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Panda Tower by Shanghai United Design Group

Dezeen Awards China 2023 architecture shortlist revealed

Dezeen has announced the 34-strong architecture shortlist for the inaugural Dezeen Awards China, which includes buildings by Trace Architecture Office, AIM Architecture and Thomas Heatherwick.

The shortlisted projects, which are in the running for awards in seven different architecture project categories, represent the best buildings recently created in the country.

Among the projects, which are located in 21 different cities across China, is a viewing tower at a panda sanctuary, the 1000 Trees shopping centre in Shanghai by UK-based Heatherwick Studio and an art museum in Tibet.

The shortlist also features an abandoned wooden home that was renovated with 3D-printed walls and the Dance of Light skyscraper by Aedas.

Dezeen Awards China 2023 shortlists revealed this week

The shortlisted projects were selected by a jury that includes architects Ole Scheeran, Ma Yansong, Rossana Hu, Garett Hwang and Ting Yu.

This is the first edition of Dezeen Awards China, which is in partnership with Bentley Motors. Following the architecture shortlist, the projects shortlisted in the design, interiors and China designers of the year categories will be unveiled throughout the week.

Above: An art museum in Tibet is one of the shortlisted projects. Photo courtesy of And Studio. Top: Other shortlisted projects include a viewing tower at a panda sanctuary

All shortlisted buildings are listed below, each with a link to a dedicated page on the Dezeen Awards China website, where you can find more information about the project.

The winner of each architecture project category will be announced at a party in Shanghai in December, with the seven winners competing for the title of Chinese architecture project of the year, which is sponsored by The Dalmore and V&A Dundee.

Read on for the full architecture shortlist:


Cactus House by Shi·Ye Architecture Design & Research Practice. Photo courtesy of Shi·Ye Architecture Design & Research Practice

Residential project 

Cactus House, Kunming, Yunnan, by Shi·Ye Architecture Design & Research Practice
House M001, Shunyi, Beijing, by Guò Bàn Ér
Erya Villa, Foshan, Guangdong, by Touchstone Interior Design
Hotel on Tile, Fangshan, Beijing, by Beijing Jimei Survey and Design
Mi Luo City Duan Wu Community Villager Relocating Project, Miluo, Hunan, by Zaozuo Architecture Studio


O · Power Cultural and Art Centre by Shenzhen Huahui Design. Photo courtesy of Shenzhen Huahui Design

Cultural project

O · Power Cultural and Art Centre, Nanshan, Shenzhen, by Shenzhen Huahui Design
Tibetan Thangka Art Museum, Lhasa, Tibet, by And Studio
Houhu·Contemporary Architecture Cultural Center, Changsha, Hunan, by WCY Regional Studio
Serrangel, Foshan, Guangdong, by ​​Ce-St Design Studio


Panda Tower by Shanghai United Design Group. Image courtesy of UDG

Civic project

Chengdu Tianfu City Planning Hall, Tianfu, Chendu, by And Studio
Shanghai Library East, Pudong, Shanghai, by Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Panda Tower, Chengdu, Sichuan, by Shanghai United Design Group
Yiwu Chian Wutong Yard, Jinhua, Zhejiang, by All Studio
Haikou Jiangdong Huandao Experimental School, Haikou, Hainan, by Trace Architecture Office


Traditional House of the Future by The University of Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of The University of Hong Kong

Heritage project

The Vanished Garden, Datong, Shanxi, by XJ Design Agency
Somekh Building Renovation, Shanghai, by Shisuo design
Yan Shan Art Museum, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, by EVOLVE
Traditional House of the Future, Guizhou, by The University of Hong Kong
Ruins Cave Garden, Dali, Yunnan, by ArConnect


NIO Delivery Center by Kokaistudios, Photo by RawVision Studio

Workplace project

NIO Delivery Center, Jiading, Shanghai, by Kokaistudios
Xixi Campus Phase 4 of a Zhejiang-Based Large Internet Company, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, by NBBJ
URBREW Craft Beer Mashing Workshop, Handan, Hebei, by Name Lab
Dance of Light Skyscraper Project, Chongqing, by Aedas
Hainan Energy Trading Building, Haikou, Hainan, by Kris Yao| Artech ​​


Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Zone Phase I by RSHP, Image courtesy of RSHP

Mixed-use project

Taikoo Li Qiantan, Shanghai, by 5+Design
Fairy Li (Chaichanglong Historic Area Urban Regeneration and Redevelopment), Shaoxing, Zhejiang, by SpActrum
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Zone Phase I, Shenzhen, Guangdong, by RSHP
HARMAY FANG, Shanghai, by AIM Architecture
1000 Trees Phase 1, Shanghai, by Heatherwick Studio


Miwo Hotel by AT Design. Photo courtesy of AT Design

Hospitality project

Sleeping Lab Hotel, Beijing, by Atelier d'More
Lost Villa in Simianshan, Chongqing, Kong_Architects
JII Chuan, Chongqing, by VARI Design
Moganshan B&B, Huzhou, Zhejiang, by SZ-Architecture
Miwo Hotel, Lishui, by AT Design

Dezeen Awards China 2023

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design in China. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent in China.

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