Featuring self-healing concrete and ocean-cleaning island cities, the February 2023 architecture round-up certainly showcases some important developments that contribute to sustainable living—or maybe even regenerative design. Estudio Focaccia Prieto, for one, conceptualized a series of self-sustaining island cities in the middle of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The idea is that the settlements will draw on ocean debris to power themselves and champion a renewable system from within. EYRC and Mighty Buildings are also continuing to explore more sustainable and cost-effective ways of building, involving 3D-printing technology, with the Mighty Quatro project.
The February 2023 architecture round-up also spotlights an important resource that lists plastic-free materials alongside important information about their properties. This resource has been launched as a subscription service for professionals and it is simply called PlasticFree.
Top 35 Architecture Trends in February
From Waterfront Social Housing to Massive Urban Solar Farms:
Kalin Ned — Feb 26, 2023 — Art & Design
35
Balcony-Topped Tiny Houses
This Spacious Tiny Home Boasts a Guest Bedroom and a Cozy Balcony
34
Flexible Hemp Insulation Panels
The Coexist Hemp Blanket is Safe and Natural
33
Contemporary Woodland Retreats
Michael Kendrick Architects Creates an Immersive & Idyllic Retreat
32
3D-Printed House Neighborhoods
EYRC and Mighty Buildings Develop the Suburbs of the Future
31
Greenery-Sheathed Architecture Offices
This Building Will House the Offices Of 'VTN Architects'
30
Human Sexuality Museums
Snøhetta Designs the Museum of Sex, Featuring Galleries, a Bar, & More
29
Airy Estonian Holiday Homes
Hanna Karits Used Natural Materials in This Holiday Home
28
DIY Backyard Office Kits
Coexist Build’s DIY Traveler Series Kit Addresses Modern Problems
27
Plastic-Free Material Databases
A Plastic Planet Launches the PlasticFree Subscription Service
26
Ocean-Cleaning Island Cities
Estudio Focaccia Prieto Conceptualizes Self-Sustaining Island Cities
25
Sphere-Shaped Skyscrapers
The 'Skyscraper City of Tiankeng' Has Different Microclimate Spheres
24
Communism-Inspired Cultural Centers
Aurelien Chen Updates a Former Miners’ Canteen in Handan
23
Modern Melbourne Home Renovations
Timmins+Whyte Design This Home with Roof Folds
22
Homely Office Spaces
Johan Sundberg Arkitektur Emphasizes Material Juxtaposition in This Design
21
Restored 1970s Boats
GAAA Restores a 1970s Chilean Boat with a Contemporary Feel
20
Multi-Generational Houses
AUN Design Studio Designs the Reflection House in Bangkok, Thailand
19
Self-Healing Concrete
MIT and Harvard are Inspired by Ancient Roman Concrete
18
Breathtaking Library Designs
MVRDV Showcases Its Plan for a Massive Wuhan Library
17
Massive Urban Solar Farms
Carlo Ratti Associati Works on an Impressive Bid for the World Expo 2030
16
Curved Concrete Hotels
Atelier d’More Transforms a Two-storey Building into a Contemporary Hotel
15
Angular Modern Lake Houses
MU Architecture and JS Bourdages Architecture Collaborate
14
Expansive Motorcycle Amphitheaters
Heatherwick Studio is Designing a Park for Harley-Davidson
13
Caterpillar-Shaped Apartment Buildings
Undecorated Developed an Eye-Catching Metal Building
12
Sustainably Built Canopied Buildings
Kevin Daly Architecture Designs a Foundation's Headquarters
11
Accessible Campus Designs
Stride Treglown Worked with Deaf Academy Staff on an Accessible Design
10
Sincere Public Toilet Designs
Marc Newson Designs a Toilet with a Copper Roof in Shibuya
9
Sustainable Mass-Timber Offices
Waugh Thistleton Architects Debuts the Black & White Building
8
Biodiversity-Supporting Homes
Miguel Mesa del Castillo Collaborates on a Climate-Friendly Home
7
Magnetized Fusion Power Plants
Al_A Designs a "World's First" in Oxfordshire, UK
6
Light-Maximizing Animal Shelters
Garrison Architects Builds the Staten Island Animal Rescue Center
5
Modern Water Tower Apartments
Zecc Architecten Creates a Series of Elevated Apartments
4
Waterfront Social Housing
Studioninedots Designed Stepped Buildings in Amsterdam,
3
Landscape Painting-Informed Renovations
ZMMA Updates the Home of Artist Thomas Gainsborough
2
Custom Office Soundscape Systems
The PinDrop System Helps AKRF Make Acoustic Decisions
1
Winding Elevated Park Walkways
SUO Designs the Yashima Mountaintop Park
Related Ideas
Recycled Tiny Houses
Shadow House by Matti Kuittinen Uses Waste Materials for Full-Scale Living
Floating Canopy Homes
The Holocene House Concept Integrates Water & Architectural Geometry
Ultra-Colorful High-Density Residential Designs
Ballistic Architecture Machine Applies Color
Disaster-Resilient Hospitality Concepts
Margot Krasojević Presents an Emergency Hotel Concept
Contemporary Rural Dwellings
StudioAC's South Bay House Reinterprets Rural Canadian Architecture
Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes
The Drop Pod House Adapts to Floods and Unexpected Guests
Cob Building Revivals
CobBauge HouseBlends Ancient Techniques with Modern Standards
Award-Winning Multi-Unit Housing Projects
Xuefeng Li of Everest Group Achieves Recognition
Experiential Wellness Activations
Creating Significance Sets Up Its Well Design Summit
Urban Ecological Design Projects
Henning Larsen Designs Bidadari Park in Singapore
Concrete Gridded Garden Homes
The Rua Polônia House in Brazil Boasts an Industrial Frontage
Immersive Architectural Activations
Dinesen Presented Dual Exhibitions at 3daysofdesign
Greenhouse Office Pavilions
Office for Roundtable + JXY Studio Create Multifunctional Office
Shape‑shifting Retreats
This Modular Off‑Grid House Adapts to Natural Sites with Expandable Walls
Floating Art Museums
Tadao Ando’s Dubai Museum of Art Embraces Light, Water and Heritage
Refurbished Multi-Story Buildings
Squire & Partners Completed a Sensitive Refurbishment
Solar Timber Residences
The Forest Edge House by Marc Thorpe Uses Off-Grid Systems
Thoughtful Residential Architecture Projects
Hacienda Wabi by RA! is Situated in Tulum's Jungles
Vibrant Residential Complexes
Aytac Architects' SU Residential Project in Istanbul is Innovative
Suspended Architectural Elements
Yanko Design Unveils Novasis Floating Platform Concept
Wellness Hospitality Series
The 'Luxury Wellbeing Series 2025' will Span Across Asian Cities
Contemporary Wooden Dwellings
MJARC Arquitectos Designs House Douro Wood in Portugal
Carved Landscape Towers
Qapital by Kengo Kuma uses a porous facade with planted balconies
Biophilic Workplace Designs
Mangrove Garden Office by Bean Buro Reimagines Corporate Spaces
Multi-Storey 3D-Printed Houses
Park + Associates Completed the Design of the QR3D House
Eco Living Vertical Towers
The Eden Rise Vertical Eco Living Community Integrates Food Production
Coastal Timber Retreats
The Casa Guaecá Project Reinterprets Beach House Living Through Structure
Triangular Concrete Houses
Trim House by KWK Promes Uses Angular Plan Shaped by Constraints
3D-Printed Surf Homes
ICON and Firmah Architecture Design Homes for Waco Surf Desperado
Human-Centric Workplace Designs
Moriyama Teshima Architects Designs the OSSTF/FEESO Headquarters
Curved Green Roof-Topped Museums
Atelier Alter Architects Designs the Sunner Museum in China
3d-Printed Rubble Furniture
Inorganic Growth by Bentu Design Transforms Demolished Urban Villages
Modular Living Structures
Modular BV System Redefines Prefabricated Homes Sustainability in Brazil
Architectural Lighting Solutions
Flos Emphasized Lighting Innovation and Artistic Expression
Wooden Ship-Inspired Housing Complexes
Steven Holl Architects Present the Meander Housing
Adaptive Family Residences
A 1920s London Home is Transformed into No Ordinary House
Minimalist Concrete Complexes
Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture Completes a Residential Project in Tokyo
Architecturally Stunning Cultural Landmarks
OPEN Architecture Designs the Functional Sun Tower
Recycled Resin Panels
Know New Plastic Introduces Dual-Sided Textures for Architectural Surfaces
Eco-Focused Family Housing
Rewild Homes Moves Environmental Design into Realistic Living
Sculptural Design Exhibitions
The Pure Exhibition Reimagines Workshop Artistry with Plasterglass
Wellness-Driven Concept Homes
Zonda and Fischer Homes Unveiled the 2026 Virtual Concept Home
Sustainable Modern Chair Designs
ZEITRAUM Explored Sustainability Through Material & Craftsmanship
Compact Sustainable Homes
Quadrapol Introduces the Cabana as a Tiny Dwelling That Rethinks Space
Lakefront District Towers
The Lake Views Slopes and Folds to Maximize Panorama for Every Home
Organically Printed Homes
The Lib Earth House Showcases Soil-Based 3d Printing Custom Living
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
Ceramic Modern Houses
The Hillsborough Residence Blends Modern Design with Sculptural Ceramics
Sustainable Canopy Pavilions
The Casa Solai Frames Ocean and Jungle Through a Dual-Pavilion Design
Modular Workplace Architecture Trends
DualSpace Studio Debuted the Adapatable 'ELIT Office'
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
Adaptive Workspace Designs
Twobo’s SALT HQ Highlights Material Reuse in a Community-Ready Office
Timber Alpine Shelters
Carlo Ratti Associati’s Self-Sufficient Bivouac for 2026 Winter Olympics
Contemporary Wooden Winery Designs
Foster + Partners Presents Legacy of Bodegas Faustino Winery
Sustainable Future Venues
An All-Electric Stadium Plan Sets New Benchmark for Community Sports
Staggered Modern Apartments
OSPA Arquitetura E Urbanismo Reimagines Urban Residential Living
Coastal Resilience-Focused Residential Projects
STRANG Completes the Van Der Vlugt Residence
Solar Powered Compact Homes
The E55000 Modular Off Grid Home Brings Expandable Living Upfront
Revitalized Cultural Park Projects
Turenscape Masterfully Elevates the Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park
Ancient Gymnasium-Inspired Residential Buildings
Triptyque and Architects Office Build AGE360
Cost-Conscious Installation Competitions
The Tallinn Architecture Biennale Debuts Budget Bougie
Organic Urban Playgrounds
The Boulder Park Brings 3D-Printed Boulder Design into Community Play
Rammed Earth Galleries
The Museum Ehrhardt by Kéré Architecture in Plüschow, Germany
Green Roof Residences
Tapestry by Shibanee & Kamal Architects Brings Nature to Rooftops
Multi-Functional Waterfront Complex Designs
Akihisa Hirata Architecture Office Presents Ray Garden
Sustainable Semi-Detached Homes
V8 Architects Presents the Villa Residu Design in the Netherlands
Futuristic Cultural Spaces
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Blends Form with Civic Imagination
Organic Cliffside Retreats
The Intaaya Retreat by Pablo Luna Studio Draws on Oceanic Forms
Pool Reinvention Campuses
The Waltham Forest College Pool Chanfe Becomes a Flexible Teaching Hub
Qatar 3d-Printed Building Plans
Qatar Launches Largest 3D‑printed School with Dual Bodxl Printers
Digital Marine Habitats
The Nereid Marine Habitat Sets New Standard for Ocean Restoration
3d Printed Lighting Sets
Tierra, Mar Y Aire by Faro Barcelona Explores Circular Material Systems
Scenic Sustainable House Designs
ONUS Architecture Studio Presents the Breathtaking Horizon House
Climate-Adaptive Tropical Homes
The Ocean Eye House Influenced Today’s Climate-Responsive Design
Sustainable Dome Villas
The Belalu Dome Villa Offers Sustainable Charm Wrapped in Organic Form
Refined Residential Architecture Projects
Min Design Tackles Constrained Urban Spaces
Japanese-Inspired Recycled Pavilions
Second Edition's Love Shack is Made of Recycled Materials
Adaptive Reuse Gallery Projects
Atelier L'abri Design the FOIL Gallery in Montreal
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
Eco-Friendly Rainforest Resorts
Wow Architects Reveals Design for Mandai Rainforest Resort
Grass-Topped Versatile Community Hubs
MDAD & TODOS Arquitetura Present the Modern Casa Una
Lush Garden Housing Designs
Monadnock Unveils Vibrant Volante Social Housing in the Netherlands
Urban Modular Outerwear
TNF Urban Exploration FW2025 Has Modular Layering and Architectural Tech
Tropical Waterfront Revivals
Jesselton Docklands Plan Transforms Kota Kinabalu Port Sustainably
Barcon-Negative Architecture
Living Bio‑cement Architecture's Picoplanktonics Captures Co₂
Sustainable Growth Systems
TreeSoil 3d-Printed Bricks Support Young Trees in Changing Climates
Adaptively Reused Office Buildings
Park Associati and Snøhetta Collaborate on Pirelli 35
Wooden Architecture Award Programs
WoodWorks - Wood Products Council Recognizes Wood Construction
Nature-Driven Office Interiors
Vacons Unveiled its Coconut-Inspired Betrimex Office
Sophisticated Government Office Designs
Agata Kurzela Tackles a Heritage Building in Abu Dhabi
Oyster-Shell Pavilions
Besley & Spresser Uses Recycled Oyster Shells in the Pier Pavilion Façade
Outdoor Living-Focused Tower Designs
OODA Designs the Miramar Tower in Porto, Portugal
Anniversary Design Festival Editions
Isola Design Group Will Open 'TEN: The Evolving Now'
Triangular Social Housing
The Lady Raval Social Housing Rethinks Density and Daylight in Barcelona
Biomaterial Interior Design
Spring Studio Forms Sustainable Interiors for World Heritage Centre
Bright Urban Apartments
Ooiio Architecture’s House 64 Renovation Transforms a 1960 Flat
Education Architecture Expansions
Rainbow International School Extends with Nature Spatial Design
Hillside Concrete Retreats
This Concrete House Blends Sculptural Form with Panoramic Views
Topology-Conscious Architectural Interventions
The Oeiras House by OODA is Contemporary
Renewed Olympic Villages
The Milan Athletes’ Village by Som Becomes a Legacy-Driven Urban District
Stone Building Auditoriums
The Centre De Congrès Fuses Sculpture with Immersive Color and Light
Net Zero Research Facilities
Koffler Scientific Reserve Research Building Supports Ecology Studies
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
Speculative Shelter Builds
Asympta by Leopold Banchini Architects Explores Ancient Landscapes
Contemporary Residential Architecture Projects
Groundeddesign Designs the Lime Tree Valley Villa
Serene Waterfront Pavilions
The Lake House Life Experience Pavilion Blends Architecture and Nature
Wooden Resilience Stadiums
Fukushima United Stadium Embraces Timber as a Symbol of Recovery
Sculptural Inverted Homes
Fala Atelier’s Porto House Flips a Roof for an Expressive Architecture
Green Roof-Topped Circular Villas
Sou Fujimoto Designed the EARTH Villa in Okinawa Prefecture
Sustainable Country Homes
The Three Oaks Farm Redefines Low-Impact Living in Sussex Countryside
Cultural Green Libraries
The Taichung Green Museumbrary by SANAA Weaves Architecture and Nature
Forest Tower Designs
The Wonderwoods Vertical Forest Rethinks Urban Living in Utrecht
Expansive Creative Regional Festivals
Tokyo Creative Salon 2026 is Schedule to Occur in March
Balanced Industrial Building Designs
HA-HA Design & Development Presents the Aluned Hq Project
Rock‑Like Coastal Centers
Nature Rocks Visitor Centre by MVRDV Inspired by Taiwan’s Coastline
Tranquil Facade Housing Structures
Order Matter Shields Designs the Raw House in South Korea
Strategically Proportioned Residential Buildings
ACDF Architecture Completes a Gatineau Project
Salvaged Materials House
Iris Residence by Tres Birds Uses Reclaimed Materials & Low-Energy Design
Textured Glass Landmarks
Helsinki Design and Architecture Museum Designed as Clear Public Pavilion
Curved Green Towers
The Island Introduces Gaudi-Inspired Balconies to a Residential Building
Industrial Waterfront Headquarters
Ånderkleiva Headquarters Fuses Coastal & Workspace Design
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
Lakeside Lab Hub Designs
The Boathouse Zuka Lab Adapts a Heritage Boathouse as a Research HQ
Clay Ridge Residences
The Birdwood House Reimagines Subtropical Living Through Sustainable Design
Modern Highland Residential Projects
Correa+Fatehi | ODD Designs a House in the Andes
Slender Alley Dwelling Revivals
The Brown House Uses Ecological Materials to Redefine Urban Infill
Vibrant Tropical Guesthouses
The Bi Design House Guesthouse Blends Local Design with Modernity
Minimal Material Residences
Marcela Cure Reimagines Miami Living Through Material Restraint
Reimagined Riverside Hubs
Gate M West Bund Dream Center Transforms a Former Cement Complex
Mud Clad Restaurants
Petti Restaurant by Wallmakers Uses Earth and Marine Waste Construction
Weatherized Minimal Modern Homes
Splinter Society’s Coastal House Settles into Ocean Grove Site
Wave-Inspired Civic Halls
The Sail Congress Centre in Big Normandy Curves into Public Architecture
Floating Cultural Plazas
Aquapraca Exhibition Shows a Climate-Responsive Plaza for Venice & COP30
Woodland Arts Pavilions
Julia Manacas Architecte's the Waterhouse-Oyama Fuses Gallery & Forest