Gardens by the Bay. Source Google Earth.

Rotterdam



Endless canals and picturesque houses. That is perhaps the most common image of Dutch cities. Rotterdam, however, has decided to dissociate itself from this traditional image and has embarked on a daring urban transformation that has captivated architects and designers from all over the world.

Named now by many as “the most futuristic city in Europe”, Rotterdam has become a “laboratory” for the exploration of bold and even controversial architectural projects. From bus stops to bridges and high-rise buildings, this city has left behind the destruction of the war, positioning itself within the most innovative cities in the world.



Singapore



Mega luminous trees, pools shaped like space ships and contorted buildings with vertical gardens. What looks like the setting of a science fiction film is actually part of the urban image of Singapore.

This city-state, considered within the group of "Asian Tigers" due to its almost miraculous economic growth, has been positioned on the international scene not only for its wealth, but also for its amazing urban development, which has made Singapore one of the new global capitals of architecture. From the imposing Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands , to the impressive Reflections , Singapore is a city where futuristic architecture knows no limits.





Mexico City



With more than 20 million inhabitants, the capital of Mexico is the largest urban agglomeration of the Western Hemisphere. This megacity houses great architectural treasures that were built over several centuries. As a sample of it, the Historic Centre with prehispanic monuments and colonial buildings is part of the World Heritage list

However, Mexico City not only houses a glorious past, but also new buildings and public spaces that give a contemporary atmosphere to the city. In areas such as Reforma, Polanco and Santa Fe, new structures are rising beyond conventional forms, like the award-winning Torre Reforma , the impressive Soumaya Museum or Garden Santa Fe , an underground shopping mall.









Abu Dhabi

Al Bahr Towers, AEDAS Architects. Photo: Photo: Inhabitat via Flickr



The tremendous growth experienced by the oil economies of the Middle East has produced a radical change in its main cities in recent years. The competition for breaking architectural records seems to have been concentrated in this region of the world, where skyscrapers boldly challenge gravity, taking structural engineering to ever more extreme limits.

Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, is perhaps less known than its neighbour Dubai. However, unlike its compatriot, this capital has preferred to depart from the race to dominate the skies and instead become a world-class cultural and technological centre, with buildings that stand out for their innovative design and not so much for their height. The opening of the Louvre Museum and other projects such as the Al Bahr Towers are a faithful testimony of this.





Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Photo: Photo: Jimmy-Zhang via Flickr





Warsaw





The capital of Poland is well known for the impressive reconstruction of its old town after the devastation of the World War II. However, this city also knows how to reinvent itself. With the economic growth of Poland, Warsaw is now a new core for investors and business, emerging new constructions that become visible in the urban landscape

After the end of the socialist era and hand in hand with economic reforms, Warsaw began a renovation of the infrastructure, seeking to give a more modern and renewed image to the city. Nowadays, projects like the Vistula Riverfront are the example that the transformation of Warsaw is still booming.





What other city would you add to this list?









Many cities in the world that stand out for their ancient architecture, for their medieval fortresses or for the richness of their baroque and neoclassical buildings. However, there are more and more cities that are standing out for their bold and contemporary developments, which have become increasingly recognized internationally. The following cities are part of this group of new “hubs” of contemporary architecture: