ArchiTeam News

Winning designs promise to deliver exciting projects in years to come

Delegates at World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Barcelona have been treated to a vision of the next generation of building design, as the category winners in the WAF Future Project of the Year Awards were unveiled this week during the Festival.

This year marks the third WAF, and, the second year that the awards programme has included future projects, celebrating a number of projects that are still on the drawing board. With a strong focus on creativity, they provide an exciting glimpse into the built environment of tomorrow.

Projects included a dance and music centre in the Netherlands, a 21^st Century ‘flexible city’ in Ukraine and a Museum of Image and Sound, in Brazil, which featured among the 74 finalists in the 10 categories.

The Middle East and Far East regions promise to deliver exciting projects in years to come, with both Hong Kong and Kuwait boasting two category winning entries. Rapidly developing economies such as India and Poland were also represented, marking a new era of architectural dominance in line with expanding economic growth. The politically sensitive Occupied Palestinian Territory also hosts a category winning project in The Arc, designed by Suisman Urban Design, USA, which won the Future Projects – Masterplanning Award. The judges praised its “fearless example of architecture and masterplanning, helping to promote a political solution.”

Speaking at the WAF Awards 2010 Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: “World Architecture Festival brings international architecture to the forefront, against the backdrop of Barcelona’s breathtaking architecture. Yet again we received a huge response to the fiercely contested WAF Awards, with over 500 entries from 61 different countries. The geographical range and quality of this year’s designs were exceptionally high, with a great deal of entries from “new” economies, both by local architects and international practices. Our congratulations go to the winners for a project that is truly exceptional.”

The overall winner will be announced this Friday evening during the presentation of the WAF Awards, marking the conclusion of global architecture summit the World Architecture Festival, which has been taking place at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona (CCIB) between 3^rd and 5^th November.

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 following category winners were presented with WAF Awards 2010:

Future Project of the Year – Commercial: OFFICES' 63, Gurgaon, India designed by Sanjay Puri Architects, India

Future Project of the Year – Competition Entries: Dance and Music Centre, Netherlands, designed by Aedas, Hong Kong

Future Project of the Year – Cultural: CONCERT HALL JORDANEK IN TORUN, Torun, Poland designed by MENIS ARQUITECTOS, Spain

Future Project of the Year – Education: Sabah Al-Salem University  Kuwait University City, College of Education, Kuwait City, Kuwait, designed by Perkins+Will, USA

Future Projects Experimental Projects of the Year:  No project awarded as overall winner

Future Project of the Year – Health:  Kuwait Children's Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait designed by AGi Architects SL, Spain

Future Project of the Year – Infrastructure: West Kowloon Terminus, Hong Kong designed by

Aedas, Hong Kong

Future Project of the Year – Landscape: No project awarded as overall winner

Highly commended in Future Project of the Year – Residential: No overall winner was chosen. Highly Commended awards to be announced on 5^th November 2010

Future Project of the Year – Masterplanning: The Arc, Palestinian Occupied Territory, designed by Suisman Urban Design, USA