Hochparterre presented the rabbits in 2025.

Architecture and design shape our everyday lives; we are constantly confronted with them – at home, in our neighbourhood, at work and in our leisure time. And the projects we encounter are not always a feast for the eyes. With the aim of improving the quality of public buildings and design, Hochparterre magazine awards gold, silver and bronze rabbits to the “best” solutions in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and design every year.

The Best in Architecture, Design and Landscape Architecture and the Kaninchen – Senn Award for Young Architecture – are on display at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich until 4 January.

Why Hochparterre holds this competition.

The unifying theme for the “Best of 2025” awards is the public sphere. While the initial 70 nominations showed a balance between private and public tasks, the final ten winners (nine Hares and one Rabbit) reflect a significant shift: seven of the awarded projects address public spaces or public interests – a record high. This highlights a clear focus on design responsibility and civic spirit rather than purely formal excellence.

In this context, “public” is defined as spaces or objects accessible to everyone without barriers, cost, or permission. The jury prioritized projects that are eco-socially effective, exemplary, and process-oriented. Furthermore, the text underscores the vital role of journalism as a critical companion. Its purpose is to translate expert discourse in architecture and design into accessible content, thereby fostering societal relevance and contributing to democratic debate.

The “Hasen 2025” in gold, silver and bronze, as well as the “Kaninchen 2025”

Here are the winners (Hasen) in the three categories, as well as the “Kaninchen”:

Architecture

This category has a particularly strong focus on public institutions and infrastructure.

Hase in Gold: Zurich Children’s Hospital
Architecture: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel.