The world’s best buildings for 2025 have been unveiled.

Award winners have been announced at the World Architecture Festival, that was held at the Miami Beach Convention Centre in Florida last week.

Taking out the World Building of the Year 2025 award was The Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas designed by Fernando Menis.

Located in the Los Chumberas neighborhood of Tenerife – the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, the building serves as both a spiritual and community hub. It has served to revitalise an unprivileged area.

The site includes a church, a community center and a public square. It provides a vital gathering space for locals.

From an architectural viewpoint, features of the building include:

  • Four large concrete forms. These are inspired by the surrounding volcanic landscape. They contrast with the building’s surroundings and create a play of light and shadow.
  • Use of daylight as an architectural form. The building does not have any windows. Rather, daylight enters the building via narrow cracks between structures, which are filled with sculptural metal and glass. These filter daylight and create cross light as well as zenithal light which enters from overhead positions. The effect is that light shifts and highlights different areas during the day. This helps to create a minimalist and spiritual interior which guides users through a sense of internal exploration.
  • Interesting use of concrete. The concrete that was used was selected for its versatility, form, texture and acoustics. From an acoustic viewpoint, chipped concrete mixed with volcanic stones absorbs sound whilst a combination of smooth and rough exposed concrete achieves a sophisticated sound control within is comparable to an opera house. Meanwhile, the thick walls enhance the building’s thermal performance and minimise heat exchange.

A key challenge in the building’s construction related to funding. This was reliant upon donations and was thus irregular.

As a result, the building was constructed in phases.

The first two buildings which house the center were completed within two years and have been operational since.

However, the remaining structures were not finished until 16 years later when funding allowed for their completion.

The building also took out the Small Project of the Year 2025 award.

 

World’s best interiors, landscapes and future projects

Other awards include those for interiors, landscapes and future projects.

Taking out the World Interior of the Year 2025 award was the Fractal Chappel at State Hospital Graz by American architecture firm INNOCAD Architecture.

Completed last November, the chapel is located in Graz in Australia’s southeast, about 150km south of Vienna.

The facility is located within a state hospital and is hosted by the Protestant church.

It serves as a serene retreat for patients, staff and visitors. It contrasts with the fast pace of hospital life in a demanding healthcare setting.

Features include:

  • A double height ceiling and a room-high glass façade. This sees a low entry area that opens out into an 8-meter tall space to create a dramatic but calming experience.
  • A perforated screen which spirals along the walls. This not only symbolizes the human lifecycle but hides functional elements such as multimedia equipment and building technology.
  • Fractal patterns which are inspired by nature’s geometry and which evoke positive psychological, physiological, and neurological responses.
  • A material pallet within the chapel that remains minimal to emphasize the interplay between pattern, form and light. Wood is used for the ceiling, flooring, benches, and altar, contributing to the space’s warm, earthy character. This choice allows the fractal patterns and natural elements to remain the focal points.
  • A unique altar at the heart of the chapel which has been sculpted from the inverted rootstock of a walnut tree. Surrounded by fractal surfaces and enhanced by refined lighting, the altar symbolizes transformation and interconnectedness and invites moments of introspection and contemplation.

Next, taking out the Landscape of the Year 2025 award was the Embracing Flood: Xinjiang River Ecological Corridor by Turenscape project on the Xinjian River in Shangrao City in the Jiangxi province in China’s southeast.

This was designed by Chinese architecture firm Turenscape.

The project has revitalized a 102-hectare floodplain and transformed it into a vibrant ecological and recreational space.

It aimed to improve flood management and water quality, restore native habitats and support biodiversity, create year-round recreational spaces and offer a cost-effective and sustainable model for urban resilience.

Rather than resisting seasonal floods, the design embraces water as a dynamic force. It integrates the water into the landscape to support biodiversity and urban resilience.

With a cost-effective and low-maintenance approach, the corridor reconnects people with nature while protecting the city from climate threats.

The project is now a regional landmark. It serves as a scalable model for flood-prone cities worldwide.

Features include:

  • Use of ponding and islanding to restore ecology and enhance flood resilience. Ponding was used in degraded areas to create porous landscapes that retain water, sustain site moisture and form bioswales to filter stormwater from nearby mountain valleys. Islanding reshaped low-lying zones into diverse wetland habitats. This enriched ecotones and supported wildlife.
  • Flood adaptation structures which enable visitors to safely engage with the waterscape. A dual pedestrian system ensures year-round accessibility. This involves an elevated skywalk above which stays dry even during a 50-year flood along with three adaptive boardwalk layers below that respond to fluctuating water levels (the lowest submerging during monsoon season). In addition, waterfront platforms and observation decks seamlessly integrate recreation with ecological education.
  • Sustainable and cost-effective materials. This involves local materials and prefabricated components to ensure low-cost, durable and flood-resilient construction. Modular concrete walkways on pole structures withstand flooding and require minimal maintenance. Meanwhile, natural materials blend into the environment while ensuring longevity.

Finally, taking out the Future Project Infrastructure award was the Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group (Denmark).

Set to open it 2029, the airport will serve as Bhutan’s second international gateway and will initially support up to 123 daily flights.

By 2040, it is expected to cater for 1.3 million annual passengers.

The airport will also serve as Bhutan’s first in-land mobility hub. It will connect to the broader region via accessible trackless trams and public buses.

Design features include:

  • A striking diagrid structure for the terminal. This is built from locally and sustainably sourced timber and is adorned with traditional Bhutanese wood carvings. The painted façade references the Kachen, a sacred structural wooden pillar, fusing spiritual symbolism with architectural heritage. The airport’s design harmonizes with its natural setting.
  • A landscaped arrival plaza that is organized into four zones and features local stone paving and integrated seating. Each zone celebrates native plant species.
  • Biodiversity corridors that weave through the airport and into a central interior courtyard which is known as the Forest Spine. This is a lush green space which separates domestic and international terminals. With treetop walkways and native flora, the spine provides a calming, immersive connection to nature.
  • Celebration of Bhutanese culture through showcasing of regional crafts. This includes intricate detailing which continues from the exterior to the interior. The space is designed to instill mindfulness in travelers through natural lighting, a grand triple-height entry, skylights, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Indoor and outdoor lounges offer spaces for yoga, gong baths, and meditation, reflecting Bhutan’s commitment to well-being and happiness.
  • A functional layout which prioritizes passenger experience and operational efficiency. Clear visual cues and intuitive circulation guide travelers seamlessly from arrival to departure. Gates, retail, and food areas are located on an upper level, offering panoramic views of the Himalayas.
  • Integration of passive and climate responsive strategies which are adapted to southern Bhutan’s subtropical climate. The timber structure helps regulate indoor humidity while ventilated roofs and courtyards promote airflow. Extended eaves offer shade and protection from monsoon rains.

 

World’s best in 43 categories

Across the three-day festival, awards were given across 43 categories.

A full list of category winners can be seen here.

 

Enjoying Sourceable articles? Subscribe for Free and receive daily updates of all articles which are published on our site

 

Want to grow your sales, reach more new clients and expand your client base across Australia’s design and construction sector?

Advertise on Sourceable and have your business seen by the thousands of architects, engineers, builders/construction contractors, subcontractors/trade contractors, property developers and building industry suppliers who read our stories across the civil, commercial and residential construction sector