As we approach the new year, it’s time to kick off our annual reviews for 2025. In this article, we present the most-read and compelling architecture news of the year.

As we conclude another year, the standout stories from the World Architecture Community emphasize bold and visionary architectural projects and developments. 

This includes Zaha Hadid Architects' spaceship-like new science and technology museum in Shenzhen and a new high-rise tower in Tbilisi, Foster + Partners' village-like Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo Osaka, Ennead Architects' Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum in Southern New Jersey, and Kengo Kuma and Associates' Qatar Pavilion at Expo Osaka. 

Below are the top 10 architecture news stories of 2025, ranked by the number of views:

Zaha Hadid Architects' spaceship-like new science and technology museum in Shenzhen. Image © Virgile Simon Bertrand

Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects

At the top of the architecture news list, Zaha Hadid Architects' new project, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum in Shenzhen, is highlighted. 

In Shenzhen, China, Zaha Hadid Architects opened a brand-new science and technology museum with a glass façade and layered structure. The massive building, known as the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, is situated on Shenzhen's metro system next to Guangming Station. The southeast corner of the new Science Park is defined by the design, which reacts to its surroundings as a solid, spherical shape facing the city.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 14,411views. 

Read more about the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.

Shanghai Grand Opera House, Shanghai, China by Snøhetta. Image © StudioSZ - Justin Szeremeta, David Sommer, courtesy of Snøhetta

10 Highly Anticipated Projects To Look Forward To In 2025

The second architecture news segment highlighted a list of ten eagerly anticipated buildings expected to open in 2025.

Notable projects included Snøhetta's Shanghai Grand Opera House, featuring a sculptural staircase that connects to the roof; Foster + Partners' Techo International Airport in Cambodia, designed with structural trees that create a spacious roof; and BIG's Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 12,480 views. 

Read more about the 10 highly anticipated projects to look forward to in 2025.

Cityzen Tower in Tbilisi by Zaha Hadid Architects. Image © Negativ

Cityzen Tower, Tbilisi, by Zaha Hadid Architects

The 42-story Cityzen Tower, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, captured the most attention from our readers according to the third row.

The Cityzen Tower, a 42-story building, is envisioned as a vertical extension of Tbilisi's new Central Park, which spans 36 hectares of green space. Located in the Saburtalo area of Tbilisi, the tower will be constructed on the site of the former military headquarters used by Soviet forces in the central and southern Caucasus. Cityzen Tower marks the first project in Georgia by Zaha Hadid Architects and serves as the gateway to the Cityzen community, a new civic center located west of Tbilisi.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 11,597 views. 

Read more about the Cityzen Tower in Tbilisi.

Misk Heritage Museum in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, by Zaha Hadid Architects. Image © Specto-Digital 

Misk Heritage Museum in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, by Zaha Hadid Architects

Our fourth row includes the design of the Misk Heritage Museum in Diriyah, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Zaha Hadid Architects started construction on the Asaan, the Misk Heritage Museum, located in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. 

The museum will be built using locally made clay mud bricks and will draw inspiration from traditional Najdi architecture. This project will mark Zaha Hadid Architects' first undertaking utilizing adobe construction worldwide. 

Diriyah is one of the most significant historical landmarks in the Kingdom and is considered the birthplace of the Saudi Arabian nation.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 10,582 views. 

Read more about the Misk Heritage Museum in Diriyah.

Manameh Pavilion by Alia Al Mur, Yusaku Imamura, Ahmed Shabib, Rashid Shabib, Jonathan Shannon, Vladimir Yavachev. Image courtesy of Venice Architecture Biennale

The Full List Of Participants And Collateral Events at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale

The fifth place hits the full list of participants and collateral events at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The exhibition titled "Intelligens: Natural, Artificial, Collective" was curated by Carlo Ratti, an architect and engineer. Ratti currently teaches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Politecnico di Milano. 

Intelligens served as a dynamic laboratory, uniting specialists from various fields of intelligence. The exhibition showcased over 750 participants for the first time, including architects and engineers, mathematicians and climate scientists, philosophers and artists, chefs and coders, writers and woodcarvers, farmers and fashion designers, among others. Inclusivity and collaboration were essential for adaptation.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 10,504 views. 

Read more about the full list of participants and collateral events.

Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka by Foster+Partners. Image © Nigel Young courtesy of Foster + Partners

Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka by Foster + Partners

In our sixth row, the news about the village-like Saudi Arabia Pavilion with meandering streets at Expo 2025 Osaka topped the headlines. There are twisting streets between the pavilion's angular buildings. The bright streetscapes and stunning natural landscapes of Saudi Arabia serve as inspiration for this project.

The Pavilion, which was created by Foster + Partners and is situated on the waterfront in Yumeshima, offers an immersive setting that entices guests to discover the hidden gems of the Kingdom. It produces a spatial experience that mirrors the exploration of Saudi Arabian cities and towns.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 10,334 views. 

Read more about the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.

The Humanities Building, College of Liberal Arts, NTU, Taipei, by Chien Architects & Associates. All images courtesy of Chien Hsueh-Yi and CAA

The Humanities Building, College of Liberal Arts, NTU, Taipei, by Chien Architects & Associates

The College of Liberal Arts of National Taiwan University (NTU) is supported by the Humanities Building, a multipurpose structure. It has administrative offices, a library, a lecture hall, and research offices for faculty and graduate students. It is the first structure guests see when they arrive on campus and is situated near the university's century-old main gate.

The building is located next to the campus's most notable architectural cluster, which includes a modernist building that is crucial to Taiwan's architectural history and an eclectic 19th-century building. Finding a balance between the ancient buildings' scale and shape and the relatively significant spatial requirements in a constrained location was the design challenge.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 9,378 views. 

Read more about the Humanities Building, College of Liberal Arts.

The Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University, Southern New Jersey, by Ennead Architects. Image © Jeff Goldberg / Esto, Aislinn Weidele / Ennead Architects

The Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University, Southern New Jersey, by Ennead Architects & KSS Architects & G&A

The Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum at Rowan University, which was jointly created by Ennead Architects (Design Architect), KSS Architects (Executive Architect), and G&A (Experience Design), is one of the most popular architecture news stories of 2025.

With its official opening, Rowan University's Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum welcomes guests into a unique experience that connects the planet's prehistoric history with the pressing environmental issues of the present. Tucked away in a 65-acre (~43560 square feet) fossil quarry in Southern New Jersey, the 44,000 square foot project serves as both a scientific gateway and a sustainable architectural landmark.

The museum is located on a remarkable geological site where sedimentary layers preserve evidence of the asteroid impact that caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs approximately 66 million years ago. A wider story of planetary reckoning, discovery, and future-facing action is built upon this active quarry, where people of all ages are welcome to dig for actual fossils alongside scientists.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 9,358 views. 

Read more about the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University.

The Qatar Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025 by Kengo Kuma and Associates. Image © Iwan Baan, courtesy Qatar Museums

The Qatar Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025 by Kengo Kuma and Associates

The Pavilion, designed by Kengo Kuma, is inspired by the shape of a dhow, a traditional sailing vessel in Qatar and the surrounding region. The structure features a lightweight wooden frame that utilizes both traditional Qatari and Japanese wood-joinery techniques. 

It is encased in flowing white fabric, symbolizing the strong ties between the two countries and their respective pearling traditions, while connecting their maritime heritages. A multimedia exhibition, created by the international architectural and urbanism firm OMA*AMO, is housed within this exceptional building.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 9,351 views. 

Read more about the Qatar Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025.

A tropical masterplan to revitalize the port area of Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, by Snøhetta. Image © Aesthetica, courtesy of Snøhetta

Jesselton Docklands, Borneo, Malaysia, by Snøhetta

In September, a tropical masterplan to rejuvenate the port region of Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, was unveiled by Snøhetta. The joint ferry and cruise terminal in the concept, named Jesselton Docklands, will be located near Malaysia's Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

As a major transportation hub with excellent connectivity options and a lush tropical ambiance, the project is positioned to become a destination and access point to the rest of Sabah.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 9,153 views. 

Read more about the Jesselton Docklands, Borneo. 

Zaha Hadid Architects' spaceship-like new science and technology museum in Shenzhen. Image © Virgile Simon Bertrand.

architecture news review of 2025 Top 10 Architecture News