Architecture is clearly an artistic endeavor — as the inventive August 2017 architecture trends show — but it is a unique form of art when compared to others. Whereas painting, writing, filmmaking, or other purely artistic enterprises are products in and of themselves with little to no material function, architecture needs to excel both aesthetically and functionally. The ever-present push and pull of form versus function is crucial to architectural practice.
The August 2017 architecture trends show up on both sides of the form-function divide. On the former, there are buildings like SAMYN and PARTNERS' fire station design, which is designed as a big circle to increase the efficiency of trucks leaving the terminal. For the latter, 'Splendour' is a fictional city master plan designed to highlight China's cultural significance.
Top 75 Architecture Trends in August
75
Hanging Treehouse Homes
The 'Sequoia Shelter' is a Practical Solution for Off-the-Grid Living
74
Self-Constructing Buildings
These Self-Deploying Buildings Can Pop Up in Eight Minutes
73
DIY Prefab Cabin Homes
The Ecokit Prefabricated Cabins Can be Erected without Professional Help
72
Asymmetrical Sloped Roof Homes
The Single Family House by Andrii Ortynskyi is Irregularly Chic
71
Diversity-Celebrating Architectural Installations
WE ARE THE REMIX Represents Fluid Connections
70
Floating Water Cities
The Seasteading Institute Unveiled Plans to Build the First Floating City
69
Timber-Slatted Summer Homes
Kget Has a Spectacular Balcony Overlooking the Meditteranean
68
Disguised Modern Homes
The IVRV House's Standard Front Facade Gives Way to Modern Forms
67
Cantilevered Treetop Houses
The Skywalk Treehouse Lets Inhabitants Walk Right Out to the Canopy
66
Colorful Amorphous Playgrounds
The Mountain Lake Park Playground is a Joyous Playscape
65
Blooming Floral Pavilions
'Look! Look! Look!' is an Artistic Structure in an English Estate Garden
64
Isolated Modern Homes
Waikanae House is a Modern Design in the Midst of Nature
63
Sun-Soaked Oceanside Suites
The Redesigned Porto Fira Suites are Inspired by Monastic Simplicity
62
Cavernous White Homes
'The Cave' is a Stark White Home With Ample Open Space
61
Fitness-Fused Retail Stores
'Runner Camp' Fuses Fitness with Retail in Shanghai
60
Parted Office Buildings
'Chapultepec 500' Looks Like a Curtain Being Drawn Apart
59
Traditional Chinese Hotels
The Ya Gu Quan Shan Hotel is Inspired by Historical Heritage
58
Architectural Home Rentals
BoutiqueHomes Offers Holiday Rentals in Design-Focused Homes
57
Exaggerated Red Brick Houses
31/44 Architects' 'Red House' Teases Victorian Tropes
56
Lawn-Topped Houses
'South Coast of Landes House' Makes Use of All Its Facets
55
Mirrored City Viewpoints
M+ Pavilion Offers Impressive Views of Hong Kong
54
Controversial Iron Ring Sculptures
George King's Walkway at Flint Castle is Bristling Locals
53
Vertical Urban Forests
The Hawthorn Tower is Set to Be Holland's First Vertical Garden
52
Metallic Architecture Posters
These Detailed Posters Celebrate Chicago's Greatest Buildings
51
Salmon-Viewing Centers
The Kvasfossen Visitor Center Offers Views of a Salmon Ladder
50
Urban Architectural Graphic Novels
'No Small Plans' is About Urban Planning in Chicago
49
Meditative Treehouses
The Quiet Treehouse Promotes the Health Benefits of Noise Reduction
48
Stilted Hiking Shelters
Le Haut Perche is on the Banks of a River Outside Bordeaux
47
Sliding Glass Roofs
This Environmentally Friendly Shopping Center is Illuminated by Natural Light
46
Smooth Swiss Cottages
'Swiss House XII' is a Slick Version of Its Neighbors' Architecture
45
Brutalist Victorian Houses
'Soupcon Brut' Has Been Renovated to Reflect a Neighboring Estate
44
Interlocking Timber Funnels
'Y' is a Stretching Timber Funnel Built by an International Team
43
Rusted Steely Housing Developments
Kiel Steel House is Clad in Corten Steel
42
Gradated Translucent Facades
XYZ Formula's See-Through Facade Has a Grid-Like Design
41
Artistic Construction Site Photography
Ben Gowertt's New Project Spotlights Calm Urban Areas
40
Portable Adaptable Dwellings
The 'SCARAB' Remote Living Habitat Can be Placed Virtually Anywhere
39
Inverted Boat Houses
The Houseboat by Mole Architects Resembles a Capsized Hull
38
Japanese Homeware Retailer Hotels
The Ginza MUJI Hotel will Start Welcoming Guests in Spring 2018
37
Sustainable Cannabis Houses
The Walls of This Home in Israel are Made Out of Hemp and Concrete
36
Airy Steel Arches
Oskar Zieta's NAWA Pavilion is Inflated with Air
35
Wind Turbine Residences
The Wind Pecker Residential Spaces are Perched on the Stands of Windmills
34
Multi-Seasonal Covered Gardens
'The Garden of the Four Seasons' Uses Climate-Control Technology
33
Architect-Honoring Kirigami
Marc Hagan-Guirey's Art Highlights Frank Lloyd Wright's Work
32
Pop-Up Train Carriages
AART's Redesigned Train Carriages Serve a Variety of Purposes
31
Shifted Ventilation Towers
The Northern Link Towers Blend Into Stockholm's National City Park
30
Surfing Holiday Homes
Casa Tuman Offers Convenient Access to Chile's Puertecillo Beach
29
Modernist Estate Pavilions
The St. Gerlachus Pavilion is on an Historic 17th Estate in Holland
28
Rain-Inspired Hotels
The Zander K Hotel in Bergen, Norway Embraces the Region's Rainy Weather
27
Dump Truck-Inspired Homes
Budi Pradono's 'Clay House' is Topped With a Titled Shipping Container
26
Concrete Cliffside Homes
g3arquitectos' 'Casa G' is a Cubist Structure Overlooking a Mexican Town
25
Undulating Plastic Pavilions
SelgasCano Designed an Artistic Public Pavilion in Cognac, France
24
Curtain-Wrapped Home Extensions
Matt Gibson's Home Addition is Wrapped in Metal-Mesh Curtains
23
Circular Fire Stations
This Fire Station Design Reduces Vehicle Response Times
22
Updated Industrial Offices
751 creative's Office Marries Vintage Machinery and Minimalist Finishes
21
Treed School Complexes
The Cornebarrieu School Complex Tackles Environmental Challenges
20
Space-Maximizing Museum Revamps
Casson Mann Recently Adjusted the Natural History Museum's Foyer
19
LEGO-Built Concert Halls
'Brickmonkey' Made a Small-Scale Replica of the Hamburg Concert Hall
18
Airy Covered Marketplaces
IMPLUVIUM is an Open-Air Marketplace in Reinosa, Spain
17
Hidden Bunker Museums
BIG's Tirpizt Bunker is Touted as an Invisible Museum
16
Porcelain Public Courtyards
The Sackler Courtyard is the First of Its Kind in the World
15
Emergency Temporary Schools
Portakabin Built a School for Those Near Grenfell Tower
14
Curvilinear Roofline Designs
The Avocado Acres House was Inspired By LA's Case Study Homes
13
Perspective-Shifted Windows
'Modelia Days' Features Windows With Illusive Indentations
12
Serrated Hotel Buildings
M89 Hotel in Italy Has a Sharp Series of Teeth on Its Roof
11
Stark Medieval Museums
The Medieval Mile Museum is in a Renovated 13th Century Cathedral
10
Precariously Stilted Art Centers
Centro Botin was Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop
9
Converted Sex Shop Studios
Persimmon Hills Architects Transformed a Sex Shop into a Tiny Studio
8
Fictional Cultural Capitals
Splendour is a Fictional City Master Plan to Improve China's Image
7
Iconic Landmark Renovations
The Seattle Space Needle Renovation Revealed its Intended Design
6
Ship-Shaped Commemorative Pavilions
The Kohtei Pavilion Honors Those Lost at Sea
5
Capacious Tiny Homes
The Traveler XL Limited Easily Sleeps Ten Guests In An Eco-Friendly Space
4
Smooth Stark Building Restorations
C Plus Architects Renovated a 1950s University in China
3
Colossal Sound Chambers
Studio Gang's 'The Hive' Features Three Massive, Hive-Like Domes
2
Filament-Covered Towers
This Hotel by Zaha Hadid Architects Looks Like a Series of Stacked Vases
1
Anachronistic Concrete Extensions
The National Museum Zurich has a Juxtaposed Modern Wing
Related Ideas
Industrial-Inspired Homes
Glassbrick Apartment by Studio Karhard Alters a Flat with Nightclub DNA
Ultra-Colorful High-Density Residential Designs
Ballistic Architecture Machine Applies Color
Contemporary Rural Dwellings
StudioAC's South Bay House Reinterprets Rural Canadian Architecture
Historically Inspired Modern Homes
MU Architecture Balances Historic Charm & Modern Sensibilities
Immersive Architectural Activations
Dinesen Presented Dual Exhibitions at 3daysofdesign
Timber Modern Porch Pavilions
A Team of Designers Curate Porch: An Architecture of Generosity
Beijing Flagship Architecture
Louis Vuitton Sanlitun by Jun Aoki Opens as an Experiential Building
Floating Art Museums
Tadao Ando’s Dubai Museum of Art Embraces Light, Water and Heritage
Modern Prefabricated Residential Projects
Palette Architecture Designs the Sleek Shift House
Vibrant Residential Complexes
Aytac Architects' SU Residential Project in Istanbul is Innovative
Pointy Modular Hospitality Architecture
Roman & Dmytro Seliuk Designs the Futuristic Namety Cabins
Textural Residential Interiors
L Architects Complete the Plant-Inspired In a Park Residence
Danish Furniture Design Exhibitions
Stine Mikkelsen Presented the Archetypes Exhibition
Honest Sustainability-Focused Installations
Temple (The Last Cheeseburger) is Thought-Provoking
Elevated Urban Skate Venues
AAN Architects Designs Suspended Skatepark Overlooking Shanghai
University Art Landmarks
Princeton University Art Museum by Adjaye Associates Redefines Art
Urban Assembly Forums
The RAM Assembles Shanghai by All(zone) Explores Impromptu Urban Life
Rest-Focused Golf Structures
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design Develops the Golf Pavilion
Japanese Concept-Inspired Homes
Freight Architects Designs the Oku House in Singapore
Vibrantly Artful Playful Pavilions
Peter Cook Presents the Play Pavilion Using LEGO Bricks
Barn-Form Family Homes
The Twisted House by Andy Martin Merges Barn Form and Landscape
Minimalist Contemporary Home Designs
Hock Hoon Proudly Delivers the Hitotema Home Project
Mahogany Intergenerational Homes
The Mahogany House by R ARCHITECTURE is Chic and Contemporary
Converted Industrial Homes
A 1960s Warehouse Transforms into a Residence Honoring Its Raw Design
Immersive Design Studio Showcases
Fritz Hansen Presented 'Shaping Lasting Design' in Copenhagen
Curved Green Roof-Topped Museums
Atelier Alter Architects Designs the Sunner Museum in China
Sensory-Focused Furniture Design Exhibits
File Under Pop Presents the TIME SIGNATURE Installation
Architectural Lighting Solutions
Flos Emphasized Lighting Innovation and Artistic Expression
Living Landscape Homes
Hedge and Arbour House by Studio Bright Merges Garden and Architecture
Modernist Home Renovations
The Bauhaus Budapest Apartment Receives a Contemporary Refresh
Designer-Led Modular Furniture Systems
USM and Alexander May Produce 'The Architecture of Work'
Minimalist Concrete Complexes
Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture Completes a Residential Project in Tokyo
Parking Lot-Transformed Homes
Maritau Arqui Completed the Octa House on a Japanese Island
Architecturally Stunning Cultural Landmarks
OPEN Architecture Designs the Functional Sun Tower
Decentralized Fashion Exhibitions
Fashion Art Toronto Delivers a Modified Structure for Fall 2025
Renovated Victorian Toronto Homes
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design Renovates the Flow House
Hybrid Chair Lamps
Art-Chitecture Furniture System Turns a Chair into a Glowing Floor Lamp
Interconnected Public University Designs
SOM Designed Facilities for Kuwait University
Terracotta Pot-Inspired Vietnam Homes
Naqi & Partners Designs the Earthenware House
Sustainable Modern Chair Designs
ZEITRAUM Explored Sustainability Through Material & Craftsmanship
Garden-Topped Sunken Museums
Kengo Kuma & Associates Design the CMP Inspiration Museum
Art Expo Village-Esque Pavilions
Foster + Partners Create a Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Osaka 2025
Japan-Focused Design Exhibitions
UQAM is Hosting Built Environment: an Alternative Guide to Japan
Architectural Legacy Books
Tadao Ando. Sketches, Drawings, and Architecture Releases in November
Chinese Tradition-Honoring Structures
MAD Architects Forms the Chinese Paper Umbrella Structure
Ceramic Modern Houses
The Hillsborough Residence Blends Modern Design with Sculptural Ceramics
Urban Layered Homes
The Salmon House Layers Warmth and Sculptural Form to Melbourne’s Suburbs
Architectural Threshold Installations
The Some Kind of Practice Installation Reimagines Courtyards
Sustainable Educational Architecture Projects
CURA Architekten Presents a Project in Switzerland
Community-Focused High-Rise Buildings
The Journal Square Urby Was Designed by Concrete Amsterdam
Parisian Social Housing Projects
PietriArchitectes Built 34 Units for Social Housing
Cost-Conscious Installation Competitions
The Tallinn Architecture Biennale Debuts Budget Bougie
Repurposed Concrete Structures
Architecture Research Practice Designed the Tetris House
Protein-Inspired Architecture
Folded Protein Molecule Research & Exhibition Rethinks Structure
Emirati-Inspired Towers
The Symphony Tower Introduces a Woven Façade to Dubai’s Skyline
Color-Shifting Art Museums
Team BLDG Designs the The Quartet – Songzhuang Z Museum
Curved Stadium Structures
The Xi’an International Football Centre Creates a New Urban Landmark
Ancient Gymnasium-Inspired Residential Buildings
Triptyque and Architects Office Build AGE360
Heritage-Preserving Cultural Centers
WAU Design Completes the Wuyang Cultural Station in China
Contemporary Tropical Architecture Projects
PAON Architects Present the Khun Atiruj Residence
Glowing Sphere Art Pavilions
RAU Architects and Tellart Preset the Netherlands Pavilion
Architectural Sports Landmarks
The Xi’an International Football Centre Spotlights Civic Design
Reflective Architectural Artwork
Audi Origin by Zaha Hadid Architects Shapes Spatial Light Portal
Multicultural Bright Historic Museums
MAD Architects Designst he Fenix Project in Rotterdam
3d-Printed Pavilion Structures
Superlimão Pavilion Features in Pátio Metrópole
Curvaceous Artful Play Pavilions
Peter Cook Designs the Play Pavilion for the Serpentine Gallery
Rammed Earth Galleries
The Museum Ehrhardt by Kéré Architecture in Plüschow, Germany
Architecture Education Hubs
The Aia Global Campus for Architecture and Design Opens in Washington
Futuristic Cultural Spaces
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Blends Form with Civic Imagination
Detroit Tower Redevelopments
SHOP Architects’ Hudson’s Detroit Highlights Civicr Regeneration
Exploratory Architectural Projects
The Polish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is Thought-Provoking
Nature-Rooted Family Retreats
The Haus Am Lagnesberg Blends Art, Family Life, and Natural Design
Bathroom-Centric Dubai Apartments
Bone Studio Blends Architecture and Experience in This Bold Home
Temple-Inspired Residences
J Kidman Architecture's Temple House Frames a Home with Ceremonial Form
Contemporary Office Design
The Rock Capital Warsaw Office Highlights Art in a Refined Workplace
Neon Illustation-Donned Buildings
OMA Adorns a Building for the Crafted World Exhibition
Segmented Lightflow Art Pavilions
Marine Tabassum Creates a Capsule in Time Pavilion
Modern Triangular Houses
The Trim House by KWK Promes Reshapes Form Through Constraint
Playful Futuristic Work Campuses
MAX Zone Hub in Foshan Opens as a Multi-Level Workplace Campus
Interactive Architectural Pavilions
The Folding Landscape Pavilion Turns Design into a Living Lens
Coastal Sculptural Events Spaces
TAO Introduces the Echo Hall Design in the Shandong Province
Grass-Topped Versatile Community Hubs
MDAD & TODOS Arquitetura Present the Modern Casa Una
Bold Urban Hotels
Hotel Hans Introduces a New Hospitality Building with Sharp Geometric Forms
Architectural Library Furniture
The Herzog & De Meuron Reading Nooks for Own Furniture Tokyo
Curved Facade Canadian Residences
Architecture Building Culture Designs the Piano House
Modern Vietnamese Dwellings
Tien Giang House by Tropical Space Honors Traditional Architecture
Craftsmanship-Focused Design Exhibits
August Sandgren & Origin Made Presented the Maker's Gallery
Adaptively Reused Office Buildings
Park Associati and Snøhetta Collaborate on Pirelli 35
Wooden Architecture Award Programs
WoodWorks - Wood Products Council Recognizes Wood Construction
Sophisticated Government Office Designs
Agata Kurzela Tackles a Heritage Building in Abu Dhabi
Modern Converted Kindergarten Designs
Archikon Architects Designs the Gyöngyszem Kindergarten
Gap-Focused Living Rooms
one-aftr Unveiled The 'Pavilion TEUM' Architectural Concept
Education Architecture Expansions
Rainbow International School Extends with Nature Spatial Design
Art Park Building Renovations
Heneghan Peng Architects & WXY Reimagine the Storm King Center
Pearl-Inspired Museums
Dubai Museum of Art by Tadao Ando Evokes Water, Light and Heritage
Architecture Art Exhibitions
The Eames Houses Exhibition Presents Models and Full-Scale Structures
Civic Theatre Renovations
The Court Theatre Anchors Community and Craft Through Architecture
Expansive Month-Long Fashion Celebrations
Fashion Art Toronto Marks Its 20th Anniversary
Pastel Tonal Apartment Blocks
Behles & Jochimsen Designs the Regensburg Quarter
Sleek Spiralling Ramp Pavilions
Apropros Architects Designs the Czech Pavilion for Expo 2025
Stone Building Auditoriums
The Centre De Congrès Fuses Sculpture with Immersive Color and Light
Immersive Contemporary Design Showcases
&Tradition Presented The Living Archive
Geometric Mountain Retail Volumes
Vari Architects Unveiled RICHAUS
Public Sculptural Pergola Barbecues
H30 Architects Designs the Communal Barbecue in Costa Brava
Barn Home Transformations
The Bulls Barn House Blends Rustic Form and Modern Living
Traditional Sailing-Inspired Pavilions
Kengo Kuma and Team Design From the Coastline We Progress
Modern Farmstead-Inspired Structures
MUUK Architecture's 'Le Pâturage' is Thoughtfully Designed
Sculptural Cultural Hubs
AYDC Public Art Centre by Atelier XI Integrates Nature, Art, & Community
Volcanic Visitor Architecture
PLAT ASIA's Volcano In Visitor Center Turn to Surrounding Landscape
Speculative Shelter Builds
Asympta by Leopold Banchini Architects Explores Ancient Landscapes
Art Museum Architecture
The Xiao Feng Art Museum is a Sculptural Concrete Building in China
Urban Data Landmarks
Spark 761 Ai Data Centre Presents a Transparent Civic Computing Facility
Serene Waterfront Pavilions
The Lake House Life Experience Pavilion Blends Architecture and Nature
Sculptural Inverted Homes
Fala Atelier’s Porto House Flips a Roof for an Expressive Architecture
Pavilion-Style Art Homes
Casa Galeria by BLOCO Architects Merges Living and Gallery Space
Tree-Lined Striking Modern Residences
Palette Architecture Designs the Shift House in New York
Kindergarten Renovation Projects
Archikon Transforms Gyöngyszem into Budapest’s First Smart School
Unconventional Triangular Barnhouses
A Dutch Barnhouse is Organised Around an Open Layout
Architecturally Striking Cooking Schools
Chiangmai Life Architects Design the Bull Cooking School
Barn-Style Teaching Buildings
Max Otto Zitzelsberger Joins Students to Create Learning House
Cultural Green Libraries
The Taichung Green Museumbrary by SANAA Weaves Architecture and Nature
Sun-Inspired Disc-Topped Museums
SMAR Architecture Studio Designs the Science Island Museum
Green Terracotta-Donned Buildings
SOM and Gensler Completed the Robert A Iger Building
Interactive Public Pavilions
The Radius Transformation Pavilion Lets Visitors Shape Space
Balanced Industrial Building Designs
HA-HA Design & Development Presents the Aluned Hq Project
Building-Nestled Compact Cafes
A Triangular Prism Chapel Cafe Creates Calm in Bucharest
Textured Glass Landmarks
Helsinki Design and Architecture Museum Designed as Clear Public Pavilion
Earthened Architecture Pavilions
Khalil Morad El Ghilali & El Mehdi Belyasmine Design a Pavilion
Contemporary Library Designs
JSWD Architects Presents the Brühl City Hall and Library
Domed Shelter-Like Holiday Homes
Anastasiya Dudik Designs the HATA Building in California
Timber Research Hubs
The Anthony Timberlands Center Visualizes a New Heart for Wood Innovation
Residential Mountain Retreats
The Avber House Fuse Concrete & Timber to Respond to Alpine Terrain
Housing Innovation Symposiums
The Boston Society for Architecture Focuses on the Future of Housing
Minimal Retail Spatial Strategies
UP2DATE Architects Debuted Messa House In Almaty
Brick Market Interior Design
The LINEHOUSE Ink Ink Food Market Uses a Greenhouse-Style Hall
Harbor Opera Landmarks
The Hamburg State Opera Project Reimagines Performance Architecture
Wave-Inspired Civic Halls
The Sail Congress Centre in Big Normandy Curves into Public Architecture
Modern Sculptural Garden Homes
A01 Architevts Completed the Priyam Home in Hyderabad
Public Pavilion Architecture
Estudio Leonardo Zanatta’s Tess Pavilion Uses Tessellated Geometry
Industrial Apartment Designs
The FM Apartment in São Paulo Showcases Vibrant Industrial Interiors