Plot Twist: The Surprising Narratives Shaping Today’s Mixed-Use Architecture

Call for entries: The 14th Architizer A+Awards celebrates architecture's new era of craft. For early bird pricing, submit by October 31st.

Today, mixed-use design isn’t just about having different functions; it tells a story. Contemporary projects communicate meaning through the careful integration of form, materiality and spatial experience. For example, cultural institutions display resilience and collective memory through sculptural and symbolic details. At the same time, performance spaces respond to their surroundings in ways that make them central to civic life and so on. Architecture in these examples becomes a living presence, shaping experiences rather than only accommodating them.

The seven winning projects of the 13th A+Awards, though mixed in context, reveal a shared approach to rethinking mixed-use architecture as a coherent narrative. They combine multiple functions into spaces. Material choices, cultural references and environmental strategies are incorporated together so that each building feels inseparable from its context. Together, these projects suggest that mixed-use architecture is no longer just about utility; it is a way to shape experiences, provoke reflection and create meaningful connections between people and the environments they inhabit.

PNE Amphitheatre

By Revery Architecture, Vancouver, Canada

Popular Choice Winner, Cultural (Unbuilt), 13th Architizer A+Awards

Currently under construction and set to be finalized by 2026, this open-air venue replaces a 1960s amphitheater with a flexible performance space accommodating 10,000 spectators. Central to the design is a monumental mass timber roof spanning 344 feet (105 meters) in a striking starburst formation. The amphitheater integrates with the park’s topography and is designed for year-round use, hosting concerts, festivals and civic gatherings.

The project’s architects are also providing visioning for the adjacent Festival Plaza and the daylighting of Hastings Creek. Contiguous to the amphitheater, the Festival Plaza will create a new urban heart for the park, featuring comfortable seating, public art, built-in festival and event infrastructure, and food trucks to support accessible programming throughout the year. The future creek along the plaza’s edge will enhance the natural and cultural setting, while the designed landscape will “capture and clean” the first 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rainwater within any 24-hour period and will be certified Salmon Safe.

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

By STORYN Studio for Architecture, St. Petersburg, Florida

Jury Winner, Commercial (Unbuilt), 13th Architizer A+Awards

The proposed new home for The Woodson African American Museum of Florida by STORYN Studio, designed as a 40,000-square-foot (3,716-square-metre) facility, will feature permanent and temporary galleries, an orientation theater, and community gathering spaces. Drawing inspiration from Afrofuturism, the architecture celebrates resilience, creativity and innovation within the African diaspora. Also, the structure rises from the ground with sculptural precast concrete panels patterned after Zulu beadwork, symbolizing heritage and interconnectedness.

Pak Phanang Wind Park Community Center

By Vaslab Architecture, Pak Phanang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Popular Choice Winner, Institutional (Unbuilt), 13th Architizer A+Awards

The Pak Phanang Wind Park Community Centre is a conceptual project by Vaslab Architecture, designed as both a renewable energy facility and a cultural hub. Situated on Thailand’s southern coast, the development features four wind turbines generating 10 megawatts of clean energy. Created as an educational and communal centrepiece, it includes an exhibition hall, conference rooms, a library and a weather research centre, all powered entirely by wind energy. The architecture draws inspiration from cowry shells, historically used as currency and adornment in local culture, with their flowing forms reinterpreted in the project’s sculptural design.

Additionally, the sectional study reveals the internal spatial quality, tracing a curvilinear line from the protective exterior shell to its core. The project emphasizes local material sourcing, using unique bricks made from “dintao,” or grey earth, found in Nakhon Si Thammarat, alongside locally sourced concrete and wood.

KSP Water Treatment Complex

By Omrania, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Jury Winner & Popular Choice Winner, Landscape (Unbuilt), 13th Architizer A+Awards

The Water Treatment Complex at King Salman Park is a proposal by Omrania that redefines sustainable infrastructure as an essential part of the public space. Currently at the concept stage, the complex’s organically shaped storage tanks are integrated within green pathways, with stone-clad walls exposed to create an engaging visual rhythm. In line with the aims of Saudi Vision 2030, the project includes sustainable water systems and energy-efficient strategies to develop a self-sufficient infrastructure.

Golden Beach Hotel

By 314 Architecture Studio, Paros, Greece

Popular Choice Winner, Hospitality (Unbuilt), 13th Architizer A+Awards

Designed by 314 Architecture Studio, the Golden Beach Hotel on the island of Paros features an organic form. The design showcases flowing, curvilinear white walls inspired by sand dunes and coastal rock formations. Large arched openings punctuate the façade, framing sea views and allowing natural light into the interior spaces. The building’s minimalist aesthetic is complemented by the use of local materials and earth-toned accents. The project’s spatial fluidity reflects the island’s windswept terrain, guiding guests through a sensory journey of calmness and continuity.

Al Yasmeen Mixed-Use Development

By Perkins&Will, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Popular Choice Winner, Commercial (Unbuilt), 13th Architizer A+Awards

Currently under construction, the Al Yasmeen Mixed-Use Development by Perkins&Will establishes a new architectural landmark through innovative site planning and contextual design. The project’s residential tower is strategically rotated 45 degrees, ensuring uninterrupted views for all units while enhancing daylight. This geometric alignment also strengthens the visual axis of the neighbouring retail corridor, creating a cohesive pedestrian experience. With a design emphasis spatial hierarchy and connectivity, the tower acts as a visual terminus, orienting visitors and residents alike.

Aramco Stadium

By Populous, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Jury Winner & Popular Choice Winner, Sports and Recreation (Unbuilt), 13th Architizer A+Awards

Currently under construction, Aramco Stadium by Populous is set to become one of the most advanced sports venues in the Middle East. Designed to host up to 47,000 spectators, also the stadium will host games for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The design takes inspiration from the fluid motion of the Arabian Gulf. The 8.6-million-square-foot (800,000-square-meter) masterplan includes sports, retail and public spaces, transforming the site into a vibrant urban destination. Aiming for LEED certification, the stadium integrates sustainable and inclusive design principles, ensuring accessibility and environmental efficiency.