Prizes awarded to future projects focused on today’s major global opportunities and challenges

Thirty-four exemplary future projects which address major architectural issues facing society and the planet have been announced as winners of this year’s World Architecture Festival WAFX Awards. That is ahead of the live event which this year will take place in Singapore, at Marina Bay Sands, from 29 November - 1 December.across eight key categories.

Cultural identity
Montreal Holocaust Museum by KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture
Photo credit: KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture

The 2023 WAFX shortlist celebrates international proposals which embrace design vision and innovation to address major world opportunities and challenges, ranging from pushing the use of smart technology and building reuse, to addressing the issue of an aging population and tackling the climate emergency. View the full shortlist, including the WAF Future Projects categories here.

This year’s WAFX categories

Ageing and Health, Building Technology, Carbon Climate and Energy, Cultural Identity, Ethics and Values, Re-Use, Smart Cities, and Water. The 2023 category winners range from an island centred around medical services in Dubai and an off-grid mixed-use tower in the United States, to rethinking oil rigs as sustainable, offshore data centres in the United Kingdom and an exhibition hall celebrating local bamboo craft in China.

Ageing and Health

• Dubai Healthcare City by Kalbod Studio
• Alexandria Health Centre by Warren and Mahoney

Ageing and Health
Dubai Healthcare City by Kalbod Studio
Photo credit: Kalbod Studio

Ageing and Health
Alexandria Health Centre by Warren and Mahoney
Photo credit: © Warren and Mahoney

Building Technology

• Fisher and Paykel Global Headquarters by RTA Studio
• The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation by Grafton Architects with Modus Studio

Building technology
Fisher and Paykel Global Headquarters by RTA Studio
Photo credit: RTA Studio

Building technology
The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation by Grafton Architects with Modus Studio
Photo credit: © Picture Plane

Carbon Climate and Energy

• Taikoo Green Ribbon by Arup
• The Ellinikon Park by Sasaki

Carbon, Climate & Energy
Taikoo Green Ribbon by Arup
Photo credit: © Arup

Carbon, Climate & Energy
The Ellinikon Park by SASAKI
Photo credit: © SASAKI

Cultural Identity

• Nora Mosque and Community Center by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture
• Jain Cultural Centre by Mandviwala Qutub and Associates

Cultural identity
Nora Mosque and Community Center by EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture Nora Mosque and Community Center, EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture Nora Mosque and Community Center, EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture
Photo credit: © EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture, The Boundary

Cultural identity
Jain Cultural Centre by Mandviwala Qutub and Associates
Photo credit: © Third I Productions

Ethics and Values

• We!Park by Shma Company Limited
• Pangasinan Barangay Centers by Buensalido Architects

Ethics and Values
We!park by Shma Company Limited
Photo credit: © Shma Company Limited

Ethics and Values
Pangasinan Barangay Centers by Buensalido Architects
Photo credit: © Buensalido Architects

Re-Use

• Sinterbecken by Metaform
• Rethinking Oil Rigs - Offshore Data Centres by Arup

Re-use
Sinterbecken by Metaform
Photo credit: © Jessie LangMetaformVIZErendering (renders)

Re-use
Rethinking Oil Rigs - Offshore Data Centres by Arup
Photo credit: © Arup

Smart Cities

• Green City Kigali by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
• Punggol Digital District by WOHA Architects

Smart Cities
Green City Kigali by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Photo credit: ©FCBStudios

Smart Cities
Punggol Digital District by WOHA Architects PTE LTD
Photo credit: © JTC and WOHA

Water

• Antioquia Municipal River Parks by Gobernacion De Antioquia - Juan Pablo Lopez – Sebastian Monsalve
• Micro Colony by UArchitects / Misak Terzibasiyan

Water
ANTIOQUIA MUNICIPAL RIVER PARKS by Gobernacion De Antioquia - Juan Pablo Lopez - Sebastian Monsalve
Photo credit: © Antioquie Municipal River Parks

Water
Micro Colony by UArchitects/Misak Terzibasiyan
Photo credit: © UArchitects

The 2023 World Architecture Festival (WAF) comprises

• Events programme and keynote talks
• Live judging of finalists’ projects
• Gallery of all award entries
• Exhibition area
• Networking and social events including partner fringe events
• Gala dinner announcing the overall winners

About World Architecture Festival (WAF)

WAF is where the world architecture community meets to celebrate, learn, exchange, and be inspired. WAF is the world’s largest annual, international, live architectural event. It includes the biggest international architectural awards programme in the world, dedicated to celebrating excellence via live presentations to an audience of high-profile delegates and international juries.