Zeitz MOCAA Architect: Heatherwick Studio Location: Cape Town, South Africa Opening: September 2017 Designer Thomas Heatherwick's studio is transforming the historic Grain Silo Complex in Cape Town, South Africa. The design teams have converted the structure into a home for the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) and a 28-bedroom five-star hotel.
Heatherwick Studio
New life for the former grain silos
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Architect: HOK Location: Atlanta, USA Opening: June 2017 With a capacity of 83,000 people, this US$1.4bn stadium for the Atlanta Falcons will be the largest in the National Football League (NFL). According to architects HOK, it “will set a new standard in stadium design and fan experience.” Innovative features include the world’s first eight-petal polymer retractable roof, an enormous 360 degree HD video screen and a surrounding edible garden created by Atlanta-based urban designers HGOR. The stadium has already been selected as the host venue for the 2019 Super Bowl.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The stadium will open this summer
Seoul Skygarden Architect: MVRDV Location: Seoul, South Korea Opening: August 2017 A 45-year old overpass in the heart of the South Korean capital is being transformed into a verdant garden in the sky. The project will provide the city with a 938m long (3,077ft) public park, featuring cafés, flower shops, markets, libraries and greenhouses. In total, 254 different types of trees, shrubs and flowers will be planted. MVRDV have said their vision is to create a green, attractive and accessible neighbourhood for Seoul’s citizens.
MVRDV
The project was inspired by New York’s High Line
American Copper Buildings Architect: SHoP Architects Location: New York, USA Opening: Early 2017 Two bold residential towers are taking shape on New York’s East River. Clad in copper that will eventually turn green, they reach 41 and 48 storeys in height and are connected by a skybridge that houses a swimming pool 300ft above the ground. The upper halves of both structures lean outwards, creating the impression they are dancing. Leisure amenities include a fitness centre, climbing wall, spa, rooftop deck and infinity pool.
MARCH
The towers look like they are dancing
LEGO House Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group Location: Billund, Denmark Opening: Second half of 2017 Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have designed this celebration of all things LEGO as a three-dimensional village of interlocking buildings and spaces. The structure will consist of 21 huge LEGO-style bricks, built on top of one another. Non-paying members of the public will be able to enter a 2,000sq m (21,000sq ft) covered square containing a café, a restaurant and a LEGO store.
LEGO Group
Visitors can walk over the museum
Bürgenstock Resort Designer: MKV Design Location: Bürgenstock Mountain, Switzerland Opening: Throughout 2017 Perched high on a mountain-top in Lucerne, this huge, newly-renovated resort promises to be extremely atmospheric when fully open. The project includes over 30 buildings, including three hotels, 12 restaurants and bars and the 10,000sq m Alpine Spa. Architects including Matteo Thun have created new facilities for the resort.
Bürgenstock Resort
An infinity pool will overlook the lake
King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture Architect: Snøhetta Location: Dhahrab, Saudi Arabia Opening: Early 2017 Fresh off the back of 2016’s opening of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Snøhetta will celebrate the completion of this, their biggest ever project. The complex will house Saudi Arabia’s first public cinemas plus a library, concert hall, exhibition hall and lifelong learning centre.
Snøhetta
Snøhetta’s biggest project to date
Snøhetta
Snøhetta’s biggest project to date
LivNordic Spa at the Katara Beach Club Designer: Studio HBA Location: Doha, Qatar Opening: Early 2017 LivNordic Spa & Wellness is preparing to open its new two-storey, 4,600sq m (49,514sq ft) spa in the Katara Cultural Village in Doha, Qatar. The facility will cover two club floors, with the ground floor for men and the first floor for women. Designed by Studio HBA’s Gillian Docherty, the spa makes use of natural materials including stone, and timber features throughout its design.
LivNordic Spa & Wellness
Natural materials are used throughout
Louvre Abu Dhabi Architect: Atelier Jean Nouvel Location: Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi Opening: Mid to late 2017 This much-anticipated and much-delayed project – intended as a new cultural landmark for Abu Dhabi – is set to finally open this year on Saadiyat Island, which is being comprehensively developed as a new arts district for the emirate. The Louvre’s architect, Jean Nouvel, recently explained how the museum’s intricately-patterned dome will allow “a rain of light” to enter, with spots of light appearing “at different rhythms depending on the geometry” of the structure’s skin.
DIC and Ateliers Jean Nouvel
The project has been delayed several times
Astana Expo City Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) Location: Astana, Kazakhstan Opening: June 2017 This year an international exposition will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan. In preparation, architecture studio AS+GG were commissioned to design a masterplan for the city, reflecting the Expo theme of ‘Future Energy’. The 174 ha project features pavilions; shopping, socio-cultural, civic facilities; and new public parks, all showcasing alternative forms of energy.
AS+GG
The project showcases alternative energy
Design Society Architect: Maki and Associates Location: Shenzhèn, China Opening: October 2017 The studio of Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki have designed this groundbreaking design museum, which was initiated by Chinese cultural organisation Design Society in collaboration with the V&A. Maki’s design centres around three cantilevered volumes on a deconstructed plinth. A green public roof will allow visitors to look towards the surrounding mountains, sea and urban landscape.
Maki and Associates
The museum is due to open in October
Victoria and Albert Museum - Exhibition Road Architect: Amanda Levete Architects (AL_A) Location: London, UK Opening: March 2017 London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) museum will soon boast a new entrance, courtyard and underground gallery designed by architecture studio AL_A. The Exhibition Road Building Project is the V&A’s largest architectural scheme in the last 100 years. In reference to the decorative ceramics in the museum’s collection, 14,500 porcelain tiles created in 13 different patterns are being laid to create the “world’s first” porcelain courtyard.
Zeitz MOCAA Architect: Heatherwick Studio Location: Cape Town, South Africa Opening: September 2017 Designer Thomas Heatherwick's studio is transforming the historic Grain Silo Complex in Cape Town, South Africa. The design teams have converted the structure into a home for the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) and a 28-bedroom five-star hotel.
Heatherwick Studio
New life for the former grain silos
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Architect: HOK Location: Atlanta, USA Opening: June 2017 With a capacity of 83,000 people, this US$1.4bn stadium for the Atlanta Falcons will be the largest in the National Football League (NFL). According to architects HOK, it “will set a new standard in stadium design and fan experience.” Innovative features include the world’s first eight-petal polymer retractable roof, an enormous 360 degree HD video screen and a surrounding edible garden created by Atlanta-based urban designers HGOR. The stadium has already been selected as the host venue for the 2019 Super Bowl.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The stadium will open this summer
Seoul Skygarden Architect: MVRDV Location: Seoul, South Korea Opening: August 2017 A 45-year old overpass in the heart of the South Korean capital is being transformed into a verdant garden in the sky. The project will provide the city with a 938m long (3,077ft) public park, featuring cafés, flower shops, markets, libraries and greenhouses. In total, 254 different types of trees, shrubs and flowers will be planted. MVRDV have said their vision is to create a green, attractive and accessible neighbourhood for Seoul’s citizens.
MVRDV
The project was inspired by New York’s High Line
American Copper Buildings Architect: SHoP Architects Location: New York, USA Opening: Early 2017 Two bold residential towers are taking shape on New York’s East River. Clad in copper that will eventually turn green, they reach 41 and 48 storeys in height and are connected by a skybridge that houses a swimming pool 300ft above the ground. The upper halves of both structures lean outwards, creating the impression they are dancing. Leisure amenities include a fitness centre, climbing wall, spa, rooftop deck and infinity pool.
MARCH
The towers look like they are dancing
LEGO House Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group Location: Billund, Denmark Opening: Second half of 2017 Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have designed this celebration of all things LEGO as a three-dimensional village of interlocking buildings and spaces. The structure will consist of 21 huge LEGO-style bricks, built on top of one another. Non-paying members of the public will be able to enter a 2,000sq m (21,000sq ft) covered square containing a café, a restaurant and a LEGO store.
LEGO Group
Visitors can walk over the museum
Bürgenstock Resort Designer: MKV Design Location: Bürgenstock Mountain, Switzerland Opening: Throughout 2017 Perched high on a mountain-top in Lucerne, this huge, newly-renovated resort promises to be extremely atmospheric when fully open. The project includes over 30 buildings, including three hotels, 12 restaurants and bars and the 10,000sq m Alpine Spa. Architects including Matteo Thun have created new facilities for the resort.
Bürgenstock Resort
An infinity pool will overlook the lake
King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture Architect: Snøhetta Location: Dhahrab, Saudi Arabia Opening: Early 2017 Fresh off the back of 2016’s opening of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Snøhetta will celebrate the completion of this, their biggest ever project. The complex will house Saudi Arabia’s first public cinemas plus a library, concert hall, exhibition hall and lifelong learning centre.
Snøhetta
Snøhetta’s biggest project to date
Snøhetta
Snøhetta’s biggest project to date
LivNordic Spa at the Katara Beach Club Designer: Studio HBA Location: Doha, Qatar Opening: Early 2017 LivNordic Spa & Wellness is preparing to open its new two-storey, 4,600sq m (49,514sq ft) spa in the Katara Cultural Village in Doha, Qatar. The facility will cover two club floors, with the ground floor for men and the first floor for women. Designed by Studio HBA’s Gillian Docherty, the spa makes use of natural materials including stone, and timber features throughout its design.
LivNordic Spa & Wellness
Natural materials are used throughout
Louvre Abu Dhabi Architect: Atelier Jean Nouvel Location: Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi Opening: Mid to late 2017 This much-anticipated and much-delayed project – intended as a new cultural landmark for Abu Dhabi – is set to finally open this year on Saadiyat Island, which is being comprehensively developed as a new arts district for the emirate. The Louvre’s architect, Jean Nouvel, recently explained how the museum’s intricately-patterned dome will allow “a rain of light” to enter, with spots of light appearing “at different rhythms depending on the geometry” of the structure’s skin.
DIC and Ateliers Jean Nouvel
The project has been delayed several times
Astana Expo City Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) Location: Astana, Kazakhstan Opening: June 2017 This year an international exposition will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan. In preparation, architecture studio AS+GG were commissioned to design a masterplan for the city, reflecting the Expo theme of ‘Future Energy’. The 174 ha project features pavilions; shopping, socio-cultural, civic facilities; and new public parks, all showcasing alternative forms of energy.
AS+GG
The project showcases alternative energy
Design Society Architect: Maki and Associates Location: Shenzhèn, China Opening: October 2017 The studio of Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki have designed this groundbreaking design museum, which was initiated by Chinese cultural organisation Design Society in collaboration with the V&A. Maki’s design centres around three cantilevered volumes on a deconstructed plinth. A green public roof will allow visitors to look towards the surrounding mountains, sea and urban landscape.
Maki and Associates
The museum is due to open in October
Victoria and Albert Museum - Exhibition Road Architect: Amanda Levete Architects (AL_A) Location: London, UK Opening: March 2017 London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) museum will soon boast a new entrance, courtyard and underground gallery designed by architecture studio AL_A. The Exhibition Road Building Project is the V&A’s largest architectural scheme in the last 100 years. In reference to the decorative ceramics in the museum’s collection, 14,500 porcelain tiles created in 13 different patterns are being laid to create the “world’s first” porcelain courtyard.
