OBEL 2026 Award to Balearic Social Housing Model; OMA Completes Tenjin Business Center II
The Balearic Social Housing Model, designed by the Balearic government's housing administration under the leadership of Cris Ballester Parets and Carles Oliver Barceló, has been honored with the OBEL Award 2026 for its innovative approach to public housing challenges from 2019 to 2023. This model emphasizes the use of local materials, circular construction techniques, and adaptable spaces, aligning with the award's theme of 'Systems' Hack'. Additionally, Kengo Kuma will be presented with the Andrée Putman Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2027 Créateurs Design Awards, recognizing his contributions since establishing Kengo Kuma & Associates in 1990. OMA has finalized the Tenjin Business Center II in Fukuoka, Japan, which includes two atriums and a variety of amenities. Meanwhile, CRA has introduced MiMar, a 25-story residential tower in West Palm Beach, Florida, featuring 40% affordable housing. Architect Mary Otis Stevens passed away at the age of 98 on July 12, 2026.
Key facts
- OBEL Award 2026 goes to Balearic Social Housing Model, developed 2019-2023 by Cris Ballester Parets and Carles Oliver Barceló.
- Kengo Kuma to receive Andrée Putman Lifetime Achievement Award at 2027 Créateurs Design Awards.
- OMA completes Tenjin Business Center II in Fukuoka, Japan, an 18-story, 62,720 sqm mixed-use complex.
- Tenjin Business Center II designed by Shohei Shigematsu and OMA New York, part of Tenjin Big Bang initiative.
- CRA–Carlo Ratti Associati and Jeff Greene unveil MiMar, a 25-story residential tower in West Palm Beach, Florida, with 40% affordable units.
- Mary Otis Stevens, pioneering architect and social advocate, dies at 98 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 12, 2026.
- Stevens co-founded i Press and Architects for Social Responsibility.
- The week's news also covered climate-related disasters in Nepal and Algeria, highlighting infrastructure vulnerability.
Entities
Artists
- Cris Ballester Parets
- Carles Oliver Barceló
- Kengo Kuma
- Shohei Shigematsu
- Carlo Ratti
- Jeff Greene
- Mary Otis Stevens
- Thomas McNulty
Institutions
- OBEL Award
- Balearic government housing administration
- Kengo Kuma & Associates
- Créateurs Design Awards
- OMA
- OMA New York
- CRA–Carlo Ratti Associati
- MIT
- i Press
- Architects for Social Responsibility
- Boston Society of Architects
- ArchDaily
- Balearic government's housing administration
Locations
- Balearic Islands
- Palma
- Mallorca
- Eivissa
- Tokyo
- Dundee
- Marseille
- Besançon
- Paris
- Fukuoka
- West Palm Beach
- Florida
- Cambridge
- Massachusetts
- Lincoln
- Nepal
- Algeria
- Jijel
- Béjaïa
- Tizi Ouzou
- Langtang
- Bédar
- Almería
- Spain
- Japan