21 most anticipated architectural projects of 2024, Best building designs around the world
The 21 Most Anticipated Architectural Projects of 2024
21 August 2024
2024 has been a transformative year in the world of architecture.
photo courtesy of architects office
From eco-centric urban jungles to gravity-defying skyscrapers, this year’s marvels are rewriting rules and redefining skylines.
So, with much excitement, let’s dive into these blueprints for the future!
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Neom City, Saudi Arabia: The $500 Billion Desert Mirage
Neom City isn’t just a mega-project—it’s a $500 billion race to the future.
Spanning 10,200 square miles (that’s 33 times the size of New York City). Neom is Saudi Arabia’s audacious attempt to build a high-tech utopia powered entirely by renewable energy.
With autonomous vehicles, AI-driven infrastructure, and a population target of one million by 2030, Neom is set to be the gold standard for future cities.
But will it live up to the hype? Time will tell.
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The Emerald of Katong, Singapore: Luxe Living with a Green Twist
Nestled in the culturally rich district of Katong, The Emerald of Katong Condo is one of Singapore’s most anticipated residential developments.
This 32-story tower is a blend of luxury and sustainability, offering panoramic views of the city and the sea.
The project integrates vertical gardens, energy-efficient cooling systems, and rainwater harvesting, all while providing top-tier amenities such as rooftop pools and private lounges.
With 300 units, The Emerald of Katong is set to be a jewel in Singapore’s urban landscape, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and environmental stewardship.
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The Line, Saudi Arabia: A City That Stretches to Infinity
Part of the larger Neom project, The Line is an urbanist’s dream (or nightmare) come true—a city that stretches 170 kilometres in a straight line across the desert.
With no cars, no streets, and zero carbon emissions, The Line aims to house 9 million residents in a vertical arrangement.
It’s a radical rethinking of urban design, but can it deliver on its promise to eliminate urban sprawl and create a more sustainable way of living?
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Valley, Amsterdam, Netherlands: The Urban Jungle
Designed by MVRDV, Valley is a 75,000-square-meter (807,000-square-foot) mixed-use development in the heart of Amsterdam.
Its three towers, ranging from 67 to 100 meters, are wrapped in terraces overflowing with greenery—an urban jungle in the truest sense.
The project will house offices, residences, retail spaces, and even a museum.
With its LEED Platinum certification, Valley is a testament to the power of sustainable design in urban environments.
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Museum of the Future, Dubai, UAE: Tomorrow’s Tech, Today
Like the Emerald of Katong showflat, Dubai’s Museum of the Future is as much a feat of engineering as it is of architecture.
This torus-shaped building, designed by Killa Design, features a stainless steel facade adorned with Arabic calligraphy—3,000 panels of it, to be precise.
Standing at 77 meters (253 feet) tall, the museum will serve as an incubator for innovation, focusing on AI, robotics, and sustainable energy.
It’s a fitting monument for a city that’s always looking to the future.
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1,000 Trees, Shanghai, China: A Mountain of Greenery
Heatherwick Studio’s 1,000 Trees project in Shanghai is literally bringing nature into the city.
This mixed-use development, covering 300,000 square meters (3.2 million square feet), features over 1,000 trees integrated into its structure.
Resembling a mountain covered in foliage, it offers a striking contrast to the typical glass-and-steel high-rises of the city.
With its focus on biophilia, 1,000 Trees is more than just a building—it’s a living, breathing ecosystem.
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New Parliament House, New Delhi, India: Democracy Redefined
India’s New Parliament House, part of the Central Vista redevelopment, is designed to be both a functional and symbolic upgrade.
With a capacity to house 1,272 members—twice that of the current building—the new structure reflects the growing needs of the world’s largest democracy.
The triangular design, echoing India’s rich architectural heritage, integrates state-of-the-art technology to support 21st-century governance while aiming for a Platinum LEED certification.
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Jeddah Tower, Saudi Arabia: Reaching for the Sky
Standing at a mind-bending 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), the Jeddah Tower is on track to dethrone the Burj Khalifa as the tallest building on the planet.
This $1.4 billion skyscraper, designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, will house luxury apartments, office space, and the world’s highest observation deck at 644 meters.
With 252 floors, the Jeddah Tower isn’t just tall—it’s a statement of Saudi Arabia’s ambitions on the world stage.
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Canary Wharf Redevelopment, London, UK: From Financial Hub to Green Haven
Canary Wharf is undergoing a significant transformation, moving from its roots as a financial district to a more residential, community-focused neighbourhood.
The redevelopment will introduce 3,500 new homes and 2.6 million square feet of office space, all within a 23-acre green space.
The project is geared towards low-carbon development, targeting BREEAM Outstanding certifications for its buildings.
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O-Tower, Hangzhou, China: The Infinity Loop
Bjarke Ingels Group’s O-Tower is not just another corporate HQ—it’s a symbol of infinite innovation.
Designed for OPPO, the Chinese smartphone giant, this 42-story building will rise 200 meters (656 feet) and feature a central courtyard, allowing natural light to penetrate the structure.
The infinity loop design is both aesthetically striking and functionally efficient, optimizing energy use and reducing environmental impact.
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Masaryčka, Prague, Czech Republic: The Modern Meets the Historic
Masaryčka is Zaha Hadid Architects’ vision for revitalizing one of Prague’s most historic railway stations.
The project includes 28,000 square meters (301,000 square feet) of office space, retail areas, and public amenities.
With its flowing, organic design, Masaryčka will seamlessly blend modern architecture with Prague’s historic urban fabric, creating a new landmark in the city.
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Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, UAE: The World’s Largest Guggenheim
Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is set to be the largest in the world, covering 30,000 square meters (322,900 square feet) of gallery space.
With its distinctive design—Gehry’s signature deconstructivist style—the museum will showcase contemporary art from around the globe.
The $400 million project is a key part of Abu Dhabi’s strategy to become a cultural capital.
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CityLife Milano, Italy: The Milanese Modernist Marvel
CityLife Milano is an ambitious project reshaping Milan’s skyline.
This mixed-use development includes the iconic Isozaki Tower (aka Il Dritto), which, at 209 meters (686 feet), is the tallest building in Italy.
Often compared to the Emerald of Katong showroom, the project features green spaces and public areas, accounting for 170,000 square meters (1.8 million square feet) of the development.
CityLife is a model of how to blend commercial, residential, and recreational spaces into a cohesive urban environment.
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The Orb, Dubai, UAE: A Futuristic Icon
The Orb, with its spherical design, is poised to become another architectural icon in Dubai’s ever-evolving skyline.
The mixed-use development will rise 200 meters (656 feet) and will house luxury apartments, a five-star hotel, and retail spaces.
Its futuristic design is a nod to Dubai’s penchant for pushing the boundaries of architectural imagination.
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Tainan Axis, Tainan, Taiwan: Reviving the Past with Green Energy
MVRDV’s Tainan Axis project focuses on revitalizing a 1980s shopping mall, transforming it into a vibrant, sustainable urban hub.
The design incorporates solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and extensive green spaces, turning a relic of the past into a model for the future.
The project covers 50,000 square meters (538,200 square feet) and will feature retail, office, and residential areas with the goal of sustainability.
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Sakana Tower, Singapore: Vertical Living Reimagined
The Sakana Tower, designed by NBBJ, is set to redefine urban living in Singapore.
At 180 meters (590 feet) tall, this residential tower will incorporate vertical gardens, green roofs, and energy-efficient systems.
The design focuses on maximizing natural ventilation and daylight, reducing the building’s overall energy consumption by 30%.
Sakana Tower, like the Emerald of Katong, Singapore, is not just a place to live—it’s a sustainable ecosystem in the sky.
More architecture projects in 2024:
- National Museum of Qatar, Doha, Qatar: The Desert Rose in Bloom
Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar is inspired by the desert rose—a mineral formation found in Qatar’s deserts.
Covering 40,000 square meters (430,560 square feet), the museum’s Emerald of Katong esq design is both organic and futuristic, creating a dynamic, sculptural form.
The museum will house a collection that spans Qatar’s history and its future, making it a cultural landmark in the Gulf.
- Bee’ah Headquarters, Sharjah, UAE: The Future of Sustainability
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the Bee’ah Headquarters in Sharjah is a pioneering example of sustainable architecture.
The building is designed to produce zero carbon emissions and is powered by renewable energy.
Its fluid, dune-inspired form is not only aesthetically striking but also functional, optimizing natural ventilation and minimizing energy consumption.
The 7,000-square-meter (75,350-square-foot) building is a beacon for sustainable design in the Middle East.
- Amager Resource Center, Copenhagen, Denmark: Waste to Wonder
The Amager Resource Center, also known as CopenHill, is a waste-to-energy plant with a twist—it has a ski slope on its roof.
Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, this 85-meter (279-foot) tall facility turns 440,000 tons of waste into energy each year, providing electricity and district heating to 150,000 homes.
CopenHill is a shining example of how industrial buildings can be repurposed for public use, merging functionality with recreational space.
- Albania Tower, Tirana, Albania: A Symbol of Modern Albania
Albania Tower, designed by MVRDV, is set to become the tallest building in Albania, standing at 185 meters (607 feet).
Its distinctive triangular form is not just about aesthetics—it’s designed to maximize natural light and minimize energy use.
The mixed-use tower will house offices, apartments, and retail spaces, and its completion will mark a significant step in Tirana’s urban evolution.
- The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, USA: Architecture as a Force for Change
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is a powerful example of architecture’s ability to convey profound social messages.
Covering 6 acres, the memorial commemorates the victims of racial injustice in the United States.
Its minimalist design, featuring 800 steel columns representing lynching victims, is both stark and poignant.
However, it serves to remind visitors of the nation’s troubled past while advocating for a more just future.
21 most anticipated architectural projects of 2024 Conclusion
If the cutting-edge designs of these projects inspire you, consider exploring this guide.
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