The wonder of being dwarfed brings young and old together in this public sculptural installation in Singapore.

Cover and above: Finbarr Fallon

Bringing home a rare platinum score of 9.18, Iwagumi Air Scape was loved uninanimously by the July jury, who delighted in its beauty and playfulness. The giant inflatable rock garden, submitted in the Exhibition category by Eness, works on several levels depending how near or far away you are to the installation. Up close, even adults look completely miniscule against the backdrop of the giant inflatable structures. Zoom out to include the Singapore skyline, however, and what looked before to be massive boulders are reduced to small pebbles. The jurors were impressed with the studio’s use of contrast and scale, and that the project suceeded in bringing out a sense of play in passers-by both young and old.

Photo: Ema Peter

July’s first honourable mention, the Portland International Airport, New Main Terminal came in tight second with another platinum score of 9.04 in the category of Mobility Space. ZGF Architects pulls off an impressive feat with a project of this magnitude and scale, executed with a deep sense of integrity to boot. From sourcing timber from smaller contractors within a 480-kilometre radius of the airport – and awarding contracts to small landowners, tribal groups and community forests – to assembling components on the tarmac and reusing parts of the existing terminal, the impact of each step in the execution process was carefully considered. The resulting terminal is packed with plants and natural textures, providing travellers with a rare sense of place, beauty and restfulness.

 Photo: Asier Rua

Colab, Lucas Muñoz Muñoz’s collaboration with Sancal, transforms a portion of the historical office building by Anonio Lamela at 34 O’Donnell street in Madrid. A strict circular ethos was applied to all the materials being removed in the renovation: anything that couldn’t be recycled must be used in the office design. The result is a stylish office that transformed what would normally be considered construction waste into features of its design. The project, submitted in the executional category Material, was awarded an overall score of 8.84.

Photo: Pedro Mascaro

July’s third runner-up comes close behind with a score of 8.81 in the Cultural Space category. The lives of the 272 people killed in a 2019 dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil are commemorated at Memorial Brumadinho by Gustavo Penna Architects and Associates. Located at the site of the failed dam, it functions both as a public memorial and the location where the remains of the dead are interred. The space combines a museum-like section with photographs and stories about the lives of the dead with outdoor spaces for contemplation and mourning.

 Photo: Alex Kurunis

StudioXAG got creative when the opening of a central London IKEA store got delayed, transforming the empty space into a tongue-in-cheek boutique centred around the brand’s iconic 75p Frakta bag. Receiving an overall score of 8.76 for the two categories Pop-Up Store and the executional category Colour, IKEA's Hus of Frakta framed the bag as a fashion item, creating online buzz. Among playful touches like a hall of mirrors and a human cotton candy dispenser, patch designs contributed by students from Central Saint Martins stand out.