TOP 10 reader submissions of 2020 - public spaces
to mark the end of our yearly round-up, we take a look at some of the most extraordinary public spaces that have been submitted by our readers in 2020.
updates
stay up to date with all the latest topics to be featured on designboom with our dedicated tag overview. we've collated the most recent themes in the worlds of art, architecture, design and technology for your easy reading: from emerging architecture studios to new design trends to relevant events from around the globe.
TOP 10 workplaces and offices of 2020
from a cabin that measures less than 50 square meters, to an office for one of the world's biggest media companies, we continue our annual round up of the year's BIG stories.
trenton doyle hancock weaves monumental arboreal tapestry with odabashian at museum of fine arts, houston
titled 'color flash for chat and chew, paris texas in seventy-two', the 10 x 24 foot piece is made of wool and silk, and is meticulously hand-caved for high-contrast detail.
trenton doyle hancock on 'mound #1 the legend' for odabashian at MASS MoCA
designboom spoke to trenton about his influences, and the larger than life sculpture he created in collaboration with odabashian.
sajjad navidi conceives a 'penguin protection system' to control melting polar ice
the design is composed of two parts: an igloo for penguins to safely huddle and an underwater pendulum to cool down the water.
NASA captures strikingly rectangular iceberg off antarctica
capturing a remarkable moment of nature, NASA reveals an impressively rectangular iceberg floating in the weddell sea off antarctica.
alain gilles installs a high-end lighting system on the beach entrances of cannes
created to ease congestion, make its navigation easier, and to enhance the beach entrances, the project is the result of an international competition held by the french city.
orgatec 2018: alain gilles designs modular acoustic system for buzzispace
the soft structure of the 'buzzibracks' not only act as a visual separation in office spaces, but also as an acoustic divider.
architecture49 stacks two off-center volumes into 'le littoral' holiday residence in canada
the home is designed to frame views of the river and surrounding natural landscape.
davidson rafailidis completes cat café in buffalo, NY, with zigzag brick wall
the studio transformed a century-old, two-story brick building into a café for cats and humans.
davidson rafailidis transforms an 1920s garage into a flexible workshop in NY
awarded an azure magazine az award (toronto, canada), the work comprises a flexible workshop which transforms depending on the season.
'phoenix nest' proposal by cx landscape installs elevated walkway amid natural reserve in china
the project respects and highlights the existing topography, with all proposed constructions designed to be reversible.
cx landscape's 'sea line park' is an urban complex proposal that can survive rising sea levels
designed as a long city bypass, the 'sea line park' will adapt to the rising waters, reforming into an island that can cruise away searching a new docking destination or simply float on the sea.
guangzhou theatre by steven chilton architects pays homage to the city's silk heritage
the concept for the theater was informed by silk embroidery and the illustrations of artist zhang hongfei.
steven chilton architects completes 'bamboo forest' wuxi taihu show theater
located in wuxi, a city near shanghai in eastern china, the 2000 seat theatre has been designed to house a permanent water show by franco dragone.
AFTER PARTY covers sliced residential volume with blooming meadow layer in lithuania
settling next to a peaceful creek, the project aims to inspire cherishing the experience of living, instead of possessions.
AFTER PARTY proposes a future office prototype to reduce the use of concrete
advocating for an 'environmentally cautious' building, the design team proposes a timber structural system to reduce concrete by 60%.
omni-directional FUJI ninja wheel wins GOOD DESIGN good focus award 2020
ideal for wheels of AGVs and self-propelled robots, the device combines functionality and future potential with a geometric and appealing aesthetic.
modular + mobile canon digital cinema cameras win GOOD DESIGN gold award 2020
the camera was awarded for its precise simplicity, elegant design, and capabilities in supporting a wide range of content production.
hilberinkbosch architecten turns an old dutch apple farm into a charming new home
the renovation brings fresh light into the 19th century building while preserving the original timber and brick architecture.
hilberinkbosch architecten gives new life to fallen trees with 'the sixteen-oak barn'
when the team received the sad news that they would have to cut down seven of the oak trees on their property, they decided to make the best of the situation.
tecnografica's expressive wallpapers help express your true colors
tecnografica's huge, eclectic selection of super-definition, richly colorful, textured wallcoverings offers a wide spectrum of styles to choose from.
pentatonic + pharrell drop snarkitecture edition of 'pebble' cutlery set made from CDs
the pebble includes a knife, fork, spoon, straw, and chopsticks to prevent the adoption of single-use plastic utensils when dining on the move.
pharrell williams + pentatonic launch the 'pebble', a dining toolkit made from recycled CDs
the compact and portable design includes a knife, fork, spoon, straw, and chopsticks.
tadao cern suspends a cloud of dried grass strands in immersive installation 'french exit'
the soft beige tones and fluffy textures of the strands blend together, creating an immersive, contemplative experience.
vincent leroy filters reality with 'floating lens' installation on parisian rooftops
vincent leroy has used fresnel lenses that generate an interesting effect, full of light, color and reflections.
lapitec sintered stone slabs made from natural mixture of mineral powder
lapitec’s organic alternative to marble is formed from a mixture of minerals that join together without the use of bonding resins.
fumihiko maki exhibition goes on view at BankART temporary in yokohama
designboom is in japan and has visited the exhibition to document the works on view.
fumihiko maki designs the 'squid toilet' in tokyo with a courtyard and curved roof
built as part of the tokyo toilet initiative, the central courtyard allows for clear sight lines through the public restroom facility.
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competitions 
WDC 2028 Busan Pavilion International Design Competition $ 46,666.00 USD deadline: october 26th, 2026 Marca Corona Award 2027 | Contest for artists and designers under 35 $ 1,675.00 USD deadline: january 11th, 2027 Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 $ 115,875.00 USD deadline: november 2nd, 2026 The Architect’s Chair Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition $ 9,120.00 USD deadline: january 5th, 2027 2026 TITAN Property Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 grippin’ $ 3,000.00 USD deadline: april 30th, 2027 Valli Wine Tasting Room $ 11,632.00 USD deadline: february 15th, 2027 2026 NY Architectural & Interior Design Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 Vancouver Tall Challenge $ 15,000.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa [IFDA] deadline: december 11th, 2026 all competitions
WDC 2028 Busan Pavilion International Design Competition $ 46,666.00 USD deadline: october 26th, 2026 
Marca Corona Award 2027 | Contest for artists and designers under 35 $ 1,675.00 USD deadline: january 11th, 2027 
Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 $ 115,875.00 USD deadline: november 2nd, 2026 
The Architect’s Chair Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition $ 9,120.00 USD deadline: january 5th, 2027 
2026 TITAN Property Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 
grippin’ $ 3,000.00 USD deadline: april 30th, 2027 
Valli Wine Tasting Room $ 11,632.00 USD deadline: february 15th, 2027 
2026 NY Architectural & Interior Design Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 
Vancouver Tall Challenge $ 15,000.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 
International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa [IFDA] deadline: december 11th, 2026 
