The annual World Architecture Festival Awards, the ‘Oscars of architecture’, launched formally in London this week. The awards will be celebrated at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Singapore this November, following three days of intensive live presentations and judging.

Entries are now invited from architects and designers for the 2015 edition of what is the biggest architectural awards programme in the world. The awards are expected to attract more than 750 entries, about half of which will be shortlisted, in 29 categories. Closing date for entries is the end of May, and shortlisting takes place in early June.

Shortlisted entrants will compete for category prizes on the first two days of the three-day Festival, which takes place in the Suntec Centre on 4, 5 and 6 November.  On the final day, category winners present again to ‘super-juries’ of experienced and respected judges, who decide on the World Landscape, Future Project and Completed Building of the Year.

This year’s superjurors include Royal gold Medallist Sir Peter Cook, Sou Fujimoto (Japan), Kerry Hill (Singapore); Manuelle  Gautrand (France),Benedetta Tagliabue (Spain) and Charles Jencks (UK/US).

In addition to the main awards there are prizes for small projects, use of wood and use of colour, decided by specialist juries.

Commenting on the awards, WAF programme director Paul Finch said:

‘This is an exciting time for the Awards, with no predictions possible about this year’s result. Since our launch in 2008 with our founder sponsor Grohe, we have had entries from about 70 countries round the world, and winners of every shape, size and type.

‘Last year’s completed building winner was a community space in Ho Chi Minh city by a small Vietnamese practice, a21, but we have also had big projects winning, including Zaha Hadid’s Maxxi arts centre in Rome, and Wilkinson Eyre’s Gardens by the Bay project in Singapore.

‘Every year we find new talent competing with established big names, and that is part of the attraction of the event, not just for entrants, but for delegates too.’

The WAF Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner on the evening of Friday 6 November.

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Notes to Editors

World Architecture Festival comprises the Awards; a thematic conference programme (this year called ‘50:50 – Looking forward, looking back’, to mark the 50^th anniversary of Singapore’s independence); an exhibition of Award entries; sponsor and exhibitor stands; and networking/social events.

INSIDE World Festival of Interiors runs alongside WAF, with its own awards and conference programme. Delegates to either event have access to both.

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

More details from www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

Entry information:
All entries must be submitted in English

All entries must be submitted by 22^nd May 2015

Each entry must contain a minimum of:

A minimum of 6 x low resolution photographs (NOT visualisations unless a future project) of the project (maximum of 20)

3 x further images of a site plan, floor plan, key section

250 words of explanatory text describing the project

1 x high resolution image, up to 300 DPI

In addition a maximum of:

20 images including photographs, elevations, sections, details and plans

1000 words of explanatory text

3 x high resolution images, up to 300 DPI

More information and submission requirements 

www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/entry-conditions

About World Architecture Festival:

The gateway to global recognition, WAF is where the world architecture community meets to celebrate, learn, exchange and be inspired. 
World Architecture Festival is the world’s largest international architectural event. It includes the biggest architectural awards programme in the world, dedicated to celebrating excellence via live presentations to delegates and international juries. 

WAF 2015 will take place in Suntec in central Singapore. Following a $180 million modernisation programme, the redesigned space will host WAF’s soundproofed crit rooms, auditorium and Festival Hall Stage. WAF’s layercake of content includes three thematic conference streams, a gallery of WAF Award entries and an exhibition of products and services. And of course there’s a social programme with parties, PechaKucha, visits and Gala Awards Dinner.