Each year, more than 2,000 architects from 60 countries around the world gather to attend the World Architecture Festival, which features the largest and most prestigious annual awards ceremony for the industry.
The festival took place October 2nd – 4th at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, which was also once a WAF Award-winning design. These 29 incredible designs were winners in their respective categories, which included Housing, Villa, and Office. Among the winners are repurposed public spaces, brand-new constructions, and even buildings that have yet to be started. Completed buildings were finished between January 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013. There is no time restriction on buildings in the “future projects” categories.
Check out some of the Winners
BEST IN HOUSING: The architects of this Los Angeles apartment complex restored and expanded on what used to be a YMCA in the 1920s.
BEST OFFICE: This Norwegian building is made up of five layers of offices stacked on top of each other.
Winner in Office category: “Statoil Regional and International Offices” by A-Lab, Norway
BEST IN HIGHER ED/RESEARCH: This UK building and its piazzas blend into the surrounding hillside, giving students a pleasant open space for studying and relaxation.
BEST IN DISPLAY: The new home of the Denmark National Aquarium is covered in 33,000 aluminum shingles and looks just like a whirlpool.
BEST IN RELIGION: This cave-like mosque blends into its surrounding Turkish landscape. The main part of the space is located below the canopy seen here.
BEST SCHOOL: The ground floor of this athletic complex in the Netherlands is completely transparent, making for an airy and freeing work-out experience.
BEST IN SHOPPING: This Swedish building contains offices, housing, and shops and has a publicly accessible roof with grassy hills.
BEST VILLA: This Singaporean villa is basically two houses in one, connected to each other by a passageway that looks like a folding camera.
BEST IN HEALTH: Located in Chicago, this 386-bed medical complex is the largest LEED Gold-NC certified hospital in the world.
BEST IN ENERGY/RECYCLING: This Singaporean building’s veil is able to simultaneously protect occupants from harsh tropical sunlight and provide great view of the park nearby.
BEST HOTEL: This London hotel’s beautiful inner courtyard brings natural light into the rooms and provides guests with a space to relax and socialize.
BEST IN SPORT: This UK building’s fluid design reflects the complex’s many swimming pools.
BEST IN CULTURE: This renovated art gallery in New Zealand, which won the award for World Building of the Year, mimics the surrounding hills and forests.
BEST IN HEALTH (future project): Inner courtyards will bring light into this medical center in Kuwait while still preserving the necessary privacy and security.
BEST HOUSE (future project): This spiritual site in Lebanon looks like a fallen boulder and will offer fantastic views of the neighboring forests and seaside.
BEST OFFICE (future project): The headquarters for this Turkish pharmaceutical company are made up of seven separate houses connected to each other by gardens or patios.
BEST LEISURE DEVELOPMENT (future project): Located on a waterfront site of more than 80 acres, this massive building in Singapore will house a wide range of sporting, entertainment, retail, and leisure facilities.
FUTURE PROJECT OF THE YEAR: This design, which is made up of five separate halls that flow towards the harbor, won in a design competition for the new National Maritime Museum of China.
Uniting All The Best In Real Estate ~Nino M. Gaetano~ 650.207.1986