Luxe Motion

In Tallinn, Estonia, a ground-breaking collaboration has unfolded between the biomaterials company Myceen and the architecture department at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA PAKK). The result is the PAKK Pavilion, an angular timber structure designed to serve as a real-world field laboratory for the building materials of the future. The core of the project involves insulation panels made from mycelium—the root system of fungi—used as a natural binder for industrial residues like sawdust and wood pulp. Aiming to provide a sustainable alternative to mineral wool or expanded polystyrene, the PAKK Pavilion not only showcases the beauty of biomaterials but also proves superior thermal efficiency in real-world conditions. This marks a critical step, affirming the confidence that the market urgently needs new, biologically circular, and easily disassembled architectural materials.

On the pristine banks of Oregon’s Rogue River, an ambitious expansion has taken place at Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, a resort named after the Indigenous Tututni tribe. As part of a site-wide renovation, the 1970s hotel has added 12 prefabricated “Glass Cabins” from the Estonian company ÖÖD. These cabins are wrapped in mirrored glass on three sides, creating a perfect camouflage effect, turning them into giant mirrors that reflect the lush forest, majestic mountain peaks, and starry sky. The design’s goal is to blur the line between architecture and landscape, providing guests with an absolute immersive experience in the Pacific Northwest nature, while showcasing a semi-permanent housing solution that is easy to install on any sloped terrain.

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced the four projects vying for the prestigious Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2025. This annual prize, established in 2002 and named in memory of Scottish architect Andy Doolan, celebrates a single project each year that exemplifies architectural excellence and makes the most significant contribution to Scotland’s built environment. This year’s shortlist is remarkably diverse in scale and function, spanning from essential infrastructure and public realm renewal to complex restoration and educational hubs. The selections demonstrate how architecture can successfully engage with evolving social, political, and behavioral circumstances, often working hand-in-hand with other built environment disciplines like urban and landscape design, reinforcing the idea that the best buildings serve and anticipate the needs of their communities.

Amidst the bustle of Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, a modest but powerfully message-driven structure has appeared at Gammel Strand Square: “Barn Again.” This work, designed and built by the British architecture firm THISS Studio and designer Tom Svilans, is one of two “Slow Pavilions” selected for the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial (CAB) 2025. The material for the entire pavilion is reclaimed wood salvaged from disused barns and landfill sites in Norway—material that would otherwise have been burned. With its stepped, overlapping form resembling a cocoon, “Barn Again” is not just a shelter but a bold statement about the aesthetic and structural potential of recycled materials. Its purpose is to invite the public to pause, reflect on the lifecycle of materials, and affirm that the resources needed for future construction already exist in the world today.

In Lebanon, New Hampshire, Sylvia Richards Practice for Architecture has completed a groundbreaking research facility for the biotech company Adimab, which develops antibodies. At 2,508 square meters, this three-story building is the company’s first purpose-built research facility. The design addressed the need to expand lab and office space for over 140 employees by adopting a vertical approach to maintain a compact footprint, thereby preserving the adjacent wetland and the surrounding forest landscape of the Upper Valley. The key architectural feature is the combination of mass-timber materials with mirrored panels, creating a “supernatural” effect that makes the building appear to float and dissolve into its natural environment.

In the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Gstaad, renowned British studio Foster + Partners is poised to construct a new landmark building that is as much a feat of civil engineering as it is a work of alpine architecture. Named Gstaad House, the striking structure is deliberately nestled into the valley, its sinuous, timber-clad form designed to seamlessly mimic the “contours of the landscape.” The multi-story building combines public exhibition spaces, private galleries, and a luxury members’ club, all unified by a spectacular, integrated ramp that winds around the exterior, providing circulation not just for pedestrians, but for the cars that are central to the collections housed within. Utilizing local larch wood to cloak its exterior, the design is a sophisticated response to the demands of luxury commerce and the constraints of its stunning natural setting, promising a truly unique arrival and viewing experience for its highly exclusive clientele.

In an architectural masterclass that redefines sustainability, Pihlmann Architects has transformed a defunct 1960s factory in northwest Copenhagen into a vibrant, multi-story arts and community hub known as Thoravej 29. The studio’s bold design philosophy hinged on treating the 6,224-square-meter building as its “own ecological system,” ensuring that waste generated during the conversion became the raw material for the new structure. This radical, zero-waste approach led to the most dramatic reuse tactics, including flipping huge concrete floor slabs into monolithic staircases and shredding old doors to fabricate new furniture. By proving that the most sustainable material is often the one already present on site, Pihlmann Architects achieved an astonishing 95 per cent material reuse rate and a massive reduction of up to 88 per cent in CO2 emissions compared to new construction, establishing a vital new benchmark for adaptive reuse on the global stage.

The vast, unforgiving expanse of Antarctica presents the ultimate test for architecture, demanding structures that are not only habitable but resilient against the planet’s most savage climate. Rising to this monumental challenge, UK firm Hugh Broughton Architects (HBA), renowned specialists in polar design, has unveiled plans for a major extension to the Australian Antarctic Division’s Davis Station. Central to this multi-faceted overhaul, which begins construction in 2026, is a state-of-the-art, bright yellow vehicle workshop designed to function efficiently in sub-zero temperatures and high winds. Financed by the Australian government’s Antarctic Infrastructure Renewal Program, this initiative transcends a simple building addition; it represents a global benchmark for sustainable, modular construction in extreme environments. The entire project promises to significantly upgrade critical infrastructure and solidify Australia’s long-term commitment to crucial scientific research.

In the dynamic 22@ urban renewal district of Barcelona, local practice Cierto Estudio has unveiled a radical vision for communal living with La Comunidad Habitacional. This 8,700-square-meter, U-shaped social housing block, comprising 51 apartments, is designed not just for shelter but for societal change. The project, recently longlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2025, deliberately eliminates traditional, hierarchical room definitions, embracing a system of four equal, “non-hierarchical” spaces in each unit. This revolutionary floor plan serves a distinct purpose: to actively challenge conventional gender roles and promote true domestic equity among residents. Clad in a striking aesthetic of pale green render contrasted sharply with bold red accents, this block is a powerful architectural statement that embeds progressive social philosophy into the very structure of the home.

In the world of architecture and design, a new and powerful movement is taking hold, one that is focused not just on aesthetics but on environmental responsibility. The Dezeen Awards 2025 has shone a spotlight on this movement with the announcement of its sustainability longlist, a powerful showcase of projects that are redefining what it means to build in a responsible way. The longlist is a global tapestry of innovation, a collection of projects that are using cutting-edge technology, creative design, and a deep respect for the environment to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. It is a powerful glimpse into a future where design is a powerful force for good, a testament to the idea that we can build a world that is both beautiful and in harmony with nature.