As the new year is fastly approaching, we are starting our annual reviews for 2023. In this piece, our roundup will reveal the most-read and interesting architecture news of 2023. 

As we leave behind another year, World Architecture Community's most-read stories include challenging and speculative architecture projects and news such as 12 Buildings We Look Forward To Opening In 2023, Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS' brick family house in Kerala, Eric Owen Moss Architects' (W)rapper office tower in Los Angeles, the Egyptian Pavilion in the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale and Saudi Arabia's new large-scale cube-shaped skyscraper in downtown Riyadh. 

Read WAC's most-read architecture news in 2023 (listed by the number of views):

Red Sea International Airport, Saudi Arabia by Foster + Partners. Image courtesy of The Red Sea Development Company

Twelve Buildings We Look Forward To Opening In 2023

In our top of the list in architecture news, we looked at 12 buildings we look forward to opening in 2023. The year began with the most hotly-anticipated 12 projects that are expected to be opened in 2023.

Our list included 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. 

At the time of this writing, the story received over 8,666 views. 

Read more about 12 buildings we look forward to opening in 2023.

Image © Justin Sebastian

Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS Built Brick Family House With Angled Triangular Façade In Kerala

The second news was about a brick family house designed by Indian architecture practice Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS. Although this project was recently published - in November, the story drew our readers attention.

Named The Kenz House, the house was designed for a four-member family, whose owner was a doctor. The brick family house features a perforated and angled triangular façade in Kerala, India. 

At the time of this writing, the story received over 8,270 views. 

Read more about Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS Built Brick Family House.

Image © Tom Bonner Photography

Eric Owen Moss Architects Completes Wrapper With Continuous Steel Bands In Los Angeles

In our third row, the news of Eric Owen Moss Architects-designed office tower, called (W)rapper, has attracted attention by our readers. American architect designed an office tower wrapped by continuous steel bands that resemble concrete material in Los Angeles.

The 72-metres office building was developed as part of an on-going 35-year revitalization plan for a former industrial and manufacturing zone in Central Los Angeles and Culver City, California, United States. The tower is a structurally expressive and creates its own language over the steel bands that are supported on a base isolated foundation.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 7,720 views. 

Read more about the (W)rapper by Eric Owen Moss Architects. 

Photographs © Record the Truth, Chris Stowers, Jeffrey Cheng, KRIS YAO│ARTECH, unless otherwise stated. Image courtesy of KRIS YAO│ARTECH

Kris Yao Unveils Han Pao-Teh Memorial Museum In Taiwan

In our fourth row, there is a memorial musuem project in Taiwan. Written by Taiwan Country Reporter Chaolee Kuo, renown Taiwanese architect Kris Yao completed this small memorial for his teacher.

The memorial museum was opened at the Tainan National University of the Arts (TNNUA) in honor of his work and contributions in the arts and architecture. "The educational institution established by Han himself, was brought forth to house and display his works and collections." Envisioned a concrete box, the memorial museum "seamlessly merges the exhibition and teaching spaces together."

At the time of this writing, the story received over 6,017 views. 

Read more about the Han Pao-Teh Memorial Museum by Kris Yao.

NiLab. Nile as Laboratory. Egypt Pavilion at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. Film “Grand Tour on Nile”, directed by Ahmed Yasser. Image courtesy of Egyptian Pavilion

Egyptian Pavilion Will Spark Debate On Water Sources Over The Nile River In Venice Biennale 2023

The fifth place hits the Egyptian Pavilion's details and theme about its exhibition at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice Architecture Biennale 2023. 

Themed as NiLab. Nile as Laboratory, the Egyptian Pavilion, curated by Ahmed Sami Abd Elrahman, Marina Tornatora, Ottavio Amaro, Moataz Samir, Ghada Farouk, sparked an international debate on today's urgent issues such as climate change, water resources, and sustainable development, exploring the development of ideas and projects on the Nile River. 

At the time of this writing, the story received over 5,743 views. 

Read more about the Egyptian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023.

Image courtesy of New Murabba

Saudi Arabia Unveils A Large-Scale Cube-Shaped Skyscraper The Mukaab In Downtown Riyadh

In our sixth row, the news of the Saudi Arabian government's announcement revealing a large-scale cube-shaped skyscraper for downtown Riyadh headed the news. Called The Mukaab, the 400-metre-high skyscraper will be built as a centrepiece and landmark project of the New Murabba district plan in Riyadh.

Situated at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads to the North West of Riyadh, the new plans are intended to be "the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh", while The Mukaab is described as the "new face of Riyadh" and the world's first immersive and experiential destination," within the masterplan.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,891 views. 

Read more about The Mukaab.

Image © Devisual

Heatherwick Studio Unveils Its First Public Library With Knitted Volumes In Columbia

In April, British architecture and design practice Heatherwick Studio revealed design a new public and community library in Columbia, Maryland, United States. The new building will be built at the heart of Columbia, and will also act as a community centre, challenging to the traditional typologies of libraries. 

Once complete, the project will be the studio’s first public library. Envisioned in a knitted form, the building is made up of glass volumes knitted with undulating floor slabs. It introduces an intriguing presence with plant-covered roof.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,461 views. 

Read more about first public library in Columbia by Heatherwick Studio.

Image © ATCHAIN

Zaha Hadid Architects Unveils Chengdu Science Fiction Museum With Fluid, Radiated-Form Roof

One of the most-read architecture news of 2023 is Zaha Hadid Architects' Chengdu Science Fiction Museum featuring a fluid and radiated-form roof in the city of Chengdu.

Encompassing a total of 59,000-square-metre area, the museum, completed in October this year, houses exhibition galleries, multi-function hall, conference centre and supporting ancillary spaces. Its radiated form mimics "an expanding nebula cloud" with a star at its center overlooking the Jingrong Lake in Chengdu, China.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,421 views. 

Read more about Chengdu Science Fiction Museum by ZHA.

Image © Mike Kelley

Morphosis Completes Orange County Museum Of Art With Sweeping Form In California

Earlier this year, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne's office Morphosis completed the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA). The building features a sweeping form and high-performance façade in California, United States.

The building is located on the campus of Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California, and offers flexible exhibition galleries, dedicated space for educational programming and areas for public gathering.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,299 views. 

Read more about Orange County Museum Of Art by Morphosis.

Rendering by BIG, courtesy of Blue Run Spirits

BIG Designs "Meandering" Whiskey Distillery And New HQ For Blue Run Spirits In Georgetown, Kentucky

BIG was at the center of several architecture news on WAC in 2023. One of the firm's future projects was the design of a new whiskey distillery and headquarters for Blue Run Spirits, a Kentucky-based company and creator of award-winning bourbons and rye whiskies.

Called Meander, the new scheme will consist of a 3,252-square-metre distillery and a 1,858-square-metre rickhouse as a new facility compound in Georgetown, Kentucky. BIG expects to begin construction in 2023 at the Lanes Run Business Park, and to open the building in 2025.

At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,156 views. 

Read more about Meander by BIG.

Top image in the article: The new Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) in California by Morphosis. Image © Mike Kelley.

architecture news review of 2023