Architecture in 2012, Buildings of the Year, Architects, Designs, Images

Buildings of 2012 : Architecture of the Year

e-architect Selection of Key Architecture from 2012

Major Buildings from 2012

e-architect have selected some key buildings and designs from 2012.

Our parameters? Architecture that stimulates, buildings that question, designs that show innovation.

We aren’t saying these are the ‘best’ buildings of 2012, merely a selection of ones that have moved us.

We asked a selection of architecture critics to pick out the key buildings of the year but we’re deliberately not considering the complex task of selecting ‘winners’.

Adrian Welch, e-architect editor

19 + 18 Dec 2012 – Here are the views of our selected architectural critics:

– Professor Alan Dunlop, Scotland / China

– Milos Stipcic, Spain

– Karolina Szynalska, England

Architecture of 2012

We’ve divided up completed buildings and designs.

Building Designs of 2012 – Part 2 ; Part 1 is below:

Buildings / designs are listed in chronological order, most recent first:

Major Buildings completed in 2012

Lazika Municipality Building, Georgia
Design: Architects of invention
Lazika Municipality Building Georgia
photo : Nakanimamasakhlisi
The young UK-Georgia-based practice Architects of Invention has completed a new municipality building for a city which is yet to come into being – Lazika. This marine, economic and commercial centre was intended to be one of the largest cities in Georgia.

DNB Bank Headquarters Oslo, Norway
Design: MVRDV
DNB Bank Headquarters
photo : Jiri Havran
This new building by MVRDV sits within an exuberant new group on the Oslo waterfront. Each building is in a contemporary style and there is a dense urban grain to the development.

Louvre Lens Museum, France – building news
SANAA / Imrey Culbert / Catherine Mosbach
Louvre Lens Museum
photograph © Iwan Baan
The museum consists of five pavilions–low one-story structures, connected at their corners, that grace, enhance and dissolve into the landscape rather than overpower it. Aside from the entrance glass pavilion, the buildings are clad in a reflective aluminum, creating blurred reflections of the surroundings, changing with the scenery, the weather and the position of the person viewing it.

Nanterre Apartment Block, Nanterre, France
Design: X-TU Architects
Nanterre Apartment Block France
photo : Luc Boegly
The volumes are intersected vertically by faulting planted. These ‘traits cuts, the organization structure of the plan and provide transparency between the terraces and promenade French Provinces.

Bicentennial Civic Center in Córdoba
Design: GGMPU Arquitectos + Lucio Morini
Bicentennial Civic Center Córdoba
photo : Claudio Manzoni
The Bicentennial Civic Center will be the first administrative complex to have been designed specifically for that end by the Province of Córdoba, Argentina. It is located on the edge of the historic center of the city, on a lot that used to belong to the railway tracks.

Tower of Ring, Tianjin, China
EASTERN design office + Kawaguchi & Eng
Tower of Ring China
image from architects

SICEEP Darling Harbour, NSW, Australia
HASSELL + Populous
Sydney new Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct design project Sydney Buildings of 2012
image : HASSELL + Populous

Battersea Power Station, London
Design: various architects
Battersea Power Station proposal Buildings of 2012
picture of proposals

Phoenix Observation Tower, Arizona, USA
BIG
Phoenix Observation Tower Arizona Buildings of 2012
image from architect

Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, Sydney
Frank Gehry
Dr Chau Chak Wing Building UTS Business School Sydney
image : Gehry Partners, LLP

Tanmen Fishing Museums, Hainan, China
Design: Office for Architectural Culture (OAC)
Fishing Museums Buildings of 2012
picture from architects

The Grove at Grand Bay residences, Miami
Design: BIG + others
The Grove at Grand Bay residences Miami Buildings of 2012
image from BIG

Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill, NY, USA
Design: Herzog & de Meuron
Parrish Art Museum Buildings of 2012
Parrish Art Museum

House Yamasaki, Hyogo, Japan
Design: Tato architects
House in Yamasaki
photo : Ken’ichi Suzuki

Bing Concert Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA
Design: Ennead Architects
Bing Concert Hall Buildings of 2012
photo © Jeff Goldberg

Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, Holland
Benthem Crouwel Architects
Ziggo Dome Amsterdam Buildings of 2012
photo : Jannes Linders

Blue Planet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Architect: 3XN
Blue Planet Aquarium Buildings of 2012
photo from architects

Swanston Academic Building, Melbourne
Lyons
Swanston Academic Buildings of 2012
image : John Gollings

Urban Collage, Champigny-sur-Marne, France
Maison Edouard François
Urban Collage Buildings of 2012
photograph © Paul Raftery

House on the Cliff, Alicante, Spain
Design: Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
Casa del Acantilado Alicante Buildings of 2012
photo : Diego Opazo

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, USA
Design: Zaha Hadid Architects
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Buildings of 2012
photo © 2012, Eli Broad

Malopolska Garden Arts Krakow, Poland
Design: Ingarden & Ewy Architekci
Małopolska Garden of Arts Buildings of 2012
photo © Krzysztof Ingarden

Bodrum Houses, Yalikavak, Turkey
Design: Richard Meier & Partners
Bodrum House Buildings of 2012
Richard Meier & Partners

Louvre Lens Museum, France – building news
SANAA / Imrey Culbert / Catherine Mosbach
Louvre Lens Museum Buildings of 2012
image © architects

Galaxy Soho, Beijing, China – launch news
Design: Zaha Hadid Architect
Galaxy Soho Beijing Buildings of 2012
photograph : Iwan Baan

Observation Tower at Circuit of the Americas
Design: Miró Rivera Architects
Austin Observation Tower Buildings of 2012
Paul Finkel | Piston Design

Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
Design: Farshid Moussavi
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland Buildings of 2012
photo : Dean Kaufman

La Muna, Aspen, Colorado, USA
Design: Oppenheim Architecture + Design
Aspen House Buildings of 2012
photo : Laziz Hamani

UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Saucier + Perrotte / HCMA
UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vancouver Buildings of 2012
photograph : Marc Cramer

Nakahouse, Hollywood Hills, California, USA
Design: XTEN Architecture
Nakahouse
photograph : Steve King

O-14 tower building, Dubai, UAE
Reiser + Umemoto – RUR Architecture
O-14 tower building
photo : Nelson Garrido

JKC1 Singapore
Architect: ONG&ONG Pte Ltd
JKC1 Singapore
photo from architects

Plaza of Spain in Adeje, WAF New & Old win
Menis Arquitectos SLP
Plaza España in Adeje
photograph ® Simona Rota

Book Mountain, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
MVRDV
Book Mountain Rotterdam
picture : Jeroen Musch

Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Design: BenthemCrouwel Architects with Arup
Stedelijk Museum Building
photograph : John Lewis Marshall

Aberdeen Library University, Scotland – news
Design: Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Aberdeen University Library
photograph : Adam Mørk

SADAR+VUGA – Latest Design : Vander Urbani Resort, Slovenia
Hotel Vander Buildings of 2012
photo : Miran Kambi

Yurihonjo City Cultural Center building, Japan
chiaki arai urban and architectural design
Cultural Center Kadare v
photograph copyright 2012 Taisuke Ogawa

OCT Clubhouse, Shenzhen, China
Richard Meier & Partners Architects LLP
OCT Clubhouse Building
photo courtesy of Roland Halbe

Wuxi Grand Theatre Building, China
Architect: PES-Architects
Wuxi Grand Theatre Building
photograph : Pan Weijun

Pierrevives, Montpellier, France
Zaha Hadid Architects
Pierresvives Building
photo © Hélène Binet

Toblerone House, São Paulo, Brazil
studio mk27
Toblerone house São Paulo Buildings of 2012
photograph : Nelson Kon

V4 House, São Paulo, Brazil
studio mk27
V4 house São Paulo Buildings of 2012
photograph : Nelson Kon

Autofamily House, Poland
KWK PROMES Robert Konieczny
Autofamily House
picture from architects

Barin Ski Resort, Tehran, Iran
RYRA Studio
Barin Ski Resort Building
picture from architects

Stacking Green, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Ho Chi Minh City House
photograph : Hiroyuki Oki

Cloud House North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia
Architect: McBride Charles Ryan
Cloud House Buildings of 2012
photo : John Gollings

De Kameleon, Amsterdam, Netherlands
NL Architects
Kameleon Building
photo : Marcel van der Burg

London Aquatics Centre, UK
Zaha Hadid Architects
London Olympic Pool Buildings of 2012
photo : Hufton + Crow

Steelband Project, Vannes, north west France
Atelier Arcau
The Steelband Building
photo from architects

Platforma Artes Guimarães, Portugal
Pitágoras Architects
Building in Guimarães Buildings of 2012
photograph : Joao Morgado

Conservatories Bay South Garden, Singapore
Wilkinson Eyre Architects / Grant Associates
Conservatories at Bay South Garden Singapore Buildings of 2012
picture © Craig Sheppard

King’s Cross Concourse, London
John McAslan & Partners
Kings Cross Concourse Buildings of 2012
image : Hufton + Crow

BAF Building, Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico
ARQme
BAF Buildings of 2012
image : Jacob Sadrak

CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, China
OMA
China Central Television Headquarters Buildings of 2012
photograph : Iwan Baan

Bilbao Arena, Spain
Idom UK
Bilbao Arena Buildings of 2012
photo : Jorge Allende

Architecture News Jun 2012

We feature selected buildings below that have recently appeared on the architecture news. A wider selection can be found in the monthly architectural news pages. We try to choose major buildings / designs that have created the most interest for our readers.

EYE Dutch Film Museum, Amsterdam
Delugan Meissl Associated Architects
Dutch Film Museum Buildings of 2012
photo copyright Rene den Engelsman

Biomedical Research Centre Pamplona
Vaillo & Irigaray + Galar
Biomedical Research Centre Pamplona Buildings of 2012
photo © Ruben P. Bescós, rubenbescos(at)gmail.com

Maggie’s Southwest Wales, Wales
Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates
Maggies Southwest Wales Buildings of 2012
photograph : Thore Garbers

House in Gloucestershire, England
Found Associates
House in Gloucestershire
photo © Hufton & Crow

Shelter byGG, Guimarães, Portugal
Gabriela Gomes
Guimarães Building
photograph : Joao Morgado

Olympic Stadium Kiev, Ukraine
gmp – von Gerkan, Marg & Partners
Kiev Stadium Building
photograph : Marcus Bredt

National Stadium Warsaw, Poland
architects consortium gmp International
Stadium Building Warsaw
photo : Marcus Bredt

AAMI Park Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Cox Architects & Planners with Arup
AAMI Park Building
photo : John Gollings

Hen House Building, Sweden
Architect: Torsten Ottesjö
Hen Coop Building
photograph © David Relan

BMW Guggenheim Lab in Berlin, Germany
Atelier Bow-Wow
BMW Guggenheim Lab Berlin
Christian Richters © Solomon R. Guggenheim F.

Xieira House Leiria, Portugal
Design: A2+ ARQUITECTOS
Xieira House
photo : FG+SG fotografia de arquitectura

Raif Dinckok Cultural Center, Turkey
Design: EAA-Emre Arolat Architects
Raif Dinckok Cultural Center Building
picture Courtesy of Emre Arolat Architects

Municipal Auditorium Teulada, Alicante, Spain
Francisco Mangado
Municipal Auditorium Teulada
photo : Juan Rodríguez

Architecture News May 2012

Major New Architecture from the first part of the year

We feature selected buildings below that have appeared on our architectural news page, forming significant interest for our readership.

JOH 3, Berlin, Germany
J Mayer H Architects
Berlin-Mitte Apartmenthouse
photo © L Paffrath

Knoll Ridge Cafe, New Zealand
Harris Butt Architecture
Knoll Ridge Cafe Building
photograph : Simon Devitt

The Oct Design Museum, Shenzhen, China
Studio Pei-Zhu
Oct Design Museum Building
photo : Studio Pei-Zhu

Building Academy Salzburg, Austria
soma architecture
Building Academy Salzburg
photo © Florian Hafele, Innsbruck, Austria

Daeyang Gallery and House, South Korea
Design: Steven Holl Architects
Daeyang Gallery and House
photograph : Iwan Baan

Pousada de Cascais, Portugal
Gonçalo Byrne Arquitectos
Pousada de Cascais
photograph : Joao Morgado

Crystal Hall Baku, Azerbaijan
gmp Architects
Eurovision Song Contest Venue Azerbaijan
photograph © Marcus Bredt

Metropol Parasol, Seville, Spain
Jürgen Mayer H Architects
Metropol Parasol
picture : David Franck

Casa La Peña, Valle de Bravo, México
R-Zero Studio
Casa La Peña
picture from architects

Baku Flame Towers, Azerbaijan
HOK International
Baku Flame Towers
picture from architect

Madrid Architects’ Association, Madrid, Spain
Gonzalo Moure
COAM Madrid Headquarters Building
photo : Jorge Crooke Carballal

Yale University Art Gallery, CO, USA
Ennead Architects
Yale University Art Gallery Building
photo © Christopher Gardner, 2012

Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari, Modena, Italy
Architect: Jan Kaplický
Enzo Ferrari Museum Modena
photo © Andrea Morgante

Arnhem Central Platforms, The Netherlands
UNStudio
Arnhem Central Platforms
photo : Tim Snoek

Expo Yeosu Pavilion, South Korea
soma architecture
Expo Yeosu Building
photo © soma architecture

One Raffles Place Tower 2, Singapore
SAA
One Raffles Place Tower 2 Singapore
photo : SAA Architects

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012, London
Herzog & de Meuron & Ai Weiwei
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012 London design
image © Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei

Titanic Belfast, Northern Ireland
TODD Architects / Eric R Kuhne & Associates
Titanic Belfast Building
picture : Christopher Heaney

Dream Downtown Hotel, New York City, USA
Handel Architects
Dream Downtown Hotel
photo : Bruce Damonte

Reflections at Keppel Bay Singapore
Studio Daniel Libeskind
Reflections at Keppel Bay
photograph © Courtesy of Keppel Bay Pte Ltd

Domkyrkoforum Visitor Centre, Lund, Sweden
Carmen Izquierdo
Lund Building
photograph : Åke E:son Lindman

Building Designs of 2012 – Part 2

Architecture News – current global building news highlights

World Architectural News

Architectural News is added on the site daily. We cover completed buildings, new building designs, architectural exhibitions and architecture competitions across the globe. High profile buildings + projects appear on this page. Additions and comments welcome.

Key Architectural Links

Zaha Hadid

Herzog de Meuron

Frank Gehry

Regional Architectural News
Scottish Architecture News
Glasgow Building News
Edinburgh Building News

Comments / photos for the Architecture of 2012 page welcome