Whether it is schools, libraries of even government buildings, the November 2016 architecture trends demonstrate a strong emphasis on making public buildings not only more accessible, but also more visually appealing.
One way that architects are giving public buildings an upgrade is by adding modern elements to historic designs. For instance, the design company Gensler recently proposed erecting a modular bubble shaped structure in front of the UK parliament buildings. Similarly, architect Henri Cleinge renovated Montreal's historic Royal Bank building to create modern offices and a cafe.
However, the November 2016 architecture trends reveals that not all public building upgrades involve a complete overhaul. Indeed, many schools, library and museums have received small upgrades that simply help to give the structure a more contemporary look. For instance, Cologne's historic harbor district on the Rhine River was recently upgraded to include a sleek public pool and waterfall.
Top 85 Architecture Ideas in November
From Space-Efficient Schools to Bubbly Parliament Buildings:
Katherine Pendrill — Nov 26, 2016 — Art & Design
84
Eco Prefab Homes
This Wood House by ArchiBlox Features a Green Roof and Sustainable Wood
83
Spacious Container Homes
This Home is Equipped With a Full-Size Bathroom and Sleeping Loft Area
82
Hidden Bed Apartments
This Conceptual Apartment from Geometrium Features a Stair-Embedded Bed
81
Off-Grid Eco Homes
The 'rEvolve House' is a Tiny Home Powered Entirely by Solar Panels
80
Expandable Tiny Homes
The Aurora Tiny House's Interior Can Be Enlarged At the Push Of a Button
79
Cylindrical Bamboo Huts
The Treehouse Suite is an Idyllic Beach Resort in Mexico
78
Sustainable Residential Towers
The 'Beacon' Tower Uses Heat Extraction Pumps and Solar Panels
77
Flood-Proof River Refuges
This Floating Pavilion Reacts to the Rise and Fall of the Water Way
76
Academic Family Homes
'The Study House' Was a Former University Building
75
Open-Air Houses
Arnau Estudi d'Arquitectura's House Design Leaves Plenty of Outdoor Space
74
Modular Garden Pavilions
Casper Schols' 'Garden House' Has Sliding Walls that Offer Many Layouts
73
Mountainous Living Spaces
Xu Fu-Min's Home Design in Rural China is Permeated by Mountains
72
Power Station Restaurants
Melbourne's Higher Ground Cafe and Eatery is a Former Industrial Site
71
Miniature Transforming Apartment Spaces
This Living Space by Architect Elodie Gaschard is Cozy
70
Inflatable Nightclubs
This Blow-Up Building Was Made for the Federation of Swiss Architects' Party
69
Tiled Camouflage Houses
The TR House Provides Privacy with Strategically Placed Tiles
68
Architectural Jungle Gyms
The 'be-MINE' Design is a Giant Play Area on a Belgian Hillside
67
Charming Luxury Treehouses
The Woodsman's Treehouse Blends Natural Surroundings & Modern Luxuries
66
Oasis-Inspired Museum Buildings
The Urban Heritage Museum Administration Centre is in Saudi Arabia
65
Architectural Barrier Walls
'Prison-Wal' Turns a Controversial Idea into a Celebration of Mexico
64
Translucent Orchestral Halls
The China Philharmonic Hall Will Be in Beijing's Business District
63
Glass Pod Accommodations
PurePods Offers a One-of-a-Kind New Zealand Experience
62
Famed Prefab Houses
'Revolution Precrafted' Offers Prefab Houses Designed by Big-Name Architects
61
Diamond-Latticed Shopping Centers
Acme's John Lewis Facade Design is a White Concrete Lattice
60
Strategically Social Staircases
Bloomberg Hong Kong's New Office Staircase Encourages Interaction
59
Art Deco Skyscrapers
This New York Skyscraper is Inspired By Retro Art Deco Architecture
58
Glazed Tiny Homes
The Vista Go Towable Home Offers Compactness and Affordability
57
Contemporary Cedar Homes
MRTN Architects' Designed the 'House Under Eaves' in New Zealand
56
Stone-Clad Mountain Schools
Batang People's Primary School Facade References the Area's Terrain
55
Energy-Efficient Houseboats
This Houseboat is Fitted With the Latest Home Automation Gadgetry
54
Aluminum Alpine Shelters
This Slovenian Shelter Can Handle Extreme Winter Conditions
53
Drawbridge-Decked Dwellings
This Off-Grid Tiny Home Has a Motor-Powered Drawbridge Deck
52
Calorie-Counting Stairs
This Staircase Aims to Promote More Physical Activity
51
Steam-Bent Wooden Lodges
This Cornish Gamekeeper's Lodge's Facade is Covered in Curving Timber
50
Woven Concrete Structures
Weave.X Was Built Through the Use of Computational Design
49
Malleable Retreat Homes
This Retreat Home Can Contort into a Variety of Shapes
48
Encased Apartment Facades
atelier7architektura's Revitalized Building in Warsaw is Glass-Covered
47
Shipping Container Penthouses
LOT-EK Adapted a Family Home to Incorporate Industrial Components
46
Mesmerizing Museum Designs
This Shenzhen Museum Embraces Deconstructivist Design Principles
45
Heat-Resisting Homes
Ferrer & Zraid Arquitectos Designed an Open Home That's Safe from the Sun
44
Skateboard Park Rec Rooms
Inhouse Brand's Home Design Includes a Skate Bowl for the Resident Teen
43
Castle Arch Lighting Installations
'Reframe' Replaces Ruined Arches with Hanging Lights
42
Turf-Topped Office Buildings
The AXA Building by Santiago Calatrava Will Be in a Train Station
41
Mobile Ski Lodges
The Tiny Ski Lodge Offers On-the-Go Shelter For Avid Skiiers
40
Bamboo Canopy Gateways
The Zhuhai National Park Gateway was Designed by West-line Studio
39
Hybrid Swimming Pools
This Swimming Pool Facility Has Retractable Roofs and Walls
38
Prodigious Public Pools
COBE's Revitalization of Deutzer Hafen in Cologne has a Pool and Waterfall
37
Socially Responsible Design Exhibits
The Cooper Hewitt Exhibit Addresses Many Social Concerns
36
Aluminum Louvre-Covered Cafes
'Louvrewall' is Both a Cafe and a Residence in South Korea
35
Stylistically Mixed Architecture
'Form is Form' Combines the Architectural Styles of Three Studios
34
Pixellated Brick Apartments
Residenza Le Stelle's Facade Looks Pixellated in Real Life
33
Anime-Inspired Apartments
The 'Totoro' Buildings by KOZ Architects are Shaped Like the Anime Icon
32
Vertiginous Timber Towers
The River Beech Tower Will Rise 80 Storeys Above the Chicago River
31
Tranquil Meditation Pavilions
The 'Meditation Pavilion' is in a Peaceful Park in Geneva
30
Tree-Filled Homes
'A House in Trees' Combats the Smog of the Surrounding Town
29
Preserved Rubble Castles
The Fallen Matrera Castle Has Been Fused with Contemporary Architecture
28
Rust-Paneled Homes
Alt Arkkitehdit Clad This Woodland House in Rusted Corten Steel
27
Connected Sports Stadium Lighting
The Philips 'ArenaExperience' LED Illumination System is Dynamic
26
Record-Breaking LEGO Buildings
This Burj Khalifa Replica is the World's Tallest LEGO Building
25
Staircase-Shaped Schools
'An Adventure in the Horizontal' Creatively Climbs up a Hillside
24
Hovering Cubic Gardens
CHROFI has Designed the Australian National Botanical Gardens
23
Wondrous Scientific Playgrounds
Muf's Wonderlab is an Installation in London's Science Museum
22
Bifurcated Heritage Houses
Residence DBB is Physically Split Between the Old and the New
21
Converted Office Lofts
The 'REWE Digital' Office Space Provides a Playful Open Plan
20
Glazed Port Facades
The Port House Extension Was Designed By Zaha Hadid Architects
19
Playful Game-Developing Offices
This Office Space Features Vibrant and Eclectic Designs
18
Sun-Following Home Designs
This Home Features a Rotating Design to Follow the Sun Through the Day
17
Communal Living Pavilions
C+ Architects' 'Stair Pavilion' Aims to Facilitate a Stronger Community
16
Bubbly Parliament Buildings
This Parliament Concept Would Be Located In a Bubble On the River
15
Single Pane Glass Slides
Eckersley O'callaghan Designed a 10-Story-High Slide with Cricursa's Help
14
Expansive Pillared Offices
The Squarespace Office Features Large Contemporary Work and Play Areas
13
Stunning Sculptural Churches
Moneo Brock Designed a Cyrstal-Like Worship Space in Monterrey
12
Barn-Inspired Community Centers
Bernardo Bader's Building References Rural Austrian Architecture
11
Winged Railway Termini
The 'Route 2020' Competition Decided Dubai's New Red Line Extension
10
Urban Forest Pavilions
Asif Khan's 'Forests' are Spread Throughout East London
9
Tuition-Free Architecture Schools
The Free School of Architecture will Open in 2017 in Los Angeles
8
Redesigned Bank Collectives
The Crew Offices and Cafe Renovated Montreal's Historic Royal Bank
7
Abstractly Angled Apses
'Chapel in Valleaceron' has a Uniquely Geometrical Layout
6
Sky Pool Condominiums
'Fifth and Hill' will Have Dozens of Cantilevered Swimming Pools
5
Courtyard-Themed Offices
The Prointel Office Optimizes Natural Light in a Small Space
4
Abstract Modernist Churches
Pueblo Serena Church is a Bright White Series of Angled Volumes
3
Abstractly Gabled Health Clinics
Hirano Clinic is a Medical Center in Japan's Aichi Prefecture
2
Inflatable Canvas Pavilion Covers
'Octopus Pavilion' Mimics the Movement of a Cephalopod
1
Space-Efficient Schools
Delhi Public School's Design Maximizes Available Space
Related Ideas
Ultra-Modern Apartment Designs
No Architects Created a Multi-Functional Modern Apartment
Subterranean Japanese Libraries
This Underground Library is Situated Beneath a Sustainable Farm
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
Future Building Material Exhibitions
The Farrell Centre Debuts Its Inaugural Exhibition
Supermarket-Style Pavilions
Venice Architecture Biennale's Latvian Pavilion Has a Familiar Form
Ultra-Slick Modern Apartment Interiors
Note Design Studio Works on the Cloudy Outlines Project
Modern Office Buildings
Kinzo Designs Das Max for the Insurance Company Münchner Verein
Public-Oriented Furniture Exhibits
Furnishing Utopia's Jean Lee Displays Furniture for Public Use
Kaleidoscopic Kindergarten Buildings
The Tianshui Kindergarten by SAKO Architects is Whimsical
Rurally-Inspired City Buildings
The 'Ziel' High-Rise Building Brings the Country to the Cityscape
Arts and Crafts-Inspired Homes
Rural Office Designs the Middle Avenue House in Surrey
Community-Centric Headquarters
SPACE10 Embraces Community-Centric Design for Its Headquarters
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Bauhaus-Inspired Pattern Collections
Design En Rogue Architecture Recently Debuted Its New Line
Ultra-Compact Bungalow Designs
Satish Jassal Architects Completes the Haringey Brick Bungalow
Earthy Tonal Tranquil Lounges
Cloud and Sabine Marcelis Create a Lounge Promoting AlUla
Welcoming Bank Designs
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs the Headquarters of PSD Bank
Everchanging Water-Based Theaters
Open Architecture Designs the Yichang Grand Theater in China
Transparent Climate Classrooms
Forma Transforms a Century-old Glasshouse in Copenhagen
Modernist Library Interiors
Superkül Renovates a Reading Room at Robarts Library
Vibrant Multi-Level Office Designs
Gensler Reimagines the Accenture Office Space in Chicago
Water-Inspired Theatre Designs
Open Architecture Unveils Its Plans for the Yichang Grand Theatre
Vibrant Museum Foyer Renovations
Studio Besau-Marguerre Transfroms Mk&g's Foyer
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Town-Like Classroom Designs
Atelier Apeiron Designs the Kindergarten of Museum Forest Building
Playful Public Seating Designs
The London Festival of Architecture Boasts a Series of Seats
Historic-Inspired Villa Hotels
Space Copenhagen Designs the Memmertsberg in Switzerland
Light-Filled Public Restrooms
I IN Uses Yellow and Green to Create Vivid Toilet Interiors
Staggered TV Station Buildings
Albania's 'Klan TV' Building is Shaped Like a Stash Of Film Reels
Vibrant Public Bathhouses
Schemata Architects Brings a Fresh Twist to the Renovation of Komaeyu
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Vibrant Adaptable Workplaces
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs a Modern Workspace for Relaxound
Renovated Compact Loft Apartments
Metre Architects' Vessel Project Renovates a Small Space
Red Brick Music Schools
Colectivo C733's Music School Design is Captivating and Stunning
Chic Modern-Industrial Buildings
YN Studio Designs a Slick Facade in Gillett Square
Large Headquarter-Transformed Housing
Studio Egret West Designs Hayes Park Central and South
Redefined LA-Based Comfortable Offices
Gensler Redesigns its Own Office Located in Los Angeles
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Micro-City Housing Nooks
Notan Office Transforms an Industrial Site in Brussels
Modern-Updated Traditional Homes
KiKi ARCHi Designs the Skip House in the Middle of Beijing
Transformed Historic Bank Buildings
Ivy Studio Overhauls the Interior of a Historic Building
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Rejuvenated Former Bank Buildings
This Dutch Building Now Boasts Solar Panels & Insect Hotels
Monolithic Concrete-Clad Pavilions
Alberto Campo Baeza Collaborated with Miguel Quismondo
Vibrant Tonal Spanish Apartments
Colombo and Serboli Architecture Designs a Barcelona Apartment
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Vividly Designed Apartments
Pascali Semerdjian Arquitetos Renovates an Apartment in Sao Paolo
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
Cylindrical Cog-Stacking Buildings
This Dutch Building's Eyecatching Design Symbolizes Diversity
Y-Shaped Community Pavilions
Sam Crawford Architects Creates a Red-Roof Pavilion in Sydney
Futuristic Vibrant London Apartments
2LG Studio Designs a Vibrant Apartment in East London
Fish Scale-Resembling Facades
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Designs the Istanbul Modern
Cozy Luxury Brand Showrooms
KOT Architects Develops a Neutral Palette for Dior's Showroom
70s-Inspired Interior Office Renovations
dMFK Architects Renovates the 45 Whitfield Street Office
Curved London Office Buildings
Foster + Partners Designs 50 Electric Boulevard in South London
Former-Bakery Modern Apartments
Auba Studio Designs the Newly Converted NZ10 Apartment Space
Whimsical Bright Creative Workspaces
Publicis Groupe's New Workspace is in New York's SoHo
Ancient Construction Campus Buildings
Henning Larsen Designs a New Campus in Foroe Islands
Prayer Room Government Offices
Agata Kurzela Studio Rewors a Floor of a Heritage Building
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Greenery-Sheathed Libraries
This Library Building Features Generous Plantings Of Native Species
Generously Glazed Spiral Buildings
This Building is Inspired By Czech Glassmaking Tradition
Digital Architecture Libraries
My ArchiSchool is Launching a New Resource in Summer 2023
Crystalline Chinese Museum Buildings
The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
Welcoming Prefabricated Student Housing
Ignacio Prego Architectures Designs New Student Housing
Comprehensive Gallery Renovations
Carmody Groarke Releases Plans for the Dulwich Picture Gallery
Floating-Style Classroom Designs
Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group Completes the Bloomberg Center
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Altered Pyramid Concrete Monuments
MCRDV Unveils a New Bright Pyramid of Tirana with IRI
Energy-Efficient Museum Complexes
This Museum Uses Innovative Design to Curb Energy Consumption
Nature-Connecting Office Spaces
Hawkins\Brown Designs the Here + Now Office Buildings
Redesigned Unifying Transit Terminals
Foster + Partners Renovates the NY Midtown Bus Terminal
Artfully Inspired Home Renovations
Reflect Architecture Designs the North Drive House in Toronto
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Revamped Monolithic Galleries
The Revamped National Portrait Gallery Emphasizes Public Space
Vibrant Apartment Showrooms
&Tradition Designs the Under One Roof Apartment Showroom
Renovated Historic Design Complexes
Studio Seilern Architects Transforms the Boksto 6 Building
Compact Calming Homes
Batay-Csorba Architects Masterfully Designed a Modern Brick Home in Toronto
Office-Transformed Co-Living Spaces
HUB & Bridges Fund Management Present its Cornerstone Project
Stepped Office Blocky Buildings
BIG Develops a New 10-Storey Office in London for Landsec
Renovated 19th-Century Homes
Byró Architekti Renovates a House in Kutná Hora with Bright Joinery
Elevated Garden-Filled Buildings
Snøhetta Designs the New Cloud 11 Building in Bangkok
Law-Firm Office Interior Designs
Kin Designs the Office Interior for Law Firm Dentons
Amorphous Public Restrooms
People's Architecture Office Designs the Amoeba Public Restroom
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Mass Studies Unveils the Visuals for the Archipelagic Void
Racket-Inspired Tennis Centers
Hopkins Architects Designs the All England Lawn Tennis Club
Expansive School Bamboo Canopies
CollectiveProject Creates a Canopy at Talaricheruvu Rural School
Scientific Communal Museums
Stefano Boeri Architetti Designs the Museum of Technology in Xi'an
Traditional Garden-Inspired Cultural Centers
Open Architecture Designs the Shanfeng Academy
Stacked Timber Office Buildings
De Zwarte Hond Designs the Headquarters of Alliander
Converted Market Building Nurseries
Vurpas Architectes Creates the Eugénie Brazier Building
Animated Game-Inspired Buildings
Lev Libeskind Designs the New Rainbow Road Building in Phoenix
Sleek Fintech Office Designs
Universal Design Studio Creates the Copper Office in London
Textured Concrete Panelled Gyms
MD41 Completes a Gymnasium Design for a School in Italy
Log Cabin-Inspired Modern Homes
Balbek Bureau Renovates a Home in Ukraine with Steel and Concrete
3D-Printed Public Pavilion Prototypes
Hassell Works with Nagami on a New Public Pavilion
Minimal Urban City Apartments
GRT Architects Designs the East Village Apartment in NY
Bright Red Timber Buildings
Office ParkScheerbarth Designs the Compact Haus 2+ in Berlin
Orange Marquee Canopy Designs
all(zone) Designs the MPavilion 9 with a Vibrant Orange Hue
Modern Deco Office Designs
Reflect Architecture Designs the NewGen Office with Contemporary Detail
Modern Museum Versatile Cafes
Tate Modern Unveils a Corner Cafe Designed by Holland Harvey
Spine-Based Central Design Buildings
Foster + Partners Designs the Hangzhou Center
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Office Building Rainbow Facades
SAKO Architects Designs the Vertical Rainbow Office Building
Tree-Like Library Spaces
Studio Hinge Presents the Forest of Knowledge Library Design
Large Concrete Educational Buildings
Stanton Williams Introduces the UCL East Marshgate Building
Gabled Planted Courtyard Schools
Ateliers O-S and NAS Architecture Design the Samuel Paty School
Sculptural Museum Expansions
Diller Scofidio + Renfro Unveil Images of the Broad's Expansion
Latticed-Steel Transport Hub Columns
Tremend Designs the Metropolitan Station in Lublin
Energy-Efficient Headquarter Buildings
The New 'Bench' Building Prioritizes Sustainable Design
Multi-Faith Spiritual Temples
James Gorst Architects Designs a Non-Denominational Temple
Atrium Stacked Toronto Courthouses
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Creates a Justice Building
Curved Brick Rooftop Structures
Sukchulmok Adds New Structure to the Parconido Bakery Cafe
Glass-Lined Towering Libraries
Snøhetta Designs the Beijing City Library Located in China
Mass-Timber Transport Hubs
BIG and A+ Architecture Build the Marengo Multimodal Transport Hub
Basketry-Informed University Facades
Heatherwick Studio Designs a Building for Universidad Ean
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Revamped Modern Phone Booths
100architects Brings Digital Touches to the Classic Phone Booth
Renovated Contemporary Industrial Apartments
TENKA ARKITEKTURA Designs the Burgatoi Project
Sustainability-Focused Building Renovations
Climate Group Launches the Renovation Revolution
Lantern-Like Tea House Pavilions
Grau Architects Designs the Tea House Pavilion by the Lake
Industrial Warehouse-Inspired Offices
Carr Designs a New Office Block with Industrial Themes
Eco-Friendly Antarctic Research Buildings
The 'Discovery Building' Aims to Cut Carbon Emissions
Sculptural Timber Gathering Spaces
Lina Ghotmeh Designs the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion
Illuminated Seated Chamber Skylights
James Turnell Designs the Leading Skyspace in a School
Renovated Retro Ski Lodges
Hetedik Műterem and Studio Konstella Extend the Normafa Ski Lodge
Nomadic Community-Themed Pavilions
Joar Nango Designs Girjegumpi: The Sámi Architecture Library
Terracotta-Clad University Faculties
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Completes New Art Faculty
Contemporary Italian Office Designs
The NOA Office in Bolzano has a Highly Adaptable Layout
Barrel Vault-Topped Metro Stations
KA Architecture Studio Designs the Jahad Metro Plaza
Translucent Chinese Concert Halls
This Venue Boasts a Glowing Aesthetic & Pleasant Acoustics
Amsterdam-Honoring Dynamic Workspaces
UN Studio Designs the New Headquarters for Booking.com
Lantern-Topped Sleek Workshops
Cabinet Designs the Gardeners House in a Park in Geneva
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
Perforated Shadow-Casting Libraries
Parallel Studio Designs the Mariam's Library in Zanzibar
Stacked Cylindrical City Towers
Heatherqick Studio and Barcode Architects Design the Oopen Tower
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces
Dynamic Canadian Museum Expansions
Diamond Schmitt Architects Expands the New Brunswick Museum
Former President-Honoring Libraries
Atelier Masōmī Introdues a Library in Monrovia