Architecture

Cream of the crop: The world's top new buildings

Cream of the crop: The world's top new buildings
RIBA has chosen the best new buildings from around the world
RIBA has chosen the best new buildings from around the world
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The Angdong Hospital in Baojing County, China, was designed by Rural Urban Framework
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The Angdong Hospital in Baojing County, China, was designed by Rural Urban Framework
The Arquipelago Contemporary Arts Centre in Ribeira Grande, The Azores, was designed by Menos é Mais, Arquitectos Associados and João Mendes Ribeiro Arquitecto, Lda.
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The Arquipelago Contemporary Arts Centre in Ribeira Grande, The Azores, was designed by Menos é Mais, Arquitectos Associados and João Mendes Ribeiro Arquitecto, Lda.
The Buenos Aires Ciudad Casa de Gobierno, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was designed by Foster + Partners, Berdichevsky Cherny Arquitectos & Studio Minond, and the rather awkwardly-named UPE DG MDU GCBA
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The Buenos Aires Ciudad Casa de Gobierno, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was designed by Foster + Partners, Berdichevsky Cherny Arquitectos & Studio Minond, and the rather awkwardly-named UPE DG MDU GCBA
The Culture House Rozet, in Arnhem, Netherlands, was designed by Neutelings Riedijk Architects
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The Culture House Rozet, in Arnhem, Netherlands, was designed by Neutelings Riedijk Architects
The DLR Lexicon in Dún Laoghaire Co, Dublin, Ireland, was designed by Carr Cotter Naessens
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The DLR Lexicon in Dún Laoghaire Co, Dublin, Ireland, was designed by Carr Cotter Naessens
The Europaallee Baufeld E, in Zurich, Switzerland, was designed by Caruso St John Architects and Bosshard Vaquer Architekten
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The Europaallee Baufeld E, in Zurich, Switzerland, was designed by Caruso St John Architects and Bosshard Vaquer Architekten
The European Hansemuseum in Lübeck, Germany, was designed by Studio Andreas Heller Architects & Designers
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The European Hansemuseum in Lübeck, Germany, was designed by Studio Andreas Heller Architects & Designers
The Farming Kindergarten, in Bien Hoa City, Vietnam, was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects
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The Farming Kindergarten, in Bien Hoa City, Vietnam, was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The Fine Arts Museum of Asturias, in Oviedo, Spain, was designed by Francisco Mangado - Mangado y Asociados
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The Fine Arts Museum of Asturias, in Oviedo, Spain, was designed by Francisco Mangado - Mangado y Asociados
The Fulton Centre, in New York, USA, was designed by Grimshaw, HDR, and Page Ayres Cowley Architects
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The Fulton Centre, in New York, USA, was designed by Grimshaw, HDR, and Page Ayres Cowley Architects
The Heydar Aliyev Centre, in Baku, Azerbaijan, was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects
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The Heydar Aliyev Centre, in Baku, Azerbaijan, was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects
The Invisible House, in Hampton Australia, was designed by Peter Stutchbury Architecture
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The Invisible House, in Hampton Australia, was designed by Peter Stutchbury Architecture
The Jockey Club Innovation Tower, in Hung Hom, Hong Kong, by Zaha Hadid Architects
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The Jockey Club Innovation Tower, in Hung Hom, Hong Kong, by Zaha Hadid Architects
Museo Jumex in Mexico City, Mexico, by David Chipperfield Architects and Taller Abierto de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (TAAU)
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Museo Jumex in Mexico City, Mexico, by David Chipperfield Architects and Taller Abierto de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (TAAU)
The Office Building Moganshan Road, in Hangshou, China, was designed by Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH
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The Office Building Moganshan Road, in Hangshou, China, was designed by Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH
The Oita Prefecture Art Museum, in Oita, Japan, was designed by Shigeru Ban Architects
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The Oita Prefecture Art Museum, in Oita, Japan, was designed by Shigeru Ban Architects
The ARKROYAL on Pickering, in Singapore, was designed by WOHA Architects Pte. Ltd.
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The ARKROYAL on Pickering, in Singapore, was designed by WOHA Architects Pte. Ltd.
The Public Library of Constitucion, in Constitucion, Chile, was designed by Sebastian Irarrazaval Arquitectos
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The Public Library of Constitucion, in Constitucion, Chile, was designed by Sebastian Irarrazaval Arquitectos
The Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, in Doha, Qatar, was designed by Mangera Yvars Architects Ltd
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The Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, in Doha, Qatar, was designed by Mangera Yvars Architects Ltd
Rundeskogen, in Stravanger, Norway, designed by dRMM Architects / Helen and Hard Architects
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Rundeskogen, in Stravanger, Norway, designed by dRMM Architects / Helen and Hard Architects
Saint Louis Art Museum, in St. Louis, USA, designed by David Chipperfield Architects
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Saint Louis Art Museum, in St. Louis, USA, designed by David Chipperfield Architects
Saint Trinitatis Catholic Church, in Leipzig, Germany, was designed by Schulz und Schulz
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Saint Trinitatis Catholic Church, in Leipzig, Germany, was designed by Schulz und Schulz
The Sancaklar Mosque, in Büyükçekmece/Istanbul, Turkey, was designed by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture
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The Sancaklar Mosque, in Büyükçekmece/Istanbul, Turkey, was designed by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture
The SkyTerrace, in Soo Khian Chan, Singapore, by SCDA Architects Pte Ltd
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The SkyTerrace, in Soo Khian Chan, Singapore, by SCDA Architects Pte Ltd
St Angela's College Cork, in Cork, Ireland, by O'Donnell + Tuomey
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St Angela's College Cork, in Cork, Ireland, by O'Donnell + Tuomey
Stormen, in Bodø, Norway, was designed by DRDH Architects
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Stormen, in Bodø, Norway, was designed by DRDH Architects
The Ring of Remembrance, International WWI Memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, in Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, France, by AAPP
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The Ring of Remembrance, International WWI Memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, in Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, France, by AAPP

The Tula House, in Heriot Bay, Quadra Island, Canada, was designed by Patkau Architects
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The Tula House, in Heriot Bay, Quadra Island, Canada, was designed by Patkau Architects
The UTEC - Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia, in Peru, Lima, by Grafton Architects and Shell Arquitectos
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The UTEC - Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia, in Peru, Lima, by Grafton Architects and Shell Arquitectos
VIA at West 57th, in New York, USA, by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and SLCE Architects
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VIA at West 57th, in New York, USA, by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and SLCE Architects
RIBA has chosen the best new buildings from around the world
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RIBA has chosen the best new buildings from around the world
View gallery - 31 images

The prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has launched a brand-new international award that highlights the best new buildings from around the world. The institute has selected 30 buildings varying in size, cost, and style – each of which displays architectural innovation and excellence.

There are plenty of familiar names among the selection, including Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), HOK, David Chipperfield, Zaha Hadid, and Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Over the coming months, the 30 buildings will be whittled down to 20, and then just six, before an overall winner of the RIBA International Prize is finally crowned later this year.

We've selected a few highlights below.

Heydar Aliyev Center – Zaha Hadid Architects

The Heydar Aliyev Centre, in Baku, Azerbaijan, was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects
The Heydar Aliyev Centre, in Baku, Azerbaijan, was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects

Zaha Hadid's masterful Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, shows the now deceased Iraqi-British architect at the top of her game. Intended to offer a cultural building that moves forward from Azerbaijan's Soviet past and its (admittedly wonderful) Constructivist architecture, the building's fluid form is a marvel of design both inside and outside.

Its construction was noteworthy, too. The Heydar Aliyev Center was built with a twin space frame system and concrete structure which incorporates both the flowing form and its underlying rigidity, while taking into account potential issues like wind loads and seismic activity. This one must be a strong contender for the overall prize later in the year.

Farming Kindergarten – Vo Trong Nghia Architects

The Farming Kindergarten, in Bien Hoa City, Vietnam, was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The Farming Kindergarten, in Bien Hoa City, Vietnam, was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Vietnamese firm Vo Trong Nghia Architects designed the Farming Kindergarten to serve up to 500 children of low-income factory workers at an adjacent shoe factory owned by the Pou Chen Corporation, which makes footwear for the likes of Nike, Adidas, Reebok, etc.

The two-story building was built with budget firmly in mind (around US$500 per sq m, including all equipment and finishes), and is characterized by a triple-ring green roof that encloses three secure playgrounds. The green roof serves as both an additional playground and a vegetable garden for the kids to learn how to grow food. The building is passively-cooled and features a rainwater recycling and irrigation system.

Sky Terrace @ Dawson – SCDA Architects

The SkyTerrace, in Soo Khian Chan, Singapore, by SCDA Architects Pte Ltd
The SkyTerrace, in Soo Khian Chan, Singapore, by SCDA Architects Pte Ltd

SCDA Architects' Singapore-based development, the Sky Terrace @ Dawson, comprises five residential towers rising to a height of 40 to 43 floors. Each tower is connected by bridges which enables occupants to move between the towers without being required to venture to ground level.

The project was mostly constructed from precast concrete to minimize on-site wastage, and the apartments are cooled naturally with carefully-placed solar shading and natural ventilation. Rooftop-based solar arrays generate the power required for common areas and a rainwater harvesting system irrigates the extensive greenery.

Head to the gallery to see each of the 30 entries.

Source: RIBA

View gallery - 31 images
1 comment
1 comment
Chizzy
After the ugly monstrosity that won the national RIBA award in 2015, I'm not sure if I trust RIBA to pick something truly unique globally. I just hope the award doesn't go to the owner who has the most money, again.