The shortlist for the 17th annual World Architecture Festival (WAF) – a prestigious festival and awards ceremony dedicated to architecture and the development industries – was announced on 10 July 2024. This year’s shortlist highlights 394 projects, celebrating the best completed buildings and landscapes as well as the most inspiring architectural concepts.
Finalists include major architects such as Zaha Hadid Architects, MVRDV, Tadao Ando Architect and Associates, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Adjaye Associates and Nikken Sekkei, alongside many other names from around the globe – including five South African practices.
The University of the Witwatersrand Flower Hall Test and Examination Centre by Savage + Dodd Architects was nominated in the ‘Completed Buildings: Creative Reuse’ category. Originally completed in 1969 to house the flower displays of the Wits Agricultural Society at the annual Rand Easter Show, the Flower Hall is an iconic building on the university campus and in 2022 it was selected for adaptive reuse development into a three-storey examination venue which was completed in 2023.
Upper Albert by multi-award winning SAOTA is built on a large plot on a steep site in Cape Town’s city bowl, facing northeast with panoramic views of the city and the harbour. The property was subdivided and redeveloped to create a five-bedroom family home on the upper section and two four-bedroom rental apartments on the lower. The project, which is nominated in the ‘Completed Buildings: Housing’ category, combines the personality and programmatic needs of the clients with a considered response to the urban environment and local built heritage.
The Green School South Africa in Paarl was designed by GASS Architecture Studios and is nominated in ‘Completed Buildings: School’. The first Living Building Challenge (an international sustainable building certification) compliant building in Africa, the school produces surplus energy, conserves water, promotes biodiversity, and fosters well-being by incorporating elements like natural light, fresh air and a strong connection to nature.
Two South African projects were also recognised in the ‘Future Project’ category: Kalahari Dunes by ARRCC and SAOTA, and Boogertman + Partners for #OxfordHive.
The awards ceremony will take place at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from 6 to 8 November 2024.
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