world architecture festival 2019 reveals shortlisted projects

the shortlisted schemes for the world architecture festival (WAF) 2019 have been announced, with many of the projects demonstrating how buildings can play a major role in a more sustainable future. the world’s biggest architectural awards program, which is celebrating its twelfth edition, will showcase work by some of the field’s biggest firms, such as bjarke ingels group and zaha hadid architects, as well as smaller, emerging practices. individual projects include an airport destination by safdie architects, which features a 40-meter-tall indoor waterfall, and amos rex, a subterranean museum in helsinki designed by JKMM architects.

jewel changi airport by safdie architects — read more on designboom here | image by darren soh
(main image: zaozhuang stadium by shanghai united design group)

this year’s 534-strong shortlist, ranges from private residential, to education, infrastructure, healthcare, hospitality, cultural/civic, interior, and landscape projects across 70 countries. ‘we have been inspired by the levels of innovation in this year’s entries, that show the incredible range of ways in which architects are responding to the global climate and biodiversity emergencies we face,’ says WAF programme director paul finch. ‘WAF has attracted more than 1,000 entries, for the second year in a row, from 70 countries, and we look forward to more than 500 live presentations at the festival in amsterdam, showcasing these exemplar projects from around the world.’

amos rex by JKMM architects — read more on designboom here
image by mika huisman

the world architecture festival will reconvene in amsterdam from december 4-6, 2019 where the architects and designers behind each shortlisted project will compete for category prizes. 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 vie for the ultimate accolades of world building of the year, future project of the year, interior of the year, and landscape of the year. the full shortlist for this year’s awards can be viewed here, while more information on the event is available on the WAF website.

olympic house by 3XN — read more on designboom here
image by adam mørk

morpheus hotel by zaha hadid architects — read more on designboom here
image by ivan dupont

national kaohsiung centre for the arts by mecanoo — read more on designboom here
image by iwan baan

vessel by heatherwick studio — read more on designboom here
image by michael moran

UNASUR general secretary HQ by diego guayasamin arquitectos — read more on designboom here
image by sebastian crespo

helsinki central library oodi by ALA architects — read more on designboom here
image by tuomas uusheimo

the macallan distillery and visitor experience by RSH+P — read more on designboom here
image courtesy of RSH+P

tottenham hotspur stadium by populous — read more on designboom here
image by hufton + crow

exhibition center of shimao shenzhen-hong kong international center by W&R group
image by lv lin

nobu hotel los cabos by studio PCH
image by barbara kraft

bhau institute of innovation, entrepreneurship & leadership by shibanee & kamal architects
image courtesy of shibanee & kamal architects

solstice on the park by studio gang
image by tom harris

tibetan intangible cultural heritage museum by shenzhen huahui design
image by li yao

world architecture festival (WAF) is the world’s 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. WAF is a three-day event for architects and interior design professionals to celebrate, learn, exchange, and be inspired. INSIDE world festival of interiors runs alongside WAF, with its own awards and conference programme.