The Dezeen Awards shortlist reveals 92 outstanding projects from 30 countries, highlighting innovative approaches, sustainable materials, and architectural diversity ahead of the 2025 winners’ announcement in London.
Dezeen has unveiled the architecture shortlist for the 2025 Dezeen Awards, highlighting 92 exceptional projects from studios located in 30 countries worldwide. The shortlist illustrates a broad geographic diversity, featuring entries from places as varied as Australia, Mexico, Indonesia, Uganda, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic. Among the most represented countries are Australia, with 12 projects shortlisted, followed closely by the USA and China, each with nine projects, the UK with seven, and Mexico with six. The shortlisted works encompass a wide range of typologies, from social housing blocks and performing arts centres to innovative residential renovations and workplace buildings.
The projects represent an impressive range of architectural approaches and materials. For instance, the shortlist includes a social housing block in Barcelona characterized by its “non-hierarchical” floor plans, promoting equitable living spaces. In Uganda, a performing arts centre constructed using earth bricks highlights sustainable and locally sourced building practices. Additionally, projects such as a cork-wrapped 1970s house in London and an artisanal mezcal production facility in Mexico demonstrate creative reinterpretations of traditional and industrial typologies. The portfolio also features inspiring examples of material reuse, such as a courtyard house built with reclaimed materials in Belgium, underscoring contemporary concerns with sustainability.
Dezeen Awards, now in its eighth edition and run in partnership with Bentley, aims to champion design innovation, sustainability, and excellence across architecture and design globally. The awards’ architecture jury comprises distinguished architects including Patty Hopkins and Manuelle Gautrand, reflecting a high standard of peer evaluation. Winners across 17 categories will be announced at the Dezeen Awards party on 25 November at Exhibition White City in London, where the overall architecture project of the year will also be revealed.
Notably, the shortlisted projects extend across a variety of architecture sectors, including houses (both urban and rural), housing, renovations, extensions, civic and cultural projects, workplaces, hospitality, infrastructure, and landscape design. This diversity captures the multifaceted nature of contemporary architecture and design. Key projects include Hudson L-House by Steven Holl Architects in the USA, a mixed-use project by AIM Architecture in China, and a university children’s hospital in Zurich by Herzog & de Meuron — a firm renowned for its innovative global contributions.
Complementing these awards, there are other contemporaneous recognitions in architectural excellence. For instance, the Brick Award 2026 shortlist was recently announced, spotlighting 50 projects from 21 countries that exemplify innovative use of brick and ceramic materials, illustrating a parallel celebration of material-specific architectural innovation.
Within Australia, architectural achievements have recently been celebrated through the Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize, awarded annually by the Australian Institute of Architects for projects enhancing public life in Melbourne. In 2025, Searle x Waldron won this prize for their Northern Memorial Park Depot project, which also earned the Victorian Architecture Medal, signalling local recognition aligned with the international stage these global awards represent.
The Dezeen Awards shortlist not only showcases global talent but also reflects a dynamic and evolving architectural landscape, where sustainability, cultural context, and innovative use of materials and forms are at the forefront. The anticipation now builds toward the announcement of winners, which promises to highlight projects that define the architectural zeitgeist of 2025.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
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Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the shortlist announced on 6 October 2025. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The inclusion of updated data without recycling older material justifies a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes were identified in the narrative. The absence of quotes suggests the content is potentially original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Dezeen, a reputable organisation known for its coverage of architecture and design. This enhances the credibility of the report.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the Dezeen Awards 2025 architecture shortlist are plausible and consistent with the known schedule of the awards. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, but this is typical for press releases. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure is focused on the claim without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for an official announcement.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current, original, and originates from a reputable organisation. The claims are plausible, with specific factual anchors and appropriate language and tone. No significant credibility risks were identified.
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