The World Architecture Festival has revealed the shortlist for the best buildings awards. As the world’s largest architectural awards program, the shortlist features 343 projects from 58 countries across 32 categories – from Messner Mountain Museum Corones in Italy to the BBVA Bancomer headquarters in Mexico City, the nominees includes completed and future projects from every corner of the world.
The finalists will be invited to present their project live at the festival on November 16th-18th at the Arena Berlin in Germany. A panel of “super jury”, which includes David Chipperfield, Ole Scheeren, Louisa Hutton of Sauerbruch Hutton will be judging the contest entries and selecting the winner for each of the 32 categories. After that, the winners will compete for the prestigious award “World Building of the Year” and “Future Project of the Year”.
Eager to get a sneak peek at this year’s best buildings shortlist? Here are the 10 best of the best we pick for you.
1. Messner Mountain Museum Corones by Zaha Hadid Architects
Embedded within the summit of Mont Kronplatz, 2,275m above sea level at the centre of South Tyrol’s most popular ski resort, the Messner Mountain Museum Corones is surrounded by the alpine peaks of the Zillertal, Ortler, and The Dolomites. Established by renowned climber Reinhold Messner, the sixth and final Messner Mountain Museum explores the traditions, history, and discipline of mountaineering.
2. Faculty of Fine Arts University of La Laguna by Gpy Arquitectos
The new Faculty of Fine Arts is located in a heterogeneous area, adjacent to the island highway and on the periphery of the University Campus. The new building presents itself as an extension of the Campus’ public space while creating an autonomous interior landscape of its own. A skin of suspended concrete slats adopts a curved shape which develops on the different levels, protecting and wrapping the open space of the building.
3. Piri Reis Maritime University by Kreatif Architects
Piri Reis Maritime University provides higher maritime education and applied training in the Tuzla district of Istanbul, Turkey. The project consists 60.000 sqm covered area in eight interconnected blocks. The campus is designed with the utmost contemporary sustainability principles that resulted with the BREEAM’s “very good” certificate.
4. The Investcorp Building by Zaha Hadid Architects
The new Investcorp Building for the Middle East Centre provides 1,127 square metres of additional floor space and a new 117-seat lecture theatre; doubling the space available for the Middle East Centre’s expanding library & archive, and providing optimum conditions to conserve and manage the centre’s collections that were previously stored in the basement of 66 Woodstock Road.
5. Hualien Wellness Residences by Bjarke Ingels Group
The Hualien Wellness & Residential development wants to develop this project as the best building designed with a perfect balance between nature, health, and the built environment. Sloping green roofs provide shade, remove heat, harvest rainwater and produce clean, breathable air, while the proximity to lush vegetation in the apartments creates a stress-relieving environment for residents.
6. Butterfly Pavilion by 3deluxe
In the Butterfly Pavilion, 3deluxe is realizing its design principle of multilayered atmospheres: In material and mood layers, natural and artificial levels blend into a visually and emotionally condensed overall picture. Technology and nature, light and shadow, modern and traditional architecture fuse into a complex spatial experience.
7. Mu Xin Art Museum by OLI Architecture
The design of this museum is inspired by the works and writings of the artist Mu Xin, which was shaped by his lifelong existence between cultures, both in his native and adoptive countries. The reflection of Mu Xin’s work is illustrated through the design of the building as seen in the series of interconnected floating rooms and the concrete exterior, which evokes gentle watercolor brush strokes.
8. Hanazono Kindergarten and Nursey by Hibinosekkei + Youji no Shiro
This site is located in Miyakojima, which is about 2000 km southwest of Tokyo, Japan. Miyakojima belongs to a subtropical oceanic climate and is surrounded by blue sea, coral reef, and the island where Ryukyu limestone rose. The building is required to close for making shade and also open for ventilation, because of the high temperature and humidity that are associated with frequent typhoon attack. It’s based on traditional red wooden roofing tile architecture that is seen in this area. The structure is a steel reinforced concrete construction that can endure a typhoon invasion.
9. The Commons by Department of Architecture, Thailand
The beloved food-centric community mall has been shortlisted in the Shopping category for its contemporary mix of concrete and glass. The Commons’ large ramps gently lead street-level human traffic to the upper floors, and a massive atrium with industrial fans offers not only protection from the sun and rain but unimpeded views from the basement to the “Top Yard,” on the fourth floor.
10. Estadio BBVA Bancomer Monterrey by Populous
The design of the stadium is said to be inspired by the mountains that surround the city. The roof structure has also been compared to the body of an armadillo. The stadium boasts 51,000 seats, including 5,000 club seats and 324 suites. The stadium has a self-supporting tripodal structure. Air flow comes in via ‘gills’ in the facade, ventilating the stadium and keeping spectators and players comfortable. The cantilevered roof, which is a vast structure of 55 meters, also guarantees comfort within the stadium.
Did you enjoy how the future will look like? Let us know what you think about these buildings in the comments.
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