World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2016

Out of hundreds of shortlisted designs, here are our top picks of completed projects which could potentially be named as World Building of the Year by World Architecture Festival.

Following four successful runs in Singapore, World Architecture Festival (WAF) returns to its European roots this year, taking place on the 16th to 18th November at the Arena Berlin in Germany. Now in its 8th year, the world’s largest annual architecture event is dedicated to celebrating and sharing architectural excellence from across the globe. Aside from keynote talks, live presentations, seminars and debates, WAF Awards sits at the heart of the Festival.

This year, 343 projects are competing across 32 individual award categories. Each category winner will then battle it out for the Festival’s coveted prize – World Building of the Year – presided over by WAF super-jury. Here’s a look into several completed projects.

Project Name: Messner Mountain Museum Corones

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects

Location: Plan de Corones, Italy

Category: Culture

Sited at the centre of South Tyrol’s most popular ski resort, the Messner Mountain Museum Corones is embedded within the summit of Mount Kronplatz at 2,275 metres above sea level. The sixth and final Messner Mountain Museum is established by renowned climber Reinhold Messner and is dedicated to traditional mountaineering. Spanning 1,000 square metres, the museum is arranged over several levels underground to reduce its footprint.

Project Name：Mirage by the Lake

Designer: AK+

Location: Cyberjaya, Malaysia

Category: Housing - Completed Buildings - Sponsored by Grohe

A congregation of high-end residences, incorporating lush villas and boutique apartments, Cyberjaya is now home to a world-renowned property. Natural basins from the site have its planned geometry avoid large scale excavation. Connected water bodies cumulate to form the core of an open space network which gives an undisrupted view by the tenants as it is fashioned in a cylindrical scope.

Project Type: Crystal Houses

Designer: MVRDV

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Category: Shopping - Completed Buildings

A shopfront clad in glass bricks have transformed the adage of fragility into a myth. Individually casted solid glass bricks crafted for investor Warener have brought a flair that combines Dutch heritage and international architecture. It would be hard to miss this near full-glass façade that mimics the original design down to the detailing along Amsterdam’s one and only luxe brand street.

For more information, please grab a copy of Designer Concept Issue 57 today!