WAF 2023: World Building of the Year and category winners announced

Click to enlarge
World Building of the Year: Huizhen High School by Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group in China.

World Building of the Year: Huizhen High School by Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group in China.

1 of 32
World Interior of the Year was awarded to 19 Waterloo Street by SJB in Australia.

World Interior of the Year was awarded to 19 Waterloo Street by SJB in Australia. Image: Anson Smart

2 of 32
Future Project of the Year: The Probiotic Tower by Design and More International in Egypt.

Future Project of the Year: The Probiotic Tower by Design and More International in Egypt.

3 of 32
Landscape of the Year went to Benjakitti Forest Park: Transforming a Brownfield into an Urban Ecological Sanctuary by TURENSCAPE, Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect in Thailand.

Landscape of the Year went to Benjakitti Forest Park: Transforming a Brownfield into an Urban Ecological Sanctuary by TURENSCAPE, Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect in Thailand. Image: Supplied

4 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Civic and Community category: Taiwan — Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens by Chen-Yu Chiu and the team of Studio Cho in Turkey.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Civic and Community category: Taiwan — Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens by Chen-Yu Chiu and the team of Studio Cho in Turkey. Image: Taiwan - Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens

5 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Creative Reuse category: Kaomai Museums and Tea Barn by PAVA architects in Thailand.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Creative Reuse category: Kaomai Museums and Tea Barn by PAVA architects in Thailand. Image: Spaceshift Studio

6 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Culture category: Ravenscar House by Patterson Associates Architects in New Zealand.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Culture category: Ravenscar House by Patterson Associates Architects in New Zealand. Image: Johannes van Kan

7 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Display category: Turrell Pavilion by Studio MK27 in the Maldives.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Display category: Turrell Pavilion by Studio MK27 in the Maldives. Image: Fernando Guerra

8 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Health category: Victorian Heart Hospital by Conrad Gargett (now merged with Architectus) + Wardle in Australia.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Health category: Victorian Heart Hospital by Conrad Gargett (now merged with Architectus) + Wardle in Australia. Image: Peter Bennetts

9 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Higher Education & Research category: Boola Katitjin by Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley, Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency and Aspect Studios in Australia.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Higher Education & Research category: Boola Katitjin by Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley, Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency and Aspect Studios in Australia. Image: John Gollings

10 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Hotel & Leisure category: Lanserhof Sylt by ingenhoven associates GmbH in Germany.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Hotel & Leisure category: Lanserhof Sylt by ingenhoven associates GmbH in Germany. Image: HGEsch

11 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings House and Villa category: Veil House by 5468796 Architecture in Canada.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings House and Villa category: Veil House by 5468796 Architecture in Canada. Image: James Brittain

12 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Housing category: 547 West 47th Street by concrete Amsterdam in United States.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Housing category: 547 West 47th Street by concrete Amsterdam in United States. Image: Raimund Koch

13 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Mixed Use category: Battersea Power Station Phase Two by WilkinsonEyre in United Kingdom.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Mixed Use category: Battersea Power Station Phase Two by WilkinsonEyre in United Kingdom. Image: Peter Landers

14 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Office category: Surat Diamond Bourse by Morphogenesis in India.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Office category: Surat Diamond Bourse by Morphogenesis in India. Image: Edmund Sumner

15 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Production, Energy and Logistics category: The Courtyard CCR lab by Sanjay Puri Architects in India.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Production, Energy and Logistics category: The Courtyard CCR lab by Sanjay Puri Architects in India. Image: Dinesh Mehta

16 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Religion category: Santa Maria Goretti Church by Mario Cucinella Architects in Italy.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Religion category: Santa Maria Goretti Church by Mario Cucinella Architects in Italy. Image: Duccio Malagamba

17 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Retrofit category: Vast Gallery & Artist Residency by Persian Garden Studio in Iran.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Retrofit category: Vast Gallery & Artist Residency by Persian Garden Studio in Iran. Image: DEED STUDIO

18 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings School category: Huizhen High School by Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group Co. Ltd in China.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings School category: Huizhen High School by Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group Co. Ltd in China. Image: Supplied

19 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Shopping category: Shanghai Suhe MixC World by Kokaistudios in China.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Shopping category: Shanghai Suhe MixC World by Kokaistudios in China. Image: Terrence Zhang

20 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Sport category: Quzhou Stadium by MAD Architects in China.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Sport category: Quzhou Stadium by MAD Architects in China. Image: CreatAR Images

21 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Transport category: Elizabeth Line by Grimshaw in the United Kingdom.

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Transport category: Elizabeth Line by Grimshaw in the United Kingdom. Image: Hufton Crow

22 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Civic category: Border Village Community Center by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran.

WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Civic category: Border Village Community Center by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran. Image: Next Office

23 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Infrastructure category: Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub by Grimshaw in China.

WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Infrastructure category: Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub by Grimshaw in China. Image: Grimshaw

24 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Leisure-led Development category: Shiraz Cultural and Recreational Complex: The Thickened Earth by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran.

WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Leisure-led Development category: Shiraz Cultural and Recreational Complex: The Thickened Earth by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran. Image: Next Office

25 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Masterplanning category: Green City Kigali by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios in Rwanda.

WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Masterplanning category: Green City Kigali by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios in Rwanda. Image: FCBStudios

26 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Office category: United Nations International Office of Migration by Sharon Davis Design, NOMOS, Marvel Design and Buro Happold in Switzerland.

WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Office category: United Nations International Office of Migration by Sharon Davis Design, NOMOS, Marvel Design and Buro Happold in Switzerland. Image: Sharon Davis Design, NOMOS, Marvel Design, Buro Happold

27 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Competition Entries category: Hormuz Eco Resort by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran.

WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Competition Entries category: Hormuz Eco Resort by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran. Image: Next Office

28 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the INSIDE Health and Fitness category: Murrenda Residential Aged Care Home by STH in Australia.

WAF 2023 winner of the INSIDE Health and Fitness category: Murrenda Residential Aged Care Home by STH in Australia. Image: Chris Matterson

29 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the INSIDE Hotels category: Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments by Tremend Sp. z o.o. in Poland.

WAF 2023 winner of the INSIDE Hotels category: Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments by Tremend Sp. z o.o. in Poland. Image: Piotr Gesicki

30 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the INSIDE Workplace (Large) category: M&C Saatchi by Woods Bagot in Australia.

WAF 2023 winner of the INSIDE Workplace (Large) category: M&C Saatchi by Woods Bagot in Australia. Image: Nicole England

31 of 32
WAF 2023 winner of the INSIUDE Workplace (Small) category: Link Lab creative offices by Stay — Markland — Link Lab in Belgium.

WAF 2023 winner of the INSIUDE Workplace (Small) category: Link Lab creative offices by Stay — Markland — Link Lab in Belgium. Image: Cafeine

32 of 32

World Architecture Festival unveils World Building of the Year, and winners across all categories, with Patterson Associates securing the Completed Buildings Culture Award, Warren and Mahoney (AUS) honoured with a Completed Buildings Health Award and RTA Studio receiving a Special Prize.

 World Building of the Year

  • Huizhen High School by Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group Co. Ltd in China

World Interior of the Year

  • 19 Waterloo Street by SJB in Australia

Future Project of the Year

  • The Probiotic Tower by Design and More International in Egypt.

Landscape of the Year

  • Benjakitti Forest Park: Transforming a Brownfield into an Urban Ecological Sanctuary by Turenscape, Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect in Thailand.

WAFX Prize overall winner

  • Rethinking Oil Rigs - Offshore Data Centres by Arup in United Kingdom

Special mention goes to Warren and Mahoney’s Australian arm for receiving a WAFX Award (in the Aging and Health category) for Alexandria Health Centre, and RTA Studio in New Zealand receiving a WAFX Award (in the Building Technology category) for Fisher & Paykel Global Headquarters.

Drawing Prize

  • Hand-drawn Category winner: Grundtvig by Ben Johnson
  • Digital Category winner: The Archatographic Map of the Incomplete Landscape on Pedra Branca by Eugene Tan
  • Hybrid Category winner: (Re)membering the See Monster by Eldry John Infante

Special prizes:

Among the projects awarded special prizes was Fisher & Paykel Global Headquarters by RTA Studio in New Zealand, receiving Highly Commended in the Futureglass Prize.

Category Award Winners: COMPLETED BUILDINGS

WAF 2023 winner of the Completed Buildings Culture category: Ravenscar House by Patterson Associates Architects in New Zealand. Image:  Johannes van Kan

Culture

Civic and Community

  • Taiwan — Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens by Chen-Yu Chiu and the team of Studio Cho in Turkey
  • Tower Hamlets Town Hall by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris in the United Kingdom was also highly commended in the Civic and Community category

Creative Re-use

Kaomai Museums and Tea Barn by PAVA architects in Thailand

Display

  • Turrell Pavilion by Studio MK27 in the Maldives

Health

  • Victorian Heart Hospital by Conrad Gargett (now merged with Architectus) + Wardle in Australia
  • Tergooi MC by Wiegerinck in the Netherlands was also highly commended in the Health category

Higher Education & Research

  • Boola Katitjin by Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley, Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency and Aspect Studios in Australia
  • John A. Paulson Center by Davis Brody Bond, KieranTimberlake in the United States was also highly commended in the Higher Education & Research category

Hotel & Leisure sponsored by GROHE

  • Lanserhof Sylt by ingenhoven associates GmbH in Germany
  • Kilyawan Farm Resort by Dominic Galicia Architects in the Philippines and Iron Creek Bay Farm Stay by Misho + Associates in Australia were also highly commended in the Hotel & Leisure category

House and Villa, sponsored by GROHE

  • Veil House by 5468796 Architecture in Canada
  • Casa Ward by Carl Fredrik Svenstedt Architect in Italy was also highly commended in the House and Villa category

Housing, sponsored by GROHE

547 West 47th Street - The West Residential by concrete Amsterdam in United States

  • Ivankhaneh by Dida office in Iran was also highly commended in the Housing category

Mixed Use

  • Battersea Power Station Phase Two by WilkinsonEyre in United Kingdom
  • Regeneration Project of Shougang Oxygen Factory Southern Area by CCTN Design in China was also highly commended in the Mixed-Use category

Office

  • Surat Diamond Bourse by Morphogenesis in India
  • Metallic Bellows by KSM Architecture in India and Montacute Yards by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and Ben Adams Architects in United Kingdom were also highly commended in the Office category

Production, Energy and Logistics

  • The Courtyard CCR lab by Sanjay Puri Architects in India
  • Center of Excellence for Forest Conservation by Architects 49 was also highly commended in the Production, Energy and Logistics category

Religion

  • Santa Maria Goretti Church by Mario Cucinella Architects in Italy
  • New Temple Complex by James Gorst Architects in the United Kingdom was also highly commended in the Religion category  

Retrofit

  • Vast Gallery & Artist Residency by Persian Garden Studio in Iran
  • Ombú by Foster + Partners in Spain was also highly commended in the Retrofit category

School

  • Huizhen High School by Approach Design Studio/Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group Co. Ltd in China
  • Penna Foundation Rural School by CollectiveProject and Lapalala Wilderness School by Local Studio in South Africa were also highly commended in the School category

Shopping

  • Shanghai Suhe MixC World by Kokaistudios in China
  • Namak Abroud Plaza by FMZD + MARZ in Iran and LIANGZHU BIRLAND by QINGMO Architects in China were also highly commended in the Shopping category

Sport

  • Quzhou Stadium by MAD Architects in China
  • Ferdinand E Marcos Stadium by WTA Architecture and Design Studio in the Philippines was also highly commended in the Sport category

Transport

  • Elizabeth Line by Grimshaw in the United Kingdom

The judges of this year’s Completed Buildings categories praised the high quality of this year’s projects. Overall, they were impressed with the level of local community enablement and client collaboration.

Judges felt that these exemplar projects sensitively referenced history of sites and retained vernacular cues whilst giving thought for future development. Many winning projects considered the meaning of ‘waste’ through the use of found local materials, innovative recycled construction systems and even the transformation of ‘wasted’ time.

Category Award Winners: FUTURE PROJECTS

Civic

  • Border Village Community Center by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran
  • Pangasinan Barangay Centers by Buensalido Architects in the Philippines was also highly commended in the Civic category

Commercial Mixed-Use

  • Belgrove House by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris in the United Kingdom
  • Albert Bridge House by Studio Egret West in the United Kingdom and Lighthouse at Darling Park by Henning Larsen, Architectus in Australia were also highly commended in the Commercial Mixed-Use category

    Competition Entries

  • Hormuz Eco Resort by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran

    Culture

  • Osaka Pavilion by StudioMK27 in Japan
  • Glenbow Revitalization by DIALOG in Canada and Al Ain Museum by Dabbagh Architects in United Arab Emirates were also highly commended in the Culture category
WAF 2023 winner of the Future Projects Infrastructure category: Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub by Grimshaw in China. Image:  Grimshaw

Infrastructure

  • Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub by Grimshaw in China
  • Sinterbecken by Metaform in Luxembourg was also highly commended in the Infrastructure category

Education

  • Resource Recovery Learning Centre by TERROIR in Australia
  • The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation by Grafton Architects with modus studio in United States was also highly commended in the Education category

Experimental

  • The Probiotic Tower, Cairo by Design and More International in Egypt
  • HydroSKIN: Façade for Urban Rainwater Retention and Evaporative Cooling by University of Stuttgart in Germany was also highly commended in the Experimental category

Health

  • Alexandria Health Centre by Warren and Mahoney in Australia

House

  • DIGGING FOR LIGHT (Ganats villa) by Kalbod Studio in Iran
  • Nefaar by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran was also highly commended in the House category

Leisure-led Development

  • Shiraz Cultural and Recreational Complex: The Thickened Earth by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran
  • Flora — Street Market Reinvented by 3XA in Poland and White Roads Resort by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture in Albania was also highly commended in the Leisure-led Development category

Masterplanning

  • Green City Kigali by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios in Rwanda
  • we!park by Shma Company Limited in Thailand was also highly commended in the Masterplanning category

Office

  • United Nations International Office of Migration by Sharon Davis Design, NOMOS, Marvel Design and Buro Happold in Switzerland
  • The Code - Luxor Post office Adaptive Reuse by Verform & DMI in United Arab Emirates was also highly commended in the Office category

Residential

  • Kuzeh Valley by FMZD in Iran

Discussing the Future Projects, judges praised the experimental and holistic approach to tomorrow’s environment.  This year’s category winners resonated with the jury for their rethinking of architectural approaches, including design and material, to give new meaning to architecture in the modern world.

Projects addressed either urgent sustainability challenges, becoming new ‘pedagogical instruments’ and sensitively embedding into the fabric of existing communities.

Category Award Winners: INSIDE - for Best Interior

Bars & Restaurants

  • Sage by Office AIO in China

Education

  • Center for Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University by KPMB Architects in the United States

Public Buildings

  • V&A Photography Centre by Gibson Thornley Architects in United Kingdom

Residential (Housing, more than one dwelling), sponsored by Miele:

  • Residence with art museum & depot U40 by TRIMONIS architects in Lithuania

Residential (Single Dwelling)

  • 19 Waterloo Street by SJB in Australia

Retail

  • Bijou Shop in Tehran Grand Bazaar by Nextoffice, Studio of Architectural Research & Design in Iran
  • Presented by Riyadh by External Reference Architects in Saudi Arabia was also highly commended in the Retail category

Health and Fitness

  • Murrenda Residential Aged Care Home by STH in Australia

Hotels

  • Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments by Tremend Sp. z o.o. in Poland
  • Boatyard Hotel by WJ Studio in China was also highly commended in the Hotels category
WAF 2023 winner of the INSIDE Workplace (Large) category: M&C Saatchi by Woods Bagot in Australia. Image:  Nicole England

Temporary/Meanwhile Use

  • Eucalyptusdom by SJB in collaboration with Richard Leplastrier AO and Vania Contreras in Australia

Workplace (Large)

  • M&C Saatchi by Woods Bagot in Australia
  • Montagne du Parc by ncbham in Belgium was also highly commended in the Workplace (Large) category

Workplace (Small)

  • Link Lab creative offices by Stay — Markland — Link Lab in Belgium
  • 35 by Shid Architects in Iran was also highly commended in the Workplace (Small) category

The judges were impressed by the level of care across the Inside category winners and highlighted the attention to detail and deep understanding of project briefs. Each winning studio approached their projects with refined skill and craft, with a particular focus on the use of materials and creating a sense of place. 

Projects by RTA Studio and Warren and Mahoney (AUS),  both won a 2023 WAFX Award for addressing issues facing society and the planet.

Read more here

For more details on the 2023 World Architecture Festival and the Inside Festival of Interiors please visit www.worldarchitecturefestival.com and www.insidefestival.com @worldarchfest #INSIDE23 #WAF2


More awards