Warsaw museum among the best in the world. It will compete with gems from Qatar and Istanbul.

Warsaw's Museum of Modern Art has just been included on the prestigious list of the world's best buildings by the World Architecture Festival. What makes this building unique, and why is it so talked about worldwide?
In the heart of Warsaw, right next to the monumental Palace of Culture and Science, a building has emerged that doesn't attempt to compete. Instead, it attracts attention with its minimalism and architectural precision. The new home of the Museum of Modern Art (MSN) has just been recognized in one of the world's most prestigious architectural competitions, the World Architecture Festival . It has made it to the shortlist , or finals, where it competes against 107 other projects from around the globe.

It will compete with global architectural giants: Istanbul Modern by Renzo Piano, the Qatar National Library by OMA, and the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects. And yet, MSN doesn't pale in comparison.
A unique building full of controversyThe design by New York architect Thomas Phifer , created in collaboration with APA Wojciechowski Architekci , generated excitement from the outset. When the building opened in the fall of 2023, it was still empty – there were no exhibitions inside, but that didn't stop the crowds. People came simply to see it. To enter, to look, to photograph. This 20,000-square-meter concrete colossus was a magnet.

The heart of the building is a broad, sculptural staircase – a feature that has taken Instagram and TikTok by storm. Minimalist yet monumental, it leads to exhibition spaces covering a whopping 4,500 square meters. The exterior is a white architectural concrete. Inside, a play of light and proportions captivates like precious jewels.
The Architectural Prize of the Mayor of Warsaw , awarded to the MSN in the spring of 2025, sent a clear signal: this is more than a museum. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for the center of Warsaw. The jury emphasized that this is "the culmination of many years of effort and discussion," but also the beginning of the transformation of the square around the Palace of Culture – a space long undefined, now coming to life.
Miami is waiting for MSNWhat's next? The World Architecture Festival finale is in November, this time in sunny Miami. There, the jury will decide whether the Warsaw Museum of Modern Art deserves the title of best building in the world in the cultural category.
It's difficult to predict the outcome – the competition is fierce. But simply being on the shortlist is an event that demonstrates that Polish architecture is increasingly making its mark on the global landscape.