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Architecture

Architecture and the Economy: Inside China’s Ghost Cities

By Zarkon Group,29/09/2023

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season? Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.

Susan Sontag once said that there were only three subjects she had been interested in her whole life: “freaks,” women and China. She isn’t alone — especially on that last point. The world’s oldest continuous civilization has always captivated Westerners, partly due to the perception that it is shrouded in secrecy.

Even fifty years after Nixon visited China, this perception still has some basis. The political regime of President Xi is not known for its transparency. While China is by no means a hermit kingdom, there is much about its economy, military and politics that remains the subject of speculation. Little details, anecdotes or photographs from China are scoured like Rorschach tests, with Western spectators seeing in them what they want to see: evidence of either China’s strength or its weakness, its national virtue or its deep corruption. And as fear of China’s rising power has grown, these interpretations have trended toward the ominous.

In recent months, as rumors of China’s economic crisis have spread, the images that seem to interest people the most are photographs of China’s so-called “ghost cities” — urban developments that are eerily under-occupied. The most famous of these, the city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia, is also one of the most captivating, as it includes not only luxury residences but also city squares and museums. But what do these images signify? Are Ordos and similar developments simply modern-day Potemkin villages designed by the CCP to place a veneer of luxury on an economy with deeply flawed fundamentals? The answer seems to be yes and no.

According to experts, China’s economic crisis is driven by an over-reliance on investment as opposed to consumer spending as the driver of economic growth. As counterintuitive as it might sound to those who, like me, never got past Econ 101, economic growth can be driven by capital investment even when there is a lack of demand for the products and services that are being invested in. Stephen Morgan, a professor emeritus of Chinese economic history at the University of Nottingham, explained this process in a recent interview with Vox.

“Investment is largely going into, as I said, infrastructure, real estate. At present, probably about 40 percent of that is unproductive,” explains Professor Morgan. “One way to think of that is ‘bridges to nowhere.’ The thing about investment is it doesn’t matter whether the bridge goes to nowhere or it actually serves a purpose. It produces GDP growth.When I was living in China, between 2013 and 2020, in Ningbo, I used to take the bus to work every day. The bus stops between my apartment and the university were rebuilt three times — three times in about six years. The first time they needed rebuilding. The second time, there were some nice improvements, like electronic boards that told you when the bus was going to come. The third time they rebuilt all the bus stops with so much steel you would need a tank to knock them down. Other than that, there was very little welfare benefit. That’s wasted investment.”

The city of Ordos isn’t exactly empty, but it feels that way. Over two thirds of its apartments are unoccupied. Image: Popolon, architects : Ma Yansong, Yosuke Hayano, Dang Qun from MAD Architects[1], Ordos Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0

Real estate was long considered a “safe” investment, which is why the Chinese state encouraged and participated in this kind of investment. Some are still holding out, sitting on empty properties hoping they will get a return. However, the situation is strikingly unbalanced. According to a 2021 Business Insider article, there are about 65 million empty homes in China, almost enough to house the entire population of France. This is an especially daunting statistic when one considers the fact that many people in China live in substandard housing. The real estate that is being built is not being utilized by the Chinese population.

So what do the Chinese ghost cities signify? Nothing more or less than the misallocation of resources in that country. It is a problem created by a set of policies that solved one problem (increasing economic growth) while creating others (debt and waste). Despite the spell China casts on the imagination of westerners, there isn’t anything mysterious about it — the misallocation of resources has always been the central problem in the field of economics and no nation has ever been able to solve it, whether through markets, central planning, or a mix of the two.

Maybe one day we will have housing “to each according to his need,” but for now that is not the case — whether you are in China or the US. The two nations have more in common than they think.

For architects, the last decade in China has likely been bittersweet. While there were no shortage of opportunities, architecture is at bottom a practical art, and I imagine the architects who worked on these ghost cities were filled with a sense of emptiness, perhaps even dread, as they contemplated the fate of their creations. A building without a purpose is a melancholy thing indeed, like a song that no one will ever hear.

Cover Image: Ordos City, Uday Phalgun, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Reference

Architecture

Feel the Burn: 6 Strategically Scorched Buildings That Celebrate Shou Sugi Ban

By Zarkon Group,26/09/2023

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.

Fire can cause unfathomable destruction, yet when its power is harnessed, it can be a source of extraordinary creativity too. Shou sugi ban, originally known as yakisugi, is an ancient wood-burning technique developed in Japan centuries ago. The surface of the wood is exposed to a flame and charred, rendering it a striking charcoal black. Far from merely decorative, the practice preserves and fortifies the wood — the carbon surface layer forms a natural defense against the elements, wood rot and insect damage, as well as acting as a fire retardant.

Prized for its dual protective and aesthetic qualities, this time-honored material treatment is now utilized all over the world. While it’s commonly seen across exterior wood siding, its applications are wide-ranging and extend to interior paneling, furniture, decking and other architectural elements. At the 11^th A+Awards, architects embraced the burn with contemporary twists on this storied technique. From firehouses to restaurants and residences, discover the exceptional new spaces rising from the ashes…

By NICOLEHOLLIS, Napa, California

Popular Choice Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)

Napa Valley Residence by NICOLEHOLLIS Sequestered in Napa Valley’s verdant wine country, this daring guest house combines a natural material palette with dark and dramatic hues. From a distance, the structure reads like an agricultural barn, its charred wooden cladding seemingly patinated and matured into the rural landscape. Yet up close, it’s a different story…

The exterior shou sugi ban siding seeps inside this remarkable retreat. The charcoal living areas feel striking modern, yet they’re deeply rooted in the organic environment, complemented by raw wood furnishings and light fixtures crafted from thick cotton. Conceived as a flexible space for hosting and entertaining, multifunctionality is built into the bold design. At the back of the lounge, the blackened wall panels can conceal or reveal a built-in kitchenette thanks to an innovative triple-folding door system.

By Design Opera Architects, Tijuana, Mexico

Special Mention, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

Kemuri by Design Opera Architects This extraordinary new restaurant in an up-and-coming Tijuana neighborhood seeks to transport the culinary and architectural traditions of Japan onto the streets of Mexico. Inspired by the chef’s passion for culinary smoking, shou sugi ban siding offers an eloquent, material articulation of this cooking technique, while paying homage to the restaurant’s cultural heritage.

Inside, black wood-clad walls envelop patrons and create an intimate, cocooning atmosphere. The restaurant’s exceptional material details summon the topography of historic Japan. Cobblestone flooring conjures up the ancient, meandering streets of Ichinenzaka and Ninenzaka, while the exposed grain of the cypress butcher-block bar evokes the country’s native woodland terrain. 6,700 miles away from its roots, a palpable inner world unfurls.

By Laney LA, Inc., Concept

Jury Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (L >3000 sq ft)

SQ Residence by Laney LA, Inc. Rising like a boulder on a wooded incline in Lake Tahoe, this ambitious concept envisages a monolithic residence that’s at one with its natural surroundings. A shell of charred cedar siding encases the home, a skin that will shift and weather in tandem with the adjacent trees. Meanwhile, vast apertures frame snapshots of the domestic spaces within.

An evocative interplay of dark and light takes center stage throughout the floor plan. A swathe of glass divides the external covered deck, clad in shou sugi ban, with the pale oak walls of the main living space. Patagonia granite defines the kitchen surfaces, another tactile anchor that cements the home’s positioning as an architectural extension of the mountain.

By IwamotoScott Architecture, Burlingame, California

Finalist, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Small Projects

Geode ADU by IwamotoScott Architecture This compact ADU was designed as a guest studio and writing retreat that would fit snuggly alongside the site’s main dwelling. At once a “place apart” from the primary property and quietly referential of its mid-century modern architecture, the result is a striking, sculptural space that makes a big statement across a small square footage.

The 1950s butterfly roof has been artfully reinterpreted to maximize the site’s views. One wing follows the slope of the neighboring bank, while the other angles the roofline upward, lifting a section of the building above the ground. Viewed as a two-dimensional line, it’s an inversion of the gabled roof of the main Eichler house. Sleek shou sugi ban siding contrasts with white stucco across the cantilevered face and overhang, imparting an effortlessly contemporary edge.

By OPN Architects, Marion, Iowa

Special Mention, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings

Marion Fire Station No. 1 by OPN Architects The first responders that staff this innovative new fire station in Iowa are all too familiar with the devastating effects of fire. However, the building’s tactile façade somewhat subverts the narrative of destruction. Clad in rich, charred timber, the structure demonstrates the creative potential of fire too, when utilized in a controlled environment.

Organic materials are just one facet of the station’s pioneering biophilic design. In a bid to support firefighters’ physical and mental health, pockets of connection with the natural world have been skillfully inserted throughout. A series of terraces are framed by trellises that let dappled sunlight filter in, while a green roof punctuates the voids between living and sleeping zones. This thoughtful scheme expands the firehouse’s life-saving infrastructure to address the well-being of first responders too.

By Measured Architecture Inc., Mayne Island, Canada

Popular Choice Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Private House

Shor House by Measured Architecture Inc.
A magnificent architectural melting pot, this astonishing residence perched on the shoreline of Mayne Island takes its cues from the principles of alchemy: transforming discarded materials into something rare and valuable. By salvaging the wood from the house and barn that originally stood on the plot and reassembling these elements in a striking, modern form, the project sets out a blueprint for truly sustainable construction.

Glimmers of the past structures are still visible across the weathered internal cladding and floorboards. Where new timber was required, it was treated with shou sugi ban, the scorched surface analogous to the home’s dark corten steel exterior. The blackened surface not only imparts character to the younger wood, but also seals the grain from moisture and insects. Here, materials and techniques of the past intermingle in an exciting new iteration.

Reference

© Shomali Design Studio (Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali)

Architecture

30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran

By Zarkon Group,22/09/2023

Iran is the second largest country in the Middle East. It is vastly characterized by its diverse cultural heritage and history and distinct landscape topology. Being a descendant of many advanced ancient civilizations and part of the Persian empire, as well as deeply influenced by Islamic culture, Iran holds a rich architectural tradition. After becoming an independent country in 1979, Iranian architects had to find ways to preserve this vivid historical fabric while also satisfying society’s growing needs. Currently, their designs are a blend of tradition and modernity that has introduced a new, contemporary layer to Iranian architecture.

Iran is also a country with a strategic geographical location and valuable natural resources, which, unfortunately, has led to many geopolitical and economic challenges. In this context, architecture played a definitive role, especially under the umbrella of cultural and environmental sustainability. Responding to the vastly changing urban and natural landscapes as well as the water scarcity and desertification, Iranian architects have prioritized topographically as well as socially impactful architectural designs that aid local communities.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Iran based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Iran architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Iran:

30. Shomali Design Studio (Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali)

Shomali Design is a studio of designers based in Tehran, Iran. We consider architecture to be a form of cultural production. Our work extends across the globe and engages the realms of art and architecture.

Some of Shomali Design Studio (Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali)’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Shomali Design Studio (Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali) achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	1

29. EZ Studio (Pedram Ezadi)

A multi-disciplinary practice based in Iran-Esfahan which specializes in architecture, interior architecture, to the landscaping and curation of art work to create an integrated complete environment for clients. Our processes bring us into contact with many skilled trades which enable us to fabricate many bespoke items for our client’s projects where an item may not be available off the shelf. Founded in 2015, the practice manifests architecture across diverse scales of design with superlative craft, detail and materiality.

Architectural discourse is applied in equal measure to each of the disciplines — architecture, interior and design to create highly resolved buildings, spaces and objects beautifully balanced in form, function and detail. Our unique architectural approach to design traces context, environment, sustainability and human behavior to create spaces and experiences individual to each project, location and client. As a boutique design driven office, we are recognized through consistent high quality of design and professionalism at optimized budget.

Some of EZ Studio (Pedram Ezadi)’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped EZ Studio (Pedram Ezadi) achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	2

28. ArmaniArchitects

Λrmani Λrchitects is an innovative multidisciplinary collaborative practice founded by Amir Armani Asl and Kiana Ghader that focuses on architecture, interior design, landscape design, custom fabrication and parametric design and design objects.

Some of ArmaniArchitects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ArmaniArchitects achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	5

27. Boozhgan Architectural Studio

Boozhgan Architectural Studio was established in 2007 By Hamed Badri Ahmadi. Boozhgan has been involved in various projects with different scales, such as: residential buildings, offices and workspaces, commercial complexes as well as renovation and reconstruction of private houses and public historical buildings, which are either built or are under construction and have been awarded and honored by national and international architectural competitions. In our design process, we try to benefit from all the positive capacities of the site and the project and convert it to a simple and clear solution.

Some of Boozhgan Architectural Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Asef Office Building, Tehran, Iran
Haiat- e – Elahie Residential Building, Tehran, Iran
Renovation Of a House, Zanjān, Iran,
NEGAH OFFICE BUILDING, Tehrān, Iran,
Baranoosh Residential Building , Tehrān, Iran

The following statistics helped Boozhgan Architectural Studio achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	8

26. FEASTUDIO

The office of “Fundamental Architectural Experience” [FEASTUDIO] was founded by Arash Nasiri and Ensieh Khamse in 2006. The office has tried so far to achieve a consistent, coherent language in their work based on their progressive experiences and the relations between the ideas and the work, a distinctive language by which to avoid architectural production being merely in the line of exigency and to push boundaries in order to let creativity and active, multilateral strategies in.

Some of FEASTUDIO’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped FEASTUDIO achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	2

25. Cedrus Studio

© Studio DeeD (Masih Mostajeran / Hakim Hemadi )

Cedrus is a Tehran-based, research-driven design and construction studio founded by Mohammad Mehdi Saeedi in 2017. The studio supported by a passionate team of skilled architects, landscape architects and interior designers. The studio’s projects range from single-family villas to residential, commercial and mixed-use large-scale complexes.

Some of Cedrus Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Peyvand Residential Building, Tehran, Iran
Cedrus Residential Building, Tehran, Iran
Villa 174, Babolsar, Iran
Elite Cafe, Tehran, Iran
Shariat Villa, Karaj, Iran

The following statistics helped Cedrus Studio achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	9

24. KA Studio (Khavarian Architecture Studio)

Mohammad Khavarian is an Iranian architecture firm that practices architecture, urbanism, interior design and research with a team of seventy plus Iranian architects and designers working together worldwide. Through its intensely involved and focused practice. Mohammad Khavarian applies critical thinking to a process that extends beyond the boundaries of architectural production to realize specific and unexpected solutions. It seeks to engage people and cultures, technologies and materials, psychologies and experiences. and recognizes architecture as a connective and Fundamental social construct. Architectures imaged as a matrix from which to construct future realities — conceptual, spatial and experiential — and a rigorous search for new potentials to realize specific unexpected solutions inhabited by the lives of people and cities

Some of KA Studio( Khavarian Architecture Studio)’s most prominent projects include:

Yast Khaneh, Yazd, Iran
IMPI Office building, Tehran, Iran
Variant house, Tehran, Iran
Dehnou school, Jiroft, Iran
Tabriz university metro station, Tabriz, Iran

The following statistics helped KA Studio( Khavarian Architecture Studio) achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	5

23. ReNa Design

Founded in 2012, ReNa Design is a young architectural group active in design, architecture and research. The office is primarily concerned with issues of functionality and context. This approach is easily seen through the firm’s projects, ranging in different categories and types. ReNa Design pays a great amount of attention and care to materials and construction technology which are in turn applied to completely innovative and non-conventional conditions. Since its inception, ReNa Design has won many national awards and competitions in fields of architecture, design and interior design.

Some of ReNa Design’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ReNa Design achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	3

22. Arsh4d Studio

Arsh4d, a team of designers led by Alireza Sherafati and Pantea Eslami, seeks select projects that fundamentally re-think how buildings interact with people and the natural environment. Starting with intensive research, we seek to understand each project in its environmental, cultural, and contemporary context, so that our work may engage with layers of time and a strong sense of place. We believe our projects are part of a larger whole, acting as a joint helping to bind and enhance their context for human experiences. We’re passionate about human-centered design, and how design can impact our lives through sustainability, resilience, well-being, diversity and inclusion, and mobility. And we’re committed to advancing design through research.

Our portfolio includes a wide range of projects from the small scale of a private home to the large scale of urban design. Many projects are highly recognized public facilities, such as plazas, shopping malls and headquarters, and they have completed distinguished private projects including offices, public entertainment facilities and apartment buildings.

Some of Arsh4d Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Stacked Garden Villas`, Namakabrud, Iran
Candy Shop, Tehran, Iran
Villa Residential, Tehran, Iran
UP VILLA, Abali, Iran
ARG Shopping Mall, Tehran, Iran

The following statistics helped Arsh4d Studio achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	1
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	5

21. ayeneh office

Since its inception in 2001 by Ali Soltani and Atefeh Karbasi, the Ayeneh Office officially started its architectural activities in 2003. Architects of the Ayeneh Office believe that architecture like a mirror should reflect the context or the surrounding environment in the general sense. Context in this regard refers to the setting that a project begins to happen. Architecture welcomes the good way of living in a place and accepts its goodness.

In other words, architecture, in one sense, acts as mirror to reflect the life of its context, and broadly speaking, it even reflects many features of the context (such as technology, crafting skills, economics, politics, crafting duration, and culture). The approach and design method in the Ayeneh office is to delve into the heart of both the subject and the place in order to reflect or increase their desirability. We try to excavate the project subject — which is the life that is going to flow in it — as well as its location to find the initial concepts shaping the design and then epitomize it in our architecture.

Some of ayeneh office’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ayeneh office achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	3

20. BRACKET Design studio

Bracket Design Studio is a full-service design firm founded in 2006 by Shervin Hosseini. We offer services in urban design, interior space planning, furniture design and architecture from micro to macro scale. Our highly collaborative staff comes from wide-ranging theoretical and practical backgrounds, including designing, scripting, planning and construction of public and private projects.

Offering innovative insights, materials and technology into our projects, we strongly consider the available possibilities of the site and the needs of clients in order to find the best solutions by constantly revising and redefining the projects. Each project, for us, entails its own singular approach which is essentially developed out of experience and intuition.

Some of BRACKET Design studio’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped BRACKET Design studio achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	6

19. Alidoost & Partners

Founded and directed by Shahab Alidoost and Sona Eftekharazam, Alidoost and Partners is a multidisciplinary office that focuses on architecture and design, from large scale planning to furniture. Rich with multiple expertises, our office is fueled by talented designers and experienced architects that jointly develop projects from early sketches to on-site supervision. All of which, regardless of scale, outlines an approach that is affirmatively social in its outcome, enthusiastic in its ambition and professional in its process.

At the core of our architecture is the ability to take a fresh look at design issues through experienced eyes. Our approach aims at turning intense research and analysis of practical and theoretical matters into the driving forces of design. By continuously developing rigorous methods of analysis and execution, Alidoost & Partners is able to combine innovative thinking and efficient production.

Some of Alidoost & Partners’s most prominent projects include:

GOLIRAN Flower Shop, Rasht, Iran
3×2, Tehran, Iran
MIKA-911, Tehran, Iran
“NILOOFAR” Residential Building, Tehran, Iran
Facade Renovation of ALVAND Office Building, Tehran, Iran

The following statistics helped Alidoost & Partners achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	12

18. HABIBEH MADJDABADI Architecture Studio

HABIBEH MADJDABADI, born in 1977, is an Iranian architect, author, designer, and speaker. In 2002 she graduated by a Master’s degree in Architecture from Azad University of Tehran and started her professional career in 2003 by establishing her design studio in Tehran right after winning first prize in the design competition of restoring a historical building (belonging to Zand dynasty) in Iran.

Madjdabadi emphasizes the role of culture and geographical matters in her designs as well as putting a vast attention into choosing the materials and methods of fabrication. Materials are important means of ‘expression’ in her works and she considers them from a poetic point of view.

Some of HABIBEH MADJDABADI Architecture Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Genetic Mutation II (Villa CHAR BAGH ), Karaj, Iran
VALIASR Square, Tehran Province, Iran
Mahtabi House, Golpayegan, Iran
40 Knots House, Tehran, Iran
Mellat Bank Pilot Façade, Tehran, Iran

The following statistics helped HABIBEH MADJDABADI Architecture Studio achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	13

17. KanLan [Kamran Heirati, Tallan Khosravizadeh]

Kamran Heirati Architects was established to enhance the architecture and human experience by incorporating Iran’s authentic culture into its designs and respond to today’s community challenges. Established in 2001, this office has produced award-winning architectural and interior design projects across Iran and other countries.

Some of KanLan [Kamran Heirati, Tallan Khosravizadeh]’s most prominent projects include:

A+Awards Finalist	”1″
Featured Projects	”3″
Total Projects	”4″

” ITEM_POSITION=”17th” TITLE=”30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran”]

16. 35-51 ARCHITECTURE Office

35-51 ARCHITECTURE Office was founded by Hamid Abbasloo, Abbas Yaghooti, Neda Adiban Rad in 2014. They are involved in architecture, interior design and landscape projects in the Iran and beyond.

Some of 35-51 ARCHITECTURE Office’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped 35-51 ARCHITECTURE Office achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	2

15. Davood Boroojeni Office

As a technically competent architecture firm with over 15 years of professional experience, we have been involved in different stages of architectural projects including the conception of preliminary design ideas, schematic design and design development, as well as producing submittal packages, visual presentations, construction documents, layouts and details through close dialogue with clients, producers and other engineers. We believe that our communication skills, public relations and problem-solving experience, combined with our background in related software, and our ability to research, schedule and coordinate design in various stages of the project, has made us a firm to depend on, and a key team member.

Some of Davood Boroojeni Office’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Davood Boroojeni Office achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	4

14. Rvad Studio

RVAD Architecture Studio is co-founded in Tehran, Iran in 2020 by two young Iranian architects, Ms. Hannaneh Misaghi and Mr. Hasan Dehghanpour. The studio’s design ideals are focused on extending the relationship between architecture and humanity with consideration of history and culture so as to produce designs appropriate for each site and in service of both the society and its citizens. RVAD Studio aims to present architectural solutions focused on the needs of future generations and their potential in view of each project’s benefit to present a new perspective on social relationships. The design projects range from single-family houses to residential, commercial and mixed-use large-scale complexes, to urban master plans.

Some of Rvad Studio’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Rvad Studio achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	2
Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	2

13. BonnArq Architects

Behzad Atabaki Studio is an architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, interior design and furniture design studio. It was founded by Behzad Atabaki in 1999 and is currently a team of professionals such as architects, model makers, landscape designers and fine artists. The studio has adopted a multidisciplinary approach towards its projects, becoming involved in all stages of design and construction.

Some of BonnArq Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Niayesh Office Building, Tehran, Iran
Park residential, Tehran, Iran
Villa Didaar, Nowshahr, Iran
Aftab Office Building, Tehran, Iran
ChaharGah House, Mosha, Iran

The following statistics helped BonnArq Architects achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	6

12. RYRA Studio

RYRA Design and construction studio was founded in 2000 with a goal of creating unique spaces by using new aspects of contemporary architecture. It seeks to develop designs that encompass in an expressive way the spatial needs, the spirit of the location and the constructive solution of the project. Artistic view is a key factor in RYRA design approach.

The work of RYRA in these years resulted in a collection of varied types in different fields of architecture which have been widely published and exhibited; this firm won several prizes in the most prestigious competitions held in Iran and abroad for its innovative designs. Vali-Asr building of this studio has been selected as the best office building of the year in World Architecture Festival in 2010.

Some of RYRA Studio’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped RYRA Studio achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	2
Featured Projects	1
Total Projects	5

11. Admun Studio

Considering contemporary lifestyle requirements while having future in mind, we believe in diagrammatic approaches toward tradition rather than formal repetition.

Some of Admun Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Cloaked in Bricks, Tehran, Iran
Aperture, Bumehen, Iran
Chooji restaurant, Tehran, Iran
Tiraje Cinema, Tehran, Iran
Laico Showroom, Tehran, Iran

The following statistics helped Admun Studio achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	2
Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	8

10. AshariArchitects

Ashari Architects was founded by Iranian architect and university professor Amir Hossein Ashari. It is an Architecture Office firm designing primarily Residential Architecture.

Some of AshariArchitects’s most prominent projects include:

Sadra Library, Shiraz, Iran
TRIANGLE CAFE, Shiraz, Iran
THE PAUSE, Shiraz, Iran
Life Bridge, Shiraz, Iran
Urban Bridge, Isfahan, Iran

The following statistics helped AshariArchitects achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	28

9. Marizad Architects

Mohsen Marizad Architects bases its design process on the understanding of systems and relationships which are derived from the project criteria, translating these systems into computational parameters from which the design is developed. The practice is not only involved in large-scale architectural projects but product design and academia as well. However, all activities are based on a process of experimentation, discovery and implementation which encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and a bottom-up approach to design.

Some of Marizad Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Marizad Architects achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	3
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	7

8. New Wave Architecture (Lida Almassian / Shahin Heidari)

Founded in 2006, New Wave Architecture is a 150 person innovative architecture design firm in Tehran, Iran. It has been nationally and internationally honored with architecture‘s prestigious awards, publications, competitions and citation for design excellence with extensive experience in the campus and educational faculties, specialized hospitals and health care facilities. Other projects include retail design, residential work and recreational facilities. Over 120 projects has been designed, accomplished or due to be completed.

New Wave architecture seeks for global language of architecture to approach an innovative and challenging contemporary movement.It explores the new ways of emerging ideas, demanding and distinctive spaces regarding the aesthetic aspects, humanity and global communication.

Some of New Wave Architecture (Lida Almassian / Shahin Heidari)’s most prominent projects include:

Polour Rock Gym, Polour, Iran
Meygoun Residential Complex, Meygun, Iran
Turbosealtech New incubator and Office building, Tehran, Iran
Three Views / A House, Mosha, Iran
Iran Pavilion – Expo 2015, Milano, Italy

The following statistics helped New Wave Architecture(Lida Almassian / Shahin Heidari) achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	11

7. Nextoffice

Alireza Taghaboni, a practicing architect since 2004, founded Next Office in 2009. Taghaboni is also a painter and holds a PhD degree in Architecture. A frequent contributor to Iranian architecture and urbanism magazines and periodicals, he is a tutor and partner at the center for contemporary architecture, a private institution in Tehran that offers an alternative architectural education program.

Next Office, based in Tehran, aims to provide a contemporary alternative to traditional Iranian architecture, responding to the climate conditions, economic, socio political and cultural context of each project. The practice’s work ranges from single-family houses to residential, commercial and mixed-use large-scale complexes, to urban master plans. Over the past decade, the practice has won several Memar Awards, a prestigious national award for architecture in Iran held annually, making it one of the top prize-winning practices in the country.

Some of Nextoffice’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Nextoffice achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	10

6. CAAT Studio

Mahdi Kamboozia established CAAT Studio (C/KambooziA ArchitecTure Studio) in 2015. The CAAT Studio activity can be construction engineering in the context, to the closer the distance from the idea of the design to the construction. The opinion that future architecture is not only about the advancement of design and construct technology but also in proposing ideas tailored to the new conditions in social relations. This look has evolved over the years to deal with different projects and the growth and development of the studio. We are looking forward to confronting the projects with design problems and come up with a solution. Each assignment defines a different story which shows there are varying answers to each task.

Some of CAAT Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Private Jewelry Retail office #04, Tehran, Iran
Kamyaran City School, Kamyaran, Iran
Forgotten spaces / Anthropology Open Air Museum / under the Mirdamad Bridge, Tehran, Iran
Isfahan H to V House, Isfahan, Iran
Kahrizak Residential #01, Kahrizak, Iran

The following statistics helped CAAT Studio achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	7

5. Farshad MehdiZadeh Design | FMZD

Farshad MehdiZadeh Design | FMZD was founded by Farshad Mehdizadeh in 2012 in Tehran. In our opinion architecture cannot be designed outside of context, urban activities and relevant interactions. Actually, the context is what brings interactions and life into architecture and redefines the architectural elements. This leads us to design and define the border between the private and public domains. The context gets its particular character from defining the border between inside and outside, Public and private or architecture and metropolis in response to the situations around.

In all my projects my practice has tried to realize architecture not as an icon added to a site, but as an extension or combination of behaviors, events and urban interactions which organize and manipulate the landscape. This is the way that we make our design more sustainable and related to the context. During these projects my design team has also focused on the context to use the local material, construction techniques and apply local and traditional construction workers who sometimes compel us to go to the site and teach them how to improve and apply their local techniques to the project.

Some of Farshad MehdiZadeh Design | FMZD’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Farshad MehdiZadeh Design | FMZD achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	17

4. Kalbod Design Studio

Kalbod Design Studio is one of the subsets of Kalbod Construction Group, which works in the field of execution and design, was established by Mohammad Rahimizadeh in 2016. During his years of activity, he has designed various projects with a variety of uses. With the aim of providing a contemporary alternative to traditional Iranian architecture, tries responding accurately to challenges of the climatic, economic, political, social and cultural conditions of each project. In addition to creativity and quality, the kalbod studio knows the needs and limitations of its projects well and designs beyond nationalities and specialized disciplines, regardless of borders.

Some of Kalbod Design Studio’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Kalbod Design Studio achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

Featured Projects	11
Total Projects	19

3. ZAV Architects

ZAV’s Practice of Architecture: An Unfinished Plan to challenging the earth defining our theoretical framework of ZAV, making us realize that the structure and spaces organizing the work of ZAV need to be reconsidered in the actual building of the office. In 2018 our office was redesigned in accordance to the framework. Each title represents a space inside the office and states its mission.

Architecture can redefine its capacities beyond the limits put in place by the building industry and is able to shift its operation field from that of a passive object to designing an entire process to get engaged as a socio-political agent. ZAV’s solution for attaining social optimum in a developing economy is incorporating architecture in the GDP.

Some of ZAV Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ZAV Architects achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	3
A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	12

2. Hooba Design

Born in 1978, Hooman Balazadeh is the founder and executive director of HOOBA Design Group. Gaining his Master of Architecture in 2003, Balazadeh started working at Shirdel & Partners, where he was a design member for two years, active on several projects. Balazadeh established HOOBA Design in 2007 with the aim of developing projects in harmony with the cultural and geographical characteristics of the site so that each project forms a new platform for research and investigation. This office has focused on various topics such as light, color, relation between architecture and the city, building materials, development of spatial diagrams in the Persian Architecture, etc.

Some of Hooba Design’s most prominent projects include:

Sharif Office Building, Tehran, Iran
Espriss Café, Tehran, Iran
Ozgol Residential Apartment, Tehran, Iran
Valiahdi Office Building, Karaj, Iran
Aptus Factory Showroom, Karaj, Iran

Top image: Hitra Office & Commercial Building, Tehran, Iran

The following statistics helped Hooba Design achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	5
A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	20

1. Mado Architects

The Tehran-based MADO STUDIO was founded by Maziar Dolatabadi on 1998. In the beginning it was working under the title AXIS when it changed its name to MADO on 2017. During these years MADO has designed and executed over 300 projects with different usages around the world, with the purpose of designing and creating new and distinguished architectural spaces. In these years of nonstop activities, we have created numerous imaginative ideas with executable solutions for our projects. With these ideas and solutions, we have continuously managed to utilize spaces in the best way possible while minimizing our clients’ cost and implementation time.

Some of Mado Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Mado Architects achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Iran:

A+Awards Winner	3
Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	35

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

Project completed within the last 3 years
A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
High quality, in focus photographs
At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

Reference

Architecture

25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom

By Zarkon Group,18/09/2023

The United Kingdom is a treasure trove of architectural gems, with diverse buildings across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The four countries that make up the larger sovereign state each have their own unique history, which plays out in an architecturally unique way. So while London-based firms may be more heavily represented in ranked lists, many of the designers working in the city’s offices come from further afield, bringing knowledge and culture from more distant parts of the islands.

The United Kingdom’s strength is the sum of its parts. Firms commissioned with projects in the state’s more rural areas are forging a uniquely modern rural aesthetic. At the same time, growing cities in the north and south alike have served as fertile ground for new civic designs. As a result, both established and younger UK firms alike are finding ways to design more sensitive to context and typologically innovative.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in United Kingdom based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of United Kingdom architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 25 best architecture firms in United Kingdom:

25. Sheppard Robson Architects

The practice’s work is underpinned by fully integrating a sustainable design methodology that balances efficiency and performance with form.
In the practice’s 75-year history, Sheppard Robson has designed award-winning architecture, interior design and masterplanning projects around the world, building a strong reputation across numerous typologies – including office, education, residential, healthcare, science and retail projects.

From our head office in London and studios in Manchester, Glasgow and Abu Dhabi, the founding principles of innovation and sustainability continue to shape the work of the practice and its interior design group (ID:SR), reinterpreted and enlivened by the creative talent of our designers. The work of the practice benefits from an ability to have a constructive dialogue with clients and end-users, as well as collaborating closely with other members of the project team throughout the design and delivery of a project.

Some of Sheppard Robson Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Siemens Middle East Headquarters, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
BBC Broadcasting House, London, United Kingdom
The Avenue, Manchester, United Kingdom
St Ambrose College, Manchester, United Kingdom
Waingels College, Wokingham, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Sheppard Robson Architects achieve 25th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	10

24. 6a architects

6a architects was founded by Tom Emerson and Stephanie Macdonald in 2001. They are best known for their contemporary art galleries, educational buildings, artists’ studios and residential projects, often in sensitive historic environments. 6a architects rose to prominence with the completion of two critically acclaimed public art galleries, Raven Row (2009), which won a RIBA Award in 2011, and the expanded South London Gallery (2010). Recently completed projects include a new 68-room hall of residence at Churchill College, Cambridge (2016), which garnered a RIBA Regional East Award (2017), and a new studio complex for photographer Juergen Teller (2016), which was winner of both RIBA London Building of the Year (2017) and a RIBA National Award (2017).

Some of 6a architects’s most prominent projects include:

Tree House , London, United Kingdom
Façade for Paul Smith, Mayfair, London, City of London, United Kingdom
V&A Gallery 40, London, United Kingdom
Photography Studio for Juergen Teller, United Kingdom
Cowan Court, Churchill College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped 6a architects achieve 24th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	6

23. Carl Turner Architects

Carl trained at the Royal College of Art, gaining a first class honors degree and a RIBA Bronze Medal (runner-up) before undertaking an MA at the Royal College of Art in London. The RCA provided a foundation for collaboration and working across platforms with an integrated approach; Carl sees his approach to design and construction as an extension of his time there as a ‘maker’.

User-focused design was embedded as a founding principle for practice, through a two year research post for the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre at the RCA, investigating new strategies for wayfinding for BAA plc at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. After working for Norman Foster on the Citibank Tower (Canary Wharf), and Penoyre and Prasad on various community-based projects, Carl formed a partnership (TurnerCastle).

Some of Carl Turner Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Carl Turner Architects achieve 23rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	5

22. Atelier Chang

Atelier Chang is an international design praxis based in South Kensington, London and Zurich since 2011. Our design philosophy is to create innovative design through focusing on the unembellished basics – basics of nature, social behavior and urban phenomena. To achieve this absolute simplicity of content through impactful forms takes extra effort in researching the context, a devotion to material and technology, and active interaction with other industries. Currently we work on projects in Asia and Europe at multiple scales of design, covering master plans, architecture, interior design, installations and products.

Some of Atelier Chang’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Atelier Chang achieve 22nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	2
Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	4

21. Levitt Bernstein

As architects, landscape architects and urban designers, Levitt Bernstein creates award winning buildings, living landscapes and thriving urban spaces, using inventive design to solve real life challenges. Putting people at the heart of our work, each of our projects is different but the driving force behind every one is the desire to create an environment that is beautiful, sustainable and functional.

Some of Levitt Bernstein’s most prominent projects include:

Vaudeville Court, London, United Kingdom
Sutherland Road, London, United Kingdom
King’s School, Bruton, Somerset, United Kingdom
The Courtyards, Dovedale Avenue, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France

The following statistics helped Levitt Bernstein achieve 21st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	10

20. mcgarry-moon architects

McGarry-Moon Architects are a RIBA and RSUA Award Winning Practice located near Kilrea, Coleraine, Northern Ireland. At McGarry-Moon we specialise in contemporary, sustainable, environmentally conscious architecture which is of its time and place

Some of mcgarry-moon architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped mcgarry-moon architects achieve 20th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	10

19. Fraher and Findlay

Fraher Architects was founded in 2009 by Joe and Lizzie, delivering small scale and award winning residential projects throughout London. Since then, our practice has grown in size and project scope, with the aim of constantly improving areas of our expertise, and where possible, beyond those boundaries, toward even broader fields.

This has been achieved by consciously evolving our practice, and we’ve done this by placing learning, improving, and refining every aspect of what we do, at the very core of our business. This means being aware of opportunities as they arise, and being proactive in making positive change. Most visibly, it is this philosophy that led to our joining forces with Findlay Construction.

Some of Fraher and Findlay’s most prominent projects include:

The Green Studio, London, United Kingdom
The Lantern, London, United Kingdom
Fan House, London, United Kingdom
The Ladder Kitchen, London, United Kingdom
The Signal House, London, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Fraher and Findlay achieve 19th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	16

18. John McAslan + Partners

We create architecture that improves people’s lives.We do it like this: we aim for an architecture which is rational and poetic, robust and delightful; we tread carefully and build with conviction; we tackle problems head on and think laterally; we deconstruct a brief and let a design emerge from close examination of the pieces; we don’t necessarily take ‘no’ for an answer; we believe the power of architecture extends much further than the dimensions of individual buildings; we believe architecture is about making life better. We believe that buildings should be underpinned by a powerful idea; that the idea should be an intelligent and logical response to functionality and a sense of place; and the power of that idea should be embedded in the built form.

Some of John McAslan + Partners’s most prominent projects include:

UK Holocaust Memorial
Void Practice Rooms, London, United Kingdom
King’s Cross Station, London, United Kingdom
Library + Student Hub, Ambleside Campus, University of Cumbria, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Lancaster University Engineering Building, England, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped John McAslan + Partners achieve 18th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	13

17. Hawkins\Brown

The first time someone decided to mix sweet and salty popcorn, their guests must have been horrified. Minutes later though they would be guzzling the lot. That’s the thing about new combinations — you have to be a bit odd to consider them in the first place, but when they pay off you’re left wondering how you managed before they existed. Admittedly, this isn’t a usual sort of About page for an architectural practice, but we’re not a usual sort of practice. We believe that projects come alive through uncommon combinations of ideas and people. In fact, we think that’s the only way they really come alive at all.

Some of Hawkins\Brown’s most prominent projects include:

1235 Vine Street, Los Angeles, California
Corby Cube, Corby, United Kingdom
Student Village, Royal Veterinary College, Brookmans Park, United Kingdom
Beecroft Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Park Hill, Sheffield, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped HawkinsBrown achieve 17th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	19

16. Bennetts Associates

Bennetts Associates creates sustainable and enduring architecture. As one of the UK’s leading practices, their diverse portfolio has been celebrated with more than 150 awards over 30 years and covers education, cultural and workplace projects in both the public and private sector, ranging from masterplans to small historic buildings. They are an employee-owned trust of 70 people with studios in London, Edinburgh and Manchester, and have recently earned Building Design’s Higher Education Architect of the Year 2019 Award. Bennetts Associates also leads in their field in sustainability — in April 2019 they became the world’s first architects to secure Science Based Target approval and commit to the UN’s Climate Neutral Now campaign.

Some of Bennetts Associates’s most prominent projects include:

The Royal College of Pathologists, London, United Kingdom
Storyhouse, London, United Kingdom
Jaguar Land Rover Advanced Product Creation Centre, Gaydon, United Kingdom
Bennetts Associates’ London Studio, London, United Kingdom
London Fruit and Wool Exchange, London, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Bennetts Associates achieve 16th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	1
A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	18

15. Andy Martin Architecture

Our mission at ama is to carry out ambitious building projects at multiple scales and programmes, with a commitment to innovation, design and sustainability. We build within the city as if it is our own, and we are proud of the result and conscious of the effect that our buildings have on both the city around and the inhabitants within.

AMA was established in 2000, is a dynamic practice blending youth with experience and creativity with control. The studio takes a holistic approach to architecture and design – incorporating architects, interior designers, craftspeople, furniture, lighting and product designers.
The design of projects aims to become a ‘gesamtkunstwerk’, a totally integrated work of art, with architecture, interior design, furnishings, equipment and selected art pieces receiving equally dedicated consideration to become a cohesive whole.

Some of Andy Martin Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Andy Martin Architecture achieve 15th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	9

14. Allies and Morrison

We are architects and urbanists. We strive to design beautiful buildings that have long life and can adapt over the generations. We also shape enduring places whether new pieces of city or settlements at any scale. All our projects are concerned with the crafting of every detail and an appreciation for the uniqueness of each context.

As architects, we are known for the rigor of our technical delivery, a commitment to quality, to embedded environmental performance. As urbanists, we are known for developing plans that are flexible and pragmatic, inspirational in vision, responsive to the local climate and character. Based in London and Cambridge, we come from around the world and our diversity is one of our fundamental strengths.

Some of Allies and Morrison’s most prominent projects include:

Sir Michael Uren Hub, London, United Kingdom
100 Bishopsgate , London, United Kingdom
2150 Lake Shore, Toronto, Canada
The Design Museum, London, United Kingdom
South Place Hotel, London, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Allies and Morrison achieve 14th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	23

13. Alison Brooks Architects

Founded in 1996, Alison Brooks Architects has developed an international reputation for delivering design excellence and innovation in projects ranging from urban regeneration, masterplanning, public buildings for the arts, higher education and housing. ABA’s award-winning architecture is born from our intensive research into the cultural, social and environmental contexts of each project. Our approach enables us to develop pioneering solutions for our buildings and urban schemes, each with a distinct identity and authenticity.

Combined with rigorous attention to detail, ABA’s buildings have proved to satisfy our client’s expectations and positively impact the urban realm. Our approach has led ABA to be recognized with both national and international awards including Architect of the Year Award 2012 and Housing Architect of the Year 2012.

Some of Alison Brooks Architect’s most prominent projects include:

The Smile, London, United Kingdom
Lens House, London, United Kingdom
Newhall Be, Harlow, United Kingdom
Quayside, Toronto, Canada
Severn Place, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Alison Brooks Architects achieve 13th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	5

12. AL_A

Architecture studio AL_A was founded in 2009 by the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning architect Amanda Levete with directors Ho-Yin Ng, Alice Dietsch and Maximiliano Arrocet. Their designs are conceived not just as buildings, but as urban propositions. Spaces that promote reciprocity between nature and neighbourhood; projects that express the identity of an institution, reflect the ambitions of a place, and hold the dreams of a community. Recently completed projects include an undergraduate and outreach centre for Wadham College at the University of Oxford and a new centre for the cancer care charity Maggie’s within the grounds of University College Hospital in Southampton.

Some of AL_A’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped AL_A achieve 12th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	9
Total Projects	10

11. Studio Seilern Architects

Studio Seilern Architects is a London based international creative practice established in 2006 by Christina Seilern with the intent of producing exceptional architecture that lasts, working across geographies, building sizes and typologies. Our diverse portfolio of built work spans the UK, Europe and Africa.

While we tackle a diversity of projects, it is our conscious decision to keep working on the smaller and larger scales both simultaneously and continuously: from new build to restoration works. Irrespective of size or context, each project we undertake informs another. The smaller scale keeps our pencils sharp on questions of intricate detailing and the unraveling of the human condition both on the living and working fronts.

Some of Studio Seilern Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Andermatt Concert Hall, Andermatt, Switzerland
El Gouna Plaza, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
G.W.Annenberg Performing Arts Centre, Reading, United Kingdom
Boksto Skveras, Vilnius, Lithuania
Kensington Residence, London, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Studio Seilern Architects achieve 11th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	1
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	9

10. Steyn Studio

Steyn Studio is a collaborative architecture practice. We believe that design has the power to solve problems, inspire and improve lives and work hard everyday to realize this ambition. We always aim to do this honestly and with the freedom to creatively explore meaningful design solutions. Designs that make a real difference to the end-user and the client; culturally and commercially.

Some of Steyn Studio’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Steyn Studio achieve 10th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	4
Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	4

9. bureau de change

Bureau de Change is an award winning architecture practice founded by architects Katerina Dionysopoulou and Billy Mavropoulos. Its work is a direct product of the founders’ upbringing, passions and experiences — combining the pragmatism and formality of their architectural training with a desire to bring a sense of theatre, playfulness and innovation to the design of spaces, products and environments. The result is a studio where rigorous thinking and analysis are brought to life through prototyping, testing and making.

Some of bureau de change’s most prominent projects include:

The Interlock, London, United Kingdom
Homemade, London, United Kingdom
Folds House, London, United Kingdom
Slab House, London, United Kingdom
Step House, London, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped bureau de change achieve 9th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	9
Total Projects	16

8. Hopkins Architects

Hopkins Architects is an international architectural practice with studios in London and Dubai. Led by its five Principals, the practice’s work is rooted in clear and logical design thinking, a deep understanding of the potential of materials and craft, and consideration of context. A consistent and rigorous approach has resulted in a portfolio of ground-breaking, beautiful and functional buildings across Europe, the US and Asia which have added tangible value for both clients and users. The practice has designed and delivered a portfolio of renowned, award-winning projects, including Portcullis House at Westminster and the London 2012 Olympic Velodrome.

Some of Hopkins Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center, Colby College, Waterville, Maine
Buhais Geology Park Interpretive Centre, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Eton Sports & Aquatics Centre, Windsor, United Kingdom
Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
London 2012 Olympic Velodrome, London, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Hopkins Architects achieve 8th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	1
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	11
Total Projects	18

7. Haworth Tompkins

Photo: Helene Binet – © Haworth Tompkins

Haworth Tompkins is an award-winning British architectural studio united by a commitment to integrity, intellectual quality and the art of making beautiful buildings. Founded in 1991 by Graham Haworth and Steve Tompkins, the rapidly-growing London-based studio consists of 70 people, and specialises in bespoke buildings in the public, cultural, private and financial sectors. Acclaimed projects include the Everyman Theatre, winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2014, Young Vic Theatre, Royal College of Art campus in Battersea, Coin Street housing development and the London Library, for which they received the prestigious American Institute of Architect’s Excellence in Design award. The studio is currently working on a number of highly anticipated schemes including the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Fish Island Village, Bristol Old Vic and Kingston University.

Some of Haworth Tompkins’s most prominent projects include:

National Theatre ‘The Shed’, London, United Kingdom
Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Dovecote Studio, Snape, United Kingdom
Open Air Theatre, London, United Kingdom
Park View School, Birmingham, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Haworth Tompkins achieve 7th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	9
Total Projects	10

6. AR Design Studio

AR Design Studio is an award-winning RIBA certified contemporary architectural practice, based in Winchester, Hampshire, specializing in elegant modern new homes, extensions, renovations and multi-plot developments. Established over a decade ago by Andy Ramus, AR Design Studio is a modern architecture practice with a talented, young and ambitious team creating an exciting hub of contemporary architects. After spending four years working for several large scale practices in London on a wide variety of projects, Andy set up his practice in Winchester, Hampshire and Dorset.

Some of AR Design Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Black House, Kent, England, United Kingdom
The Climber’s Cabin, Hampshire, United Kingdom
4 Views, Winchester, United Kingdom
The Lighthouse 65, Fareham, United Kingdom
Manor House Stables, Headbourne Worthy, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped AR Design Studio achieve 6th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	29

5. Adjaye Associates

Since establishing Adjaye Associates in 2000, Sir David Adjaye OBE has crafted a global team that is multicultural. The practice has studios in Accra, London, and New York with work spanning the globe. Adjaye Associates’ most well-known commission to date, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), opened in 2016 on the National Mall in Washington DC and was named “Cultural Event of the Year” by The New York Times. Further projects range in scale from private houses, bespoke furniture collections, product design, exhibitions, and temporary pavilions to major arts centers, civic buildings and master plans.

Some of Adjaye Associates’s most prominent projects include:

Winter Park Library & Events Center, Winter Park, Florida
130 William, New York, New York
Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, Skolkovo, Russia
Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, Washington, DC
Silverlight, London, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Adjaye Associates achieve 5th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	3
Featured Projects	13
Total Projects	32

4. Squire and Partners

Squire & Partners is an architecture and design practice with experience spanning four decades, earning it an international reputation for architecture informed by the history and culture of where it is placed. Their award winning portfolio, for some of the world’s leading developers, includes masterplans, private and affordable residential, workspace, retail, education and public buildings.

In addition, the practice has a series of dedicated teams for modelmaking, computer generated imaging, illustration, graphics and an established interior design department, which has created a number of bespoke product ranges. Squire & Partners’ approach responds to the unique heritage and context of each site, considering established street patterns, scale and proportions, to create timeless architecture rooted in its location.

Some of Squire and Partners’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Squire and Partners achieve 4th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	11
Total Projects	48

3. Heatherwick Studio

Heatherwick Studio is a team of 180 problem solvers dedicated to making the physical world around us better for everyone. Based out of our combined workshop and design studio in Central London, we create buildings, spaces, master-plans, objects and infrastructure. Focusing on large scale projects in cities all over the world, we prioritise those with the greatest positive social impact.

Working as practical inventors with no signature style, our motivation is to design soulful and interesting places which embrace and celebrate the complexities of the real world. The approach driving everything is to lead from human experience rather than any fixed design dogma. The studio’s completed projects include a number of internationally celebrated buildings, including the award-winning Learning Hub at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The studio is currently working on 30 live projects in ten countries.

Some of Heatherwick Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Coal Drops Yard, London, United Kingdom
Maggie’s Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
Bombay Sapphire Distillery , Hampshire, United Kingdom
1000 Trees Phase 1, Shanghai, China
Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa

The following statistics helped Heatherwick Studio achieve 3rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	11
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	20
Total Projects	13

2. Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners is a global studio for sustainable architecture, engineering, urbanism and industrial design, founded by Norman Foster in 1967. Since then, he, and the team around him, have established an international practice with a worldwide reputation. With offices across the globe, we work as a single studio that is both ethnically and culturally diverse.

Some of Foster + Partners’s most prominent projects include:

Ombú, Madrid, Spain
Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar
The Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
House of Wisdom, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Apple Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois

The following statistics helped Foster + Partners achieve 2nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	6
A+Awards Finalist	8
Featured Projects	42
Total Projects	91

1. Zaha Hadid Architects

Internationally renowned architecture firm Zaha Hadid Architects works at all scales and in all sectors to create transformative cultural, corporate, residential and other spaces that work in synchronicity with their surroundings.

Some of Zaha Hadid Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing, China
KnitCandela, Mexico City, Mexico
Leeza SOHO, Beijing, China
Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku, Azerbaijan
Striatus 3D Printed Bridge, Venice, Italy

Top image: Investcorp Building, Oxford, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped Zaha Hadid Architects achieve 1st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in United Kingdom:

A+Awards Winner	17
A+Awards Finalist	11
Featured Projects	62
Total Projects	64

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

Project completed within the last 3 years
A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
High quality, in focus photographs
At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
Inclusion of construction photographs

Reference

Because it can be cast into any shape, concrete opened up new possibilities for architects.

Architecture

Architects Should Continue Using Concrete. Change My Mind.

By Zarkon Group,14/09/2023

Architizer’s new image-heavy daily newsletter, The Plug, is easy on the eyes, giving readers a quick jolt of inspiration to supercharge their days. Plug in to the latest design discussions by subscribing.

“What’s nice about concrete is that it looks unfinished.”

– Zaha Hadid

Before embarking on my argument, I want to get something out of the way: I believe that climate change is real. I also believe that mitigating climate change by lowering carbon emissions in as many areas of human life as possible is an urgent necessity in our century. Doing so is the only way to preserve the chance that future generations will be able to enjoy a decent and dignified existence.

Another point to add in the preamble: I agree that concrete is an enormous contributor to climate change. It would be silly to try to deny it. The facts are there for anyone who cares to look.

According to the Princeton Student Climate Initiative, the manufacture of concrete produces 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, about 8% of global emissions. By comparison, transportation accounts for 29% of global emissions. The reason concrete is so carbon-heavy has to do with the manufacture of cement, the binding agent that, when mixed with water and gravel or sand, creates concrete – that magical liquid stone that enabled the creation of modern cities and remains the most consumed product on Earth after water. (Food is not even in spitting distance).

To create cement, limestone, clay and other materials are fired in massive kilns at over 1,200 degrees fahrenheit. And again, this is done a lot, all over the world, as concrete is used in almost every aspect of construction worldwide, from roads to sidewalks to bridges to pipes and more. Even most wood frame buildings have concrete foundations. As the architect Sarah Nichols put it, concrete is in “almost everything” and can be found “almost everywhere” in the modern world.

In a brilliant 2022 essay for Noema, author Joe Zadeh explains that “such a monstrous scale of production has monstrous consequences.” He adds that “concrete has been like a nuclear bomb in man’s conquest of nature: redirecting great rivers (often away from the communities that had come to rely on them), reducing quarried mountains to mere hills, and contributing to biodiversity loss and mass flooding by effectively sealing large swathes of land in an impermeable gray crust.”

It is no wonder that some writers have advocated abandoning concrete altogether, arguing that new techniques of engineering wood and other materials obviate the need for all this gray sludge. Right here in Architizer, Francesca Mercurio asserted bluntly that “architects should stop using concrete.” She writes that “we should be striving toward a mindset shift, one where humans understand their place on Earth and respect their ecosystems and natural terrains. We must shift our priority from grandeur and excess to preserving the Earth’s natural resources and ultimately, close the chapter on the concrete era.”

Because it can be cast into any shape, concrete opened up new possibilities for architects, essentially enabling the development of modern architecture as we understand it. Via Phaidon and Architizer.

However, even Mercurio admits that “there is certainly no clear path” to abandoning concrete altogether, as there are no real substitutes that are as cheap and versatile to meet the needs of a world that is still in the process of urbanizing. And here is my worry.

At times, the broadsides against concrete seem to be attacks on modernity itself, a claim that the time has come to scale back and learn to live with less. It is often linked to a call to repair existing infrastructure instead of always building more. But that is not an option for the developing world, where necessary infrastructure is still being constructed and the process of industrialization and economic growth is lifting millions out of poverty. When people say that “concrete built the modern world,” it almost seems to imply that the modern world has already been built, which is far from the case. Politically, economically, physically, and morally, humanity remains involved in a period of growth and transformation.

As a democratic socialist, I am not happy with where we are. I do not want to stop building and go back to nature, as doing so would require an enormous amount of sacrifice on the part of the world’s most vulnerable people. A sustainable future is key, but it must be a high-tech future, one that is able to provide for the needs of a global population that continues to grow. To do this, we are going to need to move mountains — literally. Certainly, innovations toward a greener concrete should be commended, as should building practices that allow architects to use less concrete. In this vein, Philippe Block’s research into how architects can use vaulting to limit the amount of concrete used even in high rise structures is particularly fascinating. But until a real alternative to concrete presents itself, we are very much still in the “concrete era.”

Cover image: RW Concrete Church by NAMELESS Architecture, Seoul, South Korea

Reference

Architecture

6 Homey Ways Architects Are Designing Warmer Office Environments

By Zarkon Group,11/09/2023

Today, our lives are no longer compartmentalized into rigid schedules, nor is the line separating work from leisure as clear-cut as before. When the global pandemic hit in 2020, everyone was forced to work from home, bringing their meetings and busy agendas to the middle of their living rooms, changing much of what we know about the workplace and further blurring the line between the office and the home. That shift later promoted many businesses to uphold the “working from home” setup, at least in a hybrid format with some in-office days, having realized its environmental, financial and social benefits for many.

Following these trends, many businesses are now adopting a comfortable home-like environment — sometimes prioritizing comfort over formality and other times upping their interior decor game to lure employees back to work. These office designs, of course, come without the challenges of WFH policies, such as unexpected family cameos in Zoom meetings and the difficulty of unplugging at the end of a day in the home office. The following trailblazing honorees from the 11th Annual A+Awards awards showcase examples of offices that are so comfortable that employees will feel right at home.

Bay Area Research Company

By SkB Architects, CA, United States

Bay Area Research Company Entering this think tank feels like entering someone’s living room, you almost feel like you need to knock first. Designed as an engaging and emotion provoking workplace that seamlessly flows between what used to be two warehouses in the Bay Area in California, this design research company adopts what the designers termed as a “better-than-home” concept, achieved through the selection of furniture, carpets, plants and materials that have contributed to producing a very relaxing and tranquil work environment. The workspaces are distributed over a wide variety of smaller spaces anchored in the open floor plan and staggered vertically across a number of split levels that together enrich the user experience for the employees, guests and collaborators.

EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin

By TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten GmbH,

From the outside, the two newly designed EDGE office buildings facing Hedwig-Dohm-Strasse in Berlin give no hint of what their insides look like, presenting employees a pleasant surprise once they enter. Inside the “Carré” building, the larger of the two buildings, a generously naturally lit atrium almost looks like a play area for adults, with its design blurring the boundary between the inside and the outside.

This atrium is playfully furnished with a web of tree like wooden structures that offer a variety of platforms for recreation and communication, connected by a network of by filigree steps that facilitate circulation across the building’s different parts. The sustainable state of the art design of both the buildings, which won the project the DGNB Platinum and DGNB Diamond awards, produces a healthy and vibrant work environment for employees and ensures the longevity of the buildings and the reusability of its materials.

DB55 Amsterdam

By D/DOCK, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Photo by Niels Vlug

Photo by Niels Vlug

Photo by Niels Vlug

It is hard to tell what this place is for at first glance, given the variety of activities taking place around the miscellaneous furniture spread out across this building’s different sections. From a bed to a huge dining table and an abdunance of plants, the open floor plan contains a variety of levels where so much is going on at the same time. For those reasons, it comes as no surprise that this building, which used to be a timber warehouse, has a program that combines work and leisure, giving space to different events and even making room for a children’s playground. The array of windows on the top of the building connect the building with the outside and create a pleasant indoor experience, flooding the central open space with its double volume with natural sunlight, while the natural wood that is used in various elements of the interior give a soft and tranquil work ambiance.

Kabelovna Studios

By B² Architecture ,Praha, Czechia

Photo by Alex Shoots Buildings

Photo by Alex Shoots Buildings

Photo by Alex Shoots Buildings

Set in what used to be a cable making factory, the super cozy atmosphere of this recording studio was established through the generous use of plants and the floods of natural sunlight that light up the entire space and allow an interplay of shades and shadows that complement the interplay of the musical notes across the sheets. The different recording studios are distributed around a central “living room” with a seating area and a kitchen, with the high ceiling giving a generous breathing space and the restored brick walls giving the studio a rustic and authentic character that offers a rich background for the recording artists.

Shenzhen Yeahka Office

By JSPA Design, Shenzhen, China

The interiors of the Yeahka headquarter office look like an ultra modern apartment set in a futuristic movie scene, with meeting tables hovering over the building’s central space inside glass boxes and the exposed structure of the refurbished building boldly exposed. The rough appearance of the building’s envelope is nicely contrasted with the use of softer materials and lighter colors for the partitions and the furniture, while the high ceilings allow floods of natural sunlight to travel across the office’s atriums and establish a variety of visual connections for visitors and employees across the different floors.

Casa Pich i Pon. LOOM Plaza Catalunya

By SCOB Architecture & Landscape

Aesthetically, the organization of this office space is remarkably appealing, allowing the eye to travel across a variety of layers and vertical lines around every corner. Whether it is through the contrast of materials, or the perfect positioning of the working chambers inside the open floor plan, a lot is happening inside this refurbished historical building whose celebratory classic exterior celebrates a masterpiece of its time. The color white, which dominates the interior, sets the stage for the other materials to occupy the space, particularly the red brick walls that stand as a reminder of the building’s rich past.

Reference

Architecture

30 Best Architecture Firms in China

By Zarkon Group,08/09/2023

From the CCTV Headquarters by OMA in Beijing to myriad projects by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) across the country, China’s recent urban boom has made the country a magnetic scene for international architectural practices. Indeed, mass urbanization and rapid industrial development have been crucial ingredients in China’s rise as an economic superpower in the twenty-first century. Now, the dynamism of the country’s internal architectural scene is going global, and the world is turning its attention to innovative designs by local Chinese firms.

From poetic examples of adaptive reuse, thoughtful examinations of how the past comes to bear on the present, to high-tech transportation design, the Chinese architects and firms are blurring boundaries between “tradition” and “modern” and, in so doing, reclaiming local architectural flavor in the era of global practice. For many outside of China, the Pritzker Prize-winner Wang Shu may be an entry point into thinking about China’s New Modernism. However, with so many new studios regularly proving themselves with breathtaking projects, the question is not where to start but where to stop.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in China based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of China architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in China:

30. Guangzhou S.P.I Design

Founded in 2007, Guangzhou S.P.I Design is a comprehensive landscape design platform driven by “innovative design” with its headquarters in Guangzhou. Now it has 16 branches in China and over 1,800 members (1470+designers) and establishes 3 business modules of “community,” “culture and tourism” and “urban” with completion of more than 3,000 high-quality projects in over 100 cities in China. S.P.I has devoted to China’s rural and urban development and ecological civilization construction with the mission of “Poetic Dwelling Inherit Innovation,” based on the New Shanshui Design Concept, driven by innovating design, with digital technology as the core and Shanshui General Theater as the carrier, to build a world-renowned landscape technology innovation platform.

Some of Guangzhou S.P.I Design Co., Ltd’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Guangzhou S.P.I Design Co., Ltd achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	15

29. DAGA Architects

As a pioneer and practitioner in the field of “Urban Renovation” in China, DAGA Architects is widely participated in architectural design, interior design, urban planning and landscape design projects, providing international standard design quality, focusing on creativity and details. DAGA Architects also track the whole process of the project. Especially in the practice of co-working and co-living renovation in Beijing Hutong area, DAGA Architects find a way to balance the existing building and new design, provide people with a more harmonious and shared lifestyle.

Some of DAGA Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Dongsi 5Lmeet, Beijing, China
Hangzhou Vanke Times Commune, Hangzhou, China
Transparent Hutong Installation: From Physics to Phenomena , Beijing, China
Gulou Office Renovation, Beijing, China
Qingdao Metro CR International Ocean Intelligence Zone Accelerator Office, Qingdao, China

The following statistics helped DAGA Architects achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	2
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	21

28. West-line Studio

West-Line Studio is based in Guizhou Province and exclusively works in South-West China, where most of the country ethnic minorities live, and has always been researching and working on local vernacular architecture and subcultures’ diversity. The practice, founded more than 10 years ago by Haobo Wei and Jingsong Xie, pays special attention to the study of minority cultures and traditions in order to bring some of their particular elements into the design, which, despite being contemporary and innovative, always pays homage to traditions and local features.

Some of West-line Studio’s most prominent projects include:

Shui Cultural Center, Sandu, Qiannan, China
Chishui Danxia World Natural Heritage Visitor Center, Chishui, Zunyi, China
Chetian Cultural Center, Guiyang, China
Concrete Memorial, Chishui, Zunyi, China
Cuisuba Yi Cultural & Visitor Center, Guizhou, China

The following statistics helped West-line Studio achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	3
Featured Projects	11
Total Projects	13

27. Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM)

Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM) is an award-winning art, landscape and architectural design firm with offices in Beijing and Shanghai. Founded in 2007, BAM became anomalous as a locally grown design firm in China started by foreigners. The experience of establishing a design practice in a rapidly changing contemporary Chinese metropolis gives BAM a unique insight into the role of design in today’s cities. BAM’s diverse team of designers has delivered projects for clients in China, Taiwan, the US, the UK, Iceland and Belgium. Since our founding BAM believes our collective idea of nature is gradually changing. As technology continuously shapes our environment, our perception of nature is becoming outdated.

Some of Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM)’s most prominent projects include:

Daxing Green Hub and Park, Beijing, China
Xiaoyunlu 8, MAHA Residential Park, Beijing, China
Play ‘n Learn Water Mountain, Tianjin 4A Sports Park, Tianjin, China
Legend Jiangbei Mixed-Use and Residential, Nanjing, China
Shoukai Vanke Daxing, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM) achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	3
A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	12
Total Projects	20

26. aoe

aoe is headquartered in Beijing, China, equipped with a team of designers who balance scientiﬁc exactitude and creative innovation, Made up of an international background, the team provides solutions to modern urban life based on scrupulous in-depth research, its business includes commercial, complex, cultural, oﬃce, hotel, high-end housing, education, planning, and interior design, project covers more than 20 provinces and cities in China, and each design project has won the praise of the owners and produced a good social impact. Its insightful, market-ready designs are a testament to its all-around excellent service. In an era of rapid development, aoe is a vehicle of progress with its vision for human life in the twenty-ﬁrst century city.

Some of aoe’s most prominent projects include:

Chongqing Sunac One Central Mansion Sales Pavillion, Chongqing, China
ShuiFa Info Town Property Exhibition Centre, Jinan, China
Sino-Italian Cultural Exchange City Reception Center, Chengdu, China
Haikou International Duty Free Reception Center, Haikou, China
Heze Courtyard No.1 Sales Office, Heze, China

The following statistics helped aoe achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	1
A+Awards Finalist	5
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	13

25. OPEN Architecture

OPEN is a passionate team of designers collaborating across different disciplines to practice urban, landscape, architectural and interior design, as well as the research and production of design strategies in the context of new challenges. We believe in the innovative power of architecture to transform people and the way they live, while striking a new balance between the manmade and nature. OPEN was founded by LI Hu and HUANG Wenjing in New York City. It established its Beijing office in 2008. OPEN has been widely recognized for its innovative work.

Some of OPEN Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

Garden School, Beijing, China
HEX-SYS, Guangdong, China
Stepped Courtyards, Fuzhou, China
Tank Shanghai, Shanghai, China
UCCA Dune Art Museum, Qinhuangdao, China

The following statistics helped OPEN Architecture achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	12

24. Kris Lin International Design

KLID, an international architectural design firm from Taipei, has been in Shanghai for twenty years, and has been serving top 100 real estate developers for a long time. Its business covers sales offices, clubs, art galleries, hotels, luxury villas and flat apartments, offices, public and commercial spaces.

As one of the few design institutes in China which can provide four-in-one integrated design services including architectural design, interior design, renovation design and construction, landscape design, KLID has been adhering to the design concept of “Innovation from Observation”, and has strong pursuit for the design works display effect, KLID has been always maintained a full-integrated design solution.

Some of Kris Lin International Design’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Kris Lin International Design achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	5
Featured Projects	8
Total Projects	13

23. He Wei Studio／3andwich Design

Founded in 2012, He Wei Studio／3andwich Design is an interdisciplinary research studio and practice with works ranging from urban renewal to architectural design to exhibition and curatorial endeavors.

Some of He Wei Studio／3andwich Design’s most prominent projects include:

Limestone Gallery, Anlong, Qianxinan, China
Stone Nest Amphitheatre for Community Activities , Weihai, China
Shangping Village Regeneration – Yang’s School Area, Jianning, Sanming, China
The Water Drop Library, Huizhou, China
Ding Hui Yuan Zen & Tea Chamber, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped He Wei Studio／3andwich Design achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	8
Total Projects	11

22. CPLUS

CPLUS is an architecture firm with an international perspective, co-founded by Cheng Yanchun and Li Nan in Beijing in 2014. CPLUS believes that architecture aims to create a medium for dialogue between people and the environment. As living organism that constantly changes over time, architecture responds to the history of human exploration of nature and the construction of cities.

Some of CPLUS’s most prominent projects include:

Jingyuan No.22 Transformation, Beijing, China
Nashare Hotel, Xiamen, China
LAB Art Museum, Chongqing, China
“Floating Island” Restaurant, Chongqing, China
“Hair Focus” Hair Salon, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped CPLUS achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	1
A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	11
Total Projects	14

21. Atelier tao+c

Atelier tao+c was founded by Tao Liu and Chunyan Cai in 2016. The design works of Atelier tao+c ranging from a piece of pendant lamp to a compound development, from the interior of small urban apartments to the renovation of old rural houses, from shops on the street to a youth community.

Some of Atelier tao+c’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Atelier tao+c achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	3
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	8
Total Projects	10

20. MUDA-Architects

Founded in 2015 in Beijing and Boston with an office in Chengdu established in 2017, MUDA-Architects is composed of creative designers with a background of global diversification, who are forward-looking, experienced, professional and ingenious in the field of architecture and design.

Under the leadership of founder Lu Yun, the team’s architectural practice covers public, cultural and commercial architecture, as well as urban, landscape and interior design, focusing on diverse expressions of design in cultural contexts and genius loci, adhering to the oriental spirits and future-oriented mindset.

Some of MUDA-Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped MUDA-Architects achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	4
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	10
Total Projects	12

19. Challenge Design

The aim of Challenge Design has been to provide “refined design and professional service” since its foundation. The company has undertaken projects ranging from commercial complex, resort, luxury condo, boutique hotel, museums and public architectures, winning dozens of awards and unanimous high appraisal. With growing experience in various fields including architecture design, urban planning, interior design, wooden structure design and commercial operation, the company has developed the capability to control whole life cycle of the projects.

Since foundation, Challenge Design has been working to find a way for realization of harmonious co-existence between architecture, human being and the nature, hoping to find a possible way for bring renewed sense experience and creating new thoughts and spatial forms through creative thinking.

Some of Challenge Design’s most prominent projects include:

Yuanlu Community Center, Chongqing, China
YULIN Artistic Center, Chongqing, China
Park Legend Kindergarten, Chengdu, China
Cloud Art Museum , Guizhou, China
Langtin Yuanzhu Experience Hall, Wuhan, China

The following statistics helped Challenge Design achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	14

18. gad

gad, an architectural design company that values creativity, quality and humanity, adheres to the belief of craftsman to deeply explore the field of architectural design, treats architectural creation with an open attitude, conveys modern life aesthetics with appropriate design techniques, and follows architectural construction with a devout attitude, so as to create more possibilities for the richness of the city.

Some of gad’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped gad achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	6
Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	17

17. LUO studio

Mr. Luo Yujie is the founder of LUO studio, who also teaches the course of Construction Basics in the School of Architecture at Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). His exceptional works have been shortlisted and awarded by numerous design award competitions worldwide. He is committed to creating more durable, friendly and quality spaces with creative thinking, a spirit of craftsmanship and the principle of caring for nature.

Some of LUO studio’s most prominent projects include:

Temporary Site of Shengli Market, Henan, China
Yuntai Ice Chrysanthemum Display, Henan, China
Timber Bridge in Gulou Waterfront, Jiangmen, China
Corrugated Cardboard-formed Exhibition Space, Shanghai, China
Longfu Life Experience Center, Puyang, China

The following statistics helped LUO studio achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	6
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	11
Total Projects	10

16. X+LIVING

X+LIVING, established in 2011 by Chinese architect Li Xiang, is an international architectural design company involved in multifield projects including retail, office, hospitality, parent-child, malls, etc. As an award-winning company, X+LIVING has always been noted by professional institutions and medias worldwide for its escher-like visuality and immersive spatial experiences. Owing to the founder Li Xiang’s academic background of architecture, each of X+LIVING’s design works adopts boundary-crossing thinking and unique formal strategy to create theatrical dreamy spaces with story-telling charms that engage the senses and provide fun. X+LIVING takes “design creates value” as the motto and insists on achieving the highest quality of design works from conceptual design to final completion.

Some of X+LIVING’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped X+LIVING achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	12
Total Projects	43

15. CLOU architects

CLOU is an international design studio with award-winning expertise in architecture, interiors and landscapes. Our extensive portfolio of built works encompasses mixed-use, retail, hospitality, education and exhibition projects. Founded by German architect Jan Clostermann, CLOU works closely with leading property developers and has delivered projects recognized for outside-the-box-thinking.

CLOU is committed to tailor each project to its unique challenges and local opportunities. We strive to realize projects that will positively influence the people involved in its process, the environment, and the communities who live and work there. The CLOU team is a community of talents from all over the world who enjoy working collaboratively and imaginatively on bespoke, and integrated design solutions. The word CLOU means the main attraction.

Some of CLOU architects’s most prominent projects include:

Cube Gallery, Hangzhou, China
Daxing Green Hub and Park, Beijing, China
Play Stack Shenyang, Shenyang, China
UniFuns Tianfu Chengdu, Chengdu, China
Wuyi Yuansu Hot Spring Resort, Wuyi, Jinhua, China

The following statistics helped CLOU architects achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	4
A+Awards Finalist	6
Featured Projects	12
Total Projects	49

14. GOA (Group of Architects)

Founded in 1998, GOA has held its position as one of the most prominent architectural firms in China. With offices established in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Nanjing, GOA has employed more than 900 professionals. Covering service ranging from urban design, architecture, structure, MEP, landscape planning, interior design to design consulting, GOA’s business scope is a complete organism with architecture design as the core competencies.

GOA adheres to the Principal-based working system, each project is in the charge of one or more principals. By participating in the projects thoroughly, they ensure a best quality for all projects. On the basis of in-depth understanding of clients’ needs, GOA contributes to integrate the top resources and provide perfect design solutions and high-quality service for clients. Creativity, quality and humanity shall always be our goal.

Some of GOA (Group of Architects)’s most prominent projects include:

Restaurant of Metasequoia Grove, Suzhou, China
Yada Theatre, Jiangsu, China
Alila Wuzhen, Jiaxing, China
Beibu Gulf International Oceanic Transit Center, Beihai, China
Zhoushan Greentown Yuhua Kindergarten, Zhoushan, China

The following statistics helped GOA (Group of Architects) achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	5
Featured Projects	12
Total Projects	27

13. Lukstudio

LUKSTUDIO is a boutique design practice based in Shanghai, China. Founded by Christina Luk in 2011, the studio is comprised of an international team with diverse backgrounds and cultural perspectives. With a common desire to challenge the status quo of the environment, the team finds joy in creating meaningful design solutions for others. Lukstudio’s strength lies in an ‘everything is possible’ attitude that is influenced by the surrounding context of Shanghai; a fast-paced city where East meets West and tradition is integrated with innovation. Each project tells its own story, and Lukstudio is proud to identify a narrative, preserving it from concept through to completion to deliver memorable spatial experiences that delight and surprise. We collaborate closely with clients and contractors to deliver artistic solutions within a commercial scope.

Some of Lukstudio’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Lukstudio achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	31

12. The Design Institute Of Landscape & Architecture China Academy Of Art

© The Design Institute Of Landscape & Architecture China Academy Of Art CO.,LTD

The Design Institute of Landscape & Architecture, China Academy of Art, founded in 1984, h as been accredited by the Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as Class A for construction industry (construction engineering), Class A for landscape architecture design, C lass A for interior decoration design, Class A for urban and rural planning, Class B for municipal industry professional, Class B for cultural relics protection engineering survey and design, and Class A for exhibition engineering.

The Institute has set up an academic perspective and research vibe encompassing all-round nationalization, internationalization and modernization by taking advantage of the China Academy of Art (CAA)’s strong talents and advantageous discipline group, with the strong and rich academic background of CAA as the foundation, the academic goal of the first environmental art department in China as the mission, and “Relying on CAA and Serving the society” as the overall operation policy.

Some of The Design Institute Of Landscape & Architecture China Academy Of Art’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped The Design Institute Of Landscape & Architecture China Academy Of Art CO.,LTD achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	5
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	16
Total Projects	16

11. AIM Architecture

AIM is a collective of passionate, international individuals. Founded by Belgian and Dutch architects Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf in 2005, AIM brings together architecture with interior and product design to create wholly integrated products and ideas. Headquartered in Shanghai and with an oﬃce in Europe, AIM is a global studio with local feeling. Our approach is deliberate and focused. Each project is approached individually. We pair context to concept and explore the ﬁne line between vision and practicality. The result are unique spaces with a powerful narrative. Bold, playful and gritty, the firm designs well-built projects with reﬁned details, built-in love of materials and passion for place and purpose.

Some of AIM Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

Fushengyu Hotspring resort, Sichuan, China
SOHO Fuxing Plaza- Shopping Mall, Shanghai, China
Jiaxing Island, Jiaxing, China
Aluminum Lobby in SOHO Fuxing Plaza, Shanghai, China
Glass Office in SOHO Fuxing Plaza, Shanghai, China

The following statistics helped AIM Architecture achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	17
Total Projects	32

10. Atelier Alter Architects

Founded in 2009, Atelier Alter Architects is a pioneering inter-disciplinary practice based in New York and Beijing. Noted for designing from critical analysis of the site, Atelier Alter has been recognized by numerous awards. Atelier Alter Architects focuses intensely upon culture facilities ever since the beginning of the practice. Atelier Alter wan the competitions to build Qujing Culture Center in 2009, by transferring the metaphysical context of the site into an artistic yet tangible urban space of historic remembrance.

Some of Atelier Alter Architects’s most prominent projects include:

BIT Sports Center in Beijing, Beijing, China
WuliEpoch Culture Center, Beijing, China
Senior Center of Guangxi, Nanning, China
Library for Qujing Culture Center, Qujing, China
WuliEpoch Culture Center, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped Atelier Alter Architects achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	1
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	13
Total Projects	20

9. Crossboundaries

Crossboundaries contributes to a vital built environment through architecture, environmental design and urban regeneration. We create enduring architecture that often deals with remarkable technical processes, yet always has a pleasant material touch and human atmosphere.

The work of Crossboundaries originates from a strong belief that design as a process results in successful, operational buildings. This approach is based on two fundamental principles: research and collaboration. For our projects we create suitable multi-disciplinary teams where all participants can assess the opportunities within the given conditions. We identify the essential questions, jointly create pragmatic solutions by data collection and analyze significant precedents. We regularly discuss possible programmatic shifts with our clients to raise their benefits of the project.

Some of Crossboundaries’s most prominent projects include:

Songzhuang Micro Community Park, Tongzhou, Beijing, China
Qkids English Learning Center, Xiamen, China
Chaoyang Future School, Beijing, China
Crossboundaries Office, Beijing, China
THE KNOWN, an installation, Shenzhen, China

The following statistics helped Crossboundaries achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	4
A+Awards Finalist	5
Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	23

8. People’s Architecture Office

Beijing-based People’s Architecture Office (PAO) was founded by He Zhe, James Shen and Zang Feng in 2010, and consist of an international team of architects, engineers and urbanists. With the belief that design is for the masses, PAO aims to be conceptually accessible and culturally pragmatic. PAO approaches design from the framework of the realities of scale, global economics and flows, mass production, mass markets and social networks. PAO’s projects include the headquarters for 21cake in Beijing, the River Heights Pavilion and the Tricycle House.

Some of People’s Architecture Office’s most prominent projects include:

The Courtyard House Plugin, Beijing, China
Tubular Baitasi, Beijing, China
Pop-up Habitat, Beijing, China
Tricycle House, Beijing, China
People’s Canopy, Lancashire, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped People’s Architecture Office achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	5
A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	14
Total Projects	20

7. The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University (UAD)

The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University (UAD) was established in 1953. It is one of the earliest First Class Design Institutes among major national universities.
The company now has nearly 1100 employees, among which 1 Master Engineering Designer of China, 2 Top-100 Architects of China, 10 Awardees of the Young Architect Prize of the China Architectural Institute. Company insists Harmonious environment, global vision, complete services, and highest professionalism as their guidelines. Based on the resources of Zhejiang University, UAD hires Academicians of the China Academy of Engineering and of the China Academy of Sciences to provide technical support for blossoming architectural creations.

Some of The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University (UAD)’s most prominent projects include:

Asian Games 2022 Master Plan and Hybrid Buildings, Hangzhou, China
Guangsha College Sports Center, Hangzhou, China
UAD Campus in ZITOWN, Zhejiang, China
The Hangzhou Asian Games Baseball and Softball Sports Cultural Center, Shaoxing, China
Humanities & Social Sciences Building Cluster 1 for Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

The following statistics helped The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University (UAD) achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	4
A+Awards Finalist	6
Featured Projects	17
Total Projects	23

6. SUP Atelier of THAD

SUP atelier, founded by Prof. Song Yehao from Tsinghua University School of Architecture in Beijing around 2011, dedicated to the research and practice on sustainable urban and architectural design. SUP Atelier explores the simultaneous sustainability of natural resources and human community through high context sensibility, modest architectural strategies, and tectonic research on natural and local materials, in relevant to integrate buildings to the environment and community livings.

SUP Atelier focuses on sustainable theory within the scope of architecture, urban studies, and building technology, while highly promoting the combination of modern design and vernacular architecture in China. Regional and local understandings are rather important, to further initiate innovative design based on the understanding, and thus the design strategy is always incorporating the latest technical measures or traditional climate adaptation design strategies at that time.

Some of SUP Atelier of THAD’s most prominent projects include:

Yunzhai Community Center, Changyuan, Xinxiang, China
Tea Leaf Market of Zhuguanlong, Shouning County, Ningde, China
Swirling Cloud: Pavilion for BJFU Garden Festival, Haidian, Beijing, China
Village Lounge of Shangcun, Jixi, China
Indoor Playground of Yueyang County No.3 Middle School, Yueyang, China

The following statistics helped SUP Atelier of THAD achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	9
A+Awards Finalist	3
Featured Projects	10
Total Projects	16

5. line+

line+ is founded by Mr. Meng Fanhao and Mr. Zhu Peidong in Hangzhou. “line”is the boundary, based on architectural design. “+”aims to break through the clear boundaries of traditional industry and use cross-border thinking as a way to realize the boundless integration of planning, architecture, interior, landscape, product, operation and other fields. By adapting diverse strategies, we look forward to share the value of design with our partners.

Some of line+’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped line+ achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	3
A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	23
Total Projects	29

4. Lacime Architect

Founded in Shanghai in 2001, has always adhered to the architectural philosophy of “deleting complexity and simplifying the origin.” Based on the local area, it aims to create first-class architecture. After more than ten years of development, the company has nearly 600 architects and rich experience in large-scale project design at home and abroad, integrated architectural landscape design, and has accumulated many residential, commercial, cultural and tourism projects and high-end customers in China. We hope to create buildings that truly conform to the regional environment by cultivating Chinese localized talents and integrating elite design teams.

Some of Lacime Architect’s most prominent projects include:

Vanke Emerald Park, Chongqing, China
One City Development, Hubei, China
Liva Riverside Book Bar Reconstruction of East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Waterfront Art Gallery, Nanchang, China
Financial City Community Center, Suzhou, China

The following statistics helped Lacime Architect achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	3
A+Awards Finalist	8
Featured Projects	22
Total Projects	27

3. ARCHSTUDIO

Arch Studio devotes to using multi-perspective and rational means to intervene the development of contemporary urban living environment, finding a right balance between the connections of reality and nature, history and culture, creating a spatial environment that is full of the spirit of times and humanistic quality. In this complex and multivariate era, new creation is not from a sudden inspiration, but from careful study of the unique needs and restrictions of each project, from uninterrupted breakthroughs and challenges to the restriction boarder, from continuous improvements in the whole process from concept to construction details, from skillful transformation between exterior and interior, new and old, artificial and natural, to make space as the communication medium between people and people, people and the environment, and create a new livable dwelling.

Some of ARCHSTUDIO’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ARCHSTUDIO achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	4
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	24
Total Projects	24

2. Neri & Hu

Founded in 2004 by partners Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, NHDRO (neri&hu design and research office) is a multi-disciplinary architectural design practice based in Shanghai, China. NHDRO works internationally providing architecture, interior, master planning, graphic and product design services. currently working on projects in seven countries, NHDRO is composed of multi-cultural staff who speak over 20 different languages. The diversity of the team reinforces a core vision for the practice: to respond to a global worldview incorporating overlapping design disciplines for a new paradigm in architecture. NHDRO’s location is purposeful.

Some of Neri & Hu’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Neri & Hu achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	8
A+Awards Finalist	8
Featured Projects	26
Total Projects	21

1. MAD Architects

MAD works in forward-looking environments developing futuristic architecture based on a contemporary interpretation of the eastern spirit of nature. All of MAD’s projects — from residential complexes or offices to cultural centers — desire to protect a sense of community and orientation toward nature, offering people the freedom to develop their own experience. Founded in 2004 by Ma Yansong, the office first earned worldwide attention in 2006 by winning an international competition to design a residential tower near Toronto, expected to be completed in the end of 2012.MAD has been commissioned by clients of all backgrounds, leading to an intriguing combination of diverse project designs.

Some of MAD Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The Cloudscape of Haikou, Haikou, China
Harbin Opera House, Harbin, China
Chaoyang Park Plaza, Beijing, China
Courtyard Kindergarten, Beijing, China
Gardenhouse, Beverly Hills, California

Top image: The Cloudscape of Haikou, Haikou, China

The following statistics helped MAD Architects achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in China:

A+Awards Winner	11
A+Awards Finalist	6
Featured Projects	30
Total Projects	28

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

Project completed within the last 3 years
A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
High quality, in focus photographs
At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
Inclusion of construction photographs

Reference

Architecture

The New Maximalist: When More is More in Interior Design

By Zarkon Group,05/09/2023

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

How do color, decoration and whimsy come together in modern design? Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe became known around the world for his seemingly simple buildings and the phrase “Less is More,” a mantra he adopted throughout his life. In turn, that phrase would come to define a generation of minimalist, modern design. As Pat Finn noted, more than 60 years after this famous statement, it seems that ornament still carries a hint of taboo. So what place does maximalism have in our everyday life?

Across architecture and interior design disciplines alike, maximalism is a reaction against minimalism, a move towards an aesthetic of excess. The philosophy is summarized as “more is more.” More color, more decoration, and the desire to celebrate the intricacies and complexity that come with them. Taking a dive into the Architizer library, the following projects represent how designers are creating maximalist interiors today. They represent multiple scales, material choices and wide-ranging geographies around the world. In turn, they show how interiors are becoming ever more playful, inclusive and inspiring.

BasilicÔ

By Studio CAYS, Casablanca, Morocco

The BasilicÔ was made to create an attractive and magnetizing place to explore. The design team wanted to imagine the impact colors can have on the occupant experience, creating an environment that stimulates the senses. As they explained, polychromy and morphology combine to create a maximalist aura. The BasilicÔ project revolves around a floral theme through which several types of apartments emerge: The CoquelicÔt, the MimÔsa, the TournesÔl, the MartagÔn and the TulipÔ.

Together, the different apartments form a “bouquet” within the building to brings vitality and freshness to raw concrete walls and subdued corridors. Each of the apartment themes has its own character which stems from a common floral personality. The differences result in different shapes, colors and materials which are reflected through wall panels and furniture.

Dream La Miro

By Wutopia Lab, Jiangsu, China

In Dream La Miro, Wutopia Lab wanted to create a place of joy for the Duoyun Bookstore. The fairytale parent-child bookstore was opened at Dream Town in Yancheng, Jiangsu. When the client showed the team the IP they had introduced, namely the three animated films created by Italian artist Cristina Làstrego: Mirò the Cat, The Circus and The Creation, they were moved by the magnificent scenes and the imagination created by the artist.

The result is a fairy tale bookstore that uses the origin of life as a base inspiration combined with elements from the other animations. Wutopia Lab chose the ark as the theme, with the yellow outside and red inside sailing ship docked in the harbor of the book sea. All the fairy tales about the Miro store of Duoyun Bookstore start from here. The team didn’t want the interior design to be boring or simple. The tent, ark, mountain and forest all became means by which they tried to break out a typical style façade.

LIÒN

By COLLIDANIELARCHITETTO, Rome, Italy

LIÒN is a restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Rome — halfway between the Pantheon and Piazza Navon. The project features bold lines and saturated colors in a maximalist style, contrasting with the austerity of the Palazzo that encompassed it. The idea was to give back to the city fragments of the Dolce Vita. Soft lights and mirrored surfaces envelope a sophisticated restaurant, whose terrace overlooks Largo della Sapienza.

LIÒN unfolds on two levels: the ground floor, encapsulating the restaurant, is completely projected on the outside through large windows outlined by a thick travertine frame. The basement, which is accessed via a marble staircase embellished with brass details, houses the service rooms, the kitchen and the wine cellar. The circle became the matrix of the dynamic elements, with soft and sinuous lines, which characterize the interiors, from the subtle and arched friezes that envelop the space, to the deep three-dimensional lozenge screen.

The MIXc Kunshan

By X+LIVING, China

MIXc Kunshan was designed by X+LIVING to create a commercial space with an innovative strategy. The team set out to transform a public space on the third floor of a mall into a children’s section with a unity of aesthetics and theme. The result was a reimagining of public space in shopping malls. The project is located in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, an important birthplace of Kunqu Opera. It has the nickname of “the mother of Chinese Opera”.

With the vision of creating a multifunctional experience venue that integrates parenting, leisure and education, the design team blurred the physical boundary between the public area and the retail stores through a coordinated facade design. In order to strengthen the cultural identity of the project, the team used Kunqu Opera as the origin of the design concept, and replaced the traditional aesthetic form with interesting design techniques to create a dreamlike, maximalist wonderland.

Barberia Royal

By ROW Studio, Ciudad de México, Mexico

Barberia Royal is a barbershop that offers services in an incredible location of Mexico City. ROW Studio wanted to incorporate the bits and pieces of a previous proposal that was under construction on the site for a different barbershop that was never finished, recycling mismatching moldings and other wooden elements. They put the pieces together almost randomly, fitting them in a contemporary form that still references the traditional symbols of European royalty.

The lower half of the space includes colors and materials linked to the long standing heritage of traditional barbershops, including black and white hexagonal tiles floor with a flower pattern and the Royal name greeting all the patrons at the entrance. In contrast, the ceiling is shaped with an intricate faceted surface that adapts to the changing heights of the space and the structural elements of the building finished with a laser-cut golden anodized aluminum surface.

SUNDAYS

By FLAT12x, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand

Sundays is the one-off restaurant illustrating design that is hand-crafted and built from the mindset of believing that arts can make things better. The maximalist restaurant was designed to integrate architecture, interior, graphic design and the arts in Bangkok, Thailand. Although surrounded by generic pubs and restaurants, Sundays was made to stand out. The restaurant offers customers striking experiences of what art can do to other things.

Ten pieces of drawings classically covering the unwanted old fridges or the flower bouquets that are pinned upside down to make the old structure of the building a little bit nicer. Roaming through unexpected drawings and paintings alongside with exquisite mixture of decoration styles, the restaurant expresses strong physical connection between the building to the room. Echoing this, the graphic design of the shop epitomizes the brand identity through signage and packaging of all foods and beverages.

Metal Rainbow

By Wutopia Lab, Suzhou, China

The Zhongshu Bookstore bookstore is divided into four main zones and several subdivided zones. Aiming to create a colorful new world by using symbolism, the architect gave a unique character to each zone: The Sanctuary of Crystal for new arrivals; The Cave of Fireflies for recommendations; The Xanadu of Rainbows for reading room; The Castle of Innocence for children books. As an entrance, ‘The Sanctuary of Crystal’ is a space full of books and nothing else. Using glass bricks, mirrors and acrylic, ‘The Sanctuary of Crystal’ is a shining white space, drawing customers into the heart of the store.

After a relatively narrow space, ‘The Xanadu of Rainbows’ is a large and open space. Thanks to the large windows, natural lights can pour inside. Being the most prominent space, ‘The Xanadu of Rainbows’ provides a variety of experience. Taking advantages of different heights of shelves, steps, and tables, the architect created a hyper-maximal and abstracted landscape of cliffs, valleys, islands, rapids and oases. There are also thin perforated aluminum sheets in gradient colors simulated as rainbows installed in the bookstore.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

Reference

Architecture

A Table With a View: 7 Ways Architects Are Upselling Restaurant Design

By Zarkon Group,02/09/2023

As the chef’s adage goes, you eat with your eyes first. Beyond the confines of the plate, a restaurant’s spatial character is the vital ingredient that underlies every meal. While crispy basil leaves and elegant reels of tagliatelle can conjure up fields of sun-dappled groves beneath a Tuscan sun, so too can the undulating curves of a vaulted ceiling or carefully articulated patterns of light.

The unique power of architecture in the hospitality sphere is something the architects of these winning restaurants from the 11^th A+Awards know well. From pioneering approaches to sustainability to striking cultural invocations and immersive visual storytelling, each offers an extraordinary new riff on traditional restaurant typologies. Add one part impeccable spatial planning to one part design innovation and mix well — here are seven ways architects are revolutionizing the eatery.

1. Evoking Distant Terrains

Taiga by Park + Associates, Singapore

Popular Choice Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

Taiga by Park + Associates While it may be nestled amid the bustling cityscape of Singapore, this astonishing Japanese restaurant channels the topography of the chef’s native Kochi Prefecture, over 3,000 miles away. A diptych relief painting of a tumultuous rock formation conceals the eatery’s entrance. Stepping through the parted canvas is like stepping into the mountain itself — diners negotiate twists and turns as they navigate the architectural ‘foothills.’

The cocooning, cave-like dining space is texturally rich and immersive. Rugged split-face granite is emboldened by downlighting, while the backlit saké bar is flanked by a glowing onyx rock formation articulated in a graphic 3D surface design. Throughout, metallic finishes glisten as though the restaurant were hollowed out from a mineral vein.

2. Revising the Vernacular

Shanshui Firewood Garden by Mix Architecture, Yibin, China

Popular Choice Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Hospitality Building

Shanshui Firewood Garden by Mix Architecture This extraordinary restaurant in rural Sichuan province takes inspiration from the region’s architectural vernacular. Traditional low, far-reaching eaves offer ventilation and shelter from the elements, while a central courtyard pool blurs the boundary between organic and built landscapes. Curved lines define the interior dining space, which is dissected into more intimate zones, each offering a glimpse of a different rural outlook.

The structure itself comprises red sandstone blocks from the mountains of Sichuan, hewn into usual fish scales, while firewood, the backbone of the area’s agricultural life, is entwined throughout the design. One of its most powerful iterations is the hanging curtain of suspended timber blocks, which encases the structure in a magnificent porous skin. These familiar local materials are skillfully reimagined in unfamiliar ways.

3. Experimenting With Timber Tectonics

Prime Seafood Palace by Omar Gandhi Architects, Toronto, Canada

Popular Choice Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)

Prime Seafood Palace by Omar Gandhi Architects Bold in its monochrome execution, this Toronto restaurant was conceived as a mesmerizing timber cathedral. Rather than being shaped by the transient whims of interior trends, the architects opted for an evolving natural material palette that would patina and shift with the passage of time.

Enveloping slats line the vaulted barrel ceiling, extending down over the apertures across one aspect of the dining zone. The effect is a soft diffusion of natural light. Wood here is employed as a protective layer from the city outside — it softens the visual and acoustic experience, carving out an ethereal space at arm’s reach from the hustle and bustle.

4. Celebrating Salvage

Project Big Top by Multitude of Sins, Bangalore, India

Jury Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Interior Project

Project Big Top by Multitude of Sins While many in the industry pay lip service to sustainability, this whimsical restaurant in Bangalore is a true celebration of reuse. 90% of its material fabric comprises recycled and salvaged elements, resulting in a playful, architectural patchwork of curios. Inspired by the spectacle of the circus, the entrance is framed by a ripple of teal arches crafted from scrap metal, while chandeliers shaped from bike chains and metal filings hang overhead.

In the main two-story dining area, a wall of discarded electronics, fixtures and furnishings forms an elaborate collage of waste. The result of this magnificent mismatched interior is two-fold. On the one hand, the fantastical space is an artistic hub of escapism, yet on the other, it subtly reinforces a powerful environmental message.

5. Honoring the Rural Landscape

Steirereck am Pogusch by PPAG architects, Turnau, Austria

Jury Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)
Jury Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Hospitality Building

Steirereck am Pogusch by PPAG architects Sequestered in the Austrian Alps, this pioneering restaurant complex is rooted in its rural mountain locale. The various buildings, some old, some new, form a self-sufficient culinary village that encompasses dining areas, prep kitchens, staff zones, guest accommodation and a kitchen garden. Across the estate, the verdant landscape is never far from view. In one of the restaurants, swaths of glazing encircle the space. Slatted timber dividers create permeable divisions between tables, ensuring the breathtaking outlook takes center stage.

One of the complex’s newer interventions is a pioneering glass structure — a hybrid greenhouse and living space. Ingeniously, the atmosphere symbiotically supports residents and plant life. The structure is stepped into the incline of the hillside, respectful of the rhythms of the existing terrain.

6. Fusing Nostalgia and Futurism

Super Paradise Beach Club by Omniview Design, Mykonos, Greece

Popular Choice Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Popular Choice Winner

Super Paradise beach club by Omniview Design The artful revival of this historic beach bar on the Greek island of Mykonos has resulted in a fascinating collision of architectural languages. The unembellished whitewashed walls and rustic, traditional materials including wood and bamboo hark back to the Cycladic vernacular. Historic emblems play out across the scheme — hollows inset into the walls create display nooks around the bar and entryway.

However, the handling of these elements is strikingly futuristic. Complex, curvilinear geometries orchestrated by state-of-the-art technology result in flowing lines that appear otherworldly. The project reads as a fusion of timelines, merging to create an enigmatic space that defies categorization.

7. Architecturalizing Nature

Ling Ling by Sordo Madaleno, Mexico City, Mexico

Jury Winner, 11^th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

Ling Ling by Sordo Madaleno Poised at the top of one of Mexico City’s highest skyscrapers, this extraordinary restaurant subverts expectations. Floating over the city, a flourishing garden unfurls, taking its design cues from the terraces and courtyards prevalent in Mexican architecture. In the triple-height dining zone, a lofty portico structure intertwined with greenery creates a biophilic cathedral of sorts.

In the inner bar and salon, the spatial proportions contract. An innovative vaulted timber framework hangs above patrons. Crafted using intricate stereotomy techniques, the layers of wood ebb and flow in undulations. Trunk-like columns rise to form a canopy overhead, as though, inexplicably, an architectural forest had taken root on the 56^th floor.

Reference

Architecture

Wabi-Sabi: Why Architects Should Discover the Art of Imperfection

By Zarkon Group,30/08/2023

There is a crack in everything / That’s how the light gets in
– Leonard Cohen

The most memorable buildings are not always the most stunning ones. A bit of awkwardness — clunkiness even — can help a building stick in the mind, much like a crooked nose or a lazy eye can give a human face “character.” There is a Japanese term for this idea: wabi-sabi. The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines wabi-sabi as an aesthetic attitude “which delights in the tarnish on an ancient silver bowl and the old uneven cobblestones.” Wabi-sabi is not the valorization of ugliness but of beautiful objects that seem to approach perfection, only then to veer away from it at the last moment. Perhaps in this way, they signal that they belong to the world of things and not ideas.

Wabi-sabi is precisely what AI-generated designs will always lack. It is also what is missing from Brasilia, the immaculate, centrally planned capital city of Brazil that people famously hate living in because it seems too sterile. In fact, I would argue that it was precisely a lack of wabi-sabi that doomed the International Style, opening the way for postmodernists to restore decorative motifs, whimsy and weirdness of various kinds to their designs.

You can’t bottle wabi-sabi though. Just because one intends to lend their building a charming sense of imperfection doesn’t mean one will succeed. In fact, it is perhaps not advisable to intend to create such an effect. Think back to the archetypal examples of wabi-sabi: a tarnished bowl, uneven cobblestones. These details simply emerged organically, and they remain as an index of the object’s contact with the world.

The Kaleidoscope by Inrestudio, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam. Note the dramatically scaled and off-kilter roof.

Nevertheless, some new buildings do achieve a sense of wabi-sabi, a charming awkwardness. And I think they achieve this effect by working with the environment, seeking neither a pure functionalism nor a dramatic ornamental scheme. One building that inhabits this zone is The Kaleidoscope, a mixed-use workplace and residential studio in central Vietnam designed by the firm Inrestudio under the direction of lead architect Kosuke Nishijima.

The Kaleidoscope, which was Jury Winner in the 11th Annual A+Awards’ Office – Low-Rise category, makes a strong impression when one encounters it in the forests of Vietnam, wedged between a forested hill and the sea. Relatively small (two stories, 3,150 square feet) but sturdy, it at first appears to be a kind of squat brutalist fortress, perhaps some sort of municipal building or outpost for forest rangers. But then one notices the roof – heavy, sculptural,and off-centered, with dramatic eaves that shade the trunk of the building like a mushroom cap. Walking around the building, one then notices the perforated ventilation blocks and, finally, the outside of a white spiral staircase. The design elements all work together nicely but not cleanly. There is a sense of bricolage, of different ideas pieced together according to a design that is idiosyncratic but not random.

The Kaleidoscope by Inrestudio, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

When one looks into the rationale behind this beautiful roof, one learns that it indeed has a function tied to the harsh tropical climate of central Vietnam. “Resembling a “nón lá”, a traditional farmer’s hat of Vietnam, a large conical roof casts shadows on the entire building,” explains Inrestudio. “The ventilated cavity between the double layered roof functions as a natural heat insulator against the sunlight, while the deep eaves enable the central space’s windows to remain open even during the rains. The main function of the building is placed at the center of a floating slab, which keeps the space protected from the ground moisture.”

So this is the purpose of the squat Brutalist fortress – to allow individuals to experience fresh air even during typhoons. The perforated walls enhance this relationship to the outdoors. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadows cast inside the building change, much like the patterns of a kaleidoscope change when the end is rotated.

The Kaleidoscope by Inrestudio, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

“Perforated ventilation blocks are common building elements in tropical regions, not only to moderate environmental factors but also casting impressive light patterns,” explains Inrestudio. “Custom precast ventilation blocks compose the outer surfaces of the triangular volumes to provide privacy to the inner rooms. These fiber-reinforced concrete blocks have larger dimensions than usual, and match the grand scale of the surrounding backdrop.”

The Kaleidoscope by Inrestudio, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam | Interior view of perforated ventilation block.

The intended use of this building is interesting as well. It is both a living and working space. Located near a factory in a relatively remote area of Vietnam, the building houses offices on the lower level and residences above. Inrestudio explains that they placed a large emphasis on natural light in their design in order to highlight the transition from day to night, when the function of the building will shift from working to living.

Notre Dame du Haut, nicknamed Ronchamp Chapel, is one of Le Corbusier’s most loved buildings. Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese term, but the idea has been embraced by Westerners as well – even those one wouldn’t expect. Le Corbusier, for instance, is remembered as the archon of high modernism, drawing up wicked plans to flatten Paris to make room for concrete high rises. And yet, the building he is best remembered for looks a lot like The Kaleidoscope. In fact, it would be hard for me to believe that Inrestudio did not have the Ronchamp Chapel in mind when they designed The Kaleidoscope.

Completed in 1954, near the end of his career, Ronchamp Chapel is a masterpiece that seems to bear little resemblance to the harsh symmetries of Corbusier’s earlier buildings. It replaced a stone chapel that had been destroyed in the second world war, and one gets the impression that Corbu understood that his design should preserve some of the gentleness, or wabi-sabi, of the original, even though his design was entirely original. Like the Kaleidoscope, its greatest features are its sculptural roof, which seems to float above the structure, and the way it draws in natural light in the interior. In the case of Ronchamp Chapel, this is done through a charming array of stained glass windows – arranged in an irregular pattern of course.

Interior view of Ronchamp Chapel. Note the slight gap at the roof line, which lets in a crack of sunlight. Photo by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash

Like The Kaleidoscope, Ronchamp Chapel is possessed of a humble beauty that is easy to relate to. It might be an odd building, but it is not unserious of self-consciously quirky. Above all, it is very much itself. I hope to see more buildings designed in this mode in the coming years.

Reference

inspiration

By NICOLEHOLLIS, Napa, California

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