The World Architecture Festival 2025 concluded with a grand celebration at Miami Beach Convention Center, announcing the most prestigious awards in global architecture. Fernando Menis's Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas in La Laguna, Spain, claimed the top honor as World Building of the Year, supported by GROHE. The eighteenth edition of the festival brought together hundreds of architects from around the world to celebrate excellence in architectural design.
The winning church project represents a remarkable example of community-driven architecture that catalyzes urban renewal in a neglected neighborhood. Located in the outskirts of La Laguna, the Holy Redeemer Church rises as a distinctive landmark in what was previously a fragmented urban landscape. The complex includes not only the church itself but also a community center and public square, creating a vital gathering space that serves the local population's social and spiritual needs.
What makes this project particularly compelling is its unique construction story, shaped by the realities of community funding. Built entirely through donations, the irregular flow of contributions directly influenced the architectural design approach. The project was conceived as four independent volumes constructed in phases over an extended period. The first two volumes, housing the community center, were completed within two years and became operational immediately, while the remaining structures took an additional 16 years to finish as funding gradually became available.
The architectural design draws profound inspiration from the volcanic landscape that characterizes the Canary Islands. The building features massive, rough forms that create a striking contrast with the surrounding built environment. One of the most innovative design elements involves narrow cracks between structures, which are filled with sculptural metal and glass components. These openings serve as carefully controlled light filters, creating a minimalist and deeply spiritual interior atmosphere that invites contemplation and reflection.
Daylight serves as a fundamental architectural element throughout the building, shaping an introverted and austere space designed to promote introspection. Rather than traditional windows, the building receives illumination through an unglazed cross and zenithal lighting from above. As the day progresses, the shifting patterns of natural light highlight different areas within the interior, creating a dynamic experience that guides visitors through their spiritual journey and interior exploration.
The material palette centers on concrete, chosen for its remarkable versatility in serving multiple architectural functions simultaneously. The concrete provides structural support while also defining form, texture, and acoustic properties. Produced locally, the material choice proved both economical and environmentally responsible, offering durability and energy efficiency through thick walls that enhance thermal performance. In an innovative application, chipped concrete mixed with volcanic stones creates sophisticated sound absorption, while smooth and rough exposed concrete surfaces work together to achieve acoustic control comparable to professional opera houses, making the space ideal for both spoken word and musical performances.
The World Interior of the Year award went to INNOCAD architecture's FRACTAL CHAPEL at State Hospital Graz in Austria. This remarkable interior design project serves as a serene retreat within the demanding hospital environment, providing a peaceful sanctuary for patients, staff, and visitors. The design incorporates cutting-edge research from neuroscience and environmental psychology, integrating biophilic elements and fractal patterns specifically chosen to create an emotionally resonant space that promotes psychological well-being.
Fractal patterns form the conceptual and visual foundation of the chapel's interior design. These patterns, developed through collaborative research between designers and scientists at the University of Oregon's Fractals Research program, are inspired by natural geometry and designed to evoke positive psychological, physiological, and neurological responses in users. The fractal designs were created using a custom computer program that combines artistic creativity with scientific analysis, resulting in a unique tool that generates visually engaging patterns while promoting relaxation and mental calm.
The chapel's material palette remains intentionally minimal to emphasize the sophisticated interplay between pattern, architectural form, and natural light. Wood serves multiple functions throughout the 35-square-meter space, appearing in the ceiling, flooring, benches, and altar, contributing to the space's warm and earthy character. This material choice allows the fractal patterns and natural design elements to remain the primary focal points. The chapel features a dramatic double-height ceiling and floor-to-ceiling glass façade, and following traditional principles of religious architecture, the low entry area opens into an impressive 8-meter-tall space, creating both drama and tranquility. At the chapel's heart stands a unique altar created by a renowned Austrian sculptor from the inverted rootstock of a walnut tree, surrounded by fractal surfaces and enhanced by carefully designed lighting that invites moments of deep introspection and contemplation.
BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group's Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan received the Future Project of the Year award. This ambitious project represents Bhutan's second international gateway, strategically positioned near the Bhutan-India border and the Paitha River. Scheduled to open in 2029, the airport will initially accommodate 123 daily flights, with projections indicating annual passenger numbers could reach 5.5 million by 2065.
The airport design celebrates Bhutanese cultural heritage while embracing modern aviation technology. The project showcases regional crafts and incorporates design elements specifically intended to instill mindfulness in travelers through strategic use of natural lighting, a grand triple-height entry area, skylights, and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Indoor and outdoor lounge areas provide dedicated spaces for yoga, gong baths, and meditation, reflecting Bhutan's national commitment to well-being and happiness as core societal values.
The terminal's most striking architectural feature is its diagrid structure, constructed from locally and sustainably sourced timber and adorned with traditional Bhutanese wood carvings. The painted façade draws inspiration from the Kachen, a sacred structural wooden pillar in Bhutanese architecture, successfully fusing spiritual symbolism with contemporary architectural innovation. The timber construction serves practical functions as well, helping regulate indoor humidity levels, while ventilated roofs and interior courtyards promote natural airflow throughout the building. Extended eaves provide essential shade and protection from seasonal monsoon rains.
Turenscape's Embracing Flood: Xinjiang River Ecological Corridor in Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province, China, won the Landscape of the Year award. This transformative project revitalized a 102-hectare floodplain, converting it into a vibrant ecological and recreational space that serves both environmental and community needs. Utilizing innovative sponge city principles, the project significantly enhances flood resilience, restores native habitat ecosystems, and provides year-round public access to natural spaces.
Rather than fighting against seasonal flooding through traditional engineering approaches, the design philosophy embraces water as a dynamic natural force, integrating seasonal flood patterns into the landscape to support biodiversity and enhance urban resilience. The project demonstrates a cost-effective and low-maintenance approach to urban landscape design, successfully reconnecting urban residents with natural processes while providing essential protection against climate-related threats. The corridor has become a significant regional landmark and serves as a scalable model that other flood-prone cities worldwide can adapt to their specific environmental challenges.
The festival also recognized excellence through several special prizes, including the American Beauty Prize supported by the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, which went to Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects' Isla Intersections Supportive Housing & Paseo in Los Angeles, California. Additional special recognitions included Best Use of Colour for ASPECT Studios' Alibaba Xixi Tech Campus Landscape in Hangzhou, China, Best Use of Natural Light supported by VELUX for Hubo Studio's Redhill Early Learning Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Best Use of Timber for Atelier Sergio Rebelo's Quinta De Adorigo Winery in Portugal's Douro Valley. These awards demonstrate the festival's comprehensive recognition of architectural excellence across multiple categories, materials, and design approaches, celebrating innovation in contemporary architecture worldwide.
