While 2015 was a good year for architecture, the community and the world are looking forward to the openings of nine brilliant works of architecture, construction in 2016.
The previous year saw the opening of Zaha Hadid’s cliff-side Alpine museum, to the ongoing controversy surrounding Herzog & de Meuron Parisian tower and Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic stadium.
With booming Asian economies, 2016 will witness some of the best architectural designs in recent years. Here are the nine buildings set to define cities in 2016:
Zayed National Museum (Abu Dhabi):
With billions invested in the country’s real estate and development sector, UAE is set to open some very impressive buildings in the coming years, including the Zayed National Museum’s opening in 2016. The museum will highlight the history and culture of the UAE. Modeled on a bird’s wings, the structure is designed by Pritzker Prize-winning British architect Noman Foster of Foster+ Partners.
The firm has previously worked on the UAE pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 and the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi.
Louvre Abu Dhabi:
Under construction for some years, Louvre Abu Dhabi museum is set to open this year as well. Designed by Pritzker prize-winning French architect Jean Nouvel, the museum has a beautiful ‘lattice steel roof which creates the illusion of a “rain of light” for visitors inside.
Tate Modern extension (London, UK):
The London contemporary art museum, the Tate Modern, is already a popular building in the city of London. The new addition from Swiss duo Herzog & de Mauron will give an ultra modern look to the structure, originally built in 1950’s.
National Museum of African American History and Culture (Washington DC):
Designed by Tanzanian-born British architect, David Adjaye, the museum’s ‘exterior will be covered in intricate bronze mesh, taking inspiration from the ironwork done by freed slaves in the South post-emancipation.
Latin American Art Museum (Miami, Florida):
The 90,000 square foot museum is designed by Fernando Romero, is a ‘series of overlapping terraces to “blur the the border between indoors and outdoors”.
OMA’s Taipei Performing Art Center (Taipei, Taiwan):
An experimental design of a skeletal frame supporting a massive orb, was designed by Rem Koolhaus and David Gianotten.
World Trade Center Transportation Hub (New York):
After 12 years, the station, hindered by financial issues – could finally open this year. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the structure likens to a bird being released from a child’s hands, said a statement.
Tao Zhu Yin Yuan Tower (Taipei,Taiwan):
Also known as the Agora Garden tower, the ‘archibiotect’ Vincent Callebaut designed tower aims to be one of the world’s most eco-friendly structure. With gardens and forests, the tower will recycle organic waster and used water – and is heated using solar power.
Ping An Financial Center (Shenzhen, China):
Touted to be Shenzhen’s tallest structure and the fourth tallest building in the world, when it opens, the center has already been LEED gold pre-certified, a high certification of green architecture.
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