World Architecture Festival 2019 Shortlist Heralds a Sustainable Future

Architects grapple with some of the world's most pressing challenges in the twelfth edition of the World Architecture Festival, the world's biggest architectural awards programme, which just announced its shortlist

Following the establishment of ‘Architects Declare’ a collective of some of the most renowned practices who have come together to announce a state of climate emergency, this year's World Architecture Festival shortlisted entries include designs that demonstrate how buildings can play a major role in a more sustainable future.UNASUR, General Secretary Headquarters by DIEGO GUAYASAMIN ARQUITECTOS. Photo credit: ©Sebastian Crespo

Amongst the shortlist is an eco-airport in Singapore designed by Safdie Architects centred around a 15,000m2 state-of-the-art, indoor public garden, which features a 40-metre indoor waterfall falling through the centre of a doughnut-shaped glass roof, alongside 3,000 trees and 100,000 shrubs from around the globe. Jewel Changi Airport by Safdie Architect. Photo credit: ©Darren Soh

Dortheavej Residence by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group flies the flag for both affordable and sustainable modular housing in Copenhagen, shining a light on this nascent mode of construction which has the potential to offer much to the housing crisis. Dortheavej Residence by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

Whilst one of last year's winners, Studio Gang, tackles environmental concerns at a volumetric level through its ‘Solstice on the Park’ project - a 26-storey residential tower in the USA optimised for environmental performance through angled window panels which are slanted inwards at 72 degrees—the precise angle at which the sun hits the Chicago skyline at the height of the summer solstice. Solstice on the Park by Studio Gang. Photo credit: ©Tom Harris

In the culture category, Helsinki Central Library Oodi by ALA Architects, heralds a new era of library design where traditional functions meet modern technology, to create an almost zero-energy building with panoramic views.Helsinki Central Library Oodi by ALA Architects. Photo credit: ©Tuomas Uusheim

The ‘Future Project: Experimental’ and ‘Future Project: Infrastructure’ categories also launched some exciting and innovative entries, including the proposal for a waterfront park in NYC, transforming oil tanks into community gardens, by STUDIO V Architecture, and the proposal for man-made, mid-bay barrier islands to act as a surge protection system for the Port of Houston, by Rogers Partners Architects + Urban Designers.The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photo credit: ©Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

Major world architects shortlisted include Zaha Hadid Architects, Heatherwick Studio, Bjarke Ingels Group, Rafael Vinoly Architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Grimshaw and White Arkitekter. Many smaller practices will also take part to pitch against the big names. This year's 534-strong shortlist, ranges from private residential, to education, infrastructure, healthcare, hospitality, cultural/civic, interior and landscape projects across 70 countries.Morpheus Hotel by Zaha Hadid Architects. Photo credit: ©Ivan Dupont

WAF will reconvene in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 4-6 December this year. This is the second time the event has been hosted in the Dutch capital, following previous editions in Barcelona, Singapore and Berlin.

The architects and designers behind each shortlisted project will compete for category prizes at WAF from 4-6 December. Presentations of the shortlisted designs will be made to more than 100 international juries in front of festival delegates. Category winners then compete against each other on the final day of the festival, to compete for the ultimate accolades of World Building of the Year, Future Project of the Year, Interior of the Year and Landscape of the Year.

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 Amsterdam for three days of conference programmes awards, exhibitions and fringe events from 4-6 December.Nobu Hotel Los Cabos by Studio PCH Inc. Photo credit: ©Barbara Kraft

The full shortlist for this year's awards can be viewed here.

Source: WAF and v2com
Top image: National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts by Mecanoo architecten. Photo credit: ©Iwan Baan