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The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced the shortlist of projects in contention for winning the various categories of the award, which celebrates the best buildings and landscape designs, and the most innovative architecture around the world. The winners will be revealed in fall at the live event at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, scheduled for November 29 – December 1.
In its 33 competition categories, WAF 2023 attracted over 800 entries, which were narrowed down to a shortlist of 495 projects from 333 architecture studios around the world. The shortlisted projects for the prestigious annual award range from small sustainable shelters made of bamboo to huge steel and glass skyscrapers, renovation projects, and luxury residences.
Among this year’s finalists are international architecture firms such as Foster + Partners, UNStudio, Grimshaw Architects, MAD Architects, WilkinsonEyre, Safdie Architects, and Nikken Sekkei, as well as lesser known but still highly regarded practices.
>>> All the shortlisted projects for WAF 2023
>>> Find out more about the Church of Santa Maria Goretti, designed by Mario Cucinella
Now up to its 16th edition, the WAF is returning to the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore after an eight year break, the city having hosted the festival at the same venue in 2015. The international jury will include over 140 industry experts from 43 countries. Some of the biggest names include Lily Jencks, Nigel Coates, Rafiq Azam, Albert Williamson-Taylor, Tracy Meller, Jason Bruges, Annette Fisher, Roland Schnizer, and Issa Diabaté.
On the last day of the festival, the winners of the 44 categories will compete for World Building of the Year, Landscape of the Year, Future Project of the Year, and Interior of the Year.
“We are delighted with both the quantity and quality of this year’s entries. They are a reminder in a world experiencing numerous crises that architects continue to address both everyday and unusual challenges with skill and imagination. We look forward to seeing the shortlisted architects in Singapore”.
Paul Finch, Director of the World Architecture Festival
During the three last days of the WAF, the Inside World Festival of Interiors will also be held, a parallel event dedicated to interior design. This year’s Inside shortlist was selected from over 70 interior design projects in 11 categories, ranging from residential to hotels, bars, restaurants, workplaces, and public buildings.
Key names on the list include Neri & Hu, Atelier Tao+C, Woods Bagot, and Rapt Studio. But many up-and-coming studios will also be competing side-by-side with the big names.
The shortlisted projects include the InterContinental Hotel Sydney by Woods Bagot, in the heart of the city’s central business district; the New Version of Haidilao by Vermilion Zhou Design Group, the renovation of the famous international chain of hot pot restaurants; and the Entertainment Company Headquarters by Rapt Studio, an innovative workplace concept in a Los Angeles office.
The shortlisted public buildings include the Zikawei Library in Shanghai, the work of Wutopia Lab; David Chipperfield Architects’ transformation of a library into a new cultural landmark for the city; and the V&A Photography Centre in London, a new exhibition space with immersive galleries that represent the evolution of the idea of a museum dedicated to photography.
The Inside judging panel includes international industry experts such as Linzi Cassels of Perkins + Will, Vincent de Graaf of AIM Architecture, Simone de Gale of Simone de Gale Architects, Friedrich Ludewig of ACME, and Ingrid van der Heijden of Civic Architetti.
>>> View all the Inside World Festival of Interiors shortlisted projects
Thirty-four projects were announced as winners of the WAFX Awards at this year’s World Architecture Festival in the Future Projects category. WAFX 2023 has eight categories: Ageing and Health, Building Technology, Carbon Climate and Energy, Cultural Identity, Ethics and Values, Re-Use, Smart Cities, and Water.
The award is intended to recognize international projects that demonstrate an innovative vision for tackling today’s most pressing global challenges, including the use of smart technologies, the reuse of buildings, the climate emergency, and the problems associated with an aging population.
The overall winner of WAFX 2023 will be announced at the event in Singapore.
>>> Discover all the winning WAFX 2023 entries
>>> Capitaspring, a biophilic skyscraper in Singapore
WAF shortlist: unless otherwise indicated, images courtesy of WAF
Inside shortlist: unless otherwise indicated, images courtesy of Inside
Cover image, clockwise: Bamboo Dome for G20 Bali Summit by Biroe; Oman Across Ages Museum by COX Architecture; Angsila Oyster Scaffolding Pavilion by Chat Architects; Panda Tower by Shanghai United Design Group Co., Ltd
