From daring cantilevers to dizzying helical staircases and hyperboloids, viewpoints are an opportunity to show off that some architects find irresistible. Here, we round up 10 lookouts where the architecture almost seems to compete with the vista. More about Ten viewpoints where dramatic architecture rivals the landscape
In this week's comments update, readers are discussing Herzog & de Meuron's transformation of the Titlis Tower in the Alps into a sculptural tourist attraction. More about "This is the best thing H&dM has done" says commenter
Architecture studio Herzog & de Meuron has transformed the industrial structure of the Titlis Tower in the Swiss Alps into a sculptural tourist destination with dramatic cantilevers and a panoramic viewpoint. More about Herzog & de Meuron transforms mountain antenna tower into "iconic sculpture"
Chinese architecture studio Büro Ziyu Zhuang has created Prairie Ark, a public gallery resembling a flying saucer that has touched down on grassland in Inner Mongolia, accompanied by a viewing tower. More about Büro Ziyu Zhuang creates UFO-shaped gallery in grassland in Inner Mongolia
Architecture studio HCCH has designed a doughnut-shaped viewpoint and pavilion in Huizhou, China, featuring oval openings and a concrete facade with a bamboo texture. More about HCCH Studio creates doughnut-shaped pavilion on Chinese mountain
Grass covers the domed roof of Pujiang Platform, a timber pavilion that Dutch studio MVRDV has added to an existing viewpoint in the hills of Chengdu, China. More about MVRDV crafts hill-shaped viewpoint in Chengdu from timber
A glass-floored cantilevering viewpoint features at Nujiang River 72 Turns Canyon Scenic Area, a project by Chinese studio Archermit that transforms a perilous landscape in Tibet into a visitor destination. More about Archermit creates "playground to pursue thrills" above Tibetan canyon
Architecture studio Atelier-r has completed Lookout Above Litomyšl, a viewing tower in the Czech Republic constructed from two long, narrow shipping containers. More about Atelier-r uses two shipping containers to create Czech Republic lookout tower
French studio Hamonic+Masson & Associés has completed the Monsieur Claude restaurant in Rueil-Malmaison, Paris, which is surrounded by a cloud-like sculpture made from 3,240 stainless steel tubes. More about Hamonic+Masson & Associés raises cloud-like restaurant on stilts above French square
Local architecture studio Puerto & Sánchez Arquitectos has completed Farrapona Geological Viewpoint, a looping lookout jutting over a mountain pass in Someido, northern Spain. More about Puerto & Sánchez Arquitectos adds looped lookout to Spanish mountain pass
In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a glazed pavilion with a stepped roof made of imitation stone by DoDesign studio in Chongqing, China. More about "Love the design idea, but fake rock is still fake rock" says commenter
Chinese studio DoDesign has perched the Drifting Stones pavilion on a rocky site in Chongqing, concealing a panoramic viewing area beneath a stepped roof of imitation stone. More about Imitation stone conceals glass viewpoint in Chinese valley by DoDesign
Chinese studio 3andwich Design has completed the Blue Insight Cave Space, a coastal viewing platform and events space in Fujian Province, China, that features cave-like interiors concealed beneath a large green roof. More about 3andwich Design tops cave-like coastal viewpoint with green roof
In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a bat-friendly watchtower overlooking a forest in the Netherlands by Dutch studio NEXT Architects. More about "Is the view worth the effort?" asks commenter
Dutch studio NEXT Architects has completed Watchtower Einderheide, a bat-friendly wooden lookout in the Netherlands with a curved cut-out that reveals a spiral staircase. More about NEXT Architects creates bat-friendly watchtower overlooking Dutch forest
Chinese studio Muda Architects has added a series of glazed commercial spaces topped with snaking rooftop walkways to the Lujiatan Wetland Park in Chengdu. More about Muda Architects punctures sinuous retail centre in China with double-helix viewpoint
Fabric canopies stretched over textured walls are intended to evoke the tents of the nomadic Bedouin people at this trio of viewpoints, designed by UK practice Clover Studio at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra in Saudi Arabia. More about Bedouin tents inform AlUla desert lookout points by Clover Studio
A series of viewpoints clad in charred-timber shingles have been perched throughout the largest nature park in Copenhagen by Danish studios LYTT Architecture and ADEPT. More about ADEPT and LYTT Architecture elevate lookouts within Amager Nature Park
The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Agenda newsletter features the reopening of the Thomas Heatherwick-designed Vessel viewpoint. Subscribe to Dezeen Agenda now. More about Dezeen Agenda features the reopening of Heatherwick's Vessel in New York
The Thomas Heatherwick-designed Vessel viewpoint in New York has reopened with steel mesh added to the exterior as a safety measure to prevent people from jumping from its platforms. More about Heatherwick's Vessel reopens with steel safety mesh wrapping its exterior