Shortlist for 2022 World Architecture Festival Announced

Some of the boldest, most beautiful, and most innovative projects from around the world were revealed on the shortlist of the 2022 World Architecture Festival (WAF), announced today ahead of a live festival event set to take place later this year under the theme of ‘Together’. After three years of the global community of architects and designers not being able to meet live, this year's WAF marks its return as an in-person event, in Lisbon, from November 30 - December 2.

IGA ISTANBUL VIP TERMINAL by TABANLIOGLU ARCHITECTS, Istanbul, Turkey, Photo credit:
TABANLIOGLU ARCHITECTS

WAF represents the world’s biggest live-judged architectural awards programme, and the 420-strong 2022 shortlist has been selected from hundreds of entries from over 50 countries, including Portugal, Malaysia, Finland, Mexico, Turkey, Australia, Japan, India, and the UK. The shortlist celebrates the best newly completed buildings and landscapes, ranging from rural and coastal villas, to contemporary religious buildings, to the very latest healthcare buildings completed since the pandemic began. The shortlist also includes Future Projects, showcasing the most inspiring new architectural concepts.

BSP Security Plant Complex by WTA Architecture and Design Studio, New Clark City, Philippines, Photo credit:
WTA Architecture and Design Studio

One by SAOTA, Dakar, Senegal, Photo credit:
SAOTA

The theme for the 2022 edition is ‘Together’ and, as part of a live events programme, an international panel of speakers will explore and debate how architecture is responding to the renewal of collective post-pandemic life, and in the light of commitments to combating climate change.

The Handan Wastewater Cleansing Terraces by Turenscape, Handan City, China, Photo credit:
Turenscape

Site Tour Eiffel by Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Paris, France, Photo credit:
Gustafson Porter + Bowman

WAF’s unique, live-judged awards programme, forming the heart of the festival, will see architects and designers behind each shortlisted project compete for 43 category prizes. Category winners will then compete against each other on the final day of the festival for the ultimate accolades of World Building of the Year and Landscape of the Year, as well as Future Project of the Year and Interior of the Year. Projects from across the shortlist will be selected for Special Prizes, including the Best Use of Natural Light Prize, Best Use of Certified Timber Prize, and the newly introduced International Building Beauty Prize.

Timber Bridge in Gulou Waterfront by LUO Studio, Jiangmen, China, Photo credit:
Jin Weiqi

Treehouse by Ronald Lu & Partners, Hong Kong, China, Photo credit:
Ronald Lu & Partners

This year’s entrants range from major world architects, including Foster + Partners, 3XN, Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Gang, Nikken Sekkei, Mecanoo, and White Arkitekter, to numerous smaller practices that will also take the stage to live pitch against the big names. This year’s international judging panels will include Mario Cucinella, Tracy Meller, Sanjay Puri, Gonka Arik Caliskan, Sir Peter Cook, Yui Tezuka, Shane O’Toole, Eva Jiricna, Issa Diabaté, Nadia Tromp, Jo Noero, Ann Lau, and Nigel Coates.

The Rajasthan School by Sanjay Puri Architects, Ras, India

Shuikou Mountain Workers Movement Memorial Museum by Yang Ying Design Studio, Changsha, China, Photo credit:
Yang Ying Design Studio

This is the first time WAF has been hosted in the Portuguese capital, following previous editions in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Singapore, and Berlin. WAF and its co-located event, INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, will welcome the world’s leading architects and designers to Lisbon for three days of talks, programmes, awards, exhibitions, and fringe events, showcasing leading international practices, the best new projects, and the most pressing live debates.

Hexarion by BER SAB ARC Design Studio, Mars, Photo credit:
Karlos Belaniso

Petrol Corporate Building by ENOTA, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Photo credit:
Spacer

About World Architecture Festival (WAF)

World Architecture Festival, and INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, will take place at the FIL exhibition centre in Lisbon from November 30 – December 2, 2022.

WAF is where the world architecture community meets to celebrate, learn, exchange and be inspired, and 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

The 2022 World Architecture Festival (WAF) comprises:

• A thematic conference programme (based on the theme: ‘Together’
• 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 

INSIDE World Festival of Interiors runs alongside WAF, with its own awards and conference programme. Delegates have access to both events. WAF and INSIDE are organised by EMAP, publishers of The Architectural Review and The Architects’ Journal.

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