ABB LEAF Awards Judging Panel announces its final official 2020/21 Shortlist

16 September 2021


[London, United Kingdom]: The ABB LEAF Awards Judging Panel has announced its final official 2020/21 shortlist. Comprising the best new international building design projects over the last 24 months, the awards has received its largest number of entries to date across 17 diverse categories.

The ABB LEAF Awards 2020/21 Lifetime Achievement Winner is Ms Francine Houben, Founding Partner and Creative Director of MECANOO Architects. More details to follow.

All of the shortlisted projects include buildings that are setting the benchmark for the international architectural community; winners will be announced during the official ABB LEAF Awards ceremony, October 14th, 2021, London, details to be announced.

Message from our Headline Partner and Trophy Patron ABB

‘Explore and Immerse Yourself! Be inspired by the diversity of the ABB LEAF Awards 2020/21 shortlist. Hope to see you in person at the Awards Ceremony in London, 14th October.’

Katrin Förster (ABB International Key Account Manager).


Most Innovative and Impactful Design of Engineering or Technology (NEW)

  • JJP Architects and Planners, ALP Ally Logistics Republic Yangmei, Taoyuan, Taiwan
  • Minarc, Mildred Residence, Venice, California, USA
  • Obayashi Corporation, MITEJIMA Building, Osaka City, Japan
  • Obayashi Corporation/ Azusa Sekkei Co., Ltd. NARA convention Center, Nara City, Japan
  • SHUISHI, Exhibition Center of Shimao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Center, Shenzen, China


Best Façade Design & Engineering Project - Sponsored by INOX COLOR

  • Behnisch Architekten Boston, Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), Massachusetts, USA
  • Endo Kenichiro, Endo Architectural Atelier Co., Ltd, Endo Architecture Atelier New Office building, Hokkaido, Japan
  • Foster + Partners, Galeries Lafayette, Luxembourg city, Luxembourg
  • Lacime Architects, Financial City Community Center, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Atelier Ping Jiang / EID Arch, LAND Community Center, Xi'an, China


Best Achievement in Environmental Performance Project

  • 3XN, Olympic House, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Behnisch Architekten Boston, Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), Massachusetts, USA
  • Dubai Municipality, Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL), Dubai Creek, Al Jaddaf Area, Dubai, UAE
  • Jestico + Whiles, Zuri Zanzibar, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
  • Team V Architecture, Atlas - Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands


Best Arts & Culture Building Project

  • Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Museum of Modern Art Renovation & Expansion, New York, NY, USA
  • gad, Mountain & Sea Art Museum, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China
  • KAAN Architecten, Utopia - Library and Academy for the Performing arts, Aalst, Belgium
  • Studio Link-Arc, LLC, Nanjing Art Center, Nanjing, China
  • The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd, Qingxi Culture and History Museum in Sangzhou, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China 
  • The Design Institute of Landscape and Architecture China Academy of Art, City Lounge of Zhongshan Road, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
  • Zaha Hadid Architects, Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre, Changsha, China


Best Commercial Building Project

  • 3XN, Cube Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Matheus Farah e Manoel Maia Arquitetura (MFMM ARQUITETURA), Dengo Chocolates Concept Store, São Paulo, Brazil
  • NIHONSEKKEI, INC. NIPPO JUNCTION, Tokyo, Japan
  • NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD, Kikkoman R&D Center, Noda, Noda-shi, Chiba, Japan
  • UNK project, "Academic" Business Center, Russia, Moscow


Best Future Building Under Construction Project

  • ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY CO., LTD.|Sutherland Hussey Harris, National Botanical Museum, Kunming, China
  • Atelier Ping Jiang / EID Arch, The Panda Pavillions, Chengdu, China
  • KAAN Architecten, New Amsterdam Court House, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • Lars Gitz Architects, BaseCamp Lyngby, Lyngby, Denmark
  • Studio Link-Arc, LLC, The Cloud——CNZZ Commercial Complex, Shenzhen, China


Best Hospitality Building Project

  • Aedas, Yi by Jereme Leung, the Raffles Hotel, Singapore
  • DABURA.m Inc. GALLERIA MIDOBARU, Beppu City, Oita, Japan
  • Jestico + Whiles, Zuri Zanzibar, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
  • llLab, San Sa Village, Beijing, China
  • The Design Institute of Landscape and Architecture China Academy of Art, Park-Yilan Ju, Hangzhou, China


Best Interior Design Project

  • DDAA, Maruhiro Office, Higashisonogi District Nagasaki, Japan
  • INNOCAD architecture, LEARNSCAPE - Knowledge and Communication Center Leoben, Styria, Austria
  • NARUSE ?INOKUMA ARCHITECTS+a round architects, Dance of Light, Seoul, Korea
  • SANJAY PURI Architects, OFFICES@63, Mumbai, India
  • Studio Link-Arc, LLC, Banu Restaurant, Zhenzou, China


Best Mixed Use Building Project

  • ingenhoven architects, Kö- Bogen II, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD, Museum Tower Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  • Zaha Hadid Architects, Opus, Dubai, UAE


Best New Start Up Practice Project

  • ABVM Studio, Ti kay là, Anse-à-Pitres, Haiti
  • AI Studio, Tatlin, Moscow, Russia
  • Aurelien Chen, Former Miner's Canteen Refurbishment, Shijiazhuang, China


Best Public Building Project

  • AAO ZHUBO, No BOUNDRY TOILET, Shenzen, China
  • Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University CO., LTD. Library Cluster Design for the New Campus of Yan’an University, Yan’an, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Lacime Architects, Galaxy World Kindergarten, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Atelier Ping Jiang / EID Arch, LAND Community Center, Xi'an, China


Best Refurbishment Project

  • ARCHSTUDIO, Qishe Courtyard, Beijing, China
  • DC ALLIANCE, Renovation of Ancient Village – Han Ling, Ningbo, China
  • Foster + Partners, Apple Store, Fifth Avenue, New York, USA
  • Provencher_Roy, Montréal Tower, Montréal, Canada
  • Team V Architecture, RCO House, (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra House), Amsterdam, the Netherlands


Best Regenerative Impact Project

  • AAO ZHUBO, GREEN Cloud, Shenzen, Guangdong Province, China
  • Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University CO., LTD. Yan'an Tourist Service Center, Yan'anCity, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Dubai Municipality, Dubai Safari, Dubai, UAE
  • MAD Architects, Tunnel of Light, Echigo-Tsumari, Japan
  • Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron/SZAD, A New Flowing Campus Growing from The Old Chessboard, Shenzhen, China


Best Residential Building Project – Multiple Occupancy

  • Bluetown Architects, Song-Zhang-Kou New Rural Housing, Siyang, Jiangsu, China
  • Sasaki Architecture + YTRO Design Institute+Escenario+Shukou Kensetsu, Escenario Fudomae, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
  • UNITEDLAB Associates LLC, Hadohilljo Townhouse, Jeju-do, S-Korea


Best Residential Building Project – Single Occupancy

  • 2id Architects, Dan Dan Dan House, Hamamatsu, Shizuka, Japan
  • 2id Architects, House in Shiraiwa, Hamamatsu, Shizuka, Japan
  • Marc Mogas, SB6 HOUSE, Matadepera, Spain
  • Studio MK27, House on the Sand, Bahia, Brazil
  • Takeru Shoji Architects, Hara House, Nagaoka-city, Niigata-prefecture, Japan


Best Tall Building Project

  • Dubai Municipality, Dubai Frame, Dubai, UAE
  • Foster + Partners, Comcast Technology Center, Philadelphia, USA
  • Zaha Hadid Architects, Leeza SOHO, Beijing, China


Best Urban Design Project

  • 3andwich Design / He Wei Studio, Stone Nest Amphitheatre for Community Activities, Wei Hai City, Shangdong Province, China
  • Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tsinghua University, Wanzai Ancient City, Yichun, China
  • ISA Internationales Stadtbauatelier, Urban Design for Central District of Guangzhou Eastern Transportation Hub, Guangzhou, China
  • James Corner Field Operations, Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Revitalization – Avenue of Stars and Salisbury Garden, Hong Kong, China
  • Zaha Hadid Architects, Niederhafen River Promenade, Hamburg, Germany



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