James Turrell has been celebrating light for over 50 years. More than just an onlooker, Turrell has managed direct and shape space, using light. Turrell’s work somehow manages to give form to the formless and presence to that which surrounds us.

In theory designers can shift between typologies because ‘in theory’, design is a process that is not specific to one typology (ie. type of work, say resident or commercial, etc). This ‘process’, at its best, is universal (in that the ‘process’ is transferrable from project to project no matter the scale or programme). Most designers stick within their comfort zone though tend to get a little lost when crossing unchartered waters. Vincent Van Duysen crosses those ‘waters’ and sails over the horizon.

The strength of the best architecture is often in the purity of a simple idea executed to the clarity of its vision. Vo Trong Nghia’s work has ambition and yet that ambition does not get it the way of their values, focusing on sustainability, craft and community.

European architects (particularly German architects) flourished under schools like the Bauhaus and the principles emerging from this explosion of Modernism in the early 20th Century still define architecture today. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969, born Aachen, Germany) fuelled the ‘explosion’ with the ripples still being felt.

We think we know architecture. We think that architecture has a vernacular; it has a look, a typical approach. New York base architecture firm SO-IL, has created a new architecture, a language that is fluid, tactile and literally stretching boundaries.

In writing for Globescope, I wonder about the next story, who’s my favourite architect? What are my favourite projects? Who’s work is consistency excellent and pushes the boundaries? There’s all the usual incredible architects like Herzog & de Meuron or David Chipperfield or Neri & Hu but for some reason Swiss architect Peter Zumthor never seems to jump out like those other ‘profile’ architects do. And l am wondering why: his work is beautiful, crafted, expressive, consistent (over years) and l think the answer lies in the work. Like Peter Zumthor himself, his work has a restraint and modesty and in a world of people shouting for attention, Peter Zumthor stands in silence, letting the work do the talking.

Architectural and design media seems to focus on a dominance of European firms so it’s refreshing when there’s another face on the scene that represents a different perspective, different market, different context with different outcome. Neri & Hu are not new but their work remains as fresh as ever. Not singular in style, Neri & Hu continue to deliver work that is both challenging, diverse and at times, bordering on the abstract.

Of course there is no one favourite at Globescope but some are more favourite than others. David Chipperfield is one of those ‘more favourites’. But this story isn’t about David Chipperfield Architects but rather their once in a century, beautiful museum project in Berlin, the Neues Museum.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, a reflective stream. Rolex Learning Centre, a rolling landscape. New Museum, stacked mesh cubes. Moriyama house, a courtyard village. Japanese architects SANAA somehow manage to package complex ideas and distil them into an elegant outcome that walks that fine line between sculpture, architecture and play….and they make it look easy.

I know, I know, its not a competition. Its not about who’s the best, but…. Swiss architecture firm HDM (Herzog & de Meuron) have created another beautiful project that reinforces what an amazing design practice they are and have been, since being established in 1978 (by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron).