line+NEWS
On the evening of September 10, the 2025 ARCASIA Awards for Architecture—the highest honor in Asian architecture—held its award ceremony in Incheon, South Korea. Fanhao Meng, chief architect of line+, received an Honorary Mention for his project Lishui Guyanhuaxiang Art Center. Meng was invited to attend the ceremony in person.
“A sensitive contemplative composition that frames new and cultural narratives using vernacular materials. It restrains design and guides local engagement.”
—AAA 2025 Jury Panel
The ARCASIA Awards for Architecture (AAA), established by the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), is an annual award that recognizes outstanding architectural works by Asian architects. It aims to elevate the quality of the built environment across Asia and highlight the role of architecture and architects in the social, economic, and cultural development of Asian countries. The AAA has become the highest architectural design honor in the region.
△ Group photo of the award-winning members from the Architectural Society of China
In 2025, the ARCASIA Awards for Architecture encompassed thirteen awards across seven major categories, including Residential Projects, Public Facilities, Industrial Buildings, Adaptive Reuse, Integrated Developments, Social Responsibility, and Sustainability. Each category typically presents a Gold Medal and an Honorable Mention.
The Lishui Guyanhuaxiang Art Center competed in the B-4 Social and Cultural Buildings category. As no Gold Medal was awarded in this category for the year, the Honorary Mention received by the project became the highest honor in its category for 2025.
At the same time, the project was also featured in the ACA-21 Exhibition of the 21st Asian Congress of Architects (ACA-21).
Guyanhuaxiang is a unique town that integrates art galleries, art education, ancient-town tourism, and everyday residential life. In the early design phase, the concept of operation-led planning was introduced, incorporating the town’s daily activities into the functional layout of the art center, resulting in high-efficiency public spaces.
By juxtaposing the institutional nature of the art center with the everyday life of the town, the design seeks a balance between modern artistic landmarks and the authenticity of lived-in environments. Strategies such as a central enclosed layout with open ground floors, multiple spatial scales, and hybrid functions were employed to foster this spatial and cultural integration.
