The Most Spectacular Architectural Projects of the Year
Architectural Digest's latest list of awe-inspiring architectural projects, titled Works of Wonder, showcases remarkable creations like The Sphere in Las Vegas, Hermès' innovative workshop in Normandy, and the Istanbul Modern art museum's stunning relocation
In the heart of Tirana, Albania,
residents and visitors can ascend a massive pyramid that once served as a powerful symbol of a repressive regime - their steps symbolizing a triumph over the past. Reimagined by the Dutch architecture studio MVRDV, the Pyramid of Tirana has been reborn from a rundown former museum dedicated to the country's former leader (and later repurposed as a NATO base, among other uses) into a vibrant cultural center featuring colorful boxes, stairs, and sloping slides. This project is just one of 18 new architectural ventures recognized by Architectural Digest as the most breathtaking of the year in its annual "Works of Wonder" or "WOW" list in the February issue.
Architectural Digest
Sam Cochran, ADs global features director, emphasized the importance of spotlighting how existing architecture can be adapted for the future, especially in light of the looming threat of climate change and the significant carbon footprint of new construction. This is why the choice was made to include the Pyramid of Tirana.
"MVRDV, a Dutch firm, has not only shown that it's possible to repurpose old buildings, but to do so with a sense of joy, wit, and fun," said Cochran.
Every year, the WOW list showcases outstanding new projects from around the world, featuring projects from five different continents this year. These include a public pool transformed into a Yoruba cultural center in Lagos, Nigeria; floating glass exhibition spaces in Hiroshima, Japan; a new aquarium designed to resemble a sprawling ruin in Mazatlán, Mexico; and a spherical LED-paneled concert venue that's making headlines in Las Vegas.
The rehomed Istanbul Modern, the city's first contemporary art museum, has been described as a cultural milestone designed by some of the world's leading architects. It had "outgrown" its humble warehouse space, according to AD.
Architects from Renzo Piano Building Workshop designed a slick new home for contemporary art in Istanbul.
Cemal Emden/Architectural Digest
Renzo Piano Building Workshop designed the new space, which was described by Talib Choudhry, head of editorial content at AD Middle East, as having "Wow moments abound." According to Choudhry, the building takes inspiration from the Bosphorus Strait and features a 650-square-meter rooftop viewing terrace that hovers above a water plane that covers the entire roof.
Other notable projects that showcase a deep connection with the natural world are the Chiles LAMA Pavilion, which stands above the tree line in Yungay, offering stunning views of the Andes mountains, and the newly rejuvenated Parimal Garden in Ahmedabad, India, providing a picturesque green oasis in the midst of the city. In addition, remarkable feats of sustainability are celebrated, such as the new Hermès workshop in Normandy, France. Architect Lina Ghotmeh collaborated with local artisans to hand-craft 500,000 bricks for the creation of this remarkable space.
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Lebanese architect Lina Gotmeh envisioned an impressive feat of brickwork for Hermès new workshop.
Iwan Baan/Architectural Digest
Marina Hemonet, the head of editorial content for AD France, described the saddlery workshop as a remarkable combination of beauty and sustainability. She also emphasized its tribute to Hermès equestrian heritage with its arched structure evoking a show-jumping course. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, she highlighted the project's virtue as the first low-carbon, positive-energy industrial building in France.
Other luxury brands also made an appearance on the list, including Tiffany & Co. The iconic Fifth Avenue three-story flagship received recognition for its renovation, featuring new interiors by architect Peter Marino and a stunning, luminous glass crown illuminated in Tiffany Blue by the firm OMA.
