Dezeen has unveiled the sustainability shortlists for the 2025 Dezeen Awards, highlighting 30 groundbreaking projects from 16 countries that represent the forefront of sustainable design and architecture. The shortlisted projects, created by renowned studios including Hassell, Squire and Partners, and Morrama, are competing across five distinct sustainability categories that showcase innovative approaches to environmental responsibility in design.
The international scope of the shortlist reflects the global commitment to sustainable design, with projects spanning from Norway and Finland to Indonesia, Canada, and India. Among the standout entries is Finland's largest mass-timber building in Helsinki, an impressive structure utilizing approximately 7,600 cubic meters of spruce and ash wood. The building incorporates nearly 2,500 pieces of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber, demonstrating advanced sustainable construction techniques.
Other notable projects include a revolutionary plant-filled "terminal in a garden" at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, India, and a pair of meticulously preserved mid-century modern office buildings in London that represent exceptional sustainable renovation practices. The shortlist also features the world's first industrial aluminum product made entirely from 100 percent post-consumer recycled aluminum, marking a significant milestone in sustainable materials innovation.
The Dezeen Awards 2025, presented in partnership with Bentley, is revealing all shortlisted categories throughout this week. Architecture, interiors, and design shortlists were announced earlier, while the nomination-based Designers of the Year and Bentley Lighthouse Award shortlists will be revealed tomorrow and next Monday, respectively. Ben Saltmer, Dezeen Awards judge and head of lifestyle design at Bentley, praised the sustainability shortlist, stating, "The sustainability shortlist demonstrates a vast breadth of creativity. From new biomaterials to large-scale architectural renovations, these projects all grapple with the key issues of our age."
The shortlisted projects were evaluated by a distinguished sustainability jury including Johan Ejdemo, Caroline Till, and Fernando Laposse. The sustainable building category features six projects, including the First Building at Bradfield City Centre in Sydney by Hassell, the Intaaya Retreat in Nusa Penida, Indonesia by Pablo Luna Studio, and the təməsewtxʷ Aquatic and Community Centre in Vancouver, Canada by HCMA Architecture.
The sustainable renovation category showcases six exemplary transformation projects, including the Gorlaeus Lecture Hall Leiden in the Netherlands by Civic Architects, the Hedeskov Living Lab in Denmark by Djernes & Bell, and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security in Iowa by Neumann Monson Architects. The Space House in London by Squire and Partners and the Transformation of School Davos in Switzerland by Cura Architekten also earned recognition in this category.
Six projects compete in the sustainable interior category, featuring diverse spaces from the CoLab in Madrid, Spain by Sancal and Lucas Muñoz to the Symbolplus Office in Tokyo, Japan by Symbolplus. The category also includes the T2 Kempegowda International Airport Interior in Bengaluru, India by Enter Projects Asia, and the World Heritage Centre Wadden Sea in Lauwersoog, the Netherlands by Spring Studio.
The sustainable design category presents six innovative products that prioritize environmental responsibility, including Biota by Richard Hutten, the Kibu Children's Headphones by Morrama, and the Zero-Waste Disposable by Fotofoto. The Rícino C Series by Estúdio Rain and Zero-Waste MTTR Jean by MTTR also demonstrate cutting-edge sustainable product design approaches.
The material innovation category rounds out the shortlist with six groundbreaking developments in sustainable materials. These include Carbon Cell's innovative carbon-based materials, EconitWood by Additive Tectonics, and Freitag's Mono[PA6] Circular Backpack developed by Freitag Lab. Other notable entries include Margent Farm's hemp-based corrugated panels for the "Grow Your Own Home" project, Hydro CIRCAL 100R aluminum products, and Other Matter's innovative architectural surfaces.
The Dezeen Awards 2025 celebration party tickets are now available for purchase, offering nominees, winners, and industry professionals an opportunity to celebrate achievements alongside fellow participants and distinguished judges. This eighth edition of the annual awards program continues Dezeen's mission to inspire, support, and champion design excellence while showcasing innovations that contribute to creating a more sustainable world, aligning with Bentley's broader architectural and design initiatives including their home furnishings range and global real estate projects.
