Dezeen Awards 2021 architecture shortlist reveals world’s best buildings

We are announcing the Dezeen Awards 2021 shortlists this week. Here are the 61 buildings shortlisted in the 12 architecture project categories.


All shortlisted architecture projects are listed below, each with a link to a dedicated page on the Dezeen Awards website, where you can find an image and more information about the project.

All shortlists to be announced this week

The interiors shortlist will be announced tomorrow, followed by the design shortlist on Wednesday, the sustainability and media shortlists on Thursday, and the studio shortlist on Friday.

Above: Guha in Jakarta, Indonesia, by RAW Architecture is shortlisted in the business building category. Top: Cinema Le Grand Palais, France, by Antonio Virga Architecte is shortlisted in the civic building category

The winner of each project category will be announced online in November. All ten winners will then go on to compete for the title of architecture project of the year.

Vote for your favourite project next week

For the second year running, Dezeen Awards is holding a public vote after the shortlist announcements, so readers can choose their favourite projects from 13 September onwards. Projects with the highest number of votes in their category will win a public vote award.

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Below is the full architecture shortlist:


Villa Fifty-Fifty by Studioninedots
Villa Fifty-Fifty by Studioninedots is shortlisted in the urban house category

Urban house

› Fitzroy Bridge House, Australia, by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
› CH house, Hanoi, Vietnam, by ODDO architects
› Villa Fifty-Fifty by Studioninedots
› Imaise house by Tatsuya Kawamoto + Associates
› Bat Trang House by VTN Architects

Browse all projects on the urban house shortlist page.


nCaved in Greece by Mold Architects
nCaved in Serifos, Greece, by Mold Architects is shortlisted in the rural house category

Rural house

› Xerolithi, Serifos, Greece, by George Sinas
› Casa Ter, Baix Empordà, Spain, by Mesura
› nCaved, Serifos, Greece, by Mold Architects
› Setoyama, Shizuoka, Japan, by Moriya and Partners
› Mt Coot-Tha House, Brisbane, Australia, by Nielsen Jenkins
› Mazul, Oaxaca, Mexico, by Revolution

Browse all projects on the rural house shortlist page.


Punta Majahua by Zozaya Arquitectos
Punta Majahua in Guerrero, Mexico, by Zozaya Arquitectos is shortlisted in the housing project category

Housing project

› Baochao Hutong Mirror Yard, Beijing, China, by DAGA Architects
› La Trobe University Student Accommodation, Victoria, Australia, by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
› Stone Garden – Mina Image Center and Housing by Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture
› Agorahaverne: Ibihaven, Copenhagen, Denmark, by Tetris A/S
› Punta Majahua, Guerrero, Mexico, by Zozaya Arquitectos

Browse all projects on the housing project shortlist page.


Ørsted Gardens by Tegnestuen LOKAL
Ørsted Gardens in Frederiksberg, Denmark, by Tegnestuen LOKAL is shortlisted in the residential rebirth category

Residential rebirth

› Jūra Spot, Palanga, Lithuania, by JSC Šilta Šiaurė
› Fitzroy Bridge House, Fitzroy, Australia, by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
› Quarter Glass House, London, UK, by Proctor and Shaw
› Ørsted Gardens, Frederiksberg, Denmark, by Tegnestuen LOKAL
› PONY, Brighton, UK, by WOWOWA

Browse all projects on the residential rebirth shortlist page.


Cinema Le Grand Palais by Antonio Virga Architecte
Cinema Le Grand Palais in Cahors, France, by Antonio Virga Architecte is shortlisted in the civic building category

Civic building

› The Bodø City Hall, Bodø, Norway, by ALL
› Cinema Le Grand Palais, Cahors, France, by Antonio Virga Architecte
› My Montessori Garden, Ha Long City, Vietnam, by HGAA
› House of Nature, Silkeborg, Denmark, by Revaerk
› Antoine de Ruffi School Group, Marseille, France, by Tautem Architecture and BMC2 Architectes

Browse all projects on the civic building shortlist page.


Hall of Immortality by Studio 10
Hall of Immortality at Longshan Cemetery in Henan, China, by Studio 10 is shortlisted in the cultural building category

Cultural building

› Baoshan WTE Exhibition Center by Kokaistudios
› Yabuli Conference Center by MAD Architects
› Babyn Yar Synagogue by Manuel Herz Architects
› Hall of Immortality at Longshan Cemetery, Henan, China, by Studio 10
› PANNAR Sufficiency Economic and Agriculture Learning Center by Vin Varavarn Architects

Browse all projects on the cultural building shortlist page.


Nodi by White Arkitekter
Nodi in Nya Hovås, Sweden, by White Arkitekter is shortlisted in the business building category

Business building

› Sanya Farm Lab, Sanya, China, by CLOU architects
› Frizz23, Berlin, Germany, by Deadline Architects
› Guha, Jakarta, Indonesia, by RAW Architecture
› Imatra Electricity Substation, Imatrankoski, Finland, by Virkkunen & Co. Architects
› Nodi, Nya Hovås, Sweden, by White Arkitekter

Browse all projects on the business building shortlist page.


Presence in Hormuz 2 by ZAV Architects
Presence in Hormuz 2  by ZAV Architects is shortlisted in the hospitality building category

Hospitality building

› The Museum Hotel Antakya, Antioch, Turkey, by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture
› PokoPoko Clubhouse, Nasu, Japan, by Klein Dytham Architecture
› Ziedlejas Latvian Spa and Wellness Resort, Krimuldas, Latvia, by Open AD
› Vedana Restaurant, Phuong, Vietnam, by VTN Architects
› Presence in Hormuz 2, Hormuz, Iran, by ZAV Architects

Browse all projects on the hospitality project shortlist page.


Helfštýn Castle Palace Reconstruction by Atelier-r
Helfštýn Castle Palace Reconstruction in Czech Republic by Atelier-r is shortlisted in the rebirth building category

Rebirth building

› Helfštýn Castle Palace Reconstruction, Czech Republic, by Atelier-r
› Zvonarka Bus Station, Zvonarka, Czech Republic, by Chybik + Kristof
› Gare Maritime Neutelings, Brussels, Belgium, by Riedijk Architects
› Revitalization of Prague riverfront area, Prague, Czech Republic, by Petr Janda/brainwork
› Art Barn, Devon, UK, by Thomas Randall-Page

Browse all projects on the rebirth project shortlist page.


dezeen-awards-2021-shortlisted-the-olive-houses
The Olive Houses by mar plus ask is shortlisted in the small building category

Small building

› Peach Hut by Atelier XI
› Hill Country Wine Cave, Austin, Texas, USA, by Clayton Korte
› The Olive Houses by Mar plus ask
› Bamboo Bamboo, Canopy and Pavilions by llLab
› Alive, Venice, Italy, by The Living

Browse all projects on the small building shortlist page.


Alpine Garden by Z'scape
Alpine Garden: Preserve Indigenous Culture and Native Plants in Lijiang, China, by Z’scape is shortlisted in the landscape project category

Landscape project

› Heito 1909, Taiwan, by ECG International Landscape Consultants
› Haoxiang Lake Park, Shenzhen, China, by Elandscript
› Sunac Yunyang In Huanan, Danyang, China, by Qidi Design Group
› Back to the Neighbourhood: The Playscape, children’s community centre, Beijing, China, by Waa
› Alpine Garden: Preserve Indigenous Culture and Native Plants, Lijiang, China, by Z’scape

Browse all projects on the landscape project shortlist page.


The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design by The Miller Hull Partnership
The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design in Georgia, USA, by The Miller Hull Partnership is shortlisted in the sustainable building category

Sustainable building

› Welcome to the Jungle House, Sydney, Australia, by CplusC Architectural Workshop
› Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center, Kamikatsu, Japan, by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
› The Arc at Green School, Bali, Indonesia, by Ibuku
› ciAsa Aqua Bad Cortina, Val Badia, Italy, by Pedevilla Architects
› The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, Georgia, USA, by The Miller Hull Partnership

Browse all projects on the sustainable building shortlist page.