15 architectures that have transformed the suburbs of major European cities

Transforming an old gin distillery into an avant-garde exhibition space, the project combines existing industrial elements with new buildings, creating a dialogue between past and present. Milan has thus been enriched with a place dedicated to contemporary art, which has contributed to the regeneration of the entire surrounding neighbourhood.

The Canopée covers one of the main interchange nodes in Paris. With its translucent image, it identifies a new multifunctional space, integrating green areas, shops and meeting places. This intervention is so far the last and most recent chapter of a story of redefinition involving the very heart of the capital, stretching over almost half a century.

The Elbphilharmonie represents the heart of Hamburg’s urban regeneration. Herzog & De Meuron have transformed a former harbour warehouse into a world-famous concert hall, integrating it into the harbour context and creating an icon for the city. This project redefined not only Hamburg’s skyline, but also its role as an international cultural centre.

Factory International is Manchester’s new cultural epicentre, designed by OMA to host large-scale art events. The project regenerates a large urban area, offering flexible spaces for international performances, exhibitions and productions. Not only it redefines Manchester’s post-industrial landscape, then: it also positions the city among the global capitals of contemporary art.

Tietgenkollegiet is a university residence that embodies the principles of sustainability and social inclusion. Its circular design encourages interaction between students, creating a unique sense of community. Located in a booming area, the project contributes to the regeneration of Copenhagen, offering quality spaces for the new generations.

A project combining architecture and wellness: designed to offer a welcoming and serene space for cancer patients, the centre is part of a larger urban regeneration project. The building, harmoniously inserted in the Sant Pau hospital complex, contributes to transforming the perception of the treatment space, making it an integral part of the city.

The Guggenheim Museum is the symbol of  the "Bilbao effect", of a metamorphosis from industrial city into an international cultural centre. Frank Gehry 's spectacular building embodies a model of how urban regeneration, guided by art and architecture, can have an impact on the urban and social fabric. 

Tirana’s Pyramid, a monument bor from the orders of dictator Enver Hoxha, has been transformed by MVRDV into a new cultural centre. By renewing a symbolic structure from Albania’s past, giving it a new role as a space for innovation and creativity, the regeneration of the pyramid represents a powerful symbol of Tirana's cultural renaissance.

Tate Modern, the result of the restoration of an old power station, is now one of London’s most iconic museums. With their first project, in 2000, Herzog & De Meuron have managed to enhance the existing structure by integrating modern exhibition spaces, to then enrich the complex in 2016 with a new extension. This intervention has not only redeveloped the South Bank of the Thames, but also redefined the role of art in London’s urban life.

The Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre is an ambitious project combining a national library, an opera house and a vast urban park: this intervention has regenerated a degraded area along the Athenian coast, reconnecting the city with the sea. It aims at being an example of sustainable architecture, with innovative solutions making it a landmark for the urban future of the Greek capital.

A museum celebrating the history of Antwerp and its connection to the Scheldt River. This intervention has transformed the harbour into a vibrant and cultural area, creating a new urban centre. The building, with its iconic structure of stacked stairs, has become a symbol of a revitalized port area, stimulating its new economic and social development. 

Parco Dora is an example of post-industrial regeneration that transforms a former steelworks area into a vast public park. The project, curated by Peter Latz and LAND, preserves traces of the old industrial function, integrating them with new green spaces and pedestrian paths. Parco Dora has become one of the most known images of  Turin’s transformation, adding a major, new green lung to the city and becoming a meeting place for a multiplicity of communities

Renzo Piano's project has transformed a the historic heart of the port area into a public space, unprecedentedly open to the city of Genoa. New squares, cultural and retail facilities have been created in the waterfront area, while maintaining a strong link with the city's maritime past. This project represented a turning point for the city of Genoa, which has been given back a waterfront.

Amos Rex is a contemporary art museum that blends perfectly with Helsinki’s historical context. Designed by JKMM Architects, the museum features a series of artificial hills emerging from Lasipalatsi Square, creating interactive, public spaces. This intervention has redefined a central area of the city, merging architectural innovation with the existing urban fabric, offering new opportunities for culture and leisure.

MAAT has transformed Lisbon’s riverfront into a vibrant public space, combining art, architecture and technology. The building’s fluid design blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, creating a new meeting place for residents and visitors. This project represents an important step in the regeneration of the Portuguese capital, revitalising a historic area and strengthening the link between the city and the Tagus River.