Architects Carmody Groarke created this pavillion in Regent’s Place, London. The structure features a thin plate suspended eight metres above the ground on steel poles. LEDs bathe the structure in golden light after dusk.

The National Museum of XXI Century Arts, or Maxxi, in Rome was designed by Iraqi-born, London-based Zaha Hadid. Her previous projects include the twisting Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck, Austria.

This “Seed Cathedral” was constructed from 60,000 slender fibre optic rods, which draw on the daylight to illuminate the building’s interior. The structure was built for the UK Pavillion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

This cutting-edge house in Spanish Cove, Ireland was the recipient of one of the EU prizes. All 102 winners go forward to the shortlist for the 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize, which will be announced in London in October.