As the new year is fastly approaching, we are starting our annual reviews for 2022, revealing the most-read and interesting architecture news of 2022. 

As we leave behind a difficult year, World Architecture Community's most-read stories include challenging and speculative architecture news and projects such as Neom's 100-mile-long linear city, The Line, Kengo Kuma & Associates' winning design new Galiasgar Kamal Theatre in Russia, Africa's 8,000-km-long Great Green Wall, and WAC's 7 most successful Country Editors/Reporters. 

Read WAC's most-read architecture stories in 2022 (listed by the number of views):

Image via Neom

A 100-mile-long linear city, known as The Line in Saudi Arabia

In our top of the list in architecture news, there is a speculative project, called The Line, in Saudi Arabia. The Line, developed by Neom, reveled details in August and conceived as "a revolution in urban living".

A mirrored, linear $500-billion development is planned as a cross-border city in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia which will incorporate smart technologies. 

The story received over 12,250 views. 

Read more about The Line on WAC. 

National Park of Mali, Bamako, Mali, 2010 by Diébédo Francis Kéré. Image courtesy of Francis Kéré

10 Significant Projects Of Diébédo Francis Kéré

When Burkinese architect, educator and social activist Diébédo Francis Kéré was announced as the 2022 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, undoubtedly, the projects he has designed so far would have also got attention by our readers.

This architecture story looks at the 10 significant projects designed by Francis Kéré mainly built in Burkina Faso and other continents. The list is based on the construction techniques and local materials he used, which reflects upon his sensitivity on materials and community-led processes in architecture.

The story received over 9,500 views. 

Read more about 10 Significant Projects Of Diébédo Francis Kéré.

Image courtesy of WAC

The Most Successful 7 WAC Country Editors/Reporters Of 2021

In our third row, the news of WAC's most successful 7 Country Editors/Reporters of 2021 has attracted attention by our readers. Earlier this year, we highlighted our most successful Country Reporters/Editors as part of the WAC's volunteer-based Country Editors/Reporters Program.

In 2021, WAC's most successful Country Reporters/Editors included; Lola Kleindouwel from the Netherlands, Palak Shah from United States, Flora Jing Lin Ng from China and Mert Kansu from United States. 

The story received over 7,730 views. 

Read more about the Most Successful 7 WAC Country Editors/Reporters Of 2021.

Galiasgar Kamal Theatre in Russia by Kengo Kuma & Associates. Image © Atchain

Galiasgar Kamal Theatre in Russia by Kengo Kuma & Associates

In our fourth row, there is a competition-winning project in Russia. 

In February 2022, Kengo Kuma & Associates was awarded the first prize in an international competition for the new Galiasgar Kamal Theatre in Kazan, Russia, together with Moscow-based architects Wowhause, Stuttgart-based engineering firm Werner Sobek and personal creative workshop of architect Bakulin German Alekseevich from Kazan, Russia. 

Kumar's design is inspired by a rare natural phenomenon: "ice flowers" on the Kaban Lake.

The story received over 6,900 views. 

Read more about the Galiasgar Kamal Theatre by Kengo Kuma & Associates.

Grand World Phu Quoc Welcome Center in Vietnam by VTN Architects. Image © Hiroyuki Oki

Grand World Phu Quoc Welcome Center in Vietnam by VTN Architects

The fifth place hits a welcome center, made of 42,000 bamboo culms, in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, which was designed by VTN Architects. The firm has also been awarded with the WA Awards in the 42nd Cycle with two projects. 

Designed as part of the Grand World Phu Quoc masterplan, the building is entirely built from a bamboo material that embodies the Vietnamese cultures. 

The story received over 5,800 views. 

Read more about the Grand World Phu Quoc Welcome Center by VTN Architects.

The Rajasthan School by Sanjay Puri Architects Ras, India. Image © Dinesh Mehta

World Architecture Festival 2022 shortlist 

The shortlist of World Architecture Festival is one of the WAC's most-read architecture news in 2022. 

WAF's 2022 shortlist included Foster + Partners, 3XN, Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Gang, Nikken Sekkei, Mecanoo, and White Arkitekter, alongside many smaller practices. Celebrating its 15th year, WAF took place from 30 November to 2 December at the FIL, Lisbon, Portugal this year.

The story received over 5,700 views. 

Read more about the World Architecture Festival 2022 shortlist. 

Snøhetta-designed Beijing Sub-Center Library. Image © Plomp/Snøhetta

Beijing Sub-Center Library in Beijing by Snøhetta

Earlier this year, Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta revealed design for a new library that features a ginkgo forest-like canopy supporting 16-metre-height glass façade in Beijing, China. 

Once complete, Beijing Sub-Center Library will be "China’s first self-supporting glass facade project". Currently under construction, the building is expected to be completed in the end of 2022. 

The story received over 5,200 views. 

Read more about Snøhetta's Beijing Sub-Center Library. 

Great Green Wall in Africa. Image courtesy of Great Green Wall

Africa's 8,000-km-long Great Green Wall 

One of the most-read architecture news of 2022 is Africa's 8,000-km-long green wall which is envisioned to fight against climate change running across the Sahel region of Africa. 

Called Great Green Wall, the wall spans the Sahel region from Senegal in the West to Djibouti in the East of Africa. When completes, the Great Green Wall will be "the largest living structure on the planet", three times the size of the Great Barrier Reef.

The story received over 4,950 views. 

Read more about Africa's 8,000-km-long Great Green Wall.

Santiago Calatrava-designed UAE Pavilion at Expo Dubai. Drone photography © Dany Eid

UAE Pavilion at Expo Dubai by Santiago Calatrava

Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava's design for the UAE Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai is another article in WAC's most-read architecture news of 2022.

Calatrava designed the two pavilions at the Expo 2020 Dubai: The UAE Pavilion and the Qatar Pavilion. The new drone video and new photographs have unfolded the unseen perspectives of the UAE Pavilion. A new set of photographs, featuring a drone video, took readers on an immersive journey where they could master every detail from outside and inside the pavilion.

The story received over 4,900 views. 

Read more about Santiago Calatrava's UAE Pavilion. 

Rane Vidyalaya by Shanmugam Associates. Image © LINK Studio, Bangalore

Interview with Raja Krishnan and Santhosh Shanmugam of Shanmugam Associates

An exclusive interview with Raja Krishnan and Santhosh Shanmugam of Shanmugam Associates has attracted much attention by our readers. 

The interview, held as part of Significance of Materiality in Architecture series run by WAC's India Country Reporter Megha Balooni, looks at the philosophy and driven forces behind the studio's projects, by tackling materiality and its influence on their final designs. 

The story received over 4,670 views. 

Read more on interview with Raja Krishnan and Santhosh Shanmugam of Shanmugam Associates.

Top image in the article: Neom's The Line in Saudi Arabia. Image via Neom.

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