Design Roundup 2024 : Celebrating Design and a Glimpse into the Future
As 2024 draws to a close, the global design community embraces new projects, announces awards, and honors forward-thinking ideologies that are shaping the future of design. From sustainable mass timber expansions to landmark urban designs brought on by the Paris Olympics, the year has been filled with inspiring developments. In this curated list we celebrate 2024 with a particular focus on international urban design, sustainability, and the visionaries that will redefine our built environments.
Photography: Jason O’Rear
Studio Gang's California College of the Arts’ San Francisco Expansion
Studio Gang's recent expansion of the California College of the Arts (CCA) in San Francisco exemplifies a bold step toward sustainable design. The new hybrid mass timber building integrates both timber and concrete, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional construction methods while providing a dynamic new space for students. With a focus on reducing carbon emissions, this expansion supports CCA’s commitment to sustainability—an increasingly vital aspect of modern residential architecture and urban design. The building seamlessly integrates its outdoor spaces with two landscaped maker yards. The sun is harnessed for both daylighting and passive solar. This work of mass timber and concrete not only provides durability and aesthetic appeal but also promotes environmental responsibility in educational facilities.
Photography: Koichi Satake
Riken Yamamoto is awarded the 2024 Pritzker Prize
This year’s Pritzker Architecture Prize went to Riken Yamamoto, a Japanese architect whose design philosophy revolves around creating spaces that are rooted in the natural world and cultural context. Known for his thoughtful approach to sustainable architecture, Yamamoto has consistently produced works that prioritize human connection to the environment, making his work a critical example for residential architecture firms focusing on integrating nature into modern homes and urban developments. His innovative projects explore ways to balance tradition and modernity, enhancing both the functionality and beauty of living spaces.
Photography: Salem Mostefaoui
The Paris Aquatics Centre : A Bold New Landmark
One of the most exciting architectural developments for this year’s Paris Olympics is the opening of the Aquatics Centre, designed by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4/. The facility is one of the only new permanent structures built for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, standing as a testament to cutting-edge architecture and sustainable design. While many existing buildings across the city have been renovated for the Olympics, this new aquatics centre represents a lasting contribution to the city’s infrastructure. Its innovative floating roof and integration with the surrounding environment make it an architectural marvel and a prime example of how large-scale public projects can enhance the quality of urban living. The centre is a key piece in Paris’s legacy of integrating sustainable, forward-thinking design into its public spaces, blending sport, culture, and community.
Photography: Pablo Gomez-Ogando
The Norman Foster Institute's Sustainable Cities Program
As part of its ongoing mission to advance sustainable architecture, the Norman Foster Institute has opened applications for its 2025 Sustainable Cities Program. This initiative invites architects, urban planners, and designers to reimagine urban environments in a way that prioritizes resilience, sustainability, and livability. With a focus on addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, the program encourages participants to explore new ways to design sustainable homes, community spaces, and cities. This initiative is an excellent opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas that can help shape the future of home building and urban design, integrating environmental stewardship into the fabric of everyday life.
Photography, Dezeen from Shutterstock
Elon Musk's Visionary $20 Trillion Tunnel
While architectural innovations continue to shape our cities, another revolutionary concept is Elon Musk’s ambitious proposal for an underground tunnel system that could connect London and New York in under one hour. The $20 trillion Hyperloop project promises to redefine transportation as we know it, drastically reducing travel time across continents. If realized, it could have significant implications for urban architecture, potentially transforming how cities are planned and how residential properties are situated in relation to transit hubs. While the idea remains speculative, it offers a glimpse into the future of connectivity and infrastructure that could one day alter the landscape of urban development.
Photography © La Biennale di Venezia 2023
Venice Biennale 2025: A Look Ahead
Looking to the future, the Biennale Architettura 2025 promises to be a significant event in the global architectural calendar. MIT’s Fulbright Scholar Carlo Ratti will Curate the 19th International Architecture Exhibition to bring together architects, designers, and visionaries to showcase innovative approaches to sustainable architecture, urban planning, and design. With a focus on ecological responsibility, equity, and the integration of technology in everyday life, the 2025 Biennale will offer insight into the ways in which architecture and design can shape the future of cities and homes. As residential architects continue to push the boundaries of sustainable design, the Biennale will be a key platform for exploring how buildings can not only serve as homes but also contribute to a better, more sustainable world.
As we reflect on the transformative designs of 2024, it’s clear that innovation in architecture continues to accelerate, particularly in the realm of environmental design. Projects like Studio Gang’s hybrid timber expansion and Yamamoto’s award-winning work inspire us to think about how our built environments can foster sustainability, community, and environmental harmony. With forward-looking projects on the horizon—like the sustainable cities program and ambitious transportation innovations—2025 promises to bring even more groundbreaking developments that will shape how we live, work, and interact with the spaces around us.
For residential architecture firms and designers, these projects serve as a reminder of the importance of sustainability, creativity, and innovation. As we continue to address the challenges of a changing world, the design community remains at the forefront of creating homes, communities, and cities that are not only functional but also capable of supporting a better future.
designboom, kat barandy I. (2024, November 11). Studio gang completes hybrid mass timber expansion of California College of the Arts. https://www.designboom.com/architecture/studio-gang-california-college-arts-san-francisco-campus-expansion-11-08-2024/
Pintos, P. (2024, March 5). Riken Yamamoto: Get to know the 2024 Pritzker winner’s work. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/1014030/riken-yamamoto-get-to-know-the-2024-pritzker-winners-work
Koshta, H. A. (2024, August 2). Aquatics Centre Paris / venhoevencs + ateliers 2/3/4/. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/1019578/aquatics-centre-paris-venhoevencs-plus-ateliers-2-3-4
Press@normanfosterfoundation.org. (2024, April 2). The Norman Foster Institute officially opens in Madrid. Norman Foster Foundation. https://normanfosterfoundation.org/norman-foster-institute-opening-act/
Business news. The Economic Times. (n.d.). https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/london-to-new-york-in-one-hour-a-20-trillion-tunnel-could-make-it-a-reality/amp_articleshow/116396169.cms
Biennale Architettura 2025: Homepage 2025. La Biennale di Venezia. (2024, December 2). https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2025#:~:text=The%2019th%20International%20Architecture%20Exhibition,all%20the%20intelligence%20around%20us.
