Whether it is schools, libraries of even government buildings, the November 2016 architecture trends demonstrate a strong emphasis on making public buildings not only more accessible, but also more visually appealing.
One way that architects are giving public buildings an upgrade is by adding modern elements to historic designs. For instance, the design company Gensler recently proposed erecting a modular bubble shaped structure in front of the UK parliament buildings. Similarly, architect Henri Cleinge renovated Montreal's historic Royal Bank building to create modern offices and a cafe.
However, the November 2016 architecture trends reveals that not all public building upgrades involve a complete overhaul. Indeed, many schools, library and museums have received small upgrades that simply help to give the structure a more contemporary look. For instance, Cologne's historic harbor district on the Rhine River was recently upgraded to include a sleek public pool and waterfall.
Top 85 Architecture Ideas in November
From Space-Efficient Schools to Bubbly Parliament Buildings:
Katherine Pendrill — Nov 26, 2016 — Art & Design
84
Eco Prefab Homes
This Wood House by ArchiBlox Features a Green Roof and Sustainable Wood
83
Spacious Container Homes
This Home is Equipped With a Full-Size Bathroom and Sleeping Loft Area
82
Hidden Bed Apartments
This Conceptual Apartment from Geometrium Features a Stair-Embedded Bed
81
Off-Grid Eco Homes
The 'rEvolve House' is a Tiny Home Powered Entirely by Solar Panels
80
Expandable Tiny Homes
The Aurora Tiny House's Interior Can Be Enlarged At the Push Of a Button
79
Cylindrical Bamboo Huts
The Treehouse Suite is an Idyllic Beach Resort in Mexico
78
Sustainable Residential Towers
The 'Beacon' Tower Uses Heat Extraction Pumps and Solar Panels
77
Flood-Proof River Refuges
This Floating Pavilion Reacts to the Rise and Fall of the Water Way
76
Academic Family Homes
'The Study House' Was a Former University Building
75
Open-Air Houses
Arnau Estudi d'Arquitectura's House Design Leaves Plenty of Outdoor Space
74
Modular Garden Pavilions
Casper Schols' 'Garden House' Has Sliding Walls that Offer Many Layouts
73
Mountainous Living Spaces
Xu Fu-Min's Home Design in Rural China is Permeated by Mountains
72
Power Station Restaurants
Melbourne's Higher Ground Cafe and Eatery is a Former Industrial Site
71
Miniature Transforming Apartment Spaces
This Living Space by Architect Elodie Gaschard is Cozy
70
Inflatable Nightclubs
This Blow-Up Building Was Made for the Federation of Swiss Architects' Party
69
Tiled Camouflage Houses
The TR House Provides Privacy with Strategically Placed Tiles
68
Architectural Jungle Gyms
The 'be-MINE' Design is a Giant Play Area on a Belgian Hillside
67
Charming Luxury Treehouses
The Woodsman's Treehouse Blends Natural Surroundings & Modern Luxuries
66
Oasis-Inspired Museum Buildings
The Urban Heritage Museum Administration Centre is in Saudi Arabia
65
Architectural Barrier Walls
'Prison-Wal' Turns a Controversial Idea into a Celebration of Mexico
64
Translucent Orchestral Halls
The China Philharmonic Hall Will Be in Beijing's Business District
63
Glass Pod Accommodations
PurePods Offers a One-of-a-Kind New Zealand Experience
62
Famed Prefab Houses
'Revolution Precrafted' Offers Prefab Houses Designed by Big-Name Architects
61
Diamond-Latticed Shopping Centers
Acme's John Lewis Facade Design is a White Concrete Lattice
60
Strategically Social Staircases
Bloomberg Hong Kong's New Office Staircase Encourages Interaction
59
Art Deco Skyscrapers
This New York Skyscraper is Inspired By Retro Art Deco Architecture
58
Glazed Tiny Homes
The Vista Go Towable Home Offers Compactness and Affordability
57
Contemporary Cedar Homes
MRTN Architects' Designed the 'House Under Eaves' in New Zealand
56
Stone-Clad Mountain Schools
Batang People's Primary School Facade References the Area's Terrain
55
Energy-Efficient Houseboats
This Houseboat is Fitted With the Latest Home Automation Gadgetry
54
Aluminum Alpine Shelters
This Slovenian Shelter Can Handle Extreme Winter Conditions
53
Drawbridge-Decked Dwellings
This Off-Grid Tiny Home Has a Motor-Powered Drawbridge Deck
52
Calorie-Counting Stairs
This Staircase Aims to Promote More Physical Activity
51
Steam-Bent Wooden Lodges
This Cornish Gamekeeper's Lodge's Facade is Covered in Curving Timber
50
Woven Concrete Structures
Weave.X Was Built Through the Use of Computational Design
49
Malleable Retreat Homes
This Retreat Home Can Contort into a Variety of Shapes
48
Encased Apartment Facades
atelier7architektura's Revitalized Building in Warsaw is Glass-Covered
47
Shipping Container Penthouses
LOT-EK Adapted a Family Home to Incorporate Industrial Components
46
Mesmerizing Museum Designs
This Shenzhen Museum Embraces Deconstructivist Design Principles
45
Heat-Resisting Homes
Ferrer & Zraid Arquitectos Designed an Open Home That's Safe from the Sun
44
Skateboard Park Rec Rooms
Inhouse Brand's Home Design Includes a Skate Bowl for the Resident Teen
43
Castle Arch Lighting Installations
'Reframe' Replaces Ruined Arches with Hanging Lights
42
Turf-Topped Office Buildings
The AXA Building by Santiago Calatrava Will Be in a Train Station
41
Mobile Ski Lodges
The Tiny Ski Lodge Offers On-the-Go Shelter For Avid Skiiers
40
Bamboo Canopy Gateways
The Zhuhai National Park Gateway was Designed by West-line Studio
39
Hybrid Swimming Pools
This Swimming Pool Facility Has Retractable Roofs and Walls
38
Prodigious Public Pools
COBE's Revitalization of Deutzer Hafen in Cologne has a Pool and Waterfall
37
Socially Responsible Design Exhibits
The Cooper Hewitt Exhibit Addresses Many Social Concerns
36
Aluminum Louvre-Covered Cafes
'Louvrewall' is Both a Cafe and a Residence in South Korea
35
Stylistically Mixed Architecture
'Form is Form' Combines the Architectural Styles of Three Studios
34
Pixellated Brick Apartments
Residenza Le Stelle's Facade Looks Pixellated in Real Life
33
Anime-Inspired Apartments
The 'Totoro' Buildings by KOZ Architects are Shaped Like the Anime Icon
32
Vertiginous Timber Towers
The River Beech Tower Will Rise 80 Storeys Above the Chicago River
31
Tranquil Meditation Pavilions
The 'Meditation Pavilion' is in a Peaceful Park in Geneva
30
Tree-Filled Homes
'A House in Trees' Combats the Smog of the Surrounding Town
29
Preserved Rubble Castles
The Fallen Matrera Castle Has Been Fused with Contemporary Architecture
28
Rust-Paneled Homes
Alt Arkkitehdit Clad This Woodland House in Rusted Corten Steel
27
Connected Sports Stadium Lighting
The Philips 'ArenaExperience' LED Illumination System is Dynamic
26
Record-Breaking LEGO Buildings
This Burj Khalifa Replica is the World's Tallest LEGO Building
25
Staircase-Shaped Schools
'An Adventure in the Horizontal' Creatively Climbs up a Hillside
24
Hovering Cubic Gardens
CHROFI has Designed the Australian National Botanical Gardens
23
Wondrous Scientific Playgrounds
Muf's Wonderlab is an Installation in London's Science Museum
22
Bifurcated Heritage Houses
Residence DBB is Physically Split Between the Old and the New
21
Converted Office Lofts
The 'REWE Digital' Office Space Provides a Playful Open Plan
20
Glazed Port Facades
The Port House Extension Was Designed By Zaha Hadid Architects
19
Playful Game-Developing Offices
This Office Space Features Vibrant and Eclectic Designs
18
Sun-Following Home Designs
This Home Features a Rotating Design to Follow the Sun Through the Day
17
Communal Living Pavilions
C+ Architects' 'Stair Pavilion' Aims to Facilitate a Stronger Community
16
Bubbly Parliament Buildings
This Parliament Concept Would Be Located In a Bubble On the River
15
Single Pane Glass Slides
Eckersley O'callaghan Designed a 10-Story-High Slide with Cricursa's Help
14
Expansive Pillared Offices
The Squarespace Office Features Large Contemporary Work and Play Areas
13
Stunning Sculptural Churches
Moneo Brock Designed a Cyrstal-Like Worship Space in Monterrey
12
Barn-Inspired Community Centers
Bernardo Bader's Building References Rural Austrian Architecture
11
Winged Railway Termini
The 'Route 2020' Competition Decided Dubai's New Red Line Extension
10
Urban Forest Pavilions
Asif Khan's 'Forests' are Spread Throughout East London
9
Tuition-Free Architecture Schools
The Free School of Architecture will Open in 2017 in Los Angeles
8
Redesigned Bank Collectives
The Crew Offices and Cafe Renovated Montreal's Historic Royal Bank
7
Abstractly Angled Apses
'Chapel in Valleaceron' has a Uniquely Geometrical Layout
6
Sky Pool Condominiums
'Fifth and Hill' will Have Dozens of Cantilevered Swimming Pools
5
Courtyard-Themed Offices
The Prointel Office Optimizes Natural Light in a Small Space
4
Abstract Modernist Churches
Pueblo Serena Church is a Bright White Series of Angled Volumes
3
Abstractly Gabled Health Clinics
Hirano Clinic is a Medical Center in Japan's Aichi Prefecture
2
Inflatable Canvas Pavilion Covers
'Octopus Pavilion' Mimics the Movement of a Cephalopod
1
Space-Efficient Schools
Delhi Public School's Design Maximizes Available Space
Related Ideas
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
Eco-Friendly Offices
Office@27 by Sanjay Puri Architects is Enhanced by Ancient Indian Principles
Extreme Space-Saving Architecture
A 74-Square-Foot Apartment is Redefining Urban Living
Modern Office Buildings
Kinzo Designs Das Max for the Insurance Company Münchner Verein
Kaleidoscopic Kindergarten Buildings
The Tianshui Kindergarten by SAKO Architects is Whimsical
Modern Office Space Designs
Studio Alexander Fehre Creates a Chic Interior for VdK Cooperative
Invasive Wood Hotel Interiors
Policronica Transforms the Hotel Elysée Montmartre Interiors
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Transparent Climate Classrooms
Forma Transforms a Century-old Glasshouse in Copenhagen
Everyday Material Colorful Pavilions
Foster + Partners and NEON Create Two Pavilions in London
Vibrant Multi-Level Office Designs
Gensler Reimagines the Accenture Office Space in Chicago
Modern Minimalism Apartments
Between the Walls Designs the Old&New Apartment in Kyiv
Curved Translucent Experimental Apartments
NEUHÄUSL HUNAL Designs the Sculptor's Apartment
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Renovated Compact Loft Apartments
Metre Architects' Vessel Project Renovates a Small Space
Legal Office Renovated Designs
Snarkitecture Updates Jayaram's New York Offices
Town-Like Classroom Designs
Atelier Apeiron Designs the Kindergarten of Museum Forest Building
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Eccentrically Designed Historic Penthomes
Crina Arghirescu Rogard Adds Designs to a Penthouse
Vibrant Adaptable Workplaces
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs a Modern Workspace for Relaxound
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Redefined LA-Based Comfortable Offices
Gensler Redesigns its Own Office Located in Los Angeles
Large Headquarter-Transformed Housing
Studio Egret West Designs Hayes Park Central and South
Swooped Museum Roof Planes
BIG Designs the Waterfront Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art
Modern Office Environments
The MOL Campus Project Was Designed by Architecture Firm Kinzo
Modern-Updated Traditional Homes
KiKi ARCHi Designs the Skip House in the Middle of Beijing
Striking Glass Canopy Designs
Heatherwick Studio is Redeveloping Olympia in London, United Kingdom
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Moveable Wooden Office Facades
EVR Architecten Renovates an Office for the ACV-CSC-Metea
Eco-Conscious Slim Skyscrapers
Muraba and RCR Arquitectes Join to Design the Muraba Veil
Mass-Timber Office Buildings
Dream Completes the Olympic Games Office Design in Paris
Colorful Rooftop Unified Buildings
Urbanus' Nantou Hybrid Building is Comprised of Five Buildings
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
Affordable Social Housing Campuses
Studio Libeskind Creates The Atrium at Sumner Houses
Y-Shaped Community Pavilions
Sam Crawford Architects Creates a Red-Roof Pavilion in Sydney
Paper-Inspired Artful Museums
Bjarke Ingels Group Designed the Museum for Papirkunst
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Sustainable Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuur Atelier Designs the Green Arc in a Garden
Robust Monolithic Walled Homes
H Arquitectes Completes the Casa 1736 in Barcelona
Weightless Pavilion Museum Wings
Snøhetta and Alley Poyner Macchietto Expand the Joslyn Art Museum
70s-Inspired Interior Office Renovations
dMFK Architects Renovates the 45 Whitfield Street Office
Curved London Office Buildings
Foster + Partners Designs 50 Electric Boulevard in South London
Geometric Prefabricated Pavilions
Heams & Michel Architectes Presents the 7 Kiosks Project
Serene Wooden Garden Pavilions
Byró Architekti Designs the Garden Pavilion in Prague
Whimsical Bright Creative Workspaces
Publicis Groupe's New Workspace is in New York's SoHo
Prayer Room Government Offices
Agata Kurzela Studio Rewors a Floor of a Heritage Building
Napolean-Era Minimal Apartments
Joris Poggioli Renovates his Historic Parisian Apartment
Crystalline Chinese Museum Buildings
The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
Renovated Maximalist Apartments
David/Nicolas Renovates the Casa di Fantasia in Milan
Mass-Timber Education Buildings
Studio Gang Completes the John W Boyer Center in Paris
Welcoming Prefabricated Student Housing
Ignacio Prego Architectures Designs New Student Housing
Brutalist Concrete Tower Apartments
Archmongers Renovates the Trellick Tower in London
Textured Concrete Panelled Gyms
MD41 Completes a Gymnasium Design for a School in Italy
Floating-Style Classroom Designs
Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group Completes the Bloomberg Center
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Barrel-Vaulted Roof Parks
Bear Architects Designs the Zubitegi Park in Spain
Retro Apartment Transformations
Space is around us Designs the Kyano Apartment in Greece
Altered Pyramid Concrete Monuments
MCRDV Unveils a New Bright Pyramid of Tirana with IRI
Nature-Connecting Office Spaces
Hawkins\Brown Designs the Here + Now Office Buildings
Artfully Inspired Home Renovations
Reflect Architecture Designs the North Drive House in Toronto
Redesigned Unifying Transit Terminals
Foster + Partners Renovates the NY Midtown Bus Terminal
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Industrial Converted Hotel Lobbies
Colboc Sachet Architects Develops a Lobby at Bacalan Block
Pier-Side Dynamic Office Spaces
The New BIG HQ is a New Office on the Industrial Harbour
Graphic-Accented Brutalist Apartments
Jean Verville Designs a Creative Laboratory in Quebec City
Woodland-Inspired Timber Office Spaces
Atelier du Pont Completes the Pavilion Jardins Building
Urban Natural Expansive Buildings
Atelier Delalande Tabourin Designs Office National des Forêts
Wood-Wrapped Contemporary Libraries
The Graded School Library is Integrated Inside a School
Renovated 19th-Century Homes
Byró Architekti Renovates a House in Kutná Hora with Bright Joinery
Sustainably Designed Mumbai Offices
Sanjay Puri Architects Designs the Office@27 Workspace
Law-Firm Office Interior Designs
Kin Designs the Office Interior for Law Firm Dentons
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Mass Studies Unveils the Visuals for the Archipelagic Void
Expansive School Bamboo Canopies
CollectiveProject Creates a Canopy at Talaricheruvu Rural School
Clover-Style Conference Center Designs
MAD Designs the ZGC International Innovation Center
Scientific Communal Museums
Stefano Boeri Architetti Designs the Museum of Technology in Xi'an
Carbon-Positive Dynamic Hotels
Studio Gang Completes the Populus Hotel Design in Denver
Converted Market Building Nurseries
Vurpas Architectes Creates the Eugénie Brazier Building
Parametric Style Video Games
Zaha Hadid Architects and Epic Games Add to Re:Imagine London
Sleek Fintech Office Designs
Universal Design Studio Creates the Copper Office in London
Traditional Sustainable School Designs
Heatherwick Studio Showcases Plans for Universidad Ean
Cascading Aluminum Pipe Museums
Kengo Kuma Design the Audeum Museum with an Aluminum Facade
Nature-Themed Modern Workspaces
The New Natwest Office in London Features Greenery Throughout
U-Shaped Atrium Hotels
JSa Designs the Hotel Volga in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Bright Red Timber Buildings
Office ParkScheerbarth Designs the Compact Haus 2+ in Berlin
Modern Deco Office Designs
Reflect Architecture Designs the NewGen Office with Contemporary Detail
Orange Marquee Canopy Designs
all(zone) Designs the MPavilion 9 with a Vibrant Orange Hue
Brutalist Converted Learning Centers
Archipelago Transforms a Post Office to a Learning Space
Spine-Based Central Design Buildings
Foster + Partners Designs the Hangzhou Center
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Tree-Like Library Spaces
Studio Hinge Presents the Forest of Knowledge Library Design
Large Concrete Educational Buildings
Stanton Williams Introduces the UCL East Marshgate Building
Latticed-Steel Transport Hub Columns
Tremend Designs the Metropolitan Station in Lublin
Gabled Planted Courtyard Schools
Ateliers O-S and NAS Architecture Design the Samuel Paty School
Temperature-Balanced High-Rise Buildings
Snøhetta Designs the Vertika Nydalen Project
White Concrete Boxy Museums
Thomas Phifer Designs the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw
Efficient Architecture Design Tools
Architecture Helper Provides Design Insights in Seconds
Alleyway-Inspired Art Centers
Neri&Hu Completes the New Bund Performing Arts Centre
Atrium Stacked Toronto Courthouses
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Creates a Justice Building
Historic Building Architecture Offices
Paul R Williams Designs the New BIG Office in Santa Monica
Nature-Bounding School Designs
Pelletier de Fontenay and Leclarc Architects Design École du Zénith
Renovated Neo-Gothic Provostry
Studio Acht Renovates a 19th-Century Provestry with Modern Touches
Copper-Extended Brutalist Building
BVN Extends the Sirius Building with a Copper-Pod Structure
Glass-Lined Towering Libraries
Snøhetta Designs the Beijing City Library Located in China
Mass-Timber Transport Hubs
BIG and A+ Architecture Build the Marengo Multimodal Transport Hub
Roman Architecture-Themed Pavilions
Pratique and Fanum Design the Forum des Vestiges Pavilion
Basketry-Informed University Facades
Heatherwick Studio Designs a Building for Universidad Ean
Interconnected Brick-Clad Buildings
David Chipperfield Architects Blends Three Housing Typologies
Brutalist Minimal Apartment Designs
Zalc Arquitetura Reimagines the JF Apartment in Brazil
Dynamic Military Archive Buildings
Jahn Completes the Pritzker Military Archives Center Design
Gold-Tonal Metal Building Extensions
Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter Extends a Skylab at a University
Optimal Energy Research Centers
Zara Hadid Architects Designs the Alisher Navoi Research Center
Sustainability-Focused Building Renovations
Climate Group Launches the Renovation Revolution
Perforated Shadow-Casting Libraries
Parallel Studio Designs the Mariam's Library in Zanzibar
Botanical Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuuratelier and Archipelago Create the Green Ark Pavilion
Paper-Like Art Museum Roofs
BIG Expands the Museum for Paper Art in Denmark with a Folded Roof
Industrial Warehouse-Inspired Offices
Carr Designs a New Office Block with Industrial Themes
Illuminated Seated Chamber Skylights
James Turnell Designs the Leading Skyspace in a School
Renovated Retro Ski Lodges
Hetedik Műterem and Studio Konstella Extend the Normafa Ski Lodge
Design Service Launch Exhibitions
The Public Records Exhibition Marks a New Design Service
High-Tech Center Renovation Projects
Two Studios Join Forces to Update the Centre Pompidou
Refurnished Historic London Buildings
Wright and Wright Transforms the British Academy in London
Terracotta-Clad University Faculties
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Completes New Art Faculty
Dual Level Concrete Galleries
Morphosis Designs the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas
Barrel Vault-Topped Metro Stations
KA Architecture Studio Designs the Jahad Metro Plaza
Steel Structural Dynamic Workspaces
Skylab Architecture Builds a New Skylab Office in Oregon
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Minsuk Cho Designs the Archipelagic Void Shelter in London
Hybrid London Townhouse Office
SPPARC Updates a New Office Space with a Unique Roof Design
Brutalist-Inspired Apartment Redesigns
Studio Est Redesigns a Battersea Power Station Apartment
Dynamic Concrete Modern Buildings
Atelier Matias Mosquera Designs the Shire Building
Art Center Sweeping Canopies
Kengo Kuma & Associates Extend the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
History Preserving Renovation Projects
Studio Anne Holtrop Renovates the Siyadi Pearl Museum
Renovated Terraced London Home
EBBA Architects Renovates and Brightens the Camden Residence
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces
Dynamic Canadian Museum Expansions
Diamond Schmitt Architects Expands the New Brunswick Museum
Automobile Company Turkey Offices
Boytorun Architects Designs a Bright Mercedes-Bens Office Space
Colonial History Art Exhibitions
RIBA Presents Raise the Roof: Building for Change
Warm-Tonal Urban City Apartments
General Assembly Creates a Comforting Palette in New York
Large Passive House Buildings
Handel Architects Builds the Harmony Commons at UofT