WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL

WAF 2023 shortlist reveals most inspiring projects from around the globe

The shortlist for the 2023 World Architecture Festival (WAF) has been announced ahead of the live event which this year takes place in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands from 29 November-1 December. The shortlist celebrates the best new completed buildings and landscapes, as well as the most inspiring future architectural concepts across 33 categories ranging from residential, cultural and creative re-use. This year’s finalists range from major world architects including Foster + Partners, UNStudio, Grimshaw Architects, MAD Architects, WilkinsonEyre, Safdie Architects and Nikken Sekkei, while many smaller practices will also be on stage, live pitching against the big names.

The international judging panel for this year’s awards consists of more than 140 industry experts, representing 43 countries and will include Lily Jencks, Nigel Coates, Rafiq Azam, Albert Williamson-Taylor, Tracy Meller, Jason Bruges, Annette Fisher, Roland Schnizer and Issa Diabaté.

On the final day of the festival, category winners from across all 44 category prizes will go head-to-head for the ultimate accolades of World Building of the Year, Landscape of the Year, Future Project of the Year and Interior of the Year. A host of Special Prizes, including WAFX, which celebrates imaginative cutting-edge designs addressing major world issues, will also be awarded to projects from the main shortlist.

WAF Programme Director Paul Finch said: “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.”