Solutions in Action: WAFX 2023 Award-Winners Spearhead Climate Emergency Responses

The WAFX 2023 (World Architecture Festival) Award winners have been revealed, including 34 concepts from leading design studios worldwide. These studios’ proposals confront a wide variety of pressing ecological and societal challenges of the present day.

The Winners of The WAFX 2023 Award

The jury has chosen eight category winners from the full list of future endeavors released last week before the Festival’s three-day gathering at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore in November.

1) Ageing and Health

Dubai Healthcare City l Kalbod Studio
Alexandria Health Centre l Warren and Mahoney
PHRC: Poona Hospital and Research Centre l Mandviwala Qutub and Associates

Alexandria Health Centre l Warren and Mahoney. © Warren and Mahoney

2) Building Technology

Fisher and Paykel Global Headquarters by RTA Studio
The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation by Grafton Architects with modus studio
Preservation and Regeneration of a “Tulou” in Nanjing County by UrbanFabric
The BRIJ by CRAB Studio
ChongZhou Bamboo Weaving Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall by China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Corp
Biogenic Construction by CINARK – Center for Industrial Architecture, The Royal Danish Academy
Absorbent Sand Storm Skyscraper by Kalbod Studio
Affordable biobased houses by UArchitects / Misak Terzibasiyan

ChongZhou Bamboo Weaving Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall by China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Corp. © China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Corp. Ltd

Absorbent Sand Storm Skyscraper by Kalbod Studio. © WAF

3) Carbon, Climate & Energy

Taikoo Green Ribbon by ARUP
The Ellinikon Park by SASAKI
The Probiotic Tower by Design and More International

The Probiotic Tower by Design and More International. © Karim Mousa

4) Cultural identity

Nora Mosque and Community Center by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture
Jain Cultural Centre by Mandviwala Qutub and Associates
Montreal Holocaust Museum by KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture
Musée International du Vodun by Koffi & Diabaté Architectes

Jain Cultural Centre. © Third I Productions

Nora Mosque and Community Center. © EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture, The Boundary

5) Ethics and Values

we!park by Shma Company Limited
Pangasinan Barangay Centers by Buensalido Architects
Makery @ 2nd Street by SANALarc
The Home of Homes by ABāD Design Studio, Cross Studio

we!park. © Shma Company Limited

The Home of Homes. © WAF

6) Re-use

Sinterbecken by Metaform
Rethinking Oil Rigs – Offshore Data Centres by Arup
Ecodistrict laMercedes in Barcelona by Batlleiroig Arquitectura
Kinmen County Central Library and Art Museum by JJP Architects and Planners

Kinmen County Central Library and Art Museum. © JJP

Rethinking Oil Rigs. © Arup

7) Smart Cities

Green City Kigali by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Punggol Digital District by WOHA Architects
Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub by Grimshaw
Diatom City by Desitecture

Punggol Digital District. © JTC and WOHA

Diatom City. © WAF

8) Water

Antioquia Municipal River Parks by Gobernacion De Antioquia – Juan Pablo Lopez – Sebastian Monsalve
Micro Colony by UArchitects / Misak Terzibasiyan
Digging For Light by Kalbod Studio
HydroSKIN: Façade for Urban Rainwater Retention and Evaporative Cooling by University of Stuttgart