The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has revealed the 24 American projects that have been shortlisted for this year’s awards. The American finalists will be battling it out against 410 other entries to be crowned World Building of the Year and Future Project of the Year at Arena Berlin this November.
The World Architecture Festival celebrates its tenth edition this year, with the 2017 awards programme receiving more entries than ever before – 924, increasing by 18% from the 2016 awards. The awards shortlist is a truly international collection, extending to include architectural practices from 51 different nations and projects based across 68 countries.
Practices from the USA that are in the running for an award include Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, Viñoly Architects, Studio Gang, Form4 Architecture and Marlon Blackwell Architects.
- Marlon Blackwell Architects’ striking Harvey Pediatric Clinic, in Rogers has been shortlisted in the Completed Buildings: Health category. The Harvey Pediatric Clinic is reminiscent of the site’s neighbouring barns, sheds and silos and is a silent, yet strong, contrast in form and colour to the beige tones that make up it’s everyday suburban landscape. The building’s bold profile forms the gestalt of the building, providing a visual identity to the Clinic for children and parents alike.
Harvey Pediatric Clinic by Marlon Blackwell Architects, in Rogers, USA shortlisted in the Completed Buildings: Health category at WAF 2017.
- The Collectors Lounge at Design Miami 2016; the Flamingo Lounge, by Tabanlioglu Architects, has been shortlisted in the Completed Buildings: Display category. The space provided a space for relaxation, interval and a convenient and an ingenious space to meet during the fair. A single material and colour was used throughout the space with the floor and the furniture all cast in the same candy pink resin.
World Architecture Festival Display – Completed Buildings: Tabanlioglu Architects, Flamingo Lounge, Miami, United States of America
- The renovation and expansion of West Campus Union at Duke University, Durham by Grimshaw has been shortlisted in the Completed Buildings: Higher Education & Research category. The new student union re-establishes itself as the centerpiece for student life and the communal heart of Duke’s historic campus.
World Architecture Festival Higher Education & Research – Completed Buildings: Grimshaw, Duke University West Campus Union, Durham, United States of America. Credit: James Ewing Photography
Widely regarded as the Oscars of architecture world, WAF provides the chance to win a global architectural accolade, and the festival opens the door to international media coverage, peer and client recognition, and the potential for exciting new commissions all over the world.
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.’
World Architecture Festival Masterplanning Future – Future Projects: Viñoly Architects, The Hills at Vallco, Cupertino, United States of America
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 WAF10 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.
World Architecture Festival has collaborated with MAKE Architects and Sir John Soanes Museum to launch a new prize for architectural drawing. The prize will recognise the continuing importance of hand drawing, whilst also embracing the creative use of digitally produced renderings. The Architecture Drawing Prize welcomes entries from architects, designers and students from around the world. The overall winner and a further two category finalists will be announced at World Architecture Festival in November 2017. The winning and shortlisted entries will then be featured in an exhibition at Sir John Soane’s Museum in London from 21 February – 16 April 2018. Entry deadline 18 September 2017. ⠀For more info, visit http://thedrawingprize.worldarchitecturefestival.com/.
