we might not have been able to go out as much as we’d liked to this year, but that didn’t stop architects and designers from creating beautiful public spaces. from places to relax to places that bring communities together, designboom’s reader submissions of 2020 have showcased both intimate spatial experiences and big, showstopping architecture.

to mark the end of our yearly round-up, we take a look at some of the most extraordinary public spaces that have been submitted by our readers over the past 12 months. from a yellow cultural center in cairo to an elevated ‘microlibrary’ made from prefabricated timber in indonesia, we highlight the TOP 10 reader submissions of 2020 – public spaces.

1 – tall bookshelf arcs organize mesmerizing bookstore interior by x+living in china

image by shao feng

shanghai-based architecture firm x+living introduced yet another extraordinary bookstore design, this time situated in the city of dujiangyan, in the south west of china. the new store, with its mirrored ceilings and its tall arc bookshelves, generates a unique, mesmerizing environment where one can explore the wondrous world of literature and cultural heritage.

2 – levin packer architects preserves an original ottoman structure for sofia hotel in israel

image by amit geron

an old ottoman house in tiberias, israel, was transformed by levin packer architects into a 120-room hotel overlooking the sea of galilee. designed with respect to the history of the place, the brief for ‘sofia hotel’ included the restoration of the original structure and the addition of a new, contemporary building.

3 – dried palm tree leaves and local wood form roof of vacation house in mexico

image by rafael gamo

situated within puerto escondido, mexico, architecture studio anonimous presented ‘casa cova’, a vacation house sitting just 70 meters away from the coast. arranged on a site between the pacific ocean and the oaxacan mountain range, the residence is designed to accommodate two families, generating two different compounds of private rooms that connect through the common recreational areas.

4 – a 90 sqm rented apartment is converted into a park by DEVOLUTION

image courtesy of DEVOLUTION

on the 27th floor of a 50-story tower block in xiamen, china, DEVOLUTION rented a 90 sqm apartment and transformed it into a green oasis. located within a high-density residential area in xinglin bay, the artistic intervention brings back an essential part of public life – the park.

5 – SHAU forms an elevated ‘microlibrary’ from prefabricated timber in indonesia

image © KIE & team

designed by SHAU and prefabricated by PT kayu lapis indonesia, the warak kayu microlibrary was the latest addition to the urban landscape of semarang in central java. developed around passive climatic design and built entirely from FSC-certified wood, the new intervention not only encourages reading in a low-income neighborhood, but also serves as a live educational spot for timber construction techniques.

6 – ahmed hossam saafan builds a yellow cultural center in one of cairo’s most populated slums

image courtesy of ahmed hossam saafan

with the idea of changing architectural paradigms within one of cairo’s largest informal settlements, ahmed hossam saafan designed the dawar el ezba cultural center in the heart of ezbet khairallah. realized for dawar arts, which is an independent cultural organization based in the egyptian capital, the building intends to provide a place for community arts and social interaction, in addition to creating a vibrant new landmark.

7 – esrawe studio references samurai armor to design japanese restaurant in mexico city

image © césar béjar

esrawe studio carved out a new restaurant interior that brings a flavor of japan to the santa fe district of mexico city. situated on the ground floor of a commercial building, tori tori santa fe marks the fifth outpost of a line of renowned japanese restaurants. inspired by the ‘subtlety and sobriety’ of traditional japanese craftsmanship, the recent intervention transports patrons into a calm and serene atmosphere, swathed in natural and black-colored timber.

8 – kapsimalis architects builds idyllic ‘saint hotel’ into the caves of santorini

situated in the traditional village of oia, and boasting a prominent position on santorini‘s caldera, kapsimalis architects realized ‘saint hotel’. known for its rugged landscape that was shaped by an ancient volcano, the island’s cave suites have become a popular haven for tourists. this project saw the reconstruction of existing buildings on the cliffside to create an idyllic hotel complex in keeping with classic cycladic architecture.

9 – GBO’s inflatable ‘AIR cinema’ featuring a robotic ride lands in south korea

image courtesy of image bakery and seo jae gyun

to celebrate the 100th anniversary of korean film, GBO designed a temporary pavilion that invited visitors to watch a movie while taking a ride on a huge robotic arm. aptly titled ‘AIR cinema’, the inflatable and nomadic structure intended to offer people a traditional film experience in the age of digital streaming.

10 – NH VILLAGE ARCHITECTS designs a ship that provides the cultural experience of vietnam

image by hiroyuki oki

vietnamese design firm NH VILLAGE ARCHITECTS sets sail its latest project, nambinh ship, along the waters of the huong river, also known as the ‘perfume river’, in the hue city of central vietnam. designed to provide a cultural experience for tourists, the nambinh ship comprises two outdoor terraces on each end of the boat and a dining areain the middle. the shape of the boat takes form of a leaf and is intended to blend in with the surrounding landscape, creating parallels with the natural elements of the world heritage site.