OpenBIM Newsletter #202506

Words from the Editor

The Architizer A+Awards — recognized as the world's largest awards program for architecture and spaces — aims to "nurture appreciation for meaningful architecture worldwide and champion the designers behind great buildings." Its mission includes granting global recognition to winning projects and firms, reaching an audience of over 400 million. In this issue, we spotlight select 2025 award winners.

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Joshua SO

Editor, OpenBIM Newsletter

Xi'an Centre Culture Business District (CCBD)

By Heatherwick Studio | Best of the Year > Architectural Design > Popular Choice Winner

The Xi'an Centre Culture Business District (CCBD) is located south of the city's historic centre between the ruins of the Temple of Heaven and the prominent Shaanxi TV tower. The district blends a retail podium with walkable streets, terraces and open plazas, offices, apartments, accommodation, green spaces, and a vertical park.

Ceramics are at the heart of the 155,000m² neighbourhood, with crafted tiles cladding the facade, columns and curving beams, a nod to the ancient capital's famous Terracotta Army.

The outdoor streets of the district converge at the central plaza where the Xi'an Tree, a vertical park, creates a natural gathering point. Standing over 57 meters high from the basement level the Tree offers views across the development with its varying levels of roofs, terraces and streets, as well as the city beyond.

Arghavan (Cercis) Commercial Project

By 13 Degrees Architecture Studio | Concepts > Architecture +Innovation > Popular Choice Winner

Essence: We believe that the Arghavan project should be examined as a practice in the realm of empiricism and tectonics. A formative state that occurs in the field of human lived experiences, techniques, time, materials from nature, and forces, and ultimately enters an aesthetic life as something creative and new. An evolution that begins with forgotten techniques like wicker weaving and transforms it into a new, operational alternative that responds to the spirit of its time in architecture.

Zero-Carbon Origami Airplane— Shanghai Lin'gang Starry Sky Theme Park Visitor Service Center

By China Architecture Design & Research Group (CADG) | Built > Sustainable Cultural Building > Jury Winner

The "zero-carbon origami airplane" forms a simple and clear physical hint through the folding of the roof shape, echoing the theme of Aerospace Park; at the same time, the airplane-shaped folding roof serves as a substantial energy receiver, seamlessly integrating BIPV solar panels, which provide 107% of the building's energy consumption.; An open area beneath the roof can accommodate diverse urban activities, and the undulating ground defines different activity areas by different altitudes, including visitor reception, exhibition, conference and lecture area. the building's exterior interface adopts a fully open enclosure design to maximize Natural ventilation and lighting reduce air conditioning energy consumption. Effective energy consumption control, solar power generation, and other measures ensure zero-carbon and zero-energy consumption throughout the building's use and operation.

Vectorworks Architect 2025

By Vectorworks, Inc | Technology > Design Tools > Jury Winner

Built to showcase your skill and creativity, Vectorworks Architect allows you to sketch, model, and document in a fully integrated workflow with the world's most design-centric BIM solution. With superior 2D graphics, 3D modeling, and visualization tools, Architect is designed to deliver absolute creative expression and maximum efficiency.

D5 Render

By D5 Render | Technology > Design Tools > Popular Choice Winner

D5 Render is transforming the AEC industry as the first AI-driven real-time visualization tool. Seamlessly integrating with SketchUp, Revit, Rhino, and 3ds Max eliminates rendering bottlenecks. D5 redefines how architects and designers bring their visions to life by enabling instant photorealistic results.

The Pleat&Weave Collection

By Plyboo by Smith & Fong | Finishes > Walls & Wall Coverings > Popular Choice Winner

The Pleat&Weave™ collection by Plyboo® embodies a harmonious fusion of organic materiality and precise geometric design, celebrating the inherent beauty and sustainability of bamboo through innovative forms inspired by fashion and textiles. Plyboo® bamboo products are rapidly renewable, low environmental impact, and contribute positively to carbon sequestration.