What will future cities look like?

Will they be composed of flashy buildings? Or will architects focus on greater eco-friendly measures? These are the types of questions addressed each year at the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards, now in their 14th year. Situated in Cannes, France, the event provides a snapshot into the composition architects are envisioning for prospective projects around the world. 

Created by the Turkish-based firm Tabanlioglu Architects, the Astana Train Station is situated in Kazakhstan's capital city. The structure, which is being built using lightweight steel, will be an open-air space that links the station to its surrounding urban activities, such as a nearby park. Currently under construction, the station is expected to be completed by 2017.

Built along a volcanic coastal cliff, the Fuente Santa Hot Spring Baths in La Palma, Spain, was designed to ensure that minimal damage would be caused to its surroundings. As such, Spanish-based firm GPY Arquitectos devised a horizontal building that was low to the ground, blending into its natural environment. Even the spa’s rooftop, seen from the cliffs above, echoes the setting, with a textured material meant to evoke melting volcanic soil.

Designed by the London firm Atkins, the Viceroy Dubai Jumeirah in Dubai will be a $600 million, 60-story skyscraper. The mixed-use tower will be composed of 254 apartments (33 featuring private pools), a five-star hotel, and a sky lobby that includes a spa, restaurant, and health club, among other amenities.

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society Station in Roro, was created by Swedish-based firm Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture to assist emergency personnel, who, at times, are called on to quickly venture out to sea when trouble occurs. Dispatchers can efficiently work within a shelter that’s deliberately made of wood shingles and other low-maintenance materials.

Brazil-based firm Ospa Arquitetura & Urbanismo has crafted a 230,455-square-foot sports campus for UFSCPA University. Situated in Canoas, Brazil, UFSCPA Campus Igara has a grass field roughly 100 feet above a ground-level facility filled with various courts. By using minimal space and building a more fluid and transparent expanse, the project aims to seamlessly add to the university’s amenities without disrupting the rest of the community.