The 5 most relevant sustainable architecture projects selected by the Holcim Foundation Awards 2025

In Bhutan, the Gelephu Mindfulness City designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group envisions a new spiritual and economic capital built on harmony between people and nature: neighborhoods that follow the natural valleys, local materials, hydropower, and urban farming come together in a holistic – and seemingly replicable – urban model.

In Bangalore, the Healing Through Design project by The Agami Project and A Threshold draws inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi: reclaimed materials and construction waste are transformed into a health and training center that restores dignity and beauty to urban fragilities.

In Bangladesh, the conservation of Dhaka’s former Central Jail by FORM.3 Architects places memory at the heart of urban life, transforming a symbol of confinement into a public park, museum, and community space. According to the jury, the project “retains and rehabilitates historic structures, adds appropriately scaled new buildings, and even integrates a needed public road through the site to ease traffic, all without losing sight of the community’s needs.”

In Shenzhen, the Pingshan River Blueway Landscape by Sasaki Associates revitalizes 40 kilometers of riverbanks with a “holistic vision,” combining biodiversity, natural drainage, and accessible public spaces within a large urban ecological corridor.

In Pristina, Kosovo, Art-Tek Tulltorja (by Rafi Segal A+U, Office of Urban Drafters, ORG Permanent Modernity, Studio REV) transforms a former brick factory into an art and technology center, turning a site of industrial memory into a hub for community innovation. The jury noted that in post-conflict Kosovo, this project – which embraces environmental remediation, cultural programming, and economic development – could have a profound impact.

In Spain, the School in Gaüses by Ted’A Arquitectes reimagines the rural school as an ecological micro-campus, built with local rammed earth, wood, and cork, where learning extends into the natural environment.

In Denmark, The Crafts College by Dorte Mandrup is a campus that combines school, housing, and workshops for construction techniques. The jury particularly praised its social mission: “Using design to champion under-prioritized craftspeople, the project affirms that beautiful, context-rooted architecture can instill pride, know-how, and excellence in its users.”

The second Spanish project awarded is The Southern River Parks by Aldayjover Architecture and Landscape, which redesigned a thousand hectares along Madrid’s Manzanares and Gavia rivers, creating a green system that counters desertification and promotes urban agriculture.

In Asunción, MOS Architects & Adamo Faiden tackle housing vulnerability through a participatory approach: Barrio Chacarita Alta Housing consists of modular homes, local materials, and shared public spaces that help mend the social fabric.

In Medellín, the Return of the Lost Gardens project by Connatural “deconstructs” a university building to uncover a hidden stream, creating a teaching garden and a biodiversity laboratory.

In Porto Alegre, Brazil, Schools for Flood-Prone Areas by Andrade Morettin Arquitetos Associados and Sauermartins raise classrooms and transform rooftops into community shelters, offering a replicable model for flood-prone regions.

The Sesc Parque Dom Pedro II in São Paulo transforms a degraded area into an inclusive civic center, hosting spaces for sports, education, and culture in the heart of the metropolis. The Jury highlighted the project’s ability to insert meaningful public space “where there was apparently no way to do something,” significantly improving the quality of life in São Paulo’s historic center.

Many of this year’s awarded projects are schools. In Nigeria, Brookside Secondary School by Studio Contra combines climate-responsive architecture, local materials, and traditional techniques: built with locally made clay bricks, the campus employs the traditional barrel vault, arches, and “hit-and-miss” masonry to create a distinctive identity deeply rooted in its context.

In Qalandiya, in the Palestinian Territories, Riwaq – Centre for Architectural Conservation revitalizes a historic village through incremental restorations and direct community engagement. The jury commended the project for its thoughtful approach to heritage conservation, acknowledging its high level of sensitivity to complex social and political contexts, as well as its emphasis on knowledge generation and sharing.

In Nairobi, the Waldorf School by Urko Sánchez Architects is set within a protected forest: a temporary, demountable structure built with local earth and timber, promoting the value of impermanence and connection with nature.

In Kinshasa, the Zando Central Market by Think Tank Architecture revitalizes the historic city market with a minimalist, tactile language: concrete and terracotta bricks define ventilated and luminous spaces, restoring dignity and safety to the twenty thousand vendors who animate it daily.

The Buffalo Crossing Visitor Centre in Winnipeg is a low-impact timber and concrete Passive House pavilion that celebrates the renaturalization of a former quarry and the knowledge of Indigenous communities. The project integrates ecological restoration through native prairie landscaping, bio-swales, and stormwater management, while also incorporating Indigenous design elements developed in collaboration with local elders, reflecting traditional knowledge and community values.

In Toronto, the Lawson Centre for Sustainability by Mecanoo Architecten integrates student residences, learning spaces, and productive gardens. The jury remarked: “For sustainable urban living that will inspire future generations of students to advance their learning here beyond the campus.”

In Boston, the Moakley Park project by Stoss Landscape Urbanism transforms the waterfront into a resilient landscape that protects the city from storm surges while providing new green public spaces.

Closing the selection is the Portland International Airport Main Terminal by ZGF, featuring its massive glulam timber roof and a bioclimatic design that drastically reduces embodied carbon.