London, United Kingdom, 2017-07-07 –

The World Architecture Festival celebrates its tenth edition in Berlin in November this year, with the 2017 awards programme receiving more entries than ever before – 924, increasing by 18% from the 2016 awards. The awards shortlist revealed today is a truly international collection, extending to include architectural practices from 51 different nations and projects based across 68 countries.
 
View a selection of images of highlight projects from the 2017 shortlist here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hhsrqj7uxmijo3d/AABcU9SAIPM7z7VjquuII8xwa?dl=0
 
All types and sizes of architectural projects are represented on the 434-strong shortlist, ranging from small family homes, to schools, stations, museums, large infrastructure and landscape projects.
 
Architects from the UK are most widely represented on the shortlist, closely followed by colleagues in the USA, Australia and Turkey, with entries from Asia up by a third year-on-year. With a significant rise in residential submissions this year, organisers have introduced a new Villa category which includes entries from Brazil, New Zealand and India.
 
The architectural practices behind each project will battle it out in live judging sessions to be held at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin, 15-17 November. Each will be hoping to win their category and go on to compete for the ultimate accolades of World Building of the Year, Future Project of the Year and Landscape of the Year.

Major world architects shortlisted include Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG, Neri & Hu, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, AL_A, Nikken Sekkei, Rafael Vinoly Architects, Grimshaw, and Heatherwick Studio. Many smaller practices will also take part to pitch against the big names. 
 
Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: ‘This year’s shortlist has a hugely diverse geographic range. The use of water has been striking and there is evidence of real interest in climate modifications using novel techniques. Colourful architecture makes a strong showing and many of the smaller projects we have shortlisted will punch above their weight. We look forward to welcoming shortlisted architects to our tenth edition in Berlin this November.’
 
Presentations of shortlisted designs will be made to more than 100 international judges. The 2017 completed buildings ‘Super Jury’ which will decide the best of 18 category winners, will be headed by Robert Ivy, chief executive officer of the American Institute of Architects and former editor of Architectural Record; Nathalie de Vries, Director & Co-founder of Dutch practice MVRDV; Ian Ritchie, founder of London-based Ian Ritchie Architects; Christoph Ingenhoven, founder of German practice Ingenhoven Architects; and Wong Mun Summ, founder director of Singapore practice WOHA.
 
In addition to the awards, WAF includes a conference programme based around the theme of ‘Performance’. And to mark its tenth edition, special awards will be given to projects which address the WAFX Manifesto by identifying solutions to key architectural challenges over the next decade, including climate change, an ageing population and new technologies.
 
WAF and its co-located event, INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, will welcome more than 2,000 of the world’s leading architects and designers to Berlin for three days of conference programmes, awards, exhibitions and fringe events from 15-17 November. This year’s edition will again be housed in Franz Ahrens’ 1920s former bus depot, Arena Berlin.
 
The full shortlist for this year’s awards can be viewed here. 
 
For more details on how to enter the WAF Awards please visit www.worldarchitecturefestival.com
@worldarchfest #WAF2017
 
Press, image and interview requests: Caro Communications: 020 7713 9388; @carocomms
Gloria Roberts – [email protected] 
 
Notes to Editors
Why get involved in World Architecture Festival?

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

World Architecture Festival is the  largest, annual, international, live architectural event. It includes the biggest architectural awards programme in the world, dedicated to celebrating excellence via live presentations to an audience of high-profile delegates and international juries.

The 2017 World Architecture Festival (WAF) comprises 5 key elements
– The WAF Awards

– A thematic conference programme

– An exhibition of Award entries
– Sponsor and exhibitor stands

– A series of networking/social events, as well as WAF fringe activities

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 organized by EMAP, publishers of The Architectural Review and The Architects’ Journal.

Entry information
Shortlisted entrants will compete for category prizes on the first two days of the three-day Festival, which will take place in Berlin on the 15, 16 and 17 November 2017. On the final day, category winners will present again to ‘super-juries’ of experienced and respected judges, who will decide on the World Landscape, Future Project and Completed Building of the Year Awards.

WAF Award categories
Civic – Future Projects
Commercial Mixed-Use -Future Projects
Competition Entries – Future Projects
Culture – Future Projects
Education – Future Projects
Experimental – Future Projects
Health – Future Projects
House – Future Projects
Infrastructure – Future Projects
Leisure-led Development – Future Projects
Masterplanning Future – Future Projects
Office – Future Projects
Residential – Future Projects
Civic and Community – Completed Building
Culture – Completed Buildings
Display – Completed Buildings
Health – Completed Buildings
Higher Education & Research – Completed Buildings
Hotel & Leisure – Completed Buildings
House – Completed Buildings
Housing – Completed Buildings
Landscape
Mixed-use – Completed Buildings
New & Old – Completed Buildings
Office – Completed Buildings
Production, Energy & Recycling – Completed Buildings
Religion – Completed Buildings
School – Completed Buildings
Shopping – Completed Buildings
Sport – Completed Buildings
Transport – Completed Buildings
Villa – Completed Buildings

WAF Manifesto
To celebrate reaching its tenth edition, World Architecture Festival organisers have this year launched the WAFX Manifesto. The Manifesto identifies key challenges which architects will need to address over the next ten years, including climate, energy and carbon; water; ageing and health; re-use; smart city technology; building technology; cultural identity; ethics and values; power and justice; and virtual worlds.
 
This year, WAF will identify buildings and future projects, entered for its awards programme, which also address the Manifesto issues. Special awards will be made to exemplary projects, which will be exhibited as part of a tenth anniversary exhibition featuring key winners from the past decade.

Sponsors
WAF is proud to work with Founder Partner, Grohe, and headline partners ABB Busch-Jaeger and Miele.