World Architecture Festival Awards Winners, Buildings, News, Shortlist, Architects

WAF Awards 2011 : World Architecture Festival Awards Barcelona

WAF Winner 2011 : International Architectural Prize, Spain

WAF Awards in 2011

2 – 4 Nov 2011

WAF Awards 2011 Winners

e-architect with various winners at the WAF Awards 2011:

e-architect directors Adrian Welch (left) and Isabelle Lomholt (right) with Norwegian architect Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, co-founder of architecture firm Snøhetta, in Barcelona at WAF 2011:
WAF Awards winners 2011 Barcelona - Kjetil Trædal Thorsen
photo © Marcela V. Grassi Morell

WAF Awards winners 2011 Barcelona WAF Awards winners 2011 Barcelona WAF Awards winners 2011 Barcelona
photos © Adrian Welch

e-architect at the WAF Awards 2011:

e-architect WAF Awards 2011 Barcelona e-architect WAF Awards 2011 Barcelona e-architect WAF Awards 2011 Barcelona
photos © 1:100 ; Isabelle Lomholt ; Marcela V. Grassi Morell

e-architect at the WAF Awards 2011:

WAF Awards 2011 Barcelona
photo of e-architect after WAF

2 Nov 2011

WAF 2011

Record breaking numbers gather for World Architecture Festival 2011

Festival showcases responses to ‘Difference’ and ‘Disaster’

Today marks the beginning of the fourth World Architectural Festival (WAF), the world’s largest, interactive architectural event, which is opening its doors to more than 1,300 delegates during the course of this week.

World Architecture Festival

WAF runs from the 2nd to 4th November 2011 against a backdrop of world renowned architecture in Barcelona. The city is now home to the prestigious event which has fast become a highlight in the architectural calendar.

WAF 2011 promises to be the most exciting yet with a plethora of seminars and keynote talks discussing the themes of ‘disaster’ and ‘difference’ by 35 inspirational industry experts. An exhibition of over 700 of the world’s most exciting architectural projects entered into the WAF Awards 2011 will be on display throughout the week and visitors will have the chance to watch architects from Japan to Jordan and Netherlands to Namibia present their projects to a panel of esteemed judges. An array of evening drinks receptions will also be taking place throughout the week.

Welcoming attendees this morning, WAF Programme Director, Paul Finch said, “The World Architecture Festival seeks to refresh one’s idea of why design matters, and remind us of the fundamental importance of architecture to culture. This year our combined entry is the biggest we’ve ever had and with over 60 countries participating, the Festival is fast becoming the United Nations of Architecture.”

One of the highlights of this week’s event will be a lecture by David van der Leer, assistant curator of Architecture and Urban Studies at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, as he presents his urban projects that explore ways of getting new audiences to think and act in cities around the world.

The festival also showcases an exhibition masterplanned by the festival’s curators- which this year examines the themes of ‘making a difference’ and ‘responding to disaster’. The exhibition explores the way architects have spearheaded campaigns that make a difference using examples of best practice from Japan, Christchurch, Chile, Brisbane and New Orleans.

Underpinning the Festival are the WAF Awards, the biggest interactive industry awards scheme which sees small-scale projects by individual architects compete against international architectural practices, on a global stage. Shortlisted projects present their ideas live in front of a panel of acclaimed judges and attendees and the best in each category will win a sought-after WAF Award. On the final day of WAF, category winners compete in front of an esteemed Super Jury, led by Michael Sorkin, principal of Michael Sorkin Studio in New York, that will crown one project the overall World Building of the Year 2011.

This year the 35 inspirational speakers discussing issues confronting architectural practices includes Sou Fujimoto, Principal of Sou Fujimoto Architects, David Mackay, Founding Principal, MBM Architects, Sangay Puri, Principal of Sanjay Puri Architects and Pauline Nee, Associate Head of Historic Buildings at John McAslan and Partners. Discussions will review what architects can offer to support post-disaster damage assessments.

Barcelona Architecture Walking Tours

the e-architect team were at WAF from Wed to Fri

WAF Awards 2011 News

WAF Awards

2 – 4 Nov 2011

Media-TIC in Barcelona wins World Building of the Year 2011 at World Architecture Festival Awards

‘First time win for host nation’

‘Building a magnet for people with a whole range of ideas’

Media-TIC, Barcelona, Spain, designed by Cloud 9 based in Spain, has tonight beaten off competition from hundreds of buildings around the globe to win the ‘World Building of the Year 2011’ award at the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards in Barcelona.

Media-TIC Barcelona
image from architect

Media-TIC : World Building of the Year 2011

The presentation of the WAF Awards took place during the largest global celebration of architecture – the World Architecture Festival, which took place at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona (CCIB) this week.

The project was commissioned by The Consortium of the Zona Franca CZFB and @22Barcelona, an experimental district in the city. The architects were extremely interested in the digital city model based on information, communication and technology, with the idea of a city where what matters is knowledge, added value and patents. In short the objective was for the architecture to be in sync with the city’s values. The building is divided with large companies on the upper floors, smaller spaces for emerging companies below and the first floor features a cibernariun and auditorium offering courses and programmes to city residents.

The building was selected from 16 finalists to win the highest accolade in global architecture by a ‘super-jury’ of the world’s most influential architectural and urban designers, led by the distinguished Michael Sorkin. It is the first win for the host city.

Media-TIC – World Building of the Year 2011:
Media-TIC
image from architect

Speaking at the awards presentation, Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director said that the building was ‘a magnet for people with a whole range of ideas’. It won, he said, for the scale and degree of difficulty of its ambition, and because it was a symbol of an emerging movement in the city of Barcelona.

Also, he said, it opens up conversations of concerns about energy and sustainability and shows that when addressing issues of sustainability, architects should lead the charge and this was the project that has most taken on this challenge.

Providing a mix of large office space, space for start-ups and public space, the building has excellent green credentials. It targets and achieves the following:
1-20% CO2 reduction due to the use of District Cooling, clean energy.
2-10% CO2 reduction due to the photovoltaic roof.
3-55% CO2 reduction due to the dynamic ETFE sun filters.
4-10% CO2 reduction due to energy efficiency related to smart sensors.
Total 95% CO2 reduction, the Media-ICT is a NET building almost a net zero building.

World Architecture Festival

Enric Ruiz-Geli of Cloud 9, which designed the Media-TIC building, said it should act as a ‘seed for an environmental revolution’. He said, If it doesn’t happen, we will not succeed with our fight against global warming.’

Ruiz-Geli took to the stage with his entire family, saying, ‘This is what happens when you win an award at home.’ His nine-year old son, Iago, had chosen the green colour that dominates in the building, he said.

Looking at his children, Ruiz-Geli added, ‘These are our clients.’ He also praised the experience of WAF, bringing together architects from so many different countries. ‘I was amazed by the density of cultures,’ he said.

Finch added: “The World Architecture Festival is the world’s largest, live, truly inclusive and interactive global architectural awards programme. Attracting entries from internationally renowned practices to small local architects, the stellar quality of this year’s designs demonstrates their commitment to designing the world’s most exciting buildings. This year we’ve attracted more entries than ever before, with over 700 submissions from 59 different countries. Our congratulations go to Cloud-9 for a truly accomplished project.”
at the WAF Awards 2011:

WAF Awards 2011 Barcelona
photo © Isabelle Lomholt, 2011

This is the 4th year the World Architecture Festival Awards have been presented. Previous winners include ‘World Building of the Year 2008’ – Luigi Bocconi University, Milan, designed by Irish practice Grafton Architects; ‘World Building of the Year 2009’ – Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre in South Africa, designed by Peter Rich Architects of Johannesburg, and ‘World Building of the Year 2010’ – MAXXI (National Museum of the 21st Century Arts) in Rome, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Hanimaadaoo International Airport, Maldives, designed by Integrated Design Associates Limited was awarded the ‘Future Project of the Year 2011’ award and the iconic 76-story Beekman Tower at 8 Spruce Street, New York, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, won the ‘Structural Project of the Year 2011’ with the prize going to engineer WSP Cantor Seinuk.

The WAF Awards see unsung local buildings take on internationally acclaimed projects in what is the world’s biggest architecture contest. Unlike other architectural competitions, architects present their work in front of leading industry judges and a live public audience as they compete for the accolade of ‘World Building of the Year’.

The list of WAF Award winners are below:

World Building of the Year Award 2011
Media-TIC, Barcelona, Spain
Cloud 9, Spain
Media-ICT 22@ Barcelona
image from architect
The project was commissioned by The Consortium of the Zona Franca CZFB and @22Barcelona, an experimental district in the city. The architects were extremely interested in the digital city model based on information, communication and technology, with the idea of a city where what matters is knowledge, added value and patents.

WAF Future Project of the Year Award 2011
Hanimaadaoo International Airport, Maldives
Integrated Design Associates Limited, Hong Kong
Hanimaadhoo Airport
picture from architect
The new airport, designated as the country’s second international gateway, is located on an island with very limited land mass for an international airport of this size. With airfield infrastructure consuming nearly all the available land the concept of a “floating terminal” has been selected by the Maldivian Government for its innovative, exciting and eco-friendly approach. The proposed terminal is built entirely on stilts over water without reclamation to preserve the existing environment and the natural coastline.

WAF Structural Project of the Year 2011
8 Spruce Street – Beekman Tower, New York, USA
WSP Cantor Seinuk
Ripple Building Manhattan
photo : dbox
The 867 ft, 76-story Beekman Tower, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, is New York City’s tallest residential tower. Located in the middle of the block bounded by Nassau, Beekman, Spruce and Gold Streets, just south of the Brooklyn Bridge, the 1.1 million SF mixed-use building has redefined the skyline of Downtown Manhattan. It is a reinforced concrete building and the structure is composed of cast-in-place, concrete flat plate floors supported by reinforced concrete columns and shear walls. The 5 to 6 ft deep mat foundation is supported on 18” diameter concrete encased steel piles and also various capacity drilled caissons adjacent to an MTA subway tunnel.

WAF Awards venue:

CCIB Building, Diagonal Mar, Barcelona, Spain
WAF Awards venue
photo © Adrian Welch, 2011
WAF Awards venue : CCIB Barcelona

Winners by category online – follow the 3 links below:

WAF Awards 2011 – Part 1a
World Architecture Festival Awards 2011 1a – Built Projects Shortlist Part A
Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion
photograph : Klaas Van Ommeren

WAF Awards 2011 – Part 1b
WAF Awards Shortlist 2011 Part 1b – Built Projects Shortlist Part B
Sainsbury Laboratory Building
photograph © Hufton+Crow

WAF Awards 2011 – Part 2
WAF Awards Shortlist 2011 Part 2 – Future Projects Shortlist
Wadi Rum Jordan
image from architect

2 Oct 2011

WAF Awards – Building News

World Architecture Festival 2011

A theatre made of straw in Estonia, a soccer school in Soweto, a tree hotel in Sweden, a bamboo office in India and a moving gallery in New York are among the 281 projects that have been announced today in the shortlist of the world’s biggest architecture competition – the World Architecture Festival Awards 2011 (WAF Awards).

Now in its fourth year, the competition attracted its highest number of entries to date with 704 entries from 59 different countries and, for the first time, architecture and design enthusiasts will get the opportunity to have their say on which project should be crowned as the World Building of the Year 2011.

WAF Award entries span the globe from as far south as Tasmania to the Arctic Circle in Norway with new countries such as Libya, Haiti and Cambodia appearing alongside the USA, UK, Australia, China, Japan, Spain, and Scandinavia, which all have significant presence on the shortlist.

Projects entered this year, against a backdrop of a challenging economic climate, highlight the continuing need for innovative buildings that use materials and construction techniques which are sympathetic to practical, aesthetic and economical factors.

Buildings designed by renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid and Foster + Partners feature among buildings by smaller/ lesser known practices. Each practice will compete as equals when presenting their designs live to international judging panels and Festival delegates at World Architecture Festival in Barcelona from 2nd to 4th November 2011.

A distinguished Super Jury, headed up in 2011 by Michael Sorkin, principal of Michael Sorkin Studio New York, will unite for the Festival finale and cast their vote to decide which project will be crowned World Building of the Year 2011.

New for WAF 2011 is the introduction of the OpenBuildings People’s Choice Award which is being supported by OpenBuildings.com. The OpenBuildings People’s Choice Award provides architecture and design enthusiasts with an opportunity to express their opinions and is the first major award where the public and not just industry insiders vote for the building they think deserves to win. The public can compare their choices to the opinions of some of the world’s most regarded architects to determine the winner of OpenBuildings People’s Choice Award.

To view the shortlisted projects, cast your vote and provide comments, visit: http://openbuildings.com/peoples_choice/waf/leaderboard. Votes can be cast by selecting the Facebook ‘like’ icon on the project page or by downloading the OpenBuilding mobile app from iTunes. The closing date for casting votes in the OpenBuildings People’s Choice Award is October 28, 2011, when the top three projects will be debated and the final winner announced live at WAF in November.

Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: “The WAF Awards celebrate architectural excellence the world over and allow architects to showcase their talent and their unique responses to the ever-changing economic climate. There is now an increasing need for innovative approaches to architecture, inspiring architects and designers to think in new ways about buildings. It’s encouraging that the quality of this year’s entries is the highest we’ve ever seen and we look forward to seeing which projects both the judges select as the winners.”

The awards are divided into three main sections: Completed Buildings, Structural Design, and Future Projects (for designs in progress). Each section includes up to 16 categories. Every project entered into the WAF Awards will be showcased in the Festival gallery for delegates, architects, clients and critics to view.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the festival visit: www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

24 Jun 2011

World Architecture Festival announces head of ‘super-jury’

Michael Sorkin to lead WAF Awards Jury

WAF Awards Jury Head

World Architecture Festival (WAF) has confirmed Michael Sorkin will head-up the ‘super-jury’ at this year’s WAF Awards, to determine which building, from entries across the globe, will be crowned with the ultimate prize – ‘World Building of the Year 2011’.

Sorkin is principal of the Michael Sorkin Studio in New York City and one of the most influential architectural and urban designers practising today, making him ideally placed to lead the super-jury. Recent projects include planning and design for a highly sustainable city of 300,000 near Wuhan in China, a 5000-unit community in Penang, Malaysia, master planning for the Zha Bei district in Shanghai and the design of a town of 40,000 on the Black Sea in Turkey.

Architects have just one week left to submit projects into the WAF Awards; all entries close on the 1st July.

Joining Sorkin on the super-jury will be: Ben van Berkel, Co-founder of UNStudio, Rotterdam; Jo Noero, Principal of Noero Wolff Architects, Cape Town; Odile Decq, Principal of ODBC, Paris; and Professor Kongjian Yu, Principal of Turenscape, Beijing, a double category winner in previous WAF awards.

The super-jury has the enviable task of deciding which project will lift a prestigious WAF Award on the final day of the World Architecture Festival, taking place at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona (CCIB) from 2nd – 4th November 2011.

Praising Michael’s appointment, Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: “Michael is a fantastically thoughtful architect and an excellent choice to lead the super-jury. The calibre of the five members of the super-jury is superb – their expertise will undoubtedly help identify those projects that are truly exceptional.”

Over 220 projects have already been submitted for this year’s WAF Awards – the only global architectural awards event where designers present their work live to an expert panel of judges and a live public audience.

The awards are divided into three main sections: Completed Buildings, Structural Design, and Future Projects (for designs in progress) and are held during World Architecture Festival. A series of keynote addresses, seminars, exhibitions and presentations run alongside the main awards programme, and every shortlisted project will feature in a grand exhibition during the festival. The deadline for entries is June 30, 2011.

WAF Awards Jury – Background

Micheal Sorkin’s recent projects include planning and design for a highly sustainable city of 300,000 near Wuhan in China, a 5000-unit community in Penang, Malaysia, master planning for the Zha Bei district in Shanghai and the design of a town of 40,000 on the Black Sea in Turkey. Michael has taught at the City College of New York since 2000 where he is currently the Distinguished Professor of Architecture and the Director of the Graduate Urban Design Program.

Ben van Berkel – the co-founder of Dutch based practice UNStudio. Projects include the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, a façade and interior renovation for the Galleria Department store in Seoul, Korea and a private villa in up-state New York. A keen lecturer, he has taught at many schools around the world and is currently the Professor Conceptual Design at the Stadelschule in Frankfurt.

Jo Noero – who established Jo Noero Architects in 1984, which became Noero Wolff Architects in 2000. He has completed more than 250 buildings, mainly in South Africa, and the practice has won national and international awards for architecture including the Ruth and Ralph Erskine Fellowship in 1993 and the Lubetkin Prize in 2006. Jo Noero was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2000. He has lectured and taught at many international and national universities and is currently a Professor of Architecture at the University of Cape Town.

Odile Decq – a renowned French architect and head of the Ecole Speciale d’Architecture of Paris.

Kongjian Yu – is China’s pre-eminent landscape architect and a professor of landscape architecture at Peking University. A designer, writer, educator and advocate of landscape architecture, Kongjian has been endeavouring to establish a whole new system in Chinese contemporary landscape design, from its practice, education and theory, to its public reception. He is the founder of Turenscape and the Graduate School of Landscape Architecture at Beijing University.

For more information on the WAF Awards and to purchase tickets for the World Architecture Festival visit: www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

10 Jun 2011

World Architecture Festival Awards 2011

UK entries pour in for the World’s biggest architectural awards programme

With just under a month to go until the deadline, entries from the UK are pouring in for the World’s biggest and truly global architectural awards programme – the World Architecture Festival awards (WAF awards), which takes place in Barcelona from 2nd to 4th November 2011.

Rothschild Foundation, Bucks
Stephen Marshall Architects
Rothschild Foundation
photo © Richard Bryant

Entries already submitted include the impressive Windmill Hill project (above) in Aylesbury, designed by Stephen Marshall Architects LLP for the Rothschild Foundation which has been entered into the Culture category and the Jestico + Whiles designed school in Stoke Newington, London (below).

Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form : Media Arts and Science College, London N16
Jestico + Whiles
Stoke Newington School
photograph © Tim Crocker

Architects have until the 30 June 2011 to submit entries and compete in the annual contest to find the best examples of world architecture this year. Every single project entered into the WAF awards is showcased in the festival gallery for delegates, architects, clients and critics to see at WAF.

Projects have already been submitted from as far afield as Norway and New Zealand and the breadth of schemes is only set to widen. Police stations, sports stadiums, hotels, private houses, museums, bridges, hospitals and schools have all been among the entries submitted so far.

The diversity of projects entered into the awards is as always impressive. From a church designed to look like a boulder on the hills of Acapulco in Mexico, a private family ‘Mash House’ in Australia, named for its mix of Victorian and contemporary design, and a concert hall designed to blend into a background of mountains in China, the WAF awards reflect the depth and range of global architecture today.

In 2011 award entries are invited into three main sections: Completed Buildings, Structural Design and Future Projects (for designs in progress). Each WAF 2011 awards section includes up to 15 categories in order to maximise the opportunity to enter. In the Completed Buildings section, a variety of project categories such as Learning, Culture and Office allows a huge range of projects to be eligible for entry. The Structural Design Section covers a variety of materials used such as glass, timber and masonry, whilst the Future Projects section encourages an assortment of pipeline plans to be entered, such as masterplanning, commercial and landscape. There are a total of 38 awards to be won.

Projects completed between 1 Jan 2010 and 1 Jun 2011 are eligible to be entered into Completed Buildings and Structural Designs, while future project designs must have been started after January 2010.

The WAF awards are renowned for their highly innovative format which allows a range of entrants, from leading global architectural firms to small practices (unknown outside their own country), to compete as equals on a global stage for a prestigious industry award. Over 500 entries were received last year from more than 55 different countries.

Shortlisted entrants are invited to present their projects live to a critically acclaimed international judging panel, and delegates, during the World Architecture Festival, as they compete for one of the coveted WAF awards.

The eminent super jury will unite for the festival finale and cast their votes to decide which project shall be crowned World Building of the Year 2011. This year’s super jury comprises Michael Sorkin, principal of Michael Sorkin Studio, New York; Ben van Berkel, Co-founder of UNStudio, Rotterdam; Jo Noero, Principal of Noero Wolff Architects, Cape Town; Odile Decq, Principal of ODBC, Paris; and Professor Kongjian Yu, Principal of Turenscape, Beijing, a double category winner in previous WAF awards.

Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: “The World Architecture Festival awards celebrate innovative and unique achievements made by all manner of architectural practices and see unsung local buildings take on internationally acclaimed projects in what is the world’s biggest architecture contest. We have already received a plethora of exciting projects which makes for an interesting contest as the industry comes together to see which projects are worthy of a WAF Award – an accolade that is internationally recognised by architects and clients alike.”

The WAF awards are at the heart of the World Architecture Festival (WAF) and will take place at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona (CCIB) in November alongside a packed programme of presentations, seminars and exhibitions.

To enter the WAF Awards, please go to: http://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/

All WAF Awards entries must be completed by 30 Jun 2011.

Previous winners include ‘World Building of the Year 2008’ – Luigi Bocconi University, Milan, designed by Irish practice Grafton Architects and ‘World Building of the Year 2009’ – Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre in South Africa, designed by Peter Rich Architects of Johannesburg and ‘World Building of the Year 2010’ winner, MAXXI, National Museum of XXI Century Arts, Italy, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

WAF Awards entries are now being invited in the following categories:

Completed buildings
Civic and community, Housing, Learning, Culture, Landscape, New and old, Display, Office, Production, Health, Shopping, Sport, Holiday, Transport, House

Future projects
Masterplanning, Landscape, Infrastructure, Competition entries, Residential, Commercial, Cultural, Educational, Experimental projects, Health

Structural Design
Spans, Towers, Metal, Concrete, Timber, Glass, Tensile, Masonry, Composites/Synthetics

1 Apr 2011

World Architecture Festival 2011

Entries open for WAF 2011 today

All entries buy one get one free – plus pay for your entry in the first week and receive an additional €100 off your entry

Download our entry brochure for full information Dear Michael Swinson, WAF is an unmissable fixture in the global architecture calender, enter your best projects today to be at the centre of the largest celebration of outstanding architecture to take place anywhere in the world. “WAF 2011 is set to build on the incredible success we’ve seen over the last three years and be the most exciting incarnation of the festival to date. In 2010 we had more practices than ever entering some outstanding projects, with record numbers of entries from Australia, Singapore, Turkey, Brazil and India.

But this year we want to see more, so as a thank you to the WAF community for the support you’ve given us, we will be offering a free entry with every entry purchased. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to double your chances of winning a highly prized WAF award and receive recognition for the projects you have been working so hard on over the last year.“

Paul Finch, Director, World Architecture Festival

WAF 2011 : Entry Details – external link

24 Mar 2011

World Architecture Festival – WAF 2011

World Architecture Festival returns for a fourth year with a super jury of the highest calibre

World Architecture Festival (WAF), the world’s largest, live, inclusive and interactive global architecture event, is returning to Barcelona for its fourth successive year. And the organisers have today unveiled the super-jury, who will cast their vote on the World Building of the Year at the WAF Awards, which take place during the Festival.

This year’s super-jury comprises Michael Sorkin, principal of Michael Sorkin Studio, New York; Ben van Berkel, Co-founder of UNStudio, Rotterdam; Jo Noero, Principal of Noero Wolff Architects, Cape Town; Odile Decq, Principal of ODBC, Paris; and Professor Kongjian Yu, Principal of Turenscape, Beijing, a double category winner in previous WAF awards.

WAF jury members – Jo Noero ; Odile Decq:

Jo Noero Odile Decq
photo from FD ; photo : J.C. Bachelot

WAF is a key event in the global architectural calendar following the inaugural event in 2008, and has since has attracted more than 5,000 delegates from around the world.

Renowned as one of the world’s greatest cities for architecture, Barcelona will again play host to WAF which this year takes place from 2nd to 4th November 2011. The Festival will include a packed programme of presentations, seminars, exhibitions, and keynote addresses from international participants, and a student competition.

The WAF Awards, the largest architectural awards programme in the world, will again be at the heart of the Festival. Past entrants have ranged from renowned global architectural firms to small practices (unknown outside their own country). All compete as equals in presenting their designs on a global stage. The interactive format involves shortlisted entrants presenting their projects live to international judging panels and Festival delegates.

In 2011 the awards are divided into three main sections: Completed Buildings, Structural Design, and Future Projects (for designs in progress). Each section includes up to 16 categories.

This year’s talks progamme will focus on ‘Difference’, and how architects have responded to political, cultural, ethnic, gender, social and economic differences across the world.

The ‘Difference’ thematic feature and speaker programme will also include case studies showing how materials, construction techniques and software programs are making a difference to way in which architects think about design.

Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director said: “WAF is a truly international event. It is a unique meeting point for the architectural community to showcase projects, hear inspirational speakers and compete for a WAF Award. It brings together influential designers and provides an important showcase of what’s going on in the world of architecture, inspiring architects to think in new ways, not just about buildings, but about collaboration with clients and other professionals.

“We are delighted to welcome five valued and experienced members from the design community to form the super-jury at WAF and look forward to seeing the exceptional projects that they will be judging.”

Location: Centre Convencions International Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, western Europe

World Building of the Year 2010

WAF Awards Overall winner

MAXXI, Rome, winner of World Building of the Year 2010
MAXXI Rome
photo : Roland Halbe
MAXXI Rome by Zaha Hadid Architects

WAF Awards 2010 Winners

WAF Awards 2010 – Festival Events

Barcelona Architecture

Stirling Prize

Barcelona Architecture News

Comments / photos for the World Architecture Festival Awards 2011 page welcome

WAF – Website: www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/about_awards.cfm