World Architecture Festival announces Special Prize shortlist

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced the 2022 Special Prize shortlist, ahead of this year’s festival which takes place in Lisbon from 30 November – 2 December. The projects shortlisted for the Special Prizes are selected from across the greater WAF Awards shortlist to shine a light on the submissions that exhibit an outstanding use of Engineering, Colour, Natural Light and Certified Timber, as well as the best Small Project of the Year Prize. This year sees two inaugural new prizes, The Futureglass Prize supported by Aestech and The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust International Building Beauty Prize supported by Ballymore.

Best Use of Colour Prize

The Best Use of Colour Prize celebrates the creative use of colour in architecture, both inside and out. The eight finalists for the Prize employ bright and bold colours innovatively to catch the eye, to provide a wayfinding tool or to create joyful spaces for its users. The shortlisted projects are:

HONG NGOC PHUC TRUONG MINH GENERAL HOSPITAL by MPN + PARTNERS

Holland Casino Venlo by MVSA BV

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship zone by HONGKONG HUAYI DESIGN CONSULTANTS (S.Z) LTD.

The Docks by MEIXNER SCHLÜTER WENDT

Harvard University District Energy Facility by Leers Weinzapfel Associates with RMF Engineering (MEP) and Thornton Tomasetti (Structural) pictured

SASIPAWAN WISDOM CENTER by Architects 49 Limited

John Lewis Elementary School by Perkins Eastman DC

Meadowbank Schools by WOODS BAGOT

Best Use of Natural Light Prize supported by VELUX

The Best Use of Natural Light Prize, supported by VELUX, recognizes the best use of natural light in completed buildings in particular to enhance human well-being, performance and joy. The eight projects shortlisted for this Prize are all public and semi-public spaces, designed to maximise natural daylight to engage with their surroundings and create dynamic spaces for their visitors. The shortlisted projects are:

Sara Culture Centre by White Arkitekter AB

University of Warwick Faculty of Arts by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Jakoba Mulderhuis by Powerhouse Company

Dobra 55: The Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics building by Kury?owicz & Associates

Pingtan Children Library by Condition_Lab

Paddington Elizabeth Line station by Weston Williamson + Partners

Agrotopia by van Bergen Kolpa architects + META architectuurbureau

Dining Space at DevaDhare by Play Architecture (pictured)

The Futureglass Prize supported by Aestech

Including both completed and future projects The Futureglass Prize, supported by Aestech, is awarded to the project that best demonstrates new ways in which glass and glass technology can be deployed. The finalists for the inaugural Prize range from chameleonic glass-paneled buildings to innovative glass interventions in existing structures, showcasing the breadth of how glass and glass technology can be used in new and inventive ways. The shortlisted projects are:

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen by MVRDV

Australia 108 by Fender Katsalidis

The Burrell Collection by John McAslan + Partners

Biodome Science Museum by KANVA

Heper Lighting Factory by Yazgan Design Architecture

A2A Headquarters by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (pictured)

Core Wynwood by Perkins&Will

14A Konstitucijos Avenue by RSHP

Agrotopia by van Bergen Kolpa architects + META architectuurbureau

Best Use of Certified Timber Prize supported by the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

This Prize is supported by the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). A special jury including a PEFC representative have identified entries which have used certified timber in an innovative, educational or artistic manner. The eight finalists for the Timber Prize represent a mix of the world’s largest timber buildings and smaller structures that reflect local culture through the use of traditional materials, both embracing how wood can be used to push the envelope of modern construction. The shortlisted projects are:

Sara Culture Centre by White Arkitekter AB

The Alice Hawthorn by De Matos Ryan

Paseo Mallorca 15 by OHLAB

HAUT Amsterdam by Team V Architecture

EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin by TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten (pictured)

Eric Tweedale Stadium by dwp | design worldwide partnership

Timber Bridge in Gulou Waterfront by LUO studio

Växjö train station and town hall by Sweco Architects

Small Project of the Year Prize

The Small Project of the Year Prize is awarded to the best completed project that is small for its type. These finalist projects represent the ingenuity and craftsmanship of architects designing within restricted parameters.  The Prize celebrates projects small in scale but big on innovation. The shortlisted projects are:

Denis Goldberg House of Hope by noero architects

Ravenscar House by Patterson Associates

The Moving Kitchen by JC Architecture (pictured)

Palanga Goat Shelter by Erginoglu & Calislar Architects

The Chamber Church by Büro Ziyu Zhuang

Yao-Fang-Men Park Church by SUYI and W2 Architects

Kings Langley Cricket Club and Amenities by Eoghan Lewis Architects

Dining Space at DevaDhare by Play Architecture

Engineering Prize

The Engineering Prize is awarded by a specialist jury to a project that marries great architecture and engineering to push the envelope in building design. The nine finalist projects showcase the most striking, unique and sophisticated structures, whose complex engineering enhance the user experience and provide sustainable solutions in an ambitious way. The shortlisted projects are:

Expo 2020 Thematic Districts by Hopkins Architects

The St. Regis Chicago by Studio Gang

Orange Village – Headquarters by Koffi & Diabaté Architectes (pictured)

Quay Quarter Tower by 3XN

Secure Sanand by Studio SAAR

Westfield Mall of the Netherlands by MVSA BV

SoFi Stadium by HKS Architects

Parkade of the Future by 5468796 Architecture + Kasian Architecture, Interior Design and Planning

Paddington Elizabeth Line station by Weston Williamson + Partners

This year celebrates the inaugural Royal Fine Art Commission Trust International Building Beauty Prize supported by Ballymore, this Prize will be awarded to a completed building which ‘raises the spirits’ through architecture. The finalists will be announced within the coming weeks.

The finalists for the Special Prizes will go on to compete live at WAF Lisbon and the overall winner of each will be revealed at the Gala Dinner. Other prizes to be announced at WAF include The Lisbon Prize, which is supported by kreon to recognise and celebrate the best building in the city WAF is being held, The Visualisation Prize, supported by Lumion which celebrates this year’s best architectural render, WAFX, which celebrates the best of this year’s future projects, and The Architecture Drawing Prize, curated by Make Architects, Sir John Soane’s Museum and WAF, and supported by Iris Ceramica Group