From Belgium to Benin, these exceptional projects will influence architectural thinking and public spaces around the world.
Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Ontario, designed by Patkau Architects and Brook McIlroy
With over 1,600 works, with a special focus on art from Northern Ontario and Indigenous peoples, the Thunder Bay gallery has long outgrown its current space. The new 3,484-square-meter building on the waterfront, designed by Patkau Architects and Brook McIlroy, will expand the exhibition halls and include event spaces and a café.
Located in Prince Arthur's Landing coastal park, the new gallery will overlook Lake Superior and the Sleeping Giant rock formation, known in Ojibwe legends as Nanabijou. Brook McIlroy's Indigenous Design Studio led consultations with local communities, with architect Ryan Gori drawing inspiration from the story of the Turtle—a legend that tells how it began carrying the Earth on its back after a great flood. Inspired by this story, the team designed the building to resemble a turtle emerging from the water.
Asiat Darse Bridge in Vilvoorde, Belgium, designed by Counterspace
The Asiat-Darse pedestrian bridge in Vilvoorde, designed by Soumaya Wali, pays tribute to the contribution of migrants in Belgium, and in particular to Paul Panda Farnana, the first migrant worker from Congo, who later became a renowned gardener. The bridge is shaped like a series of connected hollowed-out canoes, each planted with plant species studied by Farnana. Measuring 35 meters in length and realized in collaboration with engineers from AKT II, the project symbolizes how immigration enriches culture.
Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Basel, Switzerland, by Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron presented the first phase of the renovation of the historic Les Trois Rois hotel in Basel – a cigar lounge called The Council. With its red velvet furniture, two fireplaces, custom ceramic elements by Jacques Herzog, and unique Red Riding Hood lamps by Artemide, the space emphasizes precise design and collaboration, promising a hotel where elegance touches all the senses.
The National Assembly of Benin in Porto-Novo, designed by Kéré Architecture
The new National Assembly of Benin, designed by 2022 Pritzker Prize winner Diébédo Francis Kéré, replaces a colonial building with a structure inspired by West African traditions. Inspired by the local custom of "palaver," its form rises from the ground like a broad trunk with a canopy of cantilevered roofing. The central assembly hall is surrounded by expansive public spaces that invite citizens to gather under the democratic shade of a symbolic tree.
Fondation Cartier in Paris, designed by Jean Nouvel
Founded in 1984, the Fondation Cartier moved in 1994 to Jean Nouvel's glass building surrounded by trees, dubbed "the phantom in the park." More than 30 years later, the gallery is moving to a Haussmannian monument opposite the Louvre. Nouvel is back with an open, reimagined vision, adding five platforms and 8,500 m² of flexible public space, including areas up to 11 meters high and large exhibition spaces for multidisciplinary exhibitions, as well as passageways offering views of the interior and the life of Paris outside.
Grand Ring in Osaka, Japan, designed by Su Fujimoto
Designed by Su Fujimoto for Expo 2025 in Osaka, the Grand Ring pavilion showcases the traditional Japanese joining technique of Nuki. Constructed from Japanese cedar, cypress (hinoki), and glulam, the enclosed structure has a diameter of 675 m, a circumference of 2 km, and a height of 20 m at its highest point, making it one of the largest wooden structures in the world.
Located on Yumeshima Island, Grand Ring symbolizes unity, combining urban design with nature. The sloping green roof protects visitors, while the elevated pedestrian "sky walk" offers panoramic views and an immersive natural experience.
Maggie’s Centre in Northampton, UK, designed by Stephen Marshall Architects
Stephen Marshall Architects designed Maggie's Centre in Northampton with the concept of a "floating umbrella." The white perforated metal roof structure extends and descends over the glass walls, creating delicate patterns and giving the two-story cancer care building the feel of an intimate single-story structure.
The interiors of Maggie's Centre, designed by Tricia Guild, offer a bright, calm, and beautiful atmosphere, while Arne Maynard's traditional English gardens provide space for events and quiet moments of reflection. The support centre, located on the Northampton General Hospital campus, is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will be named after legendary 1960s athlete Diana Russell.
Quarter 7 of Wood City in Stockholm, Sweden, designed by White Arkitekter
Located just a few kilometers east of central Stockholm, in the Sikla district, Kvarter 7 marks the first phase of the sustainable community "Wood City." Designed by White Arkitekter in collaboration with developer Atrium Ljungberg, the car-free project comprises three residential buildings with 80 apartments and will be part of the world's largest urban timber construction project.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in the UAE, designed by Frank Gehry
Nearly three decades after the Guggenheim Bilbao, Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Abu Dhabi—the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation's largest facility, covering an area of 30,000 m²—is expected to become a new architectural icon. Although Gehry emphasizes that the project differs from Bilbao, the broad, deconstructivist forms bear his signature style and invite comparisons as a potential new cultural landmark.
Warehouse Park and Pavilion in Edmonton, Canada, designed by gh3*
gh3*'s Warehouse Park Pavilion in Edmonton honors local heritage and is named O-day'min — "strawberry" or "heart strawberry" in the Anishinaabe language. The 270 m² pavilion features a bright red multi-gabled roof that extends over a glass seating area and the open part of the park, and includes universal toilets and public amenities. The adjacent park was designed in collaboration with Montreal-based landscape firm CCxA.
gh3* describes the pavilion as a symbolic landmark for Edmonton, with a unique identity that highlights the city's special place in the world.
Wadden Sea World Heritage Centre Phase 3, Germany, by Dorte Mandrup
The Wadden Sea—the world's largest tidal flat system, spanning Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands—is managed by the Wadden Sea World Heritage Partnership. Its new headquarters in Wilhelmshaven, designed by Dorte Mandrup, offers elegant office space while preserving both natural forms and human history. The offices on the console rest on a World War II bunker, and the entire building is encased in glass.
The extension of the New Museum in New York, USA, designed by OMA
OMA's first public building in New York—the seven-story, 5,575 m² extension to the New Museum—doubles the museum's exhibition space and improves circulation. The serrated façade, slanted windows, and sloping roof create a distinctive addition that complements SANAA's original 2007 design while standing out as an impressive neighbor.
Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, designed by Foster & Partners
Foster & Partners' Techo International Airport near Phnom Penh stands out with its expressive lattice roof structure and warm, welcoming material palette. The airport, with a central main building and aerofoil-shaped terminals, focuses on human scale, transparency, and minimalism, becoming a contemporary example of Cambodian architectural heritage.
Tall, tree-like columns support a modular steel roof with perforated ceilings that filter sunlight, while the terminals are filled with lush greenery. Combining modern technology and local craftsmanship, Techo International Airport aims to be one of the greenest airports in the world, powered primarily by on-site solar panels. The bright and welcoming building will serve as an impressive gateway to Phnom Penh and Cambodia.
David Rubenstein Treehouse in Boston, USA, designed by Studio Gang
Studio Gang's David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard reimagines the conference center concept with a 5,100 m² massive timber structure that emphasizes natural light, sustainability, and civic engagement. The main atrium, Canopy Hall, has a cross-braced frame that opens onto the street and blurs the boundary between interior spaces, the city, and nature.
Indigenous House at the University of Toronto Scarborough in Toronto, Canada, designed by Formline Architecture in collaboration with LGA Architectural Partners
Designed by Alfred Wag in collaboration with LGA Architectural Partners, the 1,000 m² Indigenous House at the University of Toronto Scarborough grows organically from the landscape. The curved laminated timber structure, inspired by traditional wigwam huts, includes social and research spaces for Indigenous staff, students, and the community, becoming a cultural symbol of the campus.
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