenchard, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture
“Tommy Trenchard documents the bycatch of a requiem shark; its body arched in a final act of resistance. Tommy was traveling on the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise. The ship’s research expedition aimed to document the bycatch or accidental capture of sharks by fishing boats targeting tuna and swordfish, and to highlight the lack of effective regulation of industrial-scale fishing in international waters. Approximately 80 million sharks are taken from the world’s oceans every year. Because of fishing, numbers of sharks worldwide have dropped since 1970. Three-quarters of all shark species are now at risk of extinction.”
Location: International waters, South Atlantic Ocean
Technical details: Fujifilm X-T2 + 50–230mm f4.5–6.7 lens; 1/550 at f5.2; ISO 500

“The Last Resting Place” © Randy Robbins, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Natural Artistry
“Randy Robbins is struck by the unusual beauty of the frosted form of this deer on the forest floor. On an early winter morning, Randy was checking the trail cameras near his home when he found the body of this deer. He photographed this poignant moment using his smartphone before the ice could melt.”
Location: Near Susanville, California, USA
Technical details: Apple iPhone XR; 4.25mm built-in lens; 1/121 at f1.8

“Twist and Jump” © Jose Manuel Grandío , Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Behavior: Mammals
“Jose Manuel Grandío braves below-zero temperatures to witness a stoat jumping high into the air above the snow. Winter is Jose’s favorite season for photography. When he spotted this stoat jumping mid-air on the last day of his trip, he saw this performance as an ‘expression of exuberance’ as the small mammal hurled itself about in a fresh fall of snow. Scientists refer to this behavior as dancing, although opinions are divided about what motivates it, from an attempt to confuse prey through to a parasitic infection. Stoats are usually active at night and prey on small mammals and birds.”
Location: Athose, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Technical details: Nikon D500 + 500mm f4 lens; 1/6000 at f4; ISO 800

“Moonlight Hunter” © Xingchao Zhu, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Behavior: Mammals
“Xingchao Zhu comes face to face with a Pallas’s cat as the moon sets. Xingchao tracked a group of Pallas’s cats on the freezing plateau of Inner Mongolia for several days during the Chinese New Year in February 2023. Shortly before dawn, Xingchao managed to make eye contact with this cat, just as it had caught a small bird. The thick winter coats of Pallas’s cats help them survive at altitudes up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet). They avoid larger predators by stealth, and it’s thought that their low, rounded ears allow them to peer over obstacles while remaining hidden.”
Location: Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia, China
Technical details: Nikon Z 9 + 800mm f6.3 lens; 1/160 at f6.3; ISO 1400

The contest attracted a record-breaking 59,228 entries from photographers in 117 countries and territories.

“In the Spotlight” © Shreyovi Mehta, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Runner-Up, 10 Years and Under
“Shreyovi Mehta finds two Indian peafowl ‘looking perfect for a picture’. Shreyovi was walking in the forest with her parents when she spotted this scene. She ran back to her dad, who was carrying the cameras, then got down on the ground to take her photograph from a low angle. Renowned for its birdlife, Keoladeo attracts large numbers of water birds in winter. Peafowl are year-round residents that roost in large trees. They rest in the shade during the day and are more active in open areas at dawn and dusk.”
Location: Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India
Technical details: Canon EOS R5 + 100–500mm f4.5–7.1 lens; 1/800 at f10; ISO 1600

“The Disappearing Ice Cap” © Thomas Vijayan, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture
“Thomas Vijayan utilizes his drone to show the epic scale of the Bråsvellbreen glacier. Encapsulating the magnificence of the Austfonna ice cap required meticulous planning and favorable weather conditions. Thomas’s image, a stitched panorama of 26 individual frames, provides a spectacular summer view of meltwater plunging over the edge of the Bråsvellbreen glacier. The Bråsvellbreen glacier is part of Austfonna, Europe’s third largest ice cap. This dome of ice is one of several that covers the land area of the Svalbard archipelago. Some scientific models suggest that Svalbard’s glaciers could disappear completely within 400 years due to climate change.”
Location: Svalbard, Norway
Technical details: DJI Mavic Mini 2 + 24mm f2.8 lens; 26 individual exposures

“Strength in Numbers” © Theo Bosboom, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Animals in their Environment
“Theo Bosboom shows how mussels bind together to avoid being washed away from the shoreline. Theo likes to take images of species that aren’t usually considered beautiful or important, to highlight their unappreciated significance. He took this image from above with a probe lens – a long, thin, macro wide-angle lens. Mussels play an important role in creating dynamic ecosystems for other marine invertebrates such as crustaceans, worms and even small fish. They improve the water quality by filter-feeding, extracting plankton as well as bacteria and toxins, which prevents them from building up to dangerous levels.”
Location: Praia da Ursa, Sintra, Portugal
Technical details: Canon EOS R5 + Laowa 24mm Periprobe lens; 0.6 sec at f32; ISO 200; focus stack of 9 images

“Going with the Floe” © Tamara Stubbs and Atlantic Productions, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Animals in their Environment.
“Tamara Stubbs spots these crabeater seals taking a nap among the sea ice. In a standout moment on her nine-week expedition in the Weddell Sea, Tamara noticed that seals had fallen asleep alongside the ship, with the tips of their nostrils at the water’s surface. These two had bobbed up so they could take a deeper breath. There are around four million crabeater seals in the Antarctic. Although they are not considered endangered or under threat, the seals are protected by international conservation agreements. More research is needed to understand the impact of climate change and tourism on their populations.”
Location: Weddell Sea, Antarctica
Technical details: Sony α7R II + Canon 24–70mm f2.8 lens at 70mm; 1/320 at f7.1; ISO 100; polarizing filter

“Precious Rocks” © Samual Stone, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Behavior: Birds.
“Samual Stone watches as a jackdaw brings stones to its nest. Samual had been keeping an eye on the hole in the trunk of a half-fallen willow tree in London’s Bushy Park – he’d seen a pair of jackdaws visiting with their beaks full of hair taken from the coats of local deer. Jackdaws are highly intelligent and adaptable. They build new nests each year from all sorts of materials: twigs, branches, feathers, wool, moss, mud, and animal dung. This pair kept adding rocks to theirs.”
Location: Bushy Park, London, England, UK
Technical details: Nikon D5500 + Sigma 150–600mm f5-6.3 lens; 1/500 at f6.3; ISO 800

“Leaving the Nest” © Sasha Jumanca, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, 10 Years and Under
“Sasha Jumanca finds two tawny owlets curiously watching people walking by. Sasha had been watching these tawny owlets for several days in a park near his home. He had seen tawny owls in the neighborhood before but was surprised to discover these so close to the heart of the city. Owlets leave the nest before they can fly, in a phase known as ‘branching’. They will jump, flutter and climb around branches of nearby trees for several weeks while begging for food from their parents, before they eventually fledge and fly away.”
Location: Maximiliansanlagen, Munich, Germany
Technical details: Nikon D7200 + 200–500mm f5.6 lens at 270mm; 1/500 at f6.3; ISO 2200

“Center of Attention” © Georgina Steytler, Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Highly Commended, Behavior: Invertebrates
“Georgina Steytler observes a ball of male Dawson’s burrowing bees vying for access to a female. Georgina has been studying these bees for a few years and knew she had to keep her distance. Lying on the hot, rocky, sun-baked ground with sand blowing in her face, her long lens enabled her to get the perfect image. When female Dawson’s burrowing bees emerge in spring, they are surrounded by males competing to mate with them. After mating, the female bee will dig a new burrow filled with pollen and eggs, from which the hatched bees will emerge in spring.”
Location: Near Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia
Technical details: Nikon Z 8 + 800mm f6.3 lens + 1.4x teleconverter; 1/5000 at f11; ISO 640

Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the Natural History Museum – Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Related Articles:

Rare Siberian Tiger Hugging a Tree Photo Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award

20 Incredible Winners From the 2023 European Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest

15 Remarkable Shortlisted Images from the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest

Charming Photo of Polar Bear Napping on an Iceberg Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award

READ: 14 Extraordinary Highly Commended Photos From the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest

Photo: Portable Antiquities Scheme via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Anyone armed with a metal detector is often looking for buried treasure, but in 2010, one man from the UK found more than he could have ever expected. Hospital chef Dave Crisp was searching for metal objects in a field in southwest England when he hit upon something unusual—a pot filled with Roman coins.

At the time, CNN reported that Crisp initially saw 21 coins, but when he began to unearth the pot, he realized he needed to call in professionals. The UK's Portable Antiquities Scheme is set up to incentivize the public to report archeological finds and Crisp took full advantage.

County archeologists excavated the enormous vase, which would have been used for food storage. It weighed 350 pounds and contained 52,503 coins dating from 253 to 305 CE.

“At the time I actually found the pot I didn’t know what size it was but when the archaeologists came and started to uncover it, I was gobsmacked, I thought, ‘Hell, this is massive,'” Crisp told CNN.

Incredibly, 766 coins bore an image of the Roman general Marcus Aurelius Carausius, the first Roman emperor to mint coins in Britain. After the excavation, the coins were sent to the British Museum to be cleaned and recorded. It took six weeks to dry out and stabilize all the coins, which were mainly bronze. Five rare silver coins called denarii were also in the hoard. Issued by Carausius, they were the only type of silver coin to be struck in the Roman Empire at the time.

Roger Bland, a numismatist who was then Head of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum, speculated on why they would have been buried in the first place: “We think that whoever buried it didn't intend to come back to recover it. We can only guess why people buried treasure, some buried savings, others because they feared an invasion, perhaps this was an offering to the Gods.”

They are now called the Frome Hoard, after the location where they were found. When the initial discovery was made, it was believed that the coins had a value of $1 million. This value is important because under the UK's 1996 Treasure Act, the hoard could be purchased by a museum and half of the proceeds would be given to the finder. In this case, Dave Crisp.

However, the actually sum, while still significant, was a fair bit lower. In October 2010, the country's Treasure Valuation Committee valued the hoard at $505,995 (£320,250). In 2011, they were purchased by the Museum of Somerset and placed on permanent display. For his part, Crisp netted a tiny fee for his find even after dividing his earnings with the farmer whose land he found the hoard on.

In 2010, hospital chef Dave Crisp was searching a field with a metal detector in southwest England when he discovered a pot filled with over 52,000 Roman coins.

Dave Crisp at Frome Library on 22 July 2010, holding a tray of coins from his find (Photo: Portable Antiquities Scheme via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Five rare silver coins called denarii were also in the hoard.

Carausius silver denarius from the Frome Hoard. (Photo: Portable Antiquities Scheme via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

All of the coins, known as the Frome Hoard, were purchased by the Museum of Somerset for $505,995.

The Frome Hoard at the Museum of Somerset (Photo: Rodw via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Related Articles:

Two Rare Dimes Worth $2 Million Dollars Each Are Still in Circulation

Divers Discover Nearly 50,000 Submerged Coins Off the Coast of Italy

Japanese Archaeologists Dig Up Jar Filled With Over 200,000 Bronze Coins

Man Finds Buried Hoard of 700 Civil War-Era Gold and Silver Coins On His Farm

READ: British Man With a Metal Detector Stumbles Upon 52,000 Ancient Coins Worth $500K

Shitennō-ji around 1880 (Photo: Kusakabe Kimbei – The New York Public Library Digital Collections via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Japan is home to some of the longest-running businesses in the world. But none have run longer than Kongō Gumi. This construction company was founded in 578 CE. At the time, Japan's Prince Shōtoku was looking to build a Buddhist temple, but as the country was mainly Shinto, there were no carpenters with that skill set. So, he called upon miyadaiku (carpenters with training in building Buddhist temples) from a Buddhist kingdom that is now Korea. One of these carpenters, Kongō Shigetsu, formed the company and the rest is history.

Not only did they construct that initial temple, Osaka's Shitennō-ji, but they were also responsible for building Osaka Castle. Both of these structures kept the family-run business busy, as they were destroyed by fires and other natural disasters several times and constantly needed reconstruction. They were also kept busy as Buddhism spread across the country, causing a boom in the construction of Buddhist temples. But that's not the only reason for Kongō Gumi's success.

Their workers were highly skilled, with apprentices having to work for 10 years to hone their craft. To be considered master carpenters, they would need to toil for yet another decade. The company also organized its workers into kumi, independent groups with specific skill sets who work together on projects. This tradition continues today and allows the workers to push each other and to share knowledge.

Kongō Gumi has also remained flexible in the face of challenges that will naturally occur during a 1,400-year business. During World War II, the company pivoted to building coffins as temple construction ground to a halt. They also showed a willingness to incorporate new technology while retaining traditional building methods. For instance, after the Meiji Restoration, they began incorporating concrete into their designs. Later, they would pioneer the use of CAD (computer-aided design) for temples.

Perhaps most importantly, they took the role of head carpenter, who was the head of the company, quite seriously. Tradition dictated that the eldest son be named head carpenter, but there were several times that Kongō Gumi took steps to preserve the company if that person wasn't up to the task. If there was no suitable male heir, they would search for a competent match and bring them in as a son-in-law to both maintain the family name and the company.

Once, a female family member was even brought in to run things. During the post-World War I Shōwa Depression, when the 37th leader died by suicide due to financial declines, his widow Yoshie was named head carpenter. She showed remarkable skill, expanding the company and lobbying the government to allow them to produce coffins to survive. She also separated managerial positions from carpentry positions, which helped the firm flourish.

Until 2006, Kongō Gumi operated as an independent entity. That year, it became a subsidiary of the Takamatsu Construction Group. This has allowed Kongō Gumi to tighten its business model while still using the traditional construction techniques that made it famous. According to a 2023 business profile, the company has 110 employees, up from 80 when it was acquired.

It still brings in about $38 million a year, which can fluctuate depending on when large temple projects arise (the company also takes on residential and office projects). While the Kongō family is no longer involved in management, there is still one family member with the title of sho daiku (head carpenter). As the daughter of the 40th head of the family, she is the 41st head carpenter.

Japanese construction company Kongō Gumi is the world's longest continuous-running business and was founded in 578 CE.

Kongō Yoshie, the 38th master carpenter of Kongō Gumi and employees, 1930. (Photo: 撮影者　不明 via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

The company recently turned 1,446 years old and upholds traditional methods for building Buddhist temples.

h/t: [Open Culture]

Related Articles:

Photographer Reveals the Secrets of Japanese Sumo in an Enlightening Book

Hokusai’s Book of 19th-Century Woodblock Prints Celebrates Japanese and Chinese Warriors

The Last Picture Ever Taken of Hachikō Shows the Love and Reverence the Japanese Had for the Dog

Japan’s “Tsunami Stones” Have Been Warning Residents of the Dangers of Earthquakes for Centuries

READ: How One Japanese Company Has Survived For 1,400 Years

We've all seen rainbows, but have you ever witnessed a moonbow? Also known as a lunar rainbow, this optical phenomenon happens when moonlight is refracted through water droplets in the air. They're rarer than rainbows, which makes photographer Aaron Watson‘s image of a double moonbow even more special.

Watson of Skies-Alive Photography captured the incredible image in Colorado around 2 a.m., just one day before August's Supermoon Blue Moon. That evening, the photographer was awoken by the sound of rain when he looked out and saw the nearly full moon. Knowing that these were optimal conditions for a moonbow, he picked up his equipment and, to his delight, saw a double moonbow. It lasted for just a few minutes, but he was able to immortalize the moment on camera.

“Seeing the moonbow in this nighttime setting is subtle and surreal,” he tells My Modern Met. “This moonbow is a double, which adds to the allure. The sagebrush meadow and beautiful mountain in the distance provide a lovely touch of natural scenery. It was a wonderful but fleeting moment and I am glad to have the photos to remember it by.”

This is the third moonbow that Watson has photographed in the past year. Each sighting occurred when evening rain showers created the perfect environment. Given that he lives in an area with minimal skyglow and has the proper equipment to take long exposures, he was able to record all of the moonbows he saw this summer.

Anyone attempting to do the same will need three key ingredients—nighttime, a bright moon, and rain.

“If it is daytime or near twilight, it's probably a regular sun rainbow,” Watson warns. “Second, the moon needs to be in the sky. Also, its phase needs to be full or nearly full to be bright enough to make the moonbow shine. And third, there needs to be rain. Snow won't do it.

Late spring, summer, and early autumn are the best seasons, but it could appear anytime there is a bright moon and rain. Usually, with rain comes clouds, so for a moonbow, there needs to be a clear patch for the moon to shine through. Finally, the angle of the moon. Moonbows happen when the moon is close to the horizon (within 45 degrees), not when the moon is directly overhead.”

Armed with that knowledge, Watson hopes that people will become more aware of moonbows and try their hand at spotting one for themselves. For now, scroll down to see more of the spectacular double moonbow, as well as the single moonbow Watson photographed in July.

Photographer Aaron Watson photographed a rare double moonbow in mid-August.

The August double moonbow started as a single moonbow.

Moonbows occur when moonlight is refracted through water droplets in the air and are much rarer than rainbows.

July 2024 moonbow

July 2024 moonbow

Skies-Alive Photography: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Skies-Alive Photography.

Related Articles:

Breathtaking Rainbows Over the Worlds Largest Waterfall

Stunning Photo of Lightning Bolt Framed by a Double Rainbow

Photographer Captures Rare Sight of Double Moonbow Colliding With Bolt of Lightning

Photographer Captures Colorful “Moonbows” That Happen in the Moonlight at Waterfalls

READ: Photographer Captures Stunning, Rare Double Moonbow

While Portugal is located on the sea, that doesn't necessarily make it convenient for those living in the capital to get in a good swim. That's why two Lisbon-based architecture firms, X Atelier and Atelier Baum, have joined forces to create Loop Pool Tejo. This urban swimming pool transforms a dilapidated pier on the Tagus River into a much-needed refuge during hot summer days.

The firms were looking to provide an alternative to Lisbon's nearby beaches, which can take hours to reach due to traffic and the few overcrowded open-air pools in the city. The Tagus, the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, is swimmable and wide enough to handle a large pool structure.

The project calls for the redevelopment of the Braço de Prata pier, transforming it into a link with the river. The circular pool takes on a sculptural form with two layers that gently slope up and down. These small slopes provide areas of shade below and a solarium and amphitheater above.

Loop Pool Tejo's unique design also has an entry point directly onto the water. This means the community will have new access to the waterway for activities like kayaking or paddleboarding. The highest point of the loop acts as a diving platform, which the firms say is intended to “promote a youthful and fun atmosphere.”

The firms note that shipping containers already located at the pier could easily be transformed into changing rooms and lockers in a conscious effort to reuse materials.

Self-filtering, the pool represents a new opportunity for the community to engage with its natural surroundings and to bring the river into focus as a community space. The firms have opened an Instagram account for Loop Pool Tejo to gather public feedback and will then present their findings to Lisbon City Hall in an effort to make the urban swimming pool a reality.

Two Lisbon-based architecture firms have proposed a contemporary urban swimming pool in place of a dilapidated pier.

Loop Pool Tejo will provide a much-needed swimming option in Lisbon and connect the community with the Tagus River.

The pool's sculptural form works on multiple levels, allowing for activities such as diving, paddle boarding, sunbathing, and swimming.

X Atelier: Website | Instagram
Atelier Baum: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by X Atelier.

Related Articles:

Minimalist Floating Structure Creates Seawater Pools in Denmark

Luxurious Geothermal Pools Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean Set to Open in Iceland

Floating Public Pool With Self-Filtering System Ensures Clean Swimming Water in NYC

Historic 1930s Sea Pool Is Getting a Dramatic Redesign Resembling a Topographic Map

READ: Circular Urban Swimming Pool in Lisbon Transforms Dilapidated Pier Into Community Oasis

Cape Town-based artist Michael Chandler gave Miami boutique Cult Gaia a distinct look with a hand-painted ceramic tile mural covering the store's façade. Inspired by the owner's Persian heritage, the mural has Tree of Life theme and spans 1,800 tiles.

Chandler worked on this commission in his studio, Chandler House, mapping each tile so that they could be reassembled easily in Miami. The blue hue of the tiles hearkens back to the decoration of Persian mosques and is also reminiscent of the azulejos that decorate many structures in Portugal.

Once the mural theme was decided, Chandler was given creative reign over how the piece took shape. This led to a satisfying creative process that allowed Chandler to follow his artistic instincts.

“I really enjoyed watching the tree motif grow,” he tells My Modern Met. “I began with the thick tree trunk that originated from the ground, and then, with each tile, slowly thinned out and branched into the finest of branches at the tips of the mural.

“As I painted the tree, a range of birds, flowers and other forms emerged that I had no idea were inside me. It was a wonderful, and exciting process to see what would appear each day.”

Given that the final mural would only come together as a whole once in Miami, Chandler had the difficult job of ensuring that the composition would remain balanced. Now that the piece is installed, it's clear that Chandler's thoughtful choices have come together beautifully. The darker areas of the trunk anchor the mural but don't overwhelm the piece, and the animals scattered across its branches add interest without drawing too much focus.

Chandler applauds designers Jess and Jonathan Nahon of Sugarhouse Design and Architecture for thinking of his work and bringing him on board.

“I hope people who are working with spaces and design take away a little more courage to do things on this level of artistry,” he shares. “The world doesn’t need another gray building. Imagine more buildings were ‘artworks?’ What a wonderful world we would live in!”

Pleased to see his work in such a public setting where it can brighten someone's day, Chandler is excited about the direction his work is taking and hopes to continue pushing the creative possibilities of his work with ceramics.

Cape Town-based artist Michael Chandler gave Miami boutique Cult Gaia a distinct look with a ceramic tile mural covering the store's façade.

Chandler hand-painted 1,800 tiles for the Tree of Life-themed mural.

“I hope people who are working with spaces and design take away a little more courage to do things on this level of artistry.”

“The world doesn’t need another gray building.”

Michael Chandler: Website | Facebook | Instagram

All images by Kris Tamburello. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Chandler House.

Related Articles:

Pulsating Room Created by Porcelain Tiles

Artist Spray Paints Colorful Tiles on Floors of Abandoned Buildings

Portuguese Street Artist Decorates Electrical Box with Ornate Tile Patterns

New Bike and Pedestrian Tunnel Features an 80,000-Tile Mural of Old and New Amsterdam

READ: 1,800 Hand-Painted Tiles Form Incredible Tree of Life Mural Filled With Fauna and Flora

Senior research nurse Keenjee Nama with trial participant Janusz Racz (Photo: Aaron Chown/PA)

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, taking 1.8 million lives annually. Traditionally combated using surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, survival rates have improved. But now, a new vaccine is looking to stop the cancer by harnessing the body's immune system. Trials for the world's first lung cancer vaccine have started in 34 research centers across seven countries.

The groundbreaking vaccine uses mRNA technology to combat the most common form of lung cancer—non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most of the world became familiar with mRNA vaccines during COVID-19, the first time mRNA vaccines were commercially developed. Now, there's great hope that mRNA cancer vaccines could provide an alternate treatment to eradicate cancer cells and keep them away for good.

The BNT116 vaccine, made by BioTech, works by injecting the body with messenger RNA that carries NSCLC tumor markers. This primes the immune system to view a particular protein expressed by NSCLC cancer cells as foreign so that the body attacks it from within the moment the protein is detected. This method is particularly favorable because it should also strengthen the patient's immune system.

“It’s simple to deliver, and you can select specific antigens in the cancer cell, and then you target them,” Professor Siow Ming Lee, a consultant medical oncologist at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), told The Guardian. “This technology is the next big phase of cancer treatment.”

The trials, which involve about 130 cancer patients, are taking place in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, and Spain. BNT116 is one of about 60 mRNA cancer vaccines currently in trial, as the success of COVID-19 vaccines has brought a lot of attention and funding to this type of treatment.

In London, 67-year-old scientist Janusz Racz was the first person in the UK to receive the vaccine. According to The Guardian, he received six consecutive injections, five minutes apart over 30 minutes, that contained different RNA strands. He'll receive injections every week for six weeks and then every three weeks for 54 weeks. Racz, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in May, remains hopeful about the treatment.

“I thought it over and … decided to take part because I hope it will provide a defense against cancer cells,” he shares. “But I also thought that my participation in this research could help other people in the future and help this therapy become more widely available.

“As a scientist myself, I know that science can only advance if people agree to participate in programs like this.”

Lung cancer has long been a heartbreaking disease that has taken many lives, but now there's new hope.

UCLH consultant medical oncologists Prof Siow-Ming Lee and Dr Sarah Benafif with trial participant Janusz Racz (Photo: Aaron Chown/PA)

Lung cancer vaccine trials have begun in seven countries.

h/t: [The Guardian]

Related Articles:

All Patients in This New Cancer Drug Study Are Now in Remission

Israeli Hospital Develops Blood Cancer Treatment With a 90% Success Rate

15-Year-Old Heman Bekele Named TIME’s Kid of the Year 2024 for Breakthrough Cancer-Curing Soap

Professor Beats Incurable Brain Tumor Diagnosis Thanks to His Own Pioneering Treatment Against Cancer

READ: World’s First Lung Cancer Vaccine Trials Are Now Running in Seven Countries

“Living with War” by Mouneb Taim. Best New Talent of the Year 2024. Non-professional Press Photographer of the Year.
“While the sounds of clashes and shelling were audible and warplanes in the sky, the peace player would play the bar to make the children feel safe. It was a scene mixed between pain and hope. It was the determination of people to live. Maybe the scene seems natural and routine to them because they are used to After more than 13 years of ongoing conflict in Syria.”

The winners of the prestigious Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3) photo competition have just been announced. Photographers compete across a diverse array of categories, including Advertising, Architecture, Book, Fine Art, Nature, Portraiture, Press, and Special. Each submission showcases the artist's extraordinary talent and creativity, further enriching the world of photography.

The competition, which has professional and non-professional divisions, is judged by distinguished figures from the international photography community. After evaluating thousands of entries from around the globe, they awarded Julia Fullerton-Batten the title of PX3 Photographer of the Year. The British photographer is known for her surreal, dramatically lit scenes that convey tension and mystery.

Her winning images center around the act of foot washing as a gesture of compassion, humanity, and respect. “These images evoke the humility and dignity that can transcend differences, reflecting the potential for connection even among those who disagree,” shares the competition in a statement.

Syrian photographer Mouneb Taim was named PX3 Best New Talent 2024 for his look at life in war-torn Syria. As the decade-long conflict in this country continues, it is often overlooked in the news cycle. Taim's unflinching look at people struggling for normalcy in a war zone shows the layered complexity of the situation.

“Each year, the PX3 competition continues to inspire and uncover breathtaking talent from across the globe. The 2024 winners have truly set a new standard in the art of photography, offering fresh perspectives and narratives that captivate and resonate,” says Hossein Farmani, founder of PX3. “We are honored to celebrate these artists and their exceptional contributions to the visual arts.”

Scroll down to see more competition winners. Their work will be published in the annual PX3 book, and their images will be included in exhibitions in Paris, the first of which will run from November 5 to November 9, 2024, at Galerie 24b.

Here are the winners of the prestigious Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3) photo competition.

“He Gets Us” by Julia Fullerton-Batten. Photographer of the Year 2024. Advertising Photographer of the Year.
“The act of washing one another’s feet is a beautiful human expression. It evokes reconciliation and peace. It’s submissive, permissive and inclusionary. The photographs capture the humility, respect and dignity we, as humans, could show each other – even to those we may not agree with.”

“A Day's Work” by Michael Knapstein. Portraiture Photographer of the Year.
“A series documenting the hardworking people who have helped build the American Midwest.”

“Wild Flowers” by Anne Mason-Hoerter. Nature Photographer of the Year.
“The environmental impact of climate change on the plant community is profound. As temperatures rise and weather patterns become more erratic, flowers face challenges in their lifecycle, from altered flowering times to habitat loss. This disruption affects the crucial role wildflowers play in ecosystems as primary sources of nectar and pollen for pollinators like bees and butterflies, essential for plant reproduction and biodiversity. This is a long term project to reconstruct plants affected by climate change based on my childhood memories of these plants.”

“Impact of War” by Patryk Jaracz. Press Photographer of the Year.
“The project is an examination of consequences of war in Ukraine through visual documentation of its impact. On the frontline war takes a direct shape of explosions and destruction resulting in hundreds of thousands of lost lives and once peaceful villages and cities turned into a rubble. Millions of people were forced to flee their homes while millions are living under constant threat without access to water, gas or electricity. While the smoke in the aftermath of explosion can be seen in the moment, pain and trauma may last for years or lifetimes to come.”

“The Descendants of Black Civil War Combatants” by Drew Gardner. Fine Art Photographer of the Year.
“The culmination of 3 years of painstaking research of family trees and archives to identify photos of Black Civil War combatants then to trace and contact their descendants and persuade them to be the sitter in the recreation the photograph of their forebear (with the descendant). The series was made possible by bringing the descendants together from all over the USA and carrying out the shoot in a daylight studio in New York, utilizing a tintype camera.”

“Beach Life” by Simon Heather. Non-professional Fine Art Photographer of the Year.
“Welcome to an aerial series that captures the fun and fulfillment of beach life – from relaxing days in Italian beach clubs, and the surprising turquoise of British waters, to surf escapades in Hawaii, and the bustling scenes of Portugal – each photo captures the essence of people reveling in local beach experiences in different parts of the world.”

“Nevermore” by Eva Chupikova. Non-professional Portraiture Photographer of the Year.
“Nevermore, a single word that encapsulates a profound sense of loss and finality. It echoes in the soul, reminding us of all that we once held, but can never have again. It speaks of the fleeting nature of our existence, of the relations and bonds which come and go, of the illusions and dreams unfulfilled. The weight of nevermore hangs heavy on the heart, a constant reminder of irrevocable endings, of who we once were and what we have lost. Time is a cruel thief, yet it is within this simple truth that life truly finds its meaning.”

“Weaknesses of the oceans” by António Coelho. Non-Professional Advertising Photographer of the Year.
“The oceans represent the element responsible for producing 50% of the oxygen we breath. Today, they are polluted, with changes in pH associated with the increase in global temperature, and there are floating islands of plastic. Microplastics are disseminated throughout the fish food chain. This series is exclusively aimed at this situation, the ocean, plastic, pollution and species extinction.”

Each photo showcases the artist's extraordinary talent and creativity.

“The Network” by Katherine Young. Non-professional Architecture Photographer of the Year.
“Part of a larger series of colorful building facades. In this group of images, I focus on more than one facade showing various textures, materials and colors complementing one another.”

“Underwater Kaleidoscope” by Iryna Vozniak. Non-professional Nature Photographer of the Year.
“These photos capture the essence of an underwater kaleidoscope, where nature's own palette is on full display. “Underwater Kaleidoscope” invites you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the deep, where these radiant creatures perform their silent, yet captivating, aquatic ballet.”

“Freedom Tower” by Louis Philippe Provost. Architecture Photographer of the Year.
“Last light of the day striking the Freedom Tower in Manhattan.”

“Two Windows” by Sara Goli. Special Photographer of the Year.
“As you see , there is two windows, one shadow and one real window .”

“Black and White Evanescence” by Gianluca Federighi. Special Photographer of the Year.
“Often in my abstract emotion reality takes on an imaginary vision and throws every geometry into crisis. My dusty thought pushes me to believe that life is something else looking for its soul in matter.”

“A Silent Witness To Beauty” by Robert David Atkinson. Book Photographer of the Year.
“A Silent Witness to Beauty is a captivating journey through the lens and the imagination of photographer and author Robert David Atkinson. This unique collection combines black-and-white photographs with fictional narratives to offer a truly immersive experience. Through the intimate portraits of birds and other wildlife, each photograph and story invites you to pause and contemplate the beauty of nature in its rawest form.”

PX3: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by PX3.

Related Articles:

21 Incredible Nominees From the 2024 Drone Photo Awards

Powerful Winning Images From the 2024 Mangrove Photography Awards

Incredible Winners and Finalists From the Prix de la Photographie Paris Competition

Exceptional Winners of 1839 Awards’ Photo Contest Celebrating the Power of Color Photography

READ: Stunning Photography From the 2024 Prix de la Photographie Paris Contest