See which studios are currently in the lead in the Dezeen Awards 2021 public vote

With just over one week left to vote, here is the current leaderboard for the studio categories in the Dezeen Awards 2021 public vote.

The public vote, which closes on 11 October, allows readers to vote for projects and studios shortlisted in the architecture, interiors, design, sustainability and media categories, as well as architects and designers in line for the studio of the year awards. Winners will receive a special certificate.

Voting is open for one more week, so vote now!

Click here to vote ›

Public vote winners announced in October

Public vote winners will be announced 18-22 October. The public vote is separate from the main Dezeen Awards 2021 judging process, in which entries are assessed by our panel of professional judges. We'll be announcing the Dezeen Awards 2021 winners online in late November.

Who's in the lead?

With 45,311 votes received so far, here is a snapshot of which projects and studios have received the most support. There's still time to influence the results, so keep voting!

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Architecture studio of the year

28 per cent – SO - IL
23 per cent – LAN (Local Architecture Network)
20 per cent – Pedevilla Architects
17 per cent – NADAAA
12 per cent – Neri&Hu

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Emerging architecture studio of the year

34 per cent – Mold Architects
26 per cent – Leckie Studio Architecture + Design
17 per cent – ODDO Architects
16 per cent – Studio Puisto Architects
Six per cent – Penda China

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Interior design studio of the year

35 per cent – Sarit Shani Hay Design Studio
21 per cent – Home Studios
19 per cent – Fyra
14 per cent – Case-Real
11 per cent – Rafael de Cárdenas

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Emerging interior design studio of the year

38 per cent – WGNB
25 per cent – Fumihiko Sano Studio
13 per cent – File Under Pop
12 per cent – Child Studio
12 per cent – The Guild of Saint Luke

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Design studio of the year

26 per cent – Yabu Pushelberg
20 per cent – Superflux
17 per cent – Dn&co
15 per cent – Form Us With Love
14 per cent – Lee Broom
Eight per cent - Estudi Antoni Arola

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Emerging design studio of the year

40 per cent – Yakusha Design
23 per cent – Marjan van Aubel Studio
12 per cent – Studio Raw Material
10 per cent – Tom Fereday Design
Nine per cent – A Space
Six per cent – ThusThat

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Santiago Calatrava unveils Qatar Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020

Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has designed a curved structure that pays homage to Qatar's coat of arms for the country's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Calatrava's Qatar Pavilion opens today with the rest of Expo 2020 Dubai, which was rescheduled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will now take place until March 2022.

The Qatar Pavilion is informed by the country's coat of arms

Representing Qatar at the international event, the pavilion was informed by the country's national emblem adopted in 1976.

Qatar's coat of arms includes two curved and crossed swords, illustrated to look as if they are holding a patch of seawater, on which a traditional dhow boat and an island with palm trees are positioned.

Neutral colours are used for the pavilion's interiors

According to the architect, the sweeping shape of Qatar's pavilion echoes the essence of this insignia, through a design that exudes "movement, mobility, strength and tradition."

"The Qatar Pavilion pays tribute to the country's coat of arms, which is rooted in its rich history and cultural heritage," said Calatrava, who heads his eponymous practice.

"Each element informed the curvilinear design of the pavilion which evokes the image of sails on passing ships," the office of Santiago Calatrava told Dezeen.

"The structure’s surroundings tell as much of a story as the building itself. The entrance to the pavilion is marked by a sculptural monument that represents two intertwined palm trees and is surrounded by water features that serve as an homage to the Arabian Gulf which encompasses the nation of Qatar."

A gold-coloured structure represents palm trees

The pavilion's curved structure is the same neutral colour as a lower building that intersects it, with both volumes encompassing 960 square metres.

Nearby, a gold-coloured structure intends to echo the palm trees on Qatar's coat of arms, while the pavilion's soaring angles reference the curved form of the dhow.

"The pavilion’s design emulates a modern interpretation of Qatar’s progressive outlook of the future and history," the studio said. "We hope visitors will walk away truly understanding the essence of Qatar."

Inside, two main galleries and exhibition spaces aim to provide an immersive and experiential education on the history of Qatar, along with sections that focus on the country's present and future.

"The project draws inspiration from the urban fabric from which it rises, to serve as an extension of the country," added Santiago Calatrava CEO, Micael Calatrava.

Galleries inside the pavilion provide information on Qatar's rich history

Though Santiago Calatrava isn't a Qatari studio, it feels "part of the nation," it added.

"We have a team on the ground in UAE, run by Micael Calatrava (Santiago Calatrava’s son)," the studio said. "The Calatrava International office was settled in Doha, Qatar, before relocating to Dubai many years ago, so we are very much a part of the nation and understand it on a deep level."

"Aside from that, our firm process always includes immersing ourselves in the region’s built environment before designing a structure."

Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava founded his international architecture office in 1981. The firm is currently constructing The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York as part of the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site.

The photography is courtesy of Santiago Calatrava.

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Expo 2020 Dubai will run from 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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Yuan Youmin "brings Chinese culture together with minimalist design" to create True Square watch for Rado

Designer Yuan Youmin explains how he created a special edition of Rado's True Square watch by drawing from traditional Chinese measuring instruments in this video produced by Dezeen for the Swiss watch brand.

Yuan drew inspiration from a traditional measuring device called a steelyard to design the watch for Rado, which is called Rado True Square True Heart.

Chinese designer Yuan Youmin has created a special edition of Rado's True Square watch

Steelyards work by using a sliding counterweight to counterbalance the load of an object placed in a tray at the end of a rod to indicate its weight.

"Steelyards have been anchored into Chinese life for almost two thousand years," Yuan explained in the video, which Dezeen filmed at his studio in Hangzhou.

"They consist of a graduated measuring rod, a weighing tray and a movable counterweight."

The design of the watch draws from traditional Chinese measuring instruments

Yuan took the dot graduation marks on a Chinese steelyard rod and used these as the basis for the hour markings on the timepiece.

"I used the dot graduation marked on the beam of a steelyard as a motif for the watch," he explained.

"The lever arms of the scales become the slender watch hands, the round dial represents the weighing tray."

The markings on the watch face are gold coloured. The back of the watch case features the representation of a phoenix.

"On the back of the watch case is an image of a phoenix, which symbolises rebirth of traditional elements," said Yuan.

The back of the watch features an image of a phoenix

Like all True Square watches, Yuan's watch for Rado is produced using the Swiss brand's injection-moulding technology and signature ceramic material.

"The watch is made from Rado's high-tech ceramic material, which is lightweight, scratch-resistant and pleasant to touch," said Yuan.

"The importance of craftsmanship is what unites ancient Chinese culture with the precision of Swiss watchmaking."

The watch is made from Rado's high-tech ceramic material

Rado has collaborated with a wide range of designers around the world to create special editions of its True Square watch.

Previous special editions include watches by designers Thukral and Tagra, Tej Chauhan, Formafantasma and YOY.

Yuan is a graphic designer, lecturer and curator based in Hangzhou, China. He runs a design agency called STUDIO0909 and is a professor at the China Academy of Art.

Yuan Youmin is a graphic designer, lecturer and curator based in Hangzhou, China

Yuan believes that the strength of his design lies in the rich history that inspired it.

"The watch brings together thousands of years of Chinese culture with contemporary minimalist design to create a sophisticated timepiece that combines different cultures and epochs," he said.

This video was filmed by Dezeen in Hangzhou, China.

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Partnership content

This video was produced by Dezeen for Rado as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen's partnership content here.

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Untitled combines clean lines and time-honoured materials in calming beachside home

Canadian design studio Untitled [design agency] has used materials that will age gracefully, such as limestone and fir woods, to create a calm ambiance within its renovation of this Vancouver home, which has been shortlisted for a Dezeen Award.

The 223-square-metre duplex residence, called the Still Life house, is located in the beachside neighbourhood of Kits Point in Vancouver.

Still Life house features fir wood elements

Invited to give the interiors a complete overhaul, the design studio set out to balance the house's traditional architectural forms with contemporary interventions. It called the design process "a practice of restraint."

"During the early stages of the project, the homeowners were after an unapologetically modern interior, which proved to be challenging," explained the studio, which is led by designer Daniel Ching.

Oak cabinetry in the living space

"The dialogue between the intrinsic architecture of the home and a true-to-form modern interior became disjointed," the studio said.

"As the interiors were developed, a softer interior language came to light. While a strong language of clean lines was maintained, the material palette was steeped in old-world traditions, which became a key design element."

A neutral colour palette is used throughout the house

The studio selected a palette of unifying materials and colours that were used throughout the house. These include traditional materials such as limestone – used on the counters and fireplace hearth; fir wood floors, and oak cabinetry.

To balance the design's minimalist appearance, the studio avoided modern-engineered finishes and instead opted for unadorned materials that will patina over time.

Functional elements such as kitchen appliances and storage are concealed behind oak cabinetry.

"With an absence of adornment, materiality and proportion were key design elements of this project," said the studio. "Every visible angle was studied. As such, a great amount of time and energy was put into developing harmonious details, which can be appreciated throughout each room.
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The interiors are furnished with vintage furniture collected by the homeowner, including collectible pieces by George Nakashima, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Poul Kjaerholm, and Norman Cherner.

Limestone and wood were also used in the bathroom

Influenced by the owner's collectible furniture pieces, Untitled [design agency] also created bespoke furniture specifically for the house including a dining table, bookshelves, writing desks, beds, and night tables.

"We believe in design defined by modern minimalism and clean lines while emoting a sense of warmth," concluded the studio. "The Still Life house is a manifestation of this philosophy."

Still Life house has been shortlisted in the apartment interior category of this year's Dezeen Awards, where it will compete against five other projects, including Toledano + Architects' Wood Ribbon apartment in Paris.

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Five architecture and design events in October from Dezeen Events Guide

Dutch Design Week 2021, the postponed Expo 2020 Dubai the thirteenth edition of Design Week Mexico are among the architecture and design events featured in Dezeen Events Guide this month.

Other events taking place this month include Archtober, a New York City-based celebration of architecture and design, and Design Korea, which will comprise an exhibition and three business events in Seoul that address carbon neutral design.

Read on for details of five highlights and see Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

Top and above: Dutch Design Week takes place in Eindhoven

Dutch Design Week
16 to 24 October, the Netherlands

Taking place across various locations in Eindhoven, Dutch Design Week returns over nine days from 16 to 24 October.

After last year's virtual edition, which was limited due to the coronavirus pandemic, the design week returns this year as a physical event.

A series of exhibitions, debates, lectures, awards ceremonies and networking opportunities will be hosted at over 100 locations across the city, with an emphasis on the themes of innovation and experimentation.

Designart Tokyo
22 to 31 October, Japan

Flexform and Perrier-Jouët are among the brands that will host exhibitions during Designart Tokyo, an annual festival that takes place in Japan and provides creatives with an opportunity to connect.

With the theme of "chance," this year's edition will continue its tradition of aiming to provide a platform for young artists and designers to publicly showcase their work.

Design Market will be a new digital feature at Design Week Mexico

Design Week Mexico
6 to 31 October, Mexico

The month of October sees Design Week Mexico return to the country with the theme "design is the answer", and will honour the culture of Oaxaca as this year's chosen guest state.

The event will take place at locations across Mexico and online and span four main exhibitions, with participants including GG Architecture, Studioroca and ADG Workshop.

Design Week Mexico's 2021 edition includes a new feature called Design Market. This commercial platform will provide a digital space for designers from all over the country to exhibit and market their products.

Expo 2020 Dubai
1 October to 31 March, UAE

Despite being rescheduled to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai retains its original name and will run for six months in the city.

Themed Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai will exhibit work from 190 countries, including pavilions built for the expo titled Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

AGi Architects designed the Opportunity pavilion, while Foster + Partners created the Mobility pavilion and the Sustainability pavilion was designed by Grimshaw Architects.

Director Liam Young's Planet City film is being shown at Copenhagen Architecture Festival

Copenhagen Architecture Festival
7 to 17 October, Denmark

Attendees to Copenhagen Architecture Festival will experience a series of events including film screenings, debates, exhibitions and art performances under the theme Landscapes of Care.

Discussing architecture's impact on daily life, this theme aims to explore issues related to climate change and inequality at Copenhagen's annual architecture festival, which is the largest of its kind in Scandinavia.

Among the featured events is a debate about the longevity of architecture with curator Joseph Grima, and a documentary about architect Dorte Mandrup.

About Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.

The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks, as well as up-to-date information about what events have been cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Inclusion in the guide is free for basic listings, with events selected at Dezeen's discretion. Organisers can get enhanced or premium listings for their events, including images, additional text and links, by paying a modest fee.

In addition, events can ensure inclusion by partnering with Dezeen. For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide and media partnerships with Dezeen, email eventsguide@dezeen.com.

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