The announcement of the Dezeen Awards 2025 winners solidifies another landmark year for global architecture. Revealed at a ceremony in London, the awards celebrated 17 standout projects spanning hospitals, homes, civic structures, cultural spaces, and workplaces. Topping the list, Herzog & de Meuron’s University Children’s Hospital Zurich earned the coveted title of architecture project of the year, highlighting how the Dezeen Awards 2025 continues to recognise design excellence across continents.
Architecture Project of the Year
The grand prize was awarded to the University Children’s Hospital Zurich, a 96,200-square-metre medical campus by Herzog & de Meuron. Modelled as a compact town and wrapped in warm timber, the project also secured the leisure and wellness category. The jury praised its humane scale and precise execution, calling it a rare example of truly exemplary healthcare design in contemporary architecture.
Outstanding Residential and Housing Winners
This year’s residential winners reflect bold design strategies across urban and rural settings. Studio Bright claimed urban house of the year with a home wrapped in mesh screens supporting climbing plants. Fernanda Canales won rural house of the year for a circular dwelling offering continuous 360-degree views. The housing project of the year went to Cierto Estudio for its Barcelona social housing that reimagines domestic roles through equal, flexible room layouts. Each winner demonstrated a commitment to livability and thoughtful spatial organisation.
Civic, Cultural, and Public Achievement
Civic and cultural winners underscored the impact of architecture in public life. Serie Architects won civic project of the year for its monumental Satsang Hall in India, shaped by curved concrete and white marble fragments. Hassell received cultural project of the year for the Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre in Uganda, a structure built from earth bricks to support artistic expression in a refugee community. These projects combined local identity with generous public purpose.
Workplace, Infrastructure, and Landscape Highlights
The awards also recognised innovation within workplaces and landscapes. Anttinen Oiva Architects earned large workplace project of the year for its timber-built headquarters in Helsinki, while Wataru Architects transformed an ordinary office in Japan into a light-filled workspace, securing the small workplace category. ZGF Architects won infrastructure project of the year for the mass-timber terminal expansion at Portland International Airport. Landscape project of the year went to Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners and De Zwarte Hond for the edible neighbourhood of Rijnvliet. Each winner advanced notions of sustainability and well-being.
Winners – Dezeen Awards 2025
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Architecture Project of the Year | University Children’s Hospital Zurich – Herzog & de Meuron |
| Urban House of the Year | Hedge and Arbour House – Studio Bright |
| Rural House of the Year | House 720 Degrees – Fernanda Canales |
| Housing Project of the Year | La Comunidad Habitacional – Cierto Estudio |
| House Renovation of the Year | Rinskopf – Atelier Avondzon |
| House Extension of the Year | Vejrhoj – Studio Marshall Blecher & Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter |
| Civic Project of the Year | Satsang Hall – Serie Architects |
| Cultural Project of the Year | Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre – Hassell |
| Small Workplace Project | Kitaoka Group Head Office – Wataru Architects |
| Large Workplace Project | Katajanokan Laituri – Anttinen Oiva Architects |
| Education Project of the Year | Atelier PPW – NWLND Rogiers Vandeputte & Kris Broidioi |
| Heritage Project of the Year | Feskekorka – White Arkitekter |
| Hospitality Project of the Year | Quinta de Adorigo Winery – Atelier Sergio Rebelo |
| Infrastructure & Transport | Portland International Airport Expansion – ZGF Architects |
| Small Project of the Year | AYDC Public Art Center – Atelier Xi |
| Mixed-Use Project | Tammela Hybrid Stadium – JKMM Architects |
| Landscape & Urban Design | Rijnvliet Edible Neighborhood – Felixx & De Zwarte Hond |
