World Architecture Awards Submissions / 50th Cycle
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The project site is situated on a peninsula in one of Turkey's developing tourism regions, surrounded by the Aegean Sea and the Kavaklarboğazı stream. In contrast to the prevalent villa complexes in the area, this design seeks to explore spatial potentials through a fresh perspective, creating a unique architectural language. The design emphasizes a texture of units that harmoniously integrates with the natural topography, serving as a natural extension of the land while fostering shared communal spaces.
This architectural design not only addresses the immediate needs of its occupants but also sets a new standard for sustainable tourism in Turkey’s Aegean region. By incorporating vernacular settlement strategies like fragmentation which is prioritizing human scale, the project achieves a refined contemporary interpretation that resonates with the area’s cultural heritage. A poetic promenade leads visitors toward the settlement, offering a breathtaking view of the lake, reminiscent of a bridge suspended over the water, framed by flamingos and lush forest surroundings.
The masterplan thoughtfully embraces the steep, topographically unique site, ensuring it harmonizes with the landscape while maintaining undisturbed vistas of the lake and forest, despite the challenges posed by the land's inclination. The architectural expressions within the project showcase solid identities developed through years of experience, utilizing local materials such as natural stones and plasters to enhance the plasticity derived from the articulation of masses.
The project consists of three distinct living units, providing a combination of short-term and long-term accommodations. The hotel unit (Block A), positioned at the highest elevation of the site, aims to serve as a landmark, offering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. This structure is designed to maximize vistas while ensuring that its social amenities are closely linked to an inner courtyard, enhancing the experience for guests. The hotel features a spa and gym that open to the inner courtyard, creating a relaxing atmosphere. An arched passage connects this garden to other units, maintaining the relationship between communal areas.
Directly below the hotel, the "village" (Block B) offers a modern interpretation of traditional living units. Open circulations connect these units, creating an engaging design that incorporates terraces and modular spaces, encouraging interaction with nature. Strategically placed commercial streets and squares aim to serve local residents while also providing gathering points for guests.
The C blocks consist of relatively taller units, designed to avoid a monolithic appearance through terracing. The project features arched passages, open circulations, and social courtyards that reference the overall design, creating a cohesive architectural narrative. Additionally, village cafes and squares serve as meeting points, supported by a pool, activity areas, shops, and restaurants, enriching the social spaces throughout the project.
Overall, the design reflects a typical Aegean settlement, featuring urban piazzas, narrow shaded streets, and vibrant restaurants that celebrate local values. Cultural hubs foster community interaction, while amenities such as local shops, a health center, leisure facilities, pools, spas, and play zones for children enrich the social fabric of the environment. Ultimately, this proposal not only enhances the experience of living and visiting but also cultivates a vibrant community, setting a benchmark for future developments in the region.
Site Area: 56479,63 m²
Gross Floor Area (GFA): 50813,21 m²
Net Floor Area (NFA): 50831,67 m²
Number of Floors: 6
Orçun Ersan, Esra Toygar, Didar Çayır, Neslihan Asena Can, Fatma Begüm Tuncel, Özgün Berk Çınar, Aybüke Öztürk Gözükara, Aleyna Kalkan, Esra Akın
Nestled in a tranquil recreational area by a picturesque lake, the Rehabilitation Center represents an innovative and sustainable approach to adult health recovery. Designed to integrate modern rehabilitation methods, including hippotherapy, the centre provides comfort and functionality while blending seamlessly into the surrounding natural landscape. This commitment to eco-conscious design minimizes the ecological footprint and adheres to the principles of green architecture, promoting sustainability in every aspect.
The green roof is a standout feature in the centre. Covered with lush grass and shrubs, the roof provides additional relaxation spaces, lowers temperatures in warmer months, and fosters regional biodiversity. Numerous private rest zones offer visitors peaceful retreats with stunning views of the lake and nearby mountains, reinforcing the connection between architecture and nature, creating a unique serene environment.
The building’s facades are constructed from innovative, eco-friendly materials that uphold the highest sustainability and energy efficiency standards. The columns supporting the expansive glass panels are made from regenerated concrete, emphasizing durability and sustainability. This innovative approach makes the building resilient and eco-friendly.
Incorporating photovoltaic glass on the facade is a significant design innovation, enabling the building to generate solar energy and reducing reliance on external power sources. This innovative integration aligns with sustainable architectural practices, while the glass’s light absorption properties ensure a cool and comfortable interior environment, lowering energy needs.
Inside, triple-glazed windows with advanced thermal insulation enhance ventilation and natural light while improving energy efficiency. The centre’s interiors use natural materials—wood, stone, and eco-friendly paints—creating a warm and inviting atmosphere essential for recovery and healing.
Addressing the growing need for adult rehabilitation facilities, this project combines modern technologies and therapeutic natural methods, ultimately providing a holistic approach to health recovery in harmony with nature. The Rehabilitation Center by the Lake stands as a model for sustainable architecture, illustrating the potential for design to nurture healing, wellness, and well-being.
• Total building height: 7,200 mm
• Ground floor height: 5,200 mm
• First floor height: 2,900 mm
• Structural system: Reinforced concrete with regenerated concrete columns
• Facade materials: Photovoltaic glass, eco-friendly panels
• Roof type: Green roof with vegetation
• Windows: Triple-glazed with thermal insulation
• Energy efficiency: Solar energy generation via photovoltaic glass
Oksana Maksakova
The project is located in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The land area is 1020 square meters. The total area of the house is 429 square meters. The ground 1 floor villa living room is double height floors high. On the left side there are 3 rooms and a family room. The house has 6 rooms in total. While designing the house, an architectural identity was defined with reinforced concrete floors at different levels. In order to prevent the houses on the other side of the road on the right from watching the balcony on the 1st floor, the 1st floor terrace was closed with a blank wall in this direction. 3 different floors and the console wall on the right side are surfaces that slide over each other and define each other. On the left side of the house, a mass was designed with a sloping roof that would create a contrast with these flat floors, and different movements between the right and left of the house were provided to strengthen each other's existence by creating a contrast. At the front of the house there is a sitting area which is an extension of the living room. This semi-open sitting area of 30 square meters is a part of the garden. The swimming pool, which is 4 meters by 14 meters, was designed on the boundary wall side of the garden. The architecture of the house is unique to this villa due to the client's desire for privacy on the first floor balcony. The floating floor pieces allowed us to achieve an original design, distinguishing the architecture of the house from other existing house stock.
G 1 floors
Plot area: 1020 sqm
Total construction area:429 sqm
Selim Senin
Bilgehan Kucukkuzucu
Gwalior is known for its rich heritage and architectural projects. The existing site for the railway station is home to one such heritage building along with a UNESCO listed narrow gauge station. The site sits with a backdrop of the Gwalior fort and is of prime importance in terms of the architecture and the connection to the city. On the west of the site is the old city of Gwalior and on the east is the new settlement.
Connecting the city
The design is seen as a melting pot of the old and new and responds to the same in the architectural style. The station building has a prominent architectural style in terms of an “arch”, which is a distinct architectural feature and defines the architecture of the space.
Proposed design pivots on the arch of the existing station building and reinterprets the same as a light weight shell structure with a profile of an arch. Currently the plaza of the existing station is used for car park. In the design a pedestrian friendly plaza is proposed with an underground cark park and segregated traffic both above and below ground. The new design for the station extension has the opportunity to connect the historical with the new part of the city which is very crucial for Gwalior city.
Amalgamating old and new
The design of an arch has been developed further as an architectural as well as a structural element as a three dimensional element. It’s a modular system comprising of a light weight shell system and an element of this system has been designed to bring in light. This surface is treated with a Jali design inspired by the existing Gwalior fort and connecting to the architecture of the past and preserving the same architectural detail and showcasing it in the design.
Framing existing building
The existing heritage station will remain the focal point. The modular three dimensional arches act as frames and embraces the heritage building and bring it into a new light. The proposed design acts as a backdrop to the existing station building in a subtle way and also creates a new identity for the entire complex. Design is seen as a gradual evolution of design from a two dimensional arch of the existing building to a light weight three dimension vaulting arches for the proposal.
Segregated arrival and departure
The existing station building and the extended wings are both retained in the design with the proposed design flanking the existing building on each side. With arrival on one side and the departure on the other side its clearly segregated. The design also responds to the west side of the site where the narrow gauge station is located. The form creates another station complex on that side for ease of connectivity for passengers, who can access the station from either side of the city.
Multimodal transport
Multimodal transport has been designed on the site with the drop off on the ground. Pick up from taxis and autos in the basement. It is critical to create a smooth movement of traffic on site to create a design that focuses on the architecture and architecture of the space. A Bus terminal just next to the Arrival Terminal is proposed with close proximity to the arrival.
Welcoming gesture for passengers
The proposed building creates a welcoming gesture for the passengers with cantilevers and open spaces that feels like an extension of the outside. The modular system also results in large spans and adds to this welcoming gesture. Built and landscape are delineated into each other as no solid walls are placed on the outside, the cantilever depth was studied using solar simulations to control the harsh sun of the summer and letting the winter sun in.
Light and Shadow
A dramatic play of light and shadow are integrated in the design through the use of an opaque shell and Jali. The duality of design results in animated shadows throughout the day creating an interesting texture which is purely driven by solar movement.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a key feature of the design, the ratio of openings were simulated to reduce the heat gain of the building, cantilever depth was optimized and shallow water bodies are provided to create evaporative cooling.
Orientation of the building is primarily determined by the track direction. The design incorporates large overhangs and shading features to minimize the heat gain of the building. The façade has been designed to achieve optimum daylight throughout the day and at the same time avoid excessive heat entering inside the building. High floor to floor height allows light to penetrate deeper inside the building. To ensure the use of natural daylight has been a primary design feature. Large overhangs and high glass façade allows abundant use of the day light.
Site Area: 120 Acres
Station Area: 24,111 sqm
Built-up Area overall: 9,16,969 sqm
Winner of International Design Competition
The Hyatt Regency, Kasauli, designed by Studio B Architects, is a sanctuary of luxury nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, where architecture seamlessly integrates with the serenity of nature. Conceptualized as an immersive retreat, the design philosophy revolves around sustainable luxury, ensuring that the built environment harmonizes with the natural topography while delivering an unparalleled hospitality experience. The architectural narrative draws inspiration from Kasauli’s vernacular aesthetics, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens with a refined material palette of locally sourced stone, wood, and glass. The spatial planning is deeply rooted in the site’s natural contours, allowing for unobstructed panoramic views of the surrounding hills while minimizing ecological disruption.
Studio B Architects has meticulously crafted a seamless dialogue between the indoors and outdoors, incorporating expansive fenestrations, open-plan layouts, and landscaped courtyards to foster an organic connection with nature. Biophilic design principles are woven into every aspect of the resort, from verdant terraces to water features that enhance the sensory experience. Passive cooling techniques, energy-efficient strategies, and rainwater harvesting systems further reinforce the project’s commitment to sustainability. More than just a luxury retreat, Hyatt Regency, Kasauli, stands as a testament to Studio B Architects’ vision—one that masterfully balances tradition with modernity, nature with structure, and comfort with elegance, offering guests an experience that is as immersive as it is timeless.
Architectural Firm: Studio B Architects
Location: Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, India
Project Type: Luxury Hospitality & Resort
Site Area: Approx. [Specify if available]
Built-up Area: Approx. [Specify if available]
Altitude: Approx. [Specify if available] meters above sea level
Structural System: RCC Frame Structure with Steel & Timber Elements
Facade Treatment: Locally Sourced Stone Cladding, Timber Louvers, Large Glazed Fenestrations for Panoramic Views
Sustainability Features: Passive Solar Design, Rainwater Harvesting, Natural Ventilation, Biophilic Integration
Energy Efficiency: LED Lighting, Solar Water Heating, Low-E Glass for Thermal Comfort
Landscape Design: Indigenous Plant Selection, Terraced Gardens, Open-Air Courtyards
Interior Concept: Warm, Earthy Tones; Locally Inspired Textures; Luxury Minimalism
Rooms & Suites: [Specify number] – Each Designed for Maximum Natural Light & Scenic Views
Amenities: Infinity Pool, Spa & Wellness Center, Multi-Cuisine Restaurants, Conference Halls, Outdoor Lounges
Material Palette: Locally Quarried Stone, Exposed Concrete, Timber, High-Performance Glass
Environmental Impact: Low Carbon Footprint Approach, Minimized Site Disturbance, Enhanced Green Cover
Ar, Anil Badan