As innovative construction materials enter into the mainstream, some of the July 2021 architecture trends offer stunning examples of sustainable creation in action. Techniques like prefabrication and modular construction allow developers to save time and money while cutting carbon emissions.
The unTower, engineered by Toronto-based B+H Architects, has an adaptable design that consists of stacked modular rings. The skyscraper is meant to lead the move away from monolithic office buildings toward mixed-use developments that can perform a wide variety of functions.
The BROAD Group, a Chinese manufacturing company, launched a similar modular experiment with the construction of the Living Building. Using prefabricated modules, the company significantly reduced costs and construction time. The 10-story apartment complex was completed in under 29 hours, making it one of the shortest construction projects ever.
Top 35 Architecture Trends in July
From Sculptural Spiral Benches to Nest-Inspired Coffee Shops:
Josh Thompson-Persaud — Jul 17, 2021 — Art & Design
35
Use-Neutral Skyscraper Concepts
The unTower is Designed to Adapt to Shifting Space Needs
34
Ecological Co-Housing Units
The Qville is a Co-Housing Compound Boasting Near-Zero Energy
33
Greenery-Accented Retail Spaces
IKEA Copenhagen Employs Dorte Mandrup for a Green Rooftop Park
32
Suspended Cockpit-Inspired Cabins
Thilina Liyanage's Futuristic Ocean Cabins are Adventurous
31
Relaxing Bungalow-Style Beach Resorts
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort Floats on the Water
30
Sculptural Spiral Benches
Paul Cocksedge Designed the Time Loop Installation in Hong Kong
29
Luxuriously Elevated Condo Interiors
The One Delisle Condo Delivers Contemporary Interior Designs
28
Elongated Holiday Homes
Walker Warner Architects Designed a Property Named Hale Mau’u
27
Nest-Inspired Coffee Shops
The September Cafe Has Nature-Inspired Woven Design Elements
26
Swimming Pool-Inspired Interiors
Italian Food Joint Bun Burgers Features a Swimming Pool Esthetic
25
Secluded Off-Grid Artist Studios
Jordan Ralph's Studio Drop is Sheathed in Seaweed-Shaded Larch
24
Tree-Inspired Solar-Powered Shopping Centers
This Marketplace is Made with Biomimicry Technology
23
Collaborative Workplace Meeting Pods
The Buildup Pods & Pavilions are Made to Facilitate Teamwork
22
Sustainably-Made Basketball Courts
The Shek Lei Grind Court is Constructed With 20,000 Used Shoes
21
Material Reuse-Exploring Pavilions
Japan Stands Out at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale
20
Residential Secret Gardens
CPDA Arquitectos Boasts a Lush Courtyard in a Newly Finished Project
19
Desert Planet-Inspired Skincare Stores
Lialawlab Has Outdone Itself with the Design of Formoral
18
Nostalgic Game Console Museums
The Nintendo Gallery Will Replace the Uji Ogura Plant in Kyoto
17
Flexible Contemporary Office Spaces
dMFK Architects Transformed a Lab into a Workplace
16
Aerially Connected Housing Blocks
The ORCA Project Brings a Set of Nine High-Rise Towers Together
15
Chinese Garden-Inspired Bookstores
Wutopia Lab Created a Garden-Inspired Bookstore in Shanghai
14
Lakeside Chinese Botanical Museums
The Taiyuan Botanical Garden Boasts Domed Greenhouses by a Lake
13
Innovative High-Rise Building Concepts
Nicolas Laisné’s One Open Tower Combines Various Functions
12
Volcanic Ash-Built Coffee Shops
The Blue Bottle Coffee Shop is Designed by Keiji Ashizawa
11
African Diasporic Pavilions
Ini Archibong' Pavilion of the African Diaspora is called The Sail
10
Rapidly Assembled Modular Apartments
The BROAD Group Constructed the Living Building in 28 Hours
9
Artistic Lantern-Inspired Installations
Ma Yansong's Art Sculpture Installation is called 'Light'
8
Restored Stock Exchange Buildings
Tadao Ando Restores & Redesigns the Bourse De Commerce Building
7
Irregularly Stacked Exhibition Spaces
The Harbour Experience Center is Designed by the MVRDV Firm
6
Straw-Like Pavilion Designs
MIA Design Studio Created a Pavilion in Thủ Đức in Vietnam
5
Flatpack A-Frame Cabin Kits
The Den DIY Cabin Kit Comes Ready to Be Assembled Anywhere
4
Repurposed Air-Raid Shelter Daycares
Birk Heilmeyer and Frenzel Architekten's Daycare is Playful
3
Rectangular Red Daycare Centers
Birk Heilmeyer Und Frenzel Architekten Revamp an Air-Raid Shelter
2
Earthquake-Proof Community Centers
Unemori Architects' Community Center is Built in Fukushima
1
Revamped Art Deco Buildings
Toshiko Mori Revitalizes Brooklyn’s Central Library
Related Ideas
Industrial-Inspired Homes
Glassbrick Apartment by Studio Karhard Alters a Flat with Nightclub DNA
Adaptable Prefab Tiny Homes
Tree Tents Birdhouse Modular is Highly Customizable
Corrugated Cabin Prefab Models
Zinc Studio Unveiled a Prefabricated Building 'The Cabin'
Triple-Story Prefab Tiny Houses
The DQTower Maximizes Land Usage by Building Upwards
Industrial Office Buildings
Steel House by Morris Adjmi Architects Nods to Rino’s Warehouse Past
Ultra-Colorful High-Density Residential Designs
Ballistic Architecture Machine Applies Color
Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes
The Drop Pod House Adapts to Floods and Unexpected Guests
Ultra-Modern Office Buildings
Matière Première Architecture Designs Its Space in Magog, Quebec
Accessible Urban Furniture Designs
The 'T ‘able' Urban Furniture Concept is Inclusive
Historically Inspired Modern Homes
MU Architecture Balances Historic Charm & Modern Sensibilities
Modular Triangular Sofa Designs
The Moooi Peaks Sofa Was Unveiled at IDS Toronto 2026
Award-Winning Multi-Unit Housing Projects
Xuefeng Li of Everest Group Achieves Recognition
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
Dynamic Sculptural Tables
The Interactive Transformation Table Boasts Playful Unfolding Design
Minimal Flat-Pack Design
Bouroullec’s ARBA Expands with Furniture Focused on Sustainability
Mixed-Use Residential Towers
Vitra by Pininfarina rises along the Balneário Camboriú skyline
Refurbished Multi-Story Buildings
Squire & Partners Completed a Sensitive Refurbishment
Futuristic Modular Cabins
Hello Wood Unveils the PEBL Grand Cabin for Forest Retreats
Modern Prefabricated Residential Projects
Palette Architecture Designs the Sleek Shift House
Minty Modern Cafes
StudioAC Designs a Stunning Coffee Establishment in Toronto
Carved Landscape Towers
Qapital by Kengo Kuma uses a porous facade with planted balconies
Pointy Modular Hospitality Architecture
Roman & Dmytro Seliuk Designs the Futuristic Namety Cabins
Inflatable Modular Pavilions
Renaissance of the Real by Snøhetta and USM Explores Sensory Space
Inclusive Modular Cityscape Furniture
The Conceptual 'RİVO' Urban Bench Design is Adaptable
Eco Living Vertical Towers
The Eden Rise Vertical Eco Living Community Integrates Food Production
Elevated Urban Skate Venues
AAN Architects Designs Suspended Skatepark Overlooking Shanghai
University Art Landmarks
Princeton University Art Museum by Adjaye Associates Redefines Art
Curved Green Roof-Topped Museums
Atelier Alter Architects Designs the Sunner Museum in China
Walkable Steel Sculptures
Five Fragmented Cubes Uses Folded Panels to Create an Immersive Design
3d-Printed Rubble Furniture
Inorganic Growth by Bentu Design Transforms Demolished Urban Villages
Luxury High-Rise Residential Towers
Una Residences by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects Rises
Modular Living Structures
Modular BV System Redefines Prefabricated Homes Sustainability in Brazil
Triangular Concrete Houses
Trim House by KWK Promes Uses Angular Plan Shaped by Constraints
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'
Threshold Bench Designs
The Torii Bench by Placyle Celebrates Recycled Material and Timeless Form
Architecturally Stunning Cultural Landmarks
OPEN Architecture Designs the Functional Sun Tower
NYC Apartment Renovations
The Brooklyn Loft Revamp Blends Industrial Heritage with Playful Design
Compact 3d-Printed Housing
The Tiny House Lux is Helping Address Luxembourg’s Housing Shortage
Sustainable Modern Chair Designs
ZEITRAUM Explored Sustainability Through Material & Craftsmanship
3D-Printed Airport Buildings
WASP and EDILCO Built Italy's First 3D-Printed Airport Building
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
Japan-Focused Design Exhibitions
UQAM is Hosting Built Environment: an Alternative Guide to Japan
Industrial Café Interiors
Blue Bottle Coffee West Bund Adds a Timber Frame to an Industrial Shell
Ceramic Modern Houses
The Hillsborough Residence Blends Modern Design with Sculptural Ceramics
Moody Industrial Retreats
The Pattern House Blends Industrial Materials and Lakefront Views
Bright Modular Furniture Systems
Here Now Presents the Tate System of Modular Furniture
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
Modular Bench Systems
Outsiders by lije Studio and Amorf Praxis Rethinks Public Seating
Prefab Timber Pods
The Forest Nests Treepod Project Presents Compact Modular Units
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
Protein-Inspired Architecture
Folded Protein Molecule Research & Exhibition Rethinks Structure
Rounded Modular Sofa Designs
Tylko Unveils Smooth Sofa as Its First Modular Soft Seating
Staggered Modern Apartments
OSPA Arquitetura E Urbanismo Reimagines Urban Residential Living
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
Compact Shelter Designs
Zodiac Building Accommodation Uses Modular Pods for Flexible Living Space
Modular Daily Apparel
The Uniform Collection Unveils Adaptable Ready-To-Wear with Spatial Design
Ancient Gymnasium-Inspired Residential Buildings
Triptyque and Architects Office Build AGE360
Raw Architecture-Inspired Retail Interiors
Balenciaga Has a Boutique in the Royalmount Center
Cost-Conscious Installation Competitions
The Tallinn Architecture Biennale Debuts Budget Bougie
Sustainable Green-Integrated Towers
Sudameris Plaza Rises as a Office Landmark in Asunción
Reconfigurable Timber Pavilions
Arkhive is a Pavilion by Students That Uses Reversible Joinery
3d-Printed Pavilion Structures
Superlimão Pavilion Features in Pátio Metrópole
Ultra-Chic Modular Furniture Systems
NII Spotlights the PARLAMENTO Modular System by Jun Aizaki
Modular Table Seatings
This Modular Table and Chair Set Adds Sound and Storage to Compact Spaces
Detroit Tower Redevelopments
SHOP Architects’ Hudson’s Detroit Highlights Civicr Regeneration
Bathroom-Centric Dubai Apartments
Bone Studio Blends Architecture and Experience in This Bold Home
Compact Urban Residences
The Stealth House by Specht Novak Redefines Private Living in Austin
Refined Urban Interiors
Primrose Apartment by Uncanny Studio Balances Sculptural Form and Comfort
Segmented Lightflow Art Pavilions
Marine Tabassum Creates a Capsule in Time Pavilion
Refined Residential Architecture Projects
Min Design Tackles Constrained Urban Spaces
Single-Mold Bold Seatings
The UNO Collection Uses Mirrored Parts to Create Modular Furniture
Interactive Architectural Pavilions
The Folding Landscape Pavilion Turns Design into a Living Lens
Modular Communal Designs
Pours Cassius Castings & Limba Hosted a Pour Party to Co-Form Furniture
Grass-Topped Versatile Community Hubs
MDAD & TODOS Arquitetura Present the Modern Casa Una
Resilient Modular Bamboo Housing
Housing NOW by Blue Temple is Resilient in the Face of Disaster
Carved Coffee Spaces
Watchhouse Park Avenue South by Thomas Mcbrien Architects Shapes Space
Urban Modular Outerwear
TNF Urban Exploration FW2025 Has Modular Layering and Architectural Tech
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
Layered Cafe Interiors
Joe Blake’s Holborn Unveils Sculptural Minimalism to a Central London Café
Adaptively Reused Office Buildings
Park Associati and Snøhetta Collaborate on Pirelli 35
Spiral Multipurpose Village Hubs
Sanjay Puri Architects Present the Nokha Village Community Centre
Layered Amenity Offices
The Bell Tower by Ste Marie Transforms Workplace into Amenity Spaces
Modular Peak Seating
Moooi Peaks Seating by Yves Béhar Uses Triangular Forms for Flexible Layouts
Sophisticated Government Office Designs
Agata Kurzela Tackles a Heritage Building in Abu Dhabi
Modular Glass Furniture
The Mo.du.lo Collection Explores Architectural Form with Glass
Bright Stacked Box Houses
Light House by Studioninedots Forms a Vertical Family Home
Flatpack Courtyard Houses
Miltiadou Cook Mitzman and Musson Brown Architects Design Modular Home
Biomaterial Interior Design
Spring Studio Forms Sustainable Interiors for World Heritage Centre
Industrial Loft Homes
The Casa MRGT unveils a Multi Level Residence Within an Industrial Building
Hillside Concrete Retreats
This Concrete House Blends Sculptural Form with Panoramic Views
Bright Creative Office Hubs
This Sauvage TV Office Supports Collaboration with Flow and Light
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
Ceramic Vault Structures
The Muqarnas Pavilion Shows a Modular Approach to Vaulted Form
Geometric Mountain Retail Volumes
Vari Architects Unveiled RICHAUS
Modular Seating Design Concepts
The PLA Modular Chair Reconfigures into Multiple Seating Forms
Brooklyn Residential Towers
The Brook by Beyer Blinder Belle Rethinks Vertical Living in Brooklyn
Speculative Shelter Builds
Asympta by Leopold Banchini Architects Explores Ancient Landscapes
Industrial Office Designs
Steel House by Morris Adjmi Architects Rethinks RiNo Warehouse Typology
Concrete Stair Buildings
Purple Brand by Scott & Scott Architects Centers on Sculptural Stairs
Urban Data Landmarks
Spark 761 Ai Data Centre Presents a Transparent Civic Computing Facility
Urban pollinator architecture
HOST reimagines bee habitat through stackable = hive modules
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
Immersive Nature-Inspired Design Showcases
The Muuto Spaces Event Was Multifaceted and Engaging
Modern Tuscan Chapel Homes
The Pailunga Tuscan Chapel Transforms into a Contemporary Living Space
Pavilion-Style Art Homes
Casa Galeria by BLOCO Architects Merges Living and Gallery Space
Interactive Public Pavilions
The Radius Transformation Pavilion Lets Visitors Shape Space
Slate-Clad Prefab Houses
Office Inainn Models the 18-07 Holiday Home on a Slate Plinth
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
Twin-Piece Modular Designs
AGNI Modular Furniture Makes Sustainable Form with Mirrored Simplicity
Vaulted Pink Complexes
Babel Housing Mexico by V Taller is a Sculptural Tower with Vaulted Design
Curved Green Towers
The Island Introduces Gaudi-Inspired Balconies to a Residential Building
Valley-Inspired Offices
Wataru Architects' Kitaoka Group Office Redefines Workspace in Mima City
Timber Research Hubs
The Anthony Timberlands Center Visualizes a New Heart for Wood Innovation
Concrete Grid-Forward Commrcial Towers
TRIPTYQUE Has Designed Inspira SP
Sleek Fire-Resistant ADUs
The Polyhaus Tetra-One Could Reshape California Housing with Resilience
Residential Mountain Retreats
The Avber House Fuse Concrete & Timber to Respond to Alpine Terrain
Architecturally Illuminated Structures
Puri Lighting Design Presents the Zhangbei Mirage Project
Prefabricated Timber Cabins
Wiki World’s Red Bridge Cabin Is a Modular Retreat in China
Blue-Accented Rooftop Residences
Bruzkus Greenberg Embraces Tranquility & Intrigue in This Design
Minimal Retail Spatial Strategies
UP2DATE Architects Debuted Messa House In Almaty
Modular Corporate Workspaces
Oculus Design Studio Unveiled Nestle IT & Digital Hub in Bangalore
Compact Urban Cafes
The Chapel by Vinklu Transforms a Bucharest Lot into a Narrow Coffee Shop
Wave-Inspired Civic Halls
The Sail Congress Centre in Big Normandy Curves into Public Architecture
Courtyard Apartment Conversions
BekArch Transforms a Bakery Workshop into a Prague Apartment
Compact Madrid Residences
The Former Shop by Burr Studio Becomes an Efficient Two-Level Home
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
Modular 3D-Printed Columns
Vertico’s Duality of Skin and Core Is On Display
Welfare-Focused Student Hubs
G/O Architecture Uni-Center Renovation Opens Campus Life