Top 7 Architecture: Best Buildings of 2020
Despite delays for major projects like the Taipei Performing Arts Center by OMA, M+ by H&dM in Hong Kong, the Academy Museum of Motion Picture by Renzo Piano, and the National Museum of Oslo, 2020 saw the completion of seven notable architectural works, primarily museums. In Hasselt, Belgium, Francesca Torzo's new wing for Z33 contemporary art center opened in May, winning the Italian Architecture Prize. Grafton Architects, winners of the 2020 Pritzker Prize and RIBA Royal Gold Medal, opened the Town House at Kingston University London. Tadao Ando completed the He Art Museum in Foshan, China, and will serve as Guest Editor of Domus in 2021 while the Bourse de Commerce in Paris reopens. MVRDV's Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, a publicly accessible art storage facility with a reflective facade, opened in September. David Chipperfield Architects Berlin finished the Kunsthaus Zürich extension, and the firm will reopen Mies van der Rohe's Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin in August 2021. Franco Stella's Humboldt Forum in Berlin, named Best International Museum by Artribune, opened digitally. Diller Scofidio + Renfro completed the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, designed for full accessibility.
Key facts
- Taipei Performing Arts Center by OMA delayed in 2020.
- M+ museum in Hong Kong by H&dM delayed.
- Academy Museum of Motion Picture by Renzo Piano delayed.
- National Museum of Oslo postponed to 2022.
- Francesca Torzo's Z33 extension opened in May 2020 in Hasselt, Belgium.
- Torzo won the Italian Architecture Prize for Z33.
- Grafton Architects won Pritzker Prize and RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2020.
- Grafton Architects opened Town House at Kingston University London.
- Tadao Ando completed He Art Museum in Foshan, China.
- Ando will be Guest Editor of Domus in 2021.
- Bourse de Commerce in Paris to reopen.
- MVRDV's Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam opened in September 2020.
- Depot holds over 150,000 objects and has reflective panels.
- David Chipperfield Architects Berlin completed Kunsthaus Zürich extension.
- Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin to reopen in August 2021.
- Humboldt Forum in Berlin opened digitally, named Best International Museum by Artribune.
- Humboldt Forum designed by Franco Stella, features reconstructed baroque facades.
- Diller Scofidio + Renfro completed US Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs.
- Museum designed for full accessibility, consulted paralympic athletes.
Entities
Artists
- Francesca Torzo
- Yvonne Farrell
- Shelley McNamara
- Tadao Ando
- David Chipperfield
- Franco Stella
- Mies van der Rohe
- Rowan Moore
- Valentina Silvestrini
Institutions
- OMA
- H&dM
- Renzo Piano Workshop Building
- Z33
- Triennale di Milano
- MAXXI
- Grafton Architects
- Pritzker Architecture Prize
- RIBA
- Kingston University London
- He Art Museum
- Domus
- Bourse de Commerce
- MVRDV
- Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen
- David Chipperfield Architects Berlin
- Kunsthaus Zürich
- Neue Nationalgalerie
- Humboldt Forum
- Artribune
- Diller Scofidio + Renfro
- MoMA
- The Shed
- US Olympic and Paralympic Museum
- Team USA
Locations
- Taipei
- Taiwan
- Hong Kong
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Oslo
- Norway
- Hasselt
- Belgium
- Milan
- Italy
- Rome
- London
- United Kingdom
- Shunde
- Foshan
- China
- Paris
- France
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Berlin
- Germany
- Colorado Springs