And Your WAF 2023 Winners Are…

It was less sunny than usual in tropical Singapore during the World Architecture Festival dates, but while it rained cats and dogs out, prizes and accolades poured in for a new set of countries (notably Iran), studios, and ASEAN comeback kid The Philippines, which brought home six honors after going home empty handed in WAF Lisbon 2022.

The World Architecture Festival culminated at the Gala Dinner held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, drawing delegates from across the globe. The prestigious awards, encompassing World Building of the Year, World Interior of the Year, Future Project of the Year, and Landscape of the Year, were unveiled during the sixteenth edition of the festival. The celebration also acknowledged Special Prizes, including the International Building Beauty Prize and Best Use of Colour Prize.

WAF winners

World Building of the Year

Huizhen High School in China, designed by Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group, clinched the World Building of the Year supported by GROHE. The campus, praised for its ‘efficiency-first’ design, was described as a ‘floating forest’ providing students with escapes from the burden of school.

Di Ma, Director at Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group, shared the inspiration: “We always try to explore the boundaries of architecture while making something that’s fun. Our focus was not just about designing a school, or working with new forms, spaces, materials, and facades, but about designing new school life and bringing the power of nature into the building. The building gives students a space to relax and relieve their stresses between their lessons.”

Paul Finch, Programme Director of the World Architecture Festival, expressed admiration: “We loved this building as it is unexpected, and delightful. The architects have managed to create a school which is very different to the usual model where students are boxed in and put under teaching and architectural pressure. By contrast, this design encourages, walking, fresh air and the possibility of reflection away from academic intensity. As the architects note, you are at your most relaxed when you are wasting time, but not wasting; instead enjoying walking to classrooms through a ‘floating forest’ with plug-in buildings and amenities, all with views of nature. Simple materials are deployed for a combination of the innovative and the everyday. There are elements in this project that could be used for schools anywhere.”

The winner was decisively chosen by a panel of distinguished architects, namely Sir Peter Cook of Cook Belacevic Haffner, Guallart of Guallart Architects, Richard Hassell of WOHA, and Albert Williamson-Taylor of AKT II.

World Interior of the Year

19 Waterloo Street in Australia, designed by SJB, claimed the World Interior of the Year supported by Miele. Described as “like a wardrobe for the architect himself to live in,” the residential interior stood out for its open and quiet oasis in the city.

Judges emphasized unique elements, stating it was “not only a building or an interior, but a pocket-sized tour de force.”

From the street, the facade is punched with a random set of openings, but once inside, these reveal a highly tuned stack of rooms. Judges felt that “these generated a satisfying alignment and play of light”. There are unique furniture pieces and a work of art that was commissioned as a catalyst for the project. Craft and detail are everywhere, partly as a result of using materials salvaged from other projects. Judges described this winning interior project as “not only a building or an interior, but a pocket-sized tour de force”.

The winner was chosen by a panel of global design experts, including Nigel Coates of Nigel Coates Studio, Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham Architects, Ingrid van der Heijden of Civic Architects, Friedrich Ludewig of ACME, and Anna Xu of Dyson.

Future Project of the Year

The Probiotic Tower in Egypt, crafted by Design and More International, secured the Future Project of the Year supported by ABB. The tower’s innovative approach aimed to repurpose obsolete water towers to address climate change, incorporating features like a bamboo plantation and algae bioreactor.

The winner was chosen by a jury of global architecture experts and academics, including Diogo Burnay of Dalhousie University, Issa Diabate of Koffi & Diabaté, Richard Maimon of KieranTimberlake, and Tracy Meller of RSHP.

Landscape of the Year

Benjakitti Forest Park in Thailand, designed by TURENSCAPE, Arsomsilp Community, and Environmental Architect, won the Landscape of the Year award. The transformative project turned a former tobacco factory into a resilient living ecosystem, reducing stormwater impact and providing wildlife habitat.

The winning Landscape project, as described by the super jury, “transforms a former tobacco factory into a resilient living ecosystem, now the largest public recreational space in downtown Bangkok.”

The winner was chosen by a jury of global landscape specialists and academics, including Lily Jencks of LilyJencksStudio, Henry Steed of ICN Design International, Professor Rafiq Azam of SHATOTTO architecture for green living, and Zhengxu Zhou of Tsinghua University.

Rifle Range Nature Park by Henning Larsen in Singapore, Boca de la Mina Promenade in Reus by Batlleiroig Arquitectura in Spain and Mayfield Park by Studio Egret West in the United Kingdom are highly commended in the Landscape category.

Special Prizes

The Philippines made a significant impact at this year’s WAF, securing three Highly Commended honors for Buensalido+Architects, WTA Architecture and Design Studio, and Dominic Galicia Architects. Buensalido+Architects also claimed the WAFX Prize for the Ethics and Values category for Pangasinan Barangay Centers. Pinoy representation at the winner’s podium reached new heights in WAF’s sister events, with the country gaining its first category winner at the Architecture Drawing Prize courtesy of Eldry Infante. The University of Northern Philippines showcased its excellence at the Global Student Charrette, triumphing over teams from the UK, El Salvador, and New Zealand for the top prize. This achievement comes a decade after Cebu’s University of San Carlos brought home the same honor.

The Philippines outperformed its ASEAN peers in terms of quantity of accolades this year; neighbors Thailand and Singapore shared two wins apiece, the former garnering the Landscape of the Year honor and the International Beauty Prize, while the latter netted two Highly Commended honors.

WAF 2023 Filipino Winners

Winner, WAF Student Charette program
University of Northern Philippines’ BALAY ARAPAAP
Winner, Architecture Drawing Prize, Hybrid category
(Re)membering the See Monster, Eldry John Infante
Highly Commended, Completed Projects, Hotel and Leisure
Kilyawan Farm Resort by Dominic Galicia Architects
Highly Commended, Completed Projects, Sport
FEM Stadium by WTA Architecture and Design Studio
Highly Commended, Future Projects, Civic and Community
Pangasinan Barangay Centers by Buensalido+Architects
WAFX Winner, Ethics and Values category
Pangasinan Barangay Centers by Buensalido+Architects