Amid a world riven by political, social and ecological flames, it may seem simple, if not cliche, to look to nature for solutions. Yet, this week, we reflect on personae and projects that do just that. First, in light of his winning the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, we revisit our 2020 interview with Chinese architect Liu Jiakun, whose field-spanning experiences have built a unique practice that includes "rebirth" bricks and an emphasis on trees.

We then look at two new art spaces spearheaded by art collector and philanthropist Marisa Chearavanont in Thailand: a cutting-edge Kunsthalle in a former printing house in Bangkok and an immersive art forest three hours from the city in Khao Yai.

Travelling to Korea, we consider the transformation of the 1,004 islands of Shinan into a vast and dynamic cultural centre, marked by museums and large-scale artist projects set within a dramatic sea-facing landscape. An altogether different journey takes us across Japan to survey the nature of campy and kitschy love hotels enmeshed within the country's culture and landscape. Lastly, we look at the 'essence' of things at 'India's largest international design destination', Nilaya Anthology by Asian Paints in Mumbai.

Together, these places and projects, spanning much of Asia, speak to how nature can continue to show us the way.