Air rights transactions have become essential in urban development, allowing cities to grow vertically while preserving limited land resources. Typically defined as the right to use or sell the space above a property, air rights enable property owners to transfer unused floor area ratio (FAR) to neighboring parcels, creating increased density and financial gain opportunities. However, the definition can vary based on locality and region, as each country interprets air rights and the ability to build or transfer them differently. As urban centers face mounting pressures from limited land supply and population growth, air rights continue to offer a creative solution that fosters architectural innovation and economic efficiency.
mixed-use development: The Latest Architecture and News
Büro Ole Scheeren Unveils a Live-Work-Play Development in Hangzhou, China
Büro Ole Scheeren has revealed their design for an 800,000 sq ft development following the concept of live-work-lay in Hangzhou, China. Titled Urban Glen, the project situated between West Lake and the Qiantang River comprises two towers connected by a central plinth. This feature, inspired by Hangzhou's hilly landscapes, becomes a built topography of terraces and exterior environments, aimed at optimizing natural light and the quality of both indoor and outdoor spaces. The Glen will house a variety of amenities, including ballrooms, meeting spaces, restaurants, and retail, all interwoven with public art from New World Development's extensive collection.
Foster + Partners Reveals Design for a Beachside Master Plan in Bahrain
Foster + Partners have revealed their proposal for the Bilaj Al Jazayer Beach master plan, a new development aiming to introduce a new touristic destination along Bahrain's southwest coast. The 3.5-kilometer beachfront introduces a pedestrian-friendly infrastructure along with a mixed-use district fitted with residential areas, hotels, retail spaces, and public amenities.
CapitaSpring Tower, Designed by BIG and CRA, Wins the International High-Rise Award 2024/25
Designed by the architectural practices BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and Carlo Ratti Associati, the mixed-use CapitaSpring tower in Singapore has been announced as the winner of the International High-Rise Award (IHA) 2024/25. The high rise stood out among the 31 projects considered in the competition. Measuring 260 meters in height, the tower officially opened in 2022, standing out for its strategy of integrating open and green spaces throughout the building.
OODA Breaks Ground on Tetris-Like Mixed-Use Development in Tirana
Portuguese architecture studio OODA has commenced construction on the Hora Vertikale Towers in Tirana, a city renowned for its urban revitalization and architectural innovation. The project aims to contribute to this dynamic landscape as a multi-functional, 55,000-square-meter "vertical village" rising 140 meters tall. The project is designed to also integrate a large-scale green public space, also designed by OODA. The project was first announced earlier this year.
Cobe's Creative Reuse Strategy Set to Transform Tallinn's Industrial Site into a New City District
Danish architecture firm Cobe has announced a new project to transform the historic 'Krulli' steelworks, a large-scale former industrial site in Estonia's capital, into a mixed-use city district. The strategy for the project is developed to optimize for material reuse, as materials, components and even entire buildings have been evaluated for their potential to be reintegrated into the scheme. This way, the decommissioned industrial area provides the foundation for an innovation hub, maintaining its history while adapting to the necessities of modern workspaces and city life.
MVRDV Unveils Design for a Colorful Office Building Clad in Pretty Plastic Shingles in Germany
MVRDV has revealed its design for Monaco, a six-story office building situated in Munich's transforming Werksviertel neighborhood. This region, previously known for its industrial past and later as a cultural hotspot, has been evolving into a dynamic work-and-leisure district since 2016. Positioned near MVRDV's earlier project, WERK12, the Monaco building uses recycled materials and distinctive shapes to create a balanced "work and play" office environment, inspired by the color and creative spirit of the Kultfabrik era.
SOM and Weiss/Manfredi Break Ground on New Campus for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) has announced a three-year redevelopment of its 2-acre downtown Newark campus. The project, designed by architectural firms Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), and Weiss/Manfredi, has recently broken ground and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2027. It integrates 350 mixed-income residential units, retail spaces, and a dynamic education and community center, in addition to rehearsal spaces, a new headquarters for jazz public radio station WBGO, and various outdoor gathering areas.
Foster + Partners Reveals Details of the Euro American Innovation City in Hangzhou, China
Situated in Hangzhou's Central Business District, the Euro American Innovation City is a mixed-use development designed by Foster+Partners to become a dynamic addition to the city. The 346,450 square-meter project includes two 200-meter-high office towers and four high-rise apartment buildings, complemented by a public plaza, an IT incubator, and a retail mall on the lower levels. Construction is currently progressing in phases, with the first phase nearing completion next month and the second set to finish by year-end, while the entire project aims for completion in September 2025.
WilkinsonEyre Reveals Plans to Revitalize a Constructivist Landmark in Belgrade, Serbia
WilkinsonEyre has unveiled their proposal to revitalize the 1950s constructivist Belgrade Fair Hall 1, a landmark location overlooking the river Sava. The project is set to transform the exhibition hall into a mixed-use destination comprising three cultural venues and retail spaces, in addition to redesigning the waterfront park. WilkinsonEyre’s design incorporates light-touch interventions to the existing building, as it strives to respect and highlight the architectural qualities of the existing structure, such as the exposed concrete soffit or the unique shape of the building.
KPF Set to Transform Foster + Partners Designed HSBC Tower in London’s Canary Wharf
Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) has announced an expansive project to redevelop and refurbish the Foster + Partners designed 8 Canada Square building, also known as HSBC Tower, in Canary Wharf, London. Following an international competition, the remodeling plans include removing large parts of the 42-story building to introduce terraces and additional functions. According to Canary Wharf Group and the Qatar Investment Authority, this represents the largest transformation of an office tower into a sustainable mixed-use building. The project is set to begin in 2027, after the expiry of the HSBC lease.
Stefano Boeri Architetti Wins Competition for Green Neighborhood Development in Bratislava, Slovakia
Stefano Boeri Architetti has been declared the winner of the international competition for the redevelopment of a former industrial site in downtown Bratislava. The project includes the transformation of one of the largest abandoned areas in the Slovak capital, with the aim of creating an active new central hub for the city, complete with parks and public spaces, residential units, and a variety of amenities. Stefano Boeri Architetti’s master plan proposal, titled “Urban Oasis,” has been appreciated by the jury for integrating familiar typologies, creating a “European matrix” of medium-density developments organized around accessible public spaces.
SOM Breaks Ground on the Tallest Mixed-Use Tower in Andares Zapopan District of Guadalajara, Mexico
American architecture and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), in collaboration with Mexico City-based Estudio AMA and interior designer Esrawe Studio, has revealed a new 190-meter-tall mixed-use tower in Guadalajara, Mexico. The new addition, which broke ground on May 24, is slanted to become the tallest building in the Andares Zapopan district of the city, offering residential units, hotel rooms, and various amenities.
BIG Designs Cantilevered Towers Surrounding the Freedom Plaza on Manhattan’s Waterfront
Located along Manhattan’s East River waterfront, the Freedom Plaza sets out to create a new civic and cultural hub, introducing a new open and green space in the crowded area, with plans to add an in-park Museum of Freedom and Democracy. Additionally, the scheme designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group includes affordable housing units, two hotels, retail, and restaurants. Developed by Soloviev Group and Mohegan, the Freedom Plaza development reimagines one of the largest undeveloped plots in Manhattan, measuring 6.7 acres located south of the United Nations headquarters in the Midtown East neighborhood.
Rafael Viñoly’s Amaris Condos in Washington DC, Captured by Paul Clemence
On March 2, 2023, Rafael Viñoly passed away at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of bold and imposing designs that shaped the skyline of cities across the globe. He is internationally recognized for works such as the Boston Convention Center, which redefined urban space in the American city, the new Carrasco Airport in Montevideo, and the controversial 20 Fenchurch Tower in London.
Paul Clemence has released images of the Amaris mixed-use development in Washington D.C., one of the latest works completed by renowned Uruguayan American architect, Rafael Viñoly. The photographic series reveals a distinctively shaped curvilinear building opening towards public spaces along the Potomac River. The volume is created to accommodate residential units with generous views toward the surrounding landscape, marking the terminus point to a row of new buildings in The Wharf development.