The top August 2019 architecture designs offer an exploration of repurposed spaces, temporary structures and even future-proof building concepts. To make the most of abundant and sustainable materials, architects are exploring the use of materials like cork and even single-use water bottles to form hurricane-proof structures.
Shipping containers remain a popular shell for living and commercial spaces alike and East London will soon be home to the world's tallest shipping container building once the construction of the 118 VR has been completed.
Moving away from conventional rectilinear forms, designers are turning to the natural world for inspiration to create eye-catching designs that reference everything from clouds and icebergs to stingrays to form organically inspired modern structures centered on sharing art and entertainment experiences.
Top 40 Architecture Innovations in August
From Sustainable Cork Houses to Futuristic Concert Halls:
Laura McQuarrie — Sep 2, 2019 — Art & Design
40
Shipping Container Micro Homes
Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects Has Permission to Build in the UK
39
Compact High-Tech Prefab Offices
The PLACES Studio Cube 'OFFICE' Features Solar Glass and More
38
Low-Cost Furniture Designs
Esrawe Studio's Project is Intended to Improve Living Conditions
37
Rapper-Backed Housing Projects
Kanye West's Yeezy Home Project is Focused on Social Good
36
Minimalist Sloped Concrete Residences
Yalin Architectural Design Uses Materials in Their Entirety
35
Versatile Fiberglass Sheds
Richard John Andrew's Practice Will Operate from a Garden Shed
34
Accessible Multi-Generational Households
AZL Architects Designs a House That is Not Age-Specific
33
Playfully Colorful Kindergarten Designs
Kientruc O Designs a Dynamic Facade for a Kindergarden
32
Multi-Generational Housing Designs
Marshall Homes' FlexHouz is Spacious and Strategically Divided
31
Illusory Brick House Facades
For This Bold Project, Brooks + Scarpa and Studio Dwell Collaborate
30
Sculptural Seaside Residences
The 'On the Rocks' House by David Tajchman Has a Wave-Like Design
29
Apartment-Inspired Hotel Designs
Studio Tamat and Sabina Guidotti Curate a Boutique Hotel in Rome
28
Ivy-Covered In-Garden Studios
Matt Gibson's Writer's Shed is Compact, Sweet, Functional & Tranquil
27
Incredibly Tiny Rooftop Buildings
El Sindicato Arquitectura's Casa Parásito is Ultra-Compact
26
Cockpit-Themed Hotel Rooms
Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu's 'Superior Cockpit Room' is a Cockpit Replica
25
Whimsical Kid-Friendly Cafes
The Fairyland Premium Kids Cafe Has a Carousel, Ball Pit & Slide
24
Sustainable Bamboo Meditation Temples
The Luum Temple Offers a Tranquil Space for Mindfulness
23
Sustainable Cork Houses
This Cork House Project is on the Shortlist for the 2019 Stirling Prize
22
Politically-Charged Architectural Proposals
Vilius Vizgaudis Debuts a Sustainable Utopian Concept
21
Naturalistic European Observation Towers
The 'Ascension' Concept Observation Tower is Organic
20
Sculptural Dancer-Friendly Pillars
Concrete Choreography is a Stunning Project by ETH Zurich
19
Temporary Worship Space Proposals
Gensler Pushes for a Temporary Pavilion Alongside Notre-Dame
18
Elevated Chilean Retreat Homes
Guillermo Acuña Outfits This House with Sizable Wooden Entry Stairs
17
Illusory Entertainment Bars
Unlocked's Board Game Bar Includes Its Own Escape Room
16
Seaweed-Based Prefab Panels
Kathryn Larsen is Interesting in Utilizing Seaweed for Construction
15
Iceberg-Inspired Opera Buildings
Henning Larsen Designs a Waterfront Performance Venue in China
14
Futuristic Concert Hall Designs
Steven Holl's Zinc-Clad Building is a Future-Forward Addition
13
Repurposed Historic Post Offices
OMA New York is Creating a New Entertainment Space in Houston
12
Future-Proof Building Complexes
Perkins and Will is Designing the European Commission Office
11
Dreamy Architectural Explorations
Peter Tarka Embraces Pastel Colors, Geometry and Surrealism
10
Stingray-Inspired Cafe Kiosks
Mizzi Studio Embellishes Hyde Park with a Place to Grab a Coffee
9
Eco Hurricane-Proof Houses
JD Composites Created a Home Made from 600,000 Plastic Bottles
8
Removable Roof Tiny Homes
The 'Tiny House Franck' by Optinid Has a Sliding Sunroof
7
Extended Museum Sculpture Gardens
The NOMA Extension by Reed Hilderbrand is Wholesome and Artistic
6
Ethereally Bubbly Pavilion Sculptures
The Very Many's 'Pillar of Dreams' Looks Like Clouds
5
Repurposed Adaptable University Buildings
Grimshaw Overhauls a Herman Miller Factory from the 70s
4
Record-Breaking Shipping Container Offices
The 118 VR Building will Feature a Sustainable Design
3
Waste-Powered Thermal Baths
June Tong Proposes an Thermal and Eco-Friendly Bath for the Arctic
2
E-Commerce Office Towers
A New Amazon Skyscraper Wll Come to a Seattle Suburb
1
People-Centric National Football Stadiums
Tabanlioglu Architects Focuses on the Use of Space
Related Ideas
Shipping Container Micro Homes
Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects Has Permission to Build in the UK
Multifunctional Eco BBQ Cabins
The 'FLEXSE' Scandinavian Grill House is Cozy and All-Season
Homey Contemporary Prefab Retreats
MAPA's Minimod Blends a Modern House with the Brazilian Forest
Prefab Italian Micro Cabins
The 'NO.MADE' Cabin Can be Placed Anywhere as a Tiny Home
Contemporary Canadian Tiny Homes
The Mint Tiny House Company 'Canada Goose' Trailer is Spacious
Lab-Friendly Flat-Pack Stools
King & Webbon Enters a Collaboration with the Science Museum
Secluded Modern Island Houses
Vibeke Lichten Creates a Stunning Property That is Nature-Infused
Sculptural Glass Facades
Hèrmes' Striking Store Facade Design is Done by Architecture Firm MVRDV
Recycled Water Bottle Homes
This Three-Bedroom Home is Made from 600,000 Plastic Water Bottles
Soundproof Isolation Pods
Groupon is Offering a Fully Furnished Father's Day Man Cave
Stacked Shipping Container Accommodations
'The Box Hop' Can be Rented Out via Airbnb
Boho Celebrity Decor Lines
The Drew Barrymore Flower Home Line Features Chic and Affordable Pieces
Rapper-Backed Housing Projects
Kanye West's Yeezy Home Project is Focused on Social Good
Micro-Housing Settlements
Architects Offer Shipping Containers for an Informal Settlement in Egypt
Ambitious Floating City Concepts
BIG Envisions a Hurricane-Proof Cluster of Buoyant Islands
All-Cardboard Cafes
The 'Cardboard' Cafe in Mumbai is Constructed with an Eco-Friendly Material
Versatile Fiberglass Sheds
Richard John Andrew's Practice Will Operate from a Garden Shed
Canadian Shipping Container Cafes
The YEG Coffee Can Hides a Fully Stocked Cafe Within
Design-Forward Stackable Chairs
Form Us with Love's Collection is Convenient and Affordable
Immersive Oceanic Installations
The Underwater Ocean Cube Exhibit Highlights Environmental Issues
Creativity-Centric Hotel Rebrand Projects
Qbic Boasts an Art-Forward Identity Through Ragged Edge
Accessible Multi-Generational Households
AZL Architects Designs a House That is Not Age-Specific
Surgical Intervention-Style Buildings
Bureau Disassembles & Reassembles This House in Switzerland
Playfully Colorful Kindergarten Designs
Kientruc O Designs a Dynamic Facade for a Kindergarden
Fashionable Cafe Hybrids
Clap Focuses on Bringing Out the Ethereal in Hong Kong-Based Her
Sydney-Based Warehouse Conversions
Ian Moore Architects Elegantly Redesign an Old Warehouse
Costa Rican Surfer Huts
Olson Kundig Architects Boast a Three-Storey Nature Retreat
Apartment-Inspired Hotel Designs
Studio Tamat and Sabina Guidotti Curate a Boutique Hotel in Rome
Unique Shape-Shifting Architecture
Diller Scofidio + Renfro Sought to Redefine the Future of Art
Luxury Fashion-Themed Cafes
The Fendi Caffé Opens Its Doors in London Serving Themed Goods
Urban Oasis-Style Hotels
Neri&Hu Design the Alila Bangsar Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Timber Festival-Inspired Pavilions
Atmos Studio's Alex Haw Proposes a Burning Man Pavilion
Iconic Church Reconstruction Proposals
Studio NAB Envisions A Notre-Dame Greenhouse Rebuild
Contemporary Isolated Stone Houses
PPAA Arquitectos Erect an Elongated Retreat in Alculco
Soft Pink Pizzeria Interiors
Child Studio's Create a Design-Friendly Identity for Humble Pizza
Outdoorsy Art Activations
The National Building Museum's 'Lawn' Installation is Family-Friendly
Polycarbonate Sliding Facades
Tato Architects Makes Privacy a Modular Affair with This Japan Home
Contemporary Patterned Hotels
The Menhaden Hotel is Inspired by the Heritage of Greenport Village
Compact Familial Houses
Takeshi Hosaka Builds an Interesting & Welcoming Micro Home in Tokyo
Prefabricated Cannabis Retail Stores
POPCANN Creates Modular Stores from Shipping Containers
Barebones Multipurpose Shacks
The Powers Construction Site Shack Has a Rustic Aesthetic
Inside-Out Office Aesthetics
Nicolas Laisné Architectes & Dimitri Roussel Produce a Unique Design
Traditional Nordic-Inspired Cabins
The Iglucraft Cabin Comes in a Wide Array of Sizes
Seaweed-Based Drink Capsules
The London Marathon Offered Runners an Eco-Friendly Drink Solution
Affordable Shipping Container Housing
TRS Studio Attempts to Assist the Housing Crisis in Peru
Recycled Material Signage
O'right's Da-an Concept Store Signboard is Made from T-Shirts & Plastic
Lushly Accented Monolithic Homes
MORQ Builds a House in Perth That Boasts Some Interesting Designs
Durable Flatpack Sofas
The 'Elephant in a Box' Sofa Holds Up to 400-Times its Weight
Contemporary Mist-Filled Pavilions
Muir and Openwork Accent the Sculptural Garden of a Gallery
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Dispensers
The uKeg Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Perfects the Popular Drink
Billboard-Adorned Restaurants
The McDonald's in Times Square is Designed by Landini Associates
Timber Exhibition Pavilions
Invisible Studio Designs the Urban Room Which is Affordable and Useful
Vibrant LGBTQ-Friendly Hotels
Axel Hotel Madrid Opened Recently & Its Aesthetic Borders on Lavish
Unfinished Affordable Homes
Lianjie Wu's Housing Concept Boasts Customization Based on Preference
Sustainable Urban Tree Pods
Matthew Chamberlain's Project is Offered as a Housing Crisis Solution
Wine-Themed Park Experiences
La Cité Du Vin Boasts Immersive Wine-Related Experiences for Guests
Rose-Inspired Qatar Museum Designs
Jean Nouvel Looks for Inspiration from the Desert Rose
Elevated Chilean Retreat Homes
Guillermo Acuña Outfits This House with Sizable Wooden Entry Stairs
Donut Shop Flagships
The First-Ever Krispy Kreme Flagship is Opening in NYC's Times Square
Celebrity Lifestyle Pop-Ups
Gwyneth Paltrow Just Opened a Goop Pop-Up Store and Café in Tokyo
Immersive AR Stage Experiences
Coachella Captures Attendees with a Tech-Powered Feature
Sculptural Decorated Mosques
Candalepas Associates' Design is Highly Contemporary and Chic
Wooden Spiky Pavilions
Pedro & Juana Designs a Stunning Structure for the MoMA PS1 Warm Up Series
Rotating Digital Centerpieces
Take That's Concert is Illuminated by a Huge Spherical Installation
Iceberg-Inspired Opera Buildings
Henning Larsen Designs a Waterfront Performance Venue in China
Repurposed Historic Post Offices
OMA New York is Creating a New Entertainment Space in Houston
Apartment Building-Style Houses
Taller Héctor Barroso Constructs a Towering Home for Siblings
Design-Forward Secluded Mexican Hotels
Lo Sereno Boasts High-End Design Luxury as a Central Theme
Self-Shaping Wooden Towers
The Urbach Tower is Self-Twisted and is Built in the Rems Valley
Airtight Eco-Friendly Archive Buildings
Architype Uses Weathering Steel to Wrap This Structure
Color-Centric Cafes
LG's Café OLED in New York City Shares Tinted Lattes & Colorful Pastries
Problem-Alleviating Rural Kindergartens
Crossboundaries Builds a Clustered Mini Village in China
Human Threat-Identifying Devices
These Bio-Logging Tags by London Researchers Help Animals Survive
Minimalist Concrete Memorial Pavilions
David Adjaye Pays Tribute to Trumpeter Hugh Masekela
Sustainable Seaweed Shirts
Truly's Knitted Slogan Shirts are Made from Biodegradable SeaCell
Store-Branded Hotel Activations
The Muji Hotel in Tokyo is Located in the Ginza Region of Tokyo
Concrete Stepped Cafe Designs
This Kuwait Coffee Shop Boasts an Industrial Aesthetic by Nendo
Spacious Loft-Style Apartments
Eklund Terbeek Transforms a Formal School Gymnasium
Biomimicry Cathedral Rebuilds
The 'Palingenesis Project' Imagines a New Notre-Dame Cathedral
Playful Designer Stickers
Google Sparks Up Its Aesthetic with Custom Stickers by Leo Natsume
Gen Z Hotel Menus
Omni Hotels & Resorts' Culinary Kids Menu Appeals to Children 12 and Under
Rocket Launchpad Cathedrals
Sebastian Errazuriz Offers a Counter-Proposal for Notre-Dame Rebuild
Ultra-Luxurious Skyscraper Condominiums
The Central Park Tower will Offer Luxury Amenities
Creating Community Through Branding
An Interview with HEINEKEN's Brand Director, Nic Casby
Modern Earthy Restaurant Designs
Sara in Toronto Receives Its Welcoming Design from Odami
Escape Room Game Kits
The 'Arca Ludum' Escape Room Board Game Can be Played in Any Home
Record-Breaking Shipping Container Offices
The 118 VR Building will Feature a Sustainable Design
Ingredient-Centric Filipino Eateries
Cafe 86 Specializes in the Curation of Dishes with Ube
Built-In Greenhouse Stadium Stands
Marc Mimram Adds an Eco Twist to the Court Simonne Mathieu
Waste-Powered Thermal Baths
June Tong Proposes an Thermal and Eco-Friendly Bath for the Arctic
Glass-Accented Rooftop Pools
Architrend Architecture Boasts a See-Through Pool in St. Julian
Multi-Generational Subscription Housing
Space10 & Effekt Focus on Sharing Community Resources
Anti-Aging Seaweed Blankets
Mario the Blanket is an Italian Brand That Focuses on Anti-Aging
Efficient Desalination Devices
Solar Water Solutions Assists Namibia in Its Prolonged Drought
Mobile-Connected Municipalities
Verizon Announced Denver and Providence Will Be the Next 5G Cities
At-Home Escape Room Games
Escape Room the Game is a 60-Minute Board Game Experience
Temperature-Sensing Interactive Village Huts
This Structure Responds to Thresholds of Temperature
Massive Tree-Planted Stadiums
Klaus Littmann is Envisioning an Immersive Tree Installation
Integrated Spiral Staircase Roofs
Snøhetta is to Design the Grand Opera House in Shanghai
Athletic Refurnished Hotel Monuments
The Chicago Athletic Association is Rooted in Its Heritage
Community-Centric Waste-to-Energy Infrastructures
Nicole Moyo's Concept Promotes Self-Sufficiency
War Veteran Housing Complexes
Office of Jonathan Tate Builds Social Homes for War Veterans
Personalized Portrait Accommodations
Villa de Campo Gives Guests Hand-Painted Oil Portraits
Bay Area Housing Initiatives
Google Announced its Investment to Curb the Bay Area Housing Shortage
Future-Forward Cathedral Designs
Alex Nerovnya's Cathedral Concept for Notre-Dame is Contemporary
Ultra-Durable Copper Spires
Studio Tjoa Creates a Honeycomb Spire for the Notre Dame Rebuild
Baseball Subscription Ticket Services
MLB Franchises Offer Tickets by Concession Stands
Data-Empowered Stadiums
The Jaguars Stadium Was Improved Through a Data-Focused Collaboration