Best architecture firms

Founded in 2004 by Ma Yansong, MAD Architects has quickly become one of the world's most notable and inventive design firms. MAD works in forward-looking environments developing futuristic architecture based on a contemporary interpretation of the eastern spirit of nature.  MAD's projects - from residential complexes to offices and cultural centers - desire to protect a sense of community and orientation toward nature, offering people the freedom to develop their own experiences. The firm is based in Beijing with satellite offices in Los Angeles, New York City and Rome.  With its cutting-edge concepts, reimagining the limit of design, the firm has secured the top place in Archello's 100 best architecture firms in the world. Her... More

Architecture is the nexus between culture, society and history, reflecting man’s constant quest for advancement. The challenges posed by anthropogenic activities bring about this question: how can architecture play a role in addressing the pressing issues of climate change, social disparity and urbanization? The recent changes in the built environment brought about by the pandemic have necessitated a reevaluation of spatial requirements and health considerations influencing human perception of architectural spaces. As cities grow denser and more diverse, design practices are now re-imagining built spaces through the application of digital technologies including building information modeling and parametric architecture integrated with... More

China's capital city of Beijing is a sprawling metropolis housing over 20 million people. It is a place with a fascinating built history and consequential constructions such as the imperial Forbidden City and well-preserved sections of China's Great Wall. Beijing is also home to a number of ambitious recent projects: structurally pioneering high-rise towers that include the OMA-designed CCTV Headquarters, a series of landmarks developed for the 2008 Olympics like the Bird's Nest Stadium and the 'Water Cube' housing the National Aquatics Centre, and quieter, but equally significant works such as the OPEN Architecture-designed Chapel of Sound. In addition to notable built projects, Beijing boasts many of the world's most innovative architec... More

Sculpted volumes that play with natural light; simple white forms that respond to warm climates and varied topographies; buildings both iconic and contextual defined by the use of clean, natural materials: Portuguese architecture firms continue to yield among the most restrained yet experimental projects in the world. Stemming from the schools of Alvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura, a large repertoire of firms has branched out to define an exciting new era of Portuguese design and thinking. The 25 firms from the Lisbon metropolitan area selected here are among those setting the directions of Portuguese architecture today:     Francisco Caseiro 1. Aires Mateus Architects Manuel Aires Mateus and Francisco Aires Mateu... More

Oslo is a major wellspring of contemporary architecture. Design firms here are making their mark on the field globally, by infusing Scandinavian traditional materials with the know-how of building, on projects ranging from single family mountain homes to international urban cultural centers. A medieval Viking city that evolved into a major European maritime trading center, contemporary Oslo has a rich design history that draws from its foundations as a center of Scandinavian and Norwegian culture. As a city with a historically large immigrant population, it is also a center of global ideas. The 25 Oslo-based firms selected here represent some of today’s most forward-thinking designers in Europe:   MIR 1. Snøhett... More