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
Adaptive Olympic Stadiums
The Brisbane Olympic Stadium Proposal Rethinks Seating and Roof Systems
Modern Cultural Institutions
Centre SANAAQ Opened in Montreal's Peter-Mcgill District
Modern Public Library Expansions
The Toronto Public Library Has Purchased a New Property
Playful Children's Library Designs
Studio Vapore Creates a Whimsical Children's Library
Modern Co-Living Residential Developments
Concrete Amsterdam Designs the Liberties House Interior
Historically Inspired Modern Homes
MU Architecture Balances Historic Charm & Modern Sensibilities
Cultural Workplace Transformations
AAID Designs Ernst & Young's Riyadh Headquarters
Clay Bead-Cloaked Buildings
British Pavilion Adorns the Geology of Britannic Repair in Beads
Thoughtfully Minimalist Office Designs
The SYMBOLPLUS OFFICE Design is Honest & Minimalist
Adaptive Paris Museums
The Fondation Cartier Opens a New Jean Nouvel–designed Space
Renewed Urban Rooftops
The Heineken Seoul Rooftop Turns Unused Rooftops into Community Spaces
Timber Modern Porch Pavilions
A Team of Designers Curate Porch: An Architecture of Generosity
Modern Ethereal Residential Projects
Philipp Architekten Collaborates with Bruzkus Greenberg
Refurbished Multi-Story Buildings
Squire & Partners Completed a Sensitive Refurbishment
Minty Modern Cafes
StudioAC Designs a Stunning Coffee Establishment in Toronto
Pointy Modular Hospitality Architecture
Roman & Dmytro Seliuk Designs the Futuristic Namety Cabins
Upgraded Secondary School Designs
Salem Architecture Upgrades Collège Reine-Marie
Architectural Community Spaces
The Street Clubhouse Forms Social Connection Through Open Design
Elevated Urban Skate Venues
AAN Architects Designs Suspended Skatepark Overlooking Shanghai
Contemporary Art Libraries
Espace Gabrielle Chanel is a Large Public Art Library in Shanghai
University Art Landmarks
Princeton University Art Museum by Adjaye Associates Redefines Art
Performance Hall Expansions
Snohetta Designs a Bold Extension for Powell Hall in St. Louis
Rest-Focused Golf Structures
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design Develops the Golf Pavilion
Curved Green Roof-Topped Museums
Atelier Alter Architects Designs the Sunner Museum in China
Rerfeshed Historic Workspaces
Daytrip’s Cloisters Interiors Boasts Modern Furniture Design
Architectural Lighting Solutions
Flos Emphasized Lighting Innovation and Artistic Expression
Warm Office Interiors
Kinzo Architekten Reimagines the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Offices
Modernist Home Renovations
The Bauhaus Budapest Apartment Receives a Contemporary Refresh
Modern Museum Transformations
Paisley Museum Revamp Completes Main Construction with Public Spaces
Regional City Hall Restorations
Architects Tackled the Restoration of Montreal City Hall
NYC Apartment Renovations
The Brooklyn Loft Revamp Blends Industrial Heritage with Playful Design
Modernized Fluid College Buildings
Shakespeare Gordon Studio Reimagines John Jay College
Interconnected Public University Designs
SOM Designed Facilities for Kuwait University
Contemporary Home Renovation Projects
Ofisvesaire Completes the Renovation of the S House
Balanced Educational Institution Designs
E PLUS/SZA DESIGN Presents the Tongtai School
Japan-Focused Design Exhibitions
UQAM is Hosting Built Environment: an Alternative Guide to Japan
Modern Administrative Office Designs
The Friedenau Housing Cooperative Taps Studio Alexander Fehre
Architectural Legacy Books
Tadao Ando. Sketches, Drawings, and Architecture Releases in November
Dynamic Geometric Library Buildings
fjcstudio Designs the Yellamundie Library Building in Sydney
Renovated Parisian Flats
Hauvette & Madani Architecture Uses Nature as a Frame in Paris Apartment
Modern Blue-Accented Academic Buildings
Taktik Design Has Revitalized the Marie Esther Pavilion
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
National Gallery Extensions
Kengo Kuma National Gallery Wing Expands Painting Display
Historic District Hotels
Blue Architecture Studio Converts a Yangzhou District into a Hotel
Adaptive Reuse Offices
Felix Lewis Architects' the Works Repurposes an Industrial Site
Ultra-Chic Modular Furniture Systems
NII Spotlights the PARLAMENTO Modular System by Jun Aizaki
Elevated Budget-Friendly Hotel Designs
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs Münster Ibis Budget Hotel
Reimagined Bright Italian Interiors
Italian Embassy London Renovation Highlights a Curated Design
Protein-Inspired Architecture
Folded Protein Molecule Research & Exhibition Rethinks Structure
Temporary Translucent Libraries
Diller Scofidio + Renfro Designs La Liberia Presented in Venice
Lighthouse-Resembling Urban Buildings
Safdir Architecture Designs the Old Port Square in Portland
Post Office-Transformed Apartments
Chatillon Architectes Transforms the Brest Post Office to Flats
Ancient Gymnasium-Inspired Residential Buildings
Triptyque and Architects Office Build AGE360
Agriculture-Inspired French Gyms
Atelier O-S Architectes Designs the Marie Marvingt Gymnasium
Glowing Sphere Art Pavilions
RAU Architects and Tellart Preset the Netherlands Pavilion
Architectural Sports Landmarks
The Xi’an International Football Centre Spotlights Civic Design
Modernized Office Interiors
Jodoin Lamarre Pratte Architectes Expands Its Office Space in Montreal
Cost-Conscious Installation Competitions
The Tallinn Architecture Biennale Debuts Budget Bougie
Multicultural Bright Historic Museums
MAD Architects Designst he Fenix Project in Rotterdam
Sustainable Green-Integrated Towers
Sudameris Plaza Rises as a Office Landmark in Asunción
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
Inclusive Media Libraries
Associer Designs the James Baldwin Media Library & the Refugee House
Pool Reinvention Campuses
The Waltham Forest College Pool Chanfe Becomes a Flexible Teaching Hub
Detroit Tower Redevelopments
SHOP Architects’ Hudson’s Detroit Highlights Civicr Regeneration
Exploratory Architectural Projects
The Polish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is Thought-Provoking
Contemporary Office Design
The Rock Capital Warsaw Office Highlights Art in a Refined Workplace
Segmented Lightflow Art Pavilions
Marine Tabassum Creates a Capsule in Time Pavilion
Revived Heritage Courtyards
Savarin Project Revitalizes Prague's Historic Center with Terraces
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
Modern Embassy Conversions
The Rosewood Chancery Hotel Reimagines London’s Former US Embassy
Nature-Integrated School Renovations
WAK TOK architects Renovate Takoma Park School
Modern Football Museum Headquarters
Arena Liga Portugal blends Various Amenities in Porto
Compact Civic Workspaces
The Stroud Green Housing Centre Creates a Modest Community Hub
Exclusivity-Promoting Sophisticated Interior Designs
The Historic Club Saint-Denis is Elevated
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
Modern School Campuses
Groupe Scolaire Simone Veil by Le Penhuel Associés Expands the Space
Modern Converted Kindergarten Designs
Archikon Architects Designs the Gyöngyszem Kindergarten
Architecture-Focused Design Exhibits
Blouin Orzes Architectes Participate in Time Space Existence
Adaptive Corner Houses
Ian Moore Architects’ Corner House converts a former shop into a residence
Gap-Focused Living Rooms
one-aftr Unveiled The 'Pavilion TEUM' Architectural Concept
Factory-Adjacent Dynamic Offices
CEBRA Designs the LEGO Innovation Campus for Employees
Education Architecture Expansions
Rainbow International School Extends with Nature Spatial Design
Leaf-Shaped Rooftop Schools
Vastushilpa Sangath Completes the Shiv Nader School Design
International Civic Landmarks
Nobel Center by David Chipperfield Architects Will Anchor a Space
Bright Creative Office Hubs
This Sauvage TV Office Supports Collaboration with Flow and Light
Dome-Style School Designs
The Al Fanar School Blends Playful Form and Climate-Responsive Learning
Civic Theatre Renovations
The Court Theatre Anchors Community and Craft Through Architecture
Phased Office Repositioning Strategies
OTJ Architects Unveiled a 1399 New York Avenue Spec Suite
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
Children-Designed Pavilions
Hi Ladders High Shows How Design Can Shape Inclusive Public Spaces
Senior Housing Projects
The Ellen Browning Building by Hacker Architects Brings Ribbed Cladding
Visually Striking Athletics Centers
NAPUR Architect Designs the National Athletics Center
Memory-Grounded School Libraries
The Rahmah Library Reuses Local Materials and Community Input
Former Embassy Showrooms
Temp Project Renovates a Former Embassy Building into Retail Interior
Urban Data Landmarks
Spark 761 Ai Data Centre Presents a Transparent Civic Computing Facility
Contemporart Multi-Purpose Facilities
Alva Roy Architects Complete the Nexus House
Civic Education Hubs
The Sammontalo Community Centre is a Multi-Use Civic Building in Finland
Pavilion-Style Art Homes
Casa Galeria by BLOCO Architects Merges Living and Gallery Space
London Urban Stay Concepts
The July London Victoria Apartment-Hotel Designed for Digital Nomads
Kindergarten Renovation Projects
Archikon Transforms Gyöngyszem into Budapest’s First Smart 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
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
Mobile Glass Libraries
La Libreria Brings Transparent Architecture to Underserved Neighborhoods
Thoughtfully Contemporary Museum Designs
Innauer-Matt Architekten Designs the Museum Bezau
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
Mushroom-Shaped Village Libraries
Kong Xiangwei Studio Designs the Mushroom Library in China
Valley-Inspired Offices
Wataru Architects' Kitaoka Group Office Redefines Workspace in Mima City
Cultural Exhibition Spaces
Espace Gabrielle Chanel by Kazunari Sakamoto Blends Art and Heritage
High-Rise Design Renos
The Watergate Pied-à-Terre Renovation Boasts Mid-Century Curves
Park Library Museums
The Taichung Green Museumbrary Blends Library and Art Museum in Taiwan
Modern Foreign Language Schools
Studio Link-Arc's Design is Exemplary for Dense Urban Settings
Housing Innovation Symposiums
The Boston Society for Architecture Focuses on the Future of Housing
Lambeth Palace Restorations
Wright & Wright Refurbihes the Archbishop’s Historic Residence
Spherical Urban Landmarks
The Grand Ballroom Introduces a Mixed-Use Sphere for Central Tirana
Contemporary Culture Hubs
The Tselinny Center by Asif Khan Redefines Public Space Through Design
Harbor Opera Landmarks
The Hamburg State Opera Project Reimagines Performance Architecture
Concrete Arts School Buildings
Visual Arts Building by Studio BLUR Forms Sculptural Volumes
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
National Park Visitor Centers
Arkís Architects Designs an Icelandic National Park Visitor Center
Repurposed Workplace Training Hubs
Cachet Group Transformed the Anytime Fitness Basement
Public Pavilion Architecture
Estudio Leonardo Zanatta’s Tess Pavilion Uses Tessellated Geometry
Modern Medical Teaching Pavilions
Anne Carrier Architectes Designs for Université Laval’s Program
Welfare-Focused Student Hubs
G/O Architecture Uni-Center Renovation Opens Campus Life