CNN: The world of architecture is anticipating a futuristic factory and the tallest building in Africa this year

HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd., new parliament building in Delhi

Washington - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of new buildings and the completion of ongoing architectural projects have been delayed worldwide. Some buildings that were originally supposed to be completed last year or even in 2020 are still waiting to open. Nevertheless, this year at least promises, for now, the completion of several long-awaited projects - from the tallest skyscraper on the African continent to a futuristic bottled water facility in Italy, writes the news server CNN.

Whether they are remarkable for their design, potential cultural impact, or the debates they spark, here is a selection from the ranking of new architectural projects that are worth looking forward to this year:

SYDNEY MODERN PROJECT - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

The 19th-century Art Gallery of New South Wales, perched above Port Jackson, is set to be modernized this year into a series of cascading pavilions that mirror the surrounding landscape. The $250 million (5.4 billion CZK) plan titled Sydney Modern Project involves the renovation of the original building and the creation of an entirely new structure that will nearly double the exhibition space. The resulting space will also include a gallery dedicated to the art of Australians and the indigenous peoples of the Torres Strait Islands. This is the first Australian building designed by the Japanese architectural office SANAA, led by Pritzker Prize winners Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa.

SAN PELLEGRINO HEADQUARTERS - BERGAMO, ITALY

The Danish architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) won the competition to renovate and expand the headquarters of Italian beverage company San Pellegrino in 2017. The $102 million (2.2 billion CZK) project, wedged between the Brembo River and the town of San Pellegrino Terme, after which the company is named, has earned the nickname "factory of the future".

The building is intended to serve as both a bottling facility and a tourist attraction. BIG's airy design incorporates elements of classic Italian architecture, including porticos, colonnades, and a spacious square for employees and visitors. A key feature of the site will be a column made of layers of different rocks, meant to represent the journey of mineral water from the mountains to the bottle.

ICONIC TOWER - NEW ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL, EGYPT

Iconic Tower is one of 18 skyscrapers planned for the financial district of the new Egyptian capital, which authorities are building from scratch less than 50 kilometers east of Cairo. The 80-story skyscraper, standing 384 meters tall, is intended to be the visual centerpiece of the entire project. Upon completion, it will earn the title of the tallest building in Africa.

The skyscraper was inspired by ancient obelisks in Luxor and will feature a lit crown that, according to the designers, will evoke a sense of power and stability. The building will primarily house private offices, although the Egyptian government will also relocate its parliament and ministries to the new and ambitious city.

FOTOGRAFISKA - BERLIN, GERMANY

Three decades after squatters occupied the dilapidated building of a former Berlin department store and established the alternative art center Tacheles, it will become the German base for the photography museum Fotografiska. Two architectural studios are responsible for the delicate modernization - Herzog & de Meuron, the creators of the Tate Modern gallery in London, are taking on the extensive roof extension and urban planning of the surroundings. The Berlin-based Studio Aisslinger was tasked with redesigning the interior of the 114-year-old building, which will retain graffiti from the 1990s left by previous occupants.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING - DELHI, INDIA

The $1.8 billion (39 billion CZK) project by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to completely transform the historic center of Delhi and has long been a subject of heated debate in India. While critics question the cost of the project and its timing, others point out the need to modernize Indian administrative buildings dating back to British colonial rule.

The new parliament building lies at the heart of an entire district that is being developed according to the plan of the architectural firm HCP. The building, with a triangular floor plan referencing the sacred geometry of several religions, will house two horseshoe-shaped halls for both the lower and upper houses of parliament, and a separate hall will display the Indian constitution.

The construction, which has gained notoriety for its status as "essential service" (allowing work to continue even during last year's nationwide COVID-19 lockdown), is expected to be completed by the end of this year, in which India will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its independence from Britain.