The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has unveiled its much-anticipated shortlist of 63 projects for the inaugural Asia Pacific Awards, recognising architectural excellence across the diverse and rapidly growing region. This new awards program marks a significant milestone in RIBA’s international expansion, designed to showcase transformative, innovative, and socially impactful buildings and concepts in the Asia Pacific region.
The shortlisted projects span ten new thematic categories—departing from traditional typologies—including Adaptive Reuse, AI Powered Design, Design for Living, Future Projects, Mixed Use, RIBA Member, Social Architecture, Sustainability and Resilience, Temporary Architecture, and Urban Regeneration. Notably, categories such as Future Projects, Temporary Architecture, and AI-Powered Design will debut for the very first time, reflecting the shifts in the design process and how the built environment for the current and future generations will evolve.
Chris Williamson, RIBA President, said: “The inaugural Asia Pacific Awards celebrate the incredible diversity and creativity of architecture across the region. These projects show how design can respond to complex social, cultural, and environmental challenges, from revitalising communities and preserving heritage, to pioneering sustainable and technologically innovative solutions. They demonstrate the power of architecture to connect people, strengthen identity, and create inclusive, resilient places for future generations.”
All shortlisted architects will be invited to present their work before a high-profile jury at RIBA Architecture Festival Asia (RAFA). Winners of the Asia Pacific Awards will be announced on 17 December 2025. Category winners will be eligible for the prestigious RIBA International Prize, which recognises the world’s best new building.
From the 63 projects, eight projects are in India, shortlisted under the categories for “Design for Living” and “Sustainability and Resilience”.
Design for Living
Angan (Courtyard) House, by Sunil Hu’mane
Design for Living
Bandhan Residential School of Business, Kankalitala, by Abin Design Studio
Temporary Architecture
Darwin Bucky, Ahmedabad, by andblack design studio
Sustainability and Resilience
DY Patil Centre of Excellence, Mumbai, by Foster + Partners
Design for Living
HOUSE OF MEMORIES, Studio Gravitas in collaboration with Eleemente & Bodh Design Group
Design for Living
OH HO Residence, Bangalore, by Play Architecture
Design for Living
Parikrama, Nandgaon, by SPASM Design Architects
Design for Living
Sarvasva, Mumbai, by SPASM Design Architects
Spanning 13 countries and regions — including Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam— the following is the complete shortlist from other countries, and the categories in which they have been recognised.
Australia
- Northcote House, LLDS Architects, Northcote, Melbourne, AI Powered Design
- Sydney Metro Central Station Upgrade, Woods Bagot and John McAslan + Partners, Sydney, Adaptive Reuse, RIBA Member, Sustainability and Resilience
- Waterloo Metro Station, John McAslan + Partners, Sydney, Urban Regeneration
Bangladesh
- BRAC University, WOHA, Dhaka, Sustainability, Resilience and Urban Regeneration
- Zebun Nessa Mosque: A Spiritual-Social Space, Studio Morphogenesis Ltd, Savar, Sustainability and Resilience
China
- Alibaba Shanghai Campus, Foster + Partners, Shanghai, AI Powered Design
- Begonia Inn, atelier mearc, Chenzhou, RIBA Member
- Bridge of Nine Terraces, Scenic Architecture Office, Nanjing, RIBA Member
- Chaichanglong Historic Area Urban Regeneration (Fairy Li), SpActrum, Shaoxing, Urban Regeneration
- Changning Bamboo Culture Center, Tongji Architectural Design, Yibin City, Social Architecture, Sustainability and Resilience
- Chapel of Music, Vector Architects, Qinghuangdao, China, Social Architecture
- Dialogue with Nature—Commune STORE, Atelier Global, Mount Wuyi, Adaptive Reuse, Social Architecture, Sustainability and Resilience
- E.CO Rotunda, Dept Of Architecture, The University Of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Temporary Architecture
- GREEN HILL, Tongji Architectural Design, Shanghai, Adaptive Reuse
- Hong Shou Fang, Plus 8, Shanghai, Urban Regeneration
- Jingdezhen Taoxichuan Cloud Engine Energy Center, XING DESIGN, Jingdezhen City, RIBA Member, Social Architecture, Urban Regeneration
- Liangmao Village Renovation, NODE Architecture & Urbanism, Shenzhen, Urban Regeneration
- Lishui Guyanhuaxiang Art Center, Meng Fanhao / line+ studio, Lishui, Social Architecture
- Macau M8, The Oval Partnership Ltd, Macau, RIBA Member
- MixC, Lead8 – Architect, Nanjing, Mixed Use
- Nanya Middle School Library, CMIE LUO JIN STUDIO, Changsha, RIBA Member
- Qianhai Museum, SCUT Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, Future Projects
- Revitalization of Village Heritage in Yong’an Village, Tongji University, Dali City, Adaptive Reuse, Mixed Use, RIBA Member, Social Architecture, Sustainability and Resilience
- Rockbund, ROCKBUND, Shanghai, Urban Regeneration
- Rui Xue Multi-Hall, Tongji University, Chengdu, AI Powered Design, RIBA Member
- Seaside Pavilion, GN Architects, Zhoushan City, Temporary Architecture
- Shenzhen Energy Ring, Schmidt Hammer Lassen, Shenzhen, Sustainability and Resilience
- Shenzhen Lotus Culture Base, NODE Architecture & Urbanism, Shenzhen, Mixed Use
- Shenzhen SkyPark, Crossboundaries, Shenzhen, Urban Regeneration
- Songzhuang Micro Community Park, Crossboundaries, Beijing, Urban Regeneration
- Taoxichuan Ceramic Culture Industrial Park, Jingdezhen City, Adaptive Reuse, Mixed Use, RIBA Member, Urban Regeneration
- Tianfu AG Expo Scientific Research Office Building, LIU YI, Chengdu, RIBA Member
- Tibet Art Museum, Tongji Architectural Design, Lhasa, Adaptive Reuse
- Weishan Chongzheng Academy Bookstore, Trace Architecture Office, Yunnan, Adaptive Reuse
- West Wusutu Village Community Center in Hohhot, Inner Mongolian Grand Architecture Design Co., Ltd, Hohhot, China, Social Architecture
- Wetland Floating Campus – Supporting School in the South Area of Haikou Mangrove Forest, Vector Architects, Haikou, China, Future Projects
- Wiki World Island Cabins, Wuhan, RIBA Member
- Zero Carbon Cabin, Zhangshanying Town, Beijing, Sustainability and Resilience
- Zhuqueli: Historical Recontextualisation, AESEU, Nanjing, RIBA Member, Urban Regeneration
Indonesia
- Bamboo Dome for G20 Bali Summit, BIROE, Celsius Creative Lab, Pacto Convex, and Bamboo Artisans from Desa Belega BlahBatuh Gianyar Bali, Badung Regency, Bali, Temporary Architecture
Japan
- Futabasou Apartments, Masashi Miyamoto Architects, Tokyo, Design for Living
- Hanaju Renovation, MARU.architecture, Tokyo, Adaptive Reuse
- MONOSPINAL, Makoto Yamaguchi Design, Taito-ku, Mixed Use
- Soil Tent, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Future Projects
- Tenjincho place, Hiroyuki Ito, Tokyo, Design for Living
Singapore
- 21 Carpenter, WOHA, Adaptive Reuse
- CapitaSpring, CapitaSpring, Mixed Use, RIBA Member
- The GEAR, KAJIMA DESIGN, AI Powered Design
- The Reserve, MonoLab Studio in collaboration with Freight Architects, Light Collab & This Humid House, Singapore, Mixed Use
Sri Lanka
- Soul Studio Palinda Kannangara, Rajagiriya, RIBA Member
Taiwan
- The Blue, Tszwai So, Taipei City, Adaptive Reuse
Thailand
- O-NES TOWER, THAI OBAYASHI, Bangkok, Mixed Use
Vietnam
- Terra Cotta Workshop, Tropical Space, Quang Nam, Sustainability and Resilience
- The Grid – repurposing Vietnamese industrial heritage, Trung Mai, Hanoi, Temporary Architecture
Source: RIBA
