Architecture

The best buildings of 2021

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The Shanghai Astronomy Museum, by Ennead Architects, is one of our picks for the top 10 buildings of 2021
Arch-Exist, courtesy of Ennead Architects
The Sara Cultural Centre, by White Arkitekter, reaches a maximum height of 75 m (246 ft)
Åke Eson Lindman
The Sara Cultural Centre's interior decor leaves the wood uncovered to highlight its natural beauty
Åke Eson Lindman
The Sara Cultural Centre includes an art gallery, museum, theater, and library
Åke Eson Lindman
The Sara Cultural Centre includes solar panels and an energy efficient heating and cooling system
Åke Eson Lindman
The Sara Cultural Centre's interior decor sensibly leaves the uncovered wood on display
Åke Eson Lindman
The Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów was designed by Nizio Design International and commemorates the atrocities suffered by occupants of rural villages in Poland during Nazi occupation
Marcin Czechowicz
The Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów takes the form of 11 connected house-like concrete segments, which range from fully-formed to skeletal framework
Marcin Czechowicz
The Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów is primarily constructed from concrete
Marcin Czechowicz
The Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów consists of 11 house-like structures
Marcin Czechowicz
The Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów is spread over 16,000 sq m (roughly 172,000 sq ft)
Marcin Czechowicz
Casamia Community House, by VTN Architects, features an intricate ceiling that reaches a maximum height of almost 9 m (roughly 29 ft)
Hiroyuki Oki
Casamia Community House is topped by a traditional Vietnamese thatch roof
Hiroyuki Oki
As well as being cooled by the breeze, Casamia Community House features multiple ceiling fans to help keep the interior comfortable
Hiroyuki Oki
Casamia Community House is placed on a concrete plinth and consists of a total of 22 frames of bamboo columns, trusses, and bracing
Hiroyuki Oki
Casamia Community House is enclosed with glazing, some of which is operable to help naturally cool the interior
Hiroyuki Oki
The Shanghai Astronomy Museum, by Ennead Architects, has been in the works since 2014 and opened to visitors on July 18, 2021
Arch-Exist, courtesy of Ennead Architects
The Shanghai Astronomy Museum's Sphere is designed so that it has minimal structural supports and appears to float
Arch-Exist, courtesy of Ennead Architects
The Shanghai Astronomy Museum's Sphere contains a planetarium
Arch-Exist, courtesy of Ennead Architects
The Shanghai Astronomy Museum's Oculus is located near its entrance
Arch-Exist, courtesy of Ennead Architects
The Shanghai Astronomy Museum features multiple viewing points
Arch-Exist, courtesy of Ennead Architects
OPEN Architects used specialist software and worked with acoustic engineers to ensure the Chapel of Sound would be a superb space for live music
Jonathan Leijonhufvud
The Chapel of Sound includes a semi-outdoor amphitheater, an outdoor stage, and multiple winding staircases which lead to viewing points
Jonathan Leijonhufvud
The Chapel of Sound has no heating or air-conditioning installed and multiple openings allow the wind and rain inside
Jonathan Leijonhufvud
The Chapel of Sound's interior measures 790 sq m (8,503 sq ft)
Jonathan Leijonhufvud
The Chapel of Sound is designed to take its place well among the rugged landscape
Jonathan Leijonhufvud
Le Dôme Winery, by Foster + Partners, is located near Saint-Émilion in Bordeaux, a picturesque area that has been making wine since the Roman days
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
Le Dôme Winery is topped by an impressive timber roof that measures 40 m (131 ft) in diameter
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
Visitors to Le Dôme Winery are invited to watch the winemaking process
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
Le Dôme Winery reaches a modest height of just 10 m (32 ft)
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
Le Dôme Winery is designed to blend into the landscape and takes its place well among the rolling hills and local architecture
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
Trudo Tower, by Stefano Boeri Architetti, rises to a modest height of 70 m (roughly 230 ft) in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Paolo Rosselli
Trudo Tower, by Stefano Boeri Architetti, consists of 19 floors, containing 125 apartments
Paolo Rosselli
Trudo Tower's 125 apartments are affordable social housing and, as of writing, cost €633.20 (roughly US$715), per month to rent
Paolo Rosselli
Trudo Tower's exterior features 135 trees, as well as 8,500 bushes and 1,500 plants
Paolo Rosselli
Trudo Tower's apartments are quite small, though each also boasts a balcony with a tree and 20 bushes
Paolo Rosselli
Icon's East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development homes consist of a 3D-printed lower floor and a timber upper floor
Regan Morton Photography
The East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development represents a major step toward the widespread adoption of 3D-printed construction methods
Regan Morton Photography
The East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development's homes start at roughly US$450,000
Regan Morton Photography
The East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development's largest home measures 1,928 sq ft (179 sq m)
Regan Morton Photography
The East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development's kitchens include stainless steel appliances
Regan Morton Photography
The Le Monde headquarters, by Snøhetta, features a pixelated glass facade that consists of 20,000 pieces of glass
Marwan Harmouche
The new Le Monde headquarters' archway creates a space for parking bicycles and a seating area
Jared Chulksi
The new Le Monde headquarters has a terrace area offering views of the Seine river
Jared Chulski
The new Le Monde headquarters spans a length of 80 m (262 ft)
Jared Chulski
The new Le Monde headquarters measures 23,000 sq m (roughly 250,000 sq ft)
Jared Chulski
974 Stadium, by Fenwick Iribarren Architects, consists of a steel framework and a roof, with the containers slotted in and used to host seats, concession stands, and toilets
Fenwick Iribarren Architects
974 Stadium draws its name both from the local Qatar area code and the number of containers used in construction
Fenwick Iribarren Architects
974 Stadium has a capacity of 40,000
Fenwick Iribarren Architects
974 Stadium is located on a breezy spot next to the sea and Fenwick Iribarren Architects says this breeze will be sufficient to cool the stadium
Fenwick Iribarren Architects
Once the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament comes to a close, the idea is that 974 Stadium will be dismantled and either rebuilt elsewhere or recycled
Fenwick Iribarren Architects
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Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, we've seen a host of superb architecture projects reach completion this year, from innovative social housing to creative performance spaces, 3D-printed homes, and even an otherworldly museum inspired by the cosmos. So with the end of the year fast approaching, here's our selection of the most outstanding buildings we've seen in 2021.

Our pick of the 10 best buildings of 2021 (one of which we actually covered in the last few days of 2020) includes projects of various sizes, styles, purposes from all across of the globe. Looking more closely at how each region is represented, Europe is the clear winner here with five buildings, China has two, while the US, Qatar and Vietnam have a single project each.

Read on for our roundup of the best buildings of 2021, and you can also head to the gallery to see more photos and info on each.

The Sara Cultural Centre – White Arkitekter

The Sara Cultural Centre, by White Arkitekter, reaches a maximum height of 75 m (246 ft)
Åke Eson Lindman

Representing one of the world's tallest timber towers at 75 m (246 ft) in height, Sweden's Sara Cultural Centre by White Arkitekter is a very impressive example of sustainable design.

The building consists of a hotel tower and an attached cultural center, both of which have been constructed using locally sourced, prefabricated wood. Its exterior includes sunscreens, and a heat pump-based system provides energy efficient heating and cooling. Additionally, solar panels reduce its draw on the grid.

Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages – Nizio Design International

The Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów was designed by Nizio Design International and commemorates the atrocities suffered by occupants of rural villages in Poland during Nazi occupation
Marcin Czechowicz

Commissioned to commemorate the atrocities suffered by those living in rural villages in Poland during Nazi occupation, Nizio Design International balanced the need to respect the dead and produce a head-turning design with its haunting Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów.

The museum takes the form of 11 connected house-like concrete sections, which range from fully-formed to skeletal framework, wordlessly depicting the destruction of Michniów's homes and people. The firm installed a series of photos, documents, and videos depicting the events of the war, and there are also real charred ruins on display.

Casamia Community House – VTN Architects

Casamia Community House, by VTN Architects, features an intricate ceiling that reaches a maximum height of almost 9 m (roughly 29 ft)
Hiroyuki Oki

VTN Architects' Casamia Community House in Vietnam is a brilliant example of the firm's skill in using bamboo as a construction material. It hosts a community center, sports center, and more, is made almost completely from bamboo, and features a stunning arched ceiling.

The building consists of 22 frames of bamboo columns, trusses, and bracing. It's enclosed with glazing and topped with a traditional Vietnamese thatch roof. VTN Architects says that it has been designed to be durable, even in the face of severe weather, as long as it's properly maintained.

Le Monde headquarters – Snøhetta

The Le Monde headquarters, by Snøhetta, features a pixelated glass facade that consists of 20,000 pieces of glass
Marwan Harmouche

This entry in our list technically falls outside the scope of a 2021 best of list, as we actually covered it in the last few days of 2020, but it would be a shame to miss highlighting this great example of clever architectural design. Commissioned to design a new headquarters for French media giant Le Monde Group on a site that couldn't support a heavy structure at its center due to underground rail lines, Snøhetta produced a building defined by a large arch that straddles the railway, ensuring the weight either side can bear it.

The building sports an eye-catching pixelated facade comprising over 20,000 pieces of glass arranged in a series of 772 patterns, the idea being that its appearance shifts with the changing weather and light.

Shanghai Astronomy Museum – Ennead Architects

The Shanghai Astronomy Museum's Sphere is designed so that it has minimal structural supports and appears to float
Arch-Exist, courtesy of Ennead Architects

The Shanghai Astronomy Museum by Ennead Architects is a stunning astronomy museum in China that's also the world's largest. The building's curving design is actually inspired by the cosmos and parts of it function a little like an oversized sundial, marking the passage of time.

Its huge 420,000 sq ft (roughly 40,000 sq m) interior hosts a mixture of temporary and permanent exhibits, a solar telescope, an observatory, plus viewing points and a planetarium theater hosted in a large sphere that appears to float.

Chapel of Sound – OPEN Architects

OPEN Architects used specialist software and worked with acoustic engineers to ensure the Chapel of Sound would be a superb space for live music
Jonathan Leijonhufvud

At a glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that OPEN Architecture's Chapel of Sound is a part of the rugged mountainous landscape it's situated on, which happens to be near some ruined areas of the Ming Dynasty-era Great Wall of China.

The concrete building has been carefully designed with the help of specialist software and sound engineers to provide optimal acoustic properties for performances, and is also very open to the elements, with wide openings allowing the water in, which is channeled harmlessly away.

Le Dôme Winery – Foster + Partners

Le Dôme Winery reaches a modest height of just 10 m (32 ft)
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners

Credit where it's due, when given the brief to design a winery that blends into the landscape, high-profile British firm Foster + Partners put any ego aside and did just that, creating a circular timber-lined building that, looks like it belongs among the vineyards in Bordeaux, France.

Le Dôme Winery reaches a height of just 10 m (32 ft) and consists of two above-ground floors, plus a basement level. Visitors navigate the building using two ramps: one wrapped around the exterior and another inside. The upper floor is glazed to show off the choice 360-degree view, and it's topped by an impressive timber roof that has a large oculus at its center.

Trudo Tower – Stefano Boeri Architetti

Trudo Tower, by Stefano Boeri Architetti, rises to a modest height of 70 m (roughly 230 ft) in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Paolo Rosselli

Stefano Boeri Architetti's Trudo Tower builds on the firm's experience producing its greenery covered "Vertical Forest" towers to create a tree-covered residential high-rise in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, that provides social housing to low-income residents.

The building rises to a height of 70 m (roughly 230 ft) and consists of 19 floors. Its overall design is reminiscent of similar projects by the firm, and is defined by its jutting balconies and greenery, which includes 135 trees, as well as 8,500 bushes and 1,500 plants, offering a taste of the countryside in the inner-city location.

East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development – Icon

Icon's East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development homes consist of a 3D-printed lower floor and a timber upper floor
Regan Morton Photography

3D printing construction technology offers the potential to mass-produce comfortable and safe low-cost homes. With its East 17th St 3D-printed Home Development, Icon offers a massive step toward that goal.

The project consists of four relatively luxurious homes that cost around US$450,000. The lower part of the homes are 3D printed but the upper parts are actually made from wood. They feature porch areas, master bedrooms with high ceilings, and well-proportioned living areas. More important than the homes themselves is the fact that it's a huge moment for the burgeoning technology and in another year or two these kinds of projects may well be commonplace.

974 Stadium – Fenwick Iribarren Architects

974 Stadium, by Fenwick Iribarren Architects, consists of a steel framework and a roof, with the containers slotted in and used to host seats, concession stands, and toilets
Fenwick Iribarren Architects

Hailed as the first use of shipping containers in a major sporting tournament, the 974 Stadium by Fenwick Iribarren Architects is made from a total of 974 shipping containers.

The building is designed so that once the 2022 Qatar World Cup soccer tournament comes to a close, it can be dismantled with relative ease and either recycled or even rebuilt elsewhere. There are definite concerns about the performance of the metal boxes in hot weather, though if it proves successful, it could potentially revolutionize stadium design for major events like the World Cup and Olympics, reducing the need to construct huge and costly – both in money and CO2 – buildings that are sometimes left abandoned afterwards.

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2 comments
BlueOak
Clearly taste and style are personal things. With the exception of the very nice Le Dôme Winery, to my eye, most of the rest of these buildings range from pedestrian to just plain ugly and dysfunctional.
ReservoirPup
It’s so uplifting to see architects prioritizing sustainability of the buildings and/or their use. It’s hard to ditch concrete and steel, but cultural/scientific facilities do not have to be bombproof or just cheap to put up. Simple and light is beautiful.