Public voting for the 2015 A+Awards is now open, which means that YOU have the power to select the very best architecture in the world. With the A+Awards, recognizing the best projects is no longer domain of a small group of judges — everyone gets a say in who will be crowned victorious in over 90 categories, and your opinion counts! Check out all of the finalists and cast your vote here
It is surely no coincidence that water winds through many of the most stunning cities on the planet: from Vienna to Venice, Sydney and Chicago, iconic architecture is reflected by rivers, lakes, canals, harbors, and ocean fronts, animating, and enlivening the built environment. Architects have long made water an integral part of their designs and, if these A+Award finalists are any indication, continue to find interesting ways to do so: Submerge yourself in these seven aqueous projects, and then dive in here to vote for your favorites!
Blue Planet Aquarium by 3XN
Category: Museum
This aquarium in Kastrup, Denmark, is inspired by the surrounding ocean, shaped like a huge whirlpool clad in shimmering aluminum plates. Inside, visitors can chose to explore the underwater worlds of rivers, lakes, or oceans in an immersive environment.
© Edmund Sumner
© Edmund Sumner
© Peter Cook
Merchant Square Footbridge by Knight Architects
Category: Highways & Bridges
This extraordinary bridge in London operates with a unique mechanism that gives it a distinctive reflection in the waters of the Grand Union Canal. The cantilevered structure opens by splitting and pivoting like a giant Japanese fan, forming a kinetic sculpture in the heart of the city.
Kalvebod Waves by JDS and Urban Agency
Category: Public Park
Ribbons of timber and concrete weave along the waterfront in Copenhagen, providing a public space bursting with water-based activity. The undulating platforms and pontoons provide a variety of meeting places and jump-off points for swimmers, creating a park where “urban and maritime life meet.”
© Adam Mørk
© Adam Mørk
Porsgrunn Maritime Museum by COBE
Category: Museum
The jagged roofscape of this Norwegian museum is informed by the surrounding vernacular, and the façades are clad with scaly shingles that pick up reflections from the water. The building’s appearance constantly changes in response to the weather and light, just like the river itself.
The BIG U by Bjarke Ingels Group
Category: Masterplan
The BIG U is a 10-mile protective ribbon around lower Manhattan, proposed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Berms are introduced in the form of linear parks and elevated cycle routes, creating buffer zones that increase resilience against the water, but also enrich the urban landscape.
Scale Lane Bridge by McDowell+Benedetti
Category: Highways & Bridges
This distinctive steel swing bridge in Hull, northern England, channels the city’s industrial and maritime heritage, the sweeping black arc echoing factory machines and shipping gantries.
The Strand by Raad Studio
Category: Architecture +Rendering
A water-filled courtyard is proposed as part of the renovation of an abandoned Brutalist building in one of London’s historic quarters. The building is stripped back to its raw concrete elements, softened with landscaping and reflecting pools to create an urban oasis.
Thirsty for more? Check out all of the 2015 A+Awards finalists and vote for your favorites!