Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Art Center has officially opened its doors to the public after six years of construction. The groundbreaking design by architect Zaha Hadid is a stunning representation of hibiscus flowers and currently holds the title of the world’s largest hibiscus-inspired architecture.

The Palace Museum Southern Branch, designed by KRIS YAO | ARTECH, showcases three fluid forms inspired by Chinese calligraphy strokes. The building seamlessly integrates with the surrounding fields while serving different functions. The solid form houses the curatorial department and exhibition halls, while the glass-and-steel “void” volume serves as the museum lobby, café, library, and administration offices. A third smearing stroke links various spaces with a smooth circulation pattern, running through the intersecting solid and void forms. The exterior of the solid form boasts more than 36,000 pieces of cast aluminum “disks” attached to the curved surfaces. These disks depict ancient bronze dragon and cloud patterns using modern digitized design. As the sun moves, the reflection from the disks reveals a captivating “moving” dragon in the clouds on this uniquely designed facade.

The Kaohsiung Port Terminal in Taiwan, designed by RUR Architecture DPC, embodies a dynamic 3-dimensional urban design. The building itself resembles a massive silver-white ship with a towering “chimney” structure, paying homage to the maritime character of the port. It consists of interconnected, spacious shells constructed using a steel pipe framework covered with cladding panels, thus creating an accessible, enclosed space. The terminal is segregated into three sections, each corresponding to a distinct route for ship travel, while the concourses are strategically positioned parallel to the waterfront to optimize the connection between water and land.

Paracelsus Bad & Kurhaus, designed by BERGER+PARKKINEN, is a multi-layered architectural wonder that prioritizes well-being and relaxation. The bath area spans 3 floors, featuring an introspective design that seamlessly combines Salzburg’s health and spa services with changing rooms adjacent to the pool. The swimming complex encompasses four distinct pools – a sports pool, a diving pool, a kiddie pool, and a relaxation pool. Surrounding the exterior, expansive glass panels effortlessly blend the urban landscape with the aquatic environment inside. The pools’ serene atmosphere is accentuated by ceramic surfaces, water features, and ambient lighting, all beneath a gently undulating ceramic ceiling that enhances spatial diversity.