Why enter the WAF awards
- WAF is the only awards programme where all finalists present their projects live to a panel of judges live at the festival in Singapore. Discuss your project and use their feedback to strengthen your future work.
- The WAF awards generate more than 350 pieces of international press coverage each year. CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC, The New York Times, Telegraph, Designboom and ArchDaily are just a few of the media outlets you could be seen in and show clients you are at the forefront of design.
- Our finalists, judges and attendees span the globe. Develop an invaluable international network that you can seek advice from, partner with and win work from.
- The judging panel consists of 140+ leading architects, designers, journalists and industry experts. WAF’s unique, rigorous judging process strengthens your credibility and sets you apart from the competition.
- Have your project permanently listed on the World Buildings Directory. All entries will receive a listing complete with a full description and images.
- All winners will receive a complimentary press kit distribution, courtesy of our partner v2com newswire. v2com—the international newswire specializing in design and architecture—will share your press kit with 7000+ print and digital publications in 100+ countries!
Your guide to entering WAF 2024
World Architecture Festival 2024 will take place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from the 6 - 8 November. At the heart of the festival sits a unique awards programme. All finalists will present their project live.
The entry and judging process
January 2024: online entries open to architects and designers across the world.
28 March 2024: early bird entry rate ends. Last chance to save £80 on your entry.
21 May 2024 : Final entries close. All boards, images and descriptions have to be uploaded to your entry form.
June 2024: shortlist decided. Leading architects and industry professionals gather to look at the entry boards and decide the 2024 shortlist. You will be informed soon after if you are a finalist.
July 2024: shortlist announced. All finalists will be published on WAF’s website, international press and by WAF’s renowned media partners.
5 July 2024: finalist delegate rate ends. Don’t forget, all finalists must purchase two passes to attend the festival and present their project live!
6 - 7 November 2024: live judging at WAF in Singapore. All finalists present for 10 minutes to a panel of three category judges followed by 10 minutes of Q&A. Judging takes place in a ‘crit’ room open to the WAF audience. Category winners are announced at the end of each day.
8 November 2024: live judging for overall winners in Singapore. Each category winner presents again for the Completed Building, Future Project, Landscape or Inside Super-Jury. The overall winners and special prize winners are announced at the Gala Dinner.
What to include in your entry:
Our simple online entry form will guide you through the process. You can save and return to your entry at any point (even after you have paid!) Here is an overview of what to include.
- 2 x A2 entry boards (we print them for you, the judges use these to make their shortlisting decisions)
- A project summary of 200 – 500 words to be included on the World buildings Directory
- A hero image of your project
- Up to 6 further images of the project including photographs and plans
Categories
COMPLETED BUILDINGS
Completed Buildings - Civic and Community
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Civic and community Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Ambulance/fire stations
Cemeteries
Community centres
Consulates and embassies
Law courts
Parliamentary buildings
Prisons/police stations
Town halls
Completed Buildings - Creative Re-use
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Createive Re-use Completed Buildings category are buildings or complexes that have been adapted for an entirely new purpose, eg an old town hall converted into a hotel
Completed Buildings - Culture
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered into the Culture Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Cinemas
Concert halls
Galleries
Libraries
Museums
Performance spaces
Theatres
Completed Buildings - Display
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered into the Display Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Aquariums
Exhibition centres
Showrooms
Visitor centres
Zoos and aviaries
Completed Buildings - Health
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Health Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Doctors' and dentists' surgeries
Hospitals
Nursing homes
Completed Buildings - Higher Education and Research
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Higher Education and Research Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Research Facilities
University/college buildings
University/college campuses/masterplans
Completed Buildings - Hotel and Leisure
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Hotel and Leisure Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Bars
Hotels
Restaurants
Spas
Theme parks
Completed Buildings - House and Villa
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the House and Villa Completed Buildings category are single dewllings in any location.
Completed Buildings - Housing
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Housing Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Mixed complexes
Private housing
Completed Buildings - Mixed-Use
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Mixed-use Completed Buildings category include buildings that have multiple uses.
Completed Buildings - Retrofit
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Retrofit Completed Buildings category are buildings or complexes that have been upgraded or extended to carry out the same basic function, eg an office complex or university buildings
Completed Buildings - Office
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Office Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Call centres
Offices
Completed Buildings - Production, Energy and Logistics
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Production, Energy and Logistics category include, but are not limited to:
Factories
Power stations
Pumping stations
Recycling centres
Refuse/sewage treatment centres
Warehouse/distribution/agricultural
Wineries
Completed Buildings - Religion
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Religion Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Cathedrals
Churches
Monasteries/retreats
Mosques
Synagogues
Temples
Completed Buildings - School
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered into the School Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Nursery/infant schools
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special needs facilities
Completed Buildings - Shopping
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered into the Shopping Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Department stores
Food markets
Shopping centres
Shops
Completed Buildings - Sport
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered into the Sport Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Fitness centres/gymnasiums
Golf courses/clubs
Ski facilities
Sports halls
Stadiums
Swimming pools
Completed Buildings - Transport
All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered into the Transport Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Airports
Bridges
Bus and coach stations
Car parks
Cycle facilities Railway stations/underground stations
FUTURE PROJECTS
Future Projects - Civic
Projects that can be entered in to the Civic Future Project category include, but are not limited to:
Ambulance/fire stations
Cemeteries
Community centres
Consulates and embassies
Law courts
Parliamentary buildings
Prisons/police stations
Town halls
Future Projects - Commercial Mixed-Use
The Future Projects Commerical mixed-use category is open to any submissions for buildings that have multiple uses.
Future Projects - Competition Entries
The Future Projects Competition category is open to any submissions for architectural competitions.
Future Projects - Culture
Projects that can be entered in to the Culture Future Project category include, but are not limited to:
Cinemas
Concert halls
Galleries
Libraries
Museums
Performance spaces
Theatres
Future Projects - Education
Projects that can be entered in to the Education Future Project category include, but are not limited to:
Nursery/infant schools
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special needs facilities
Future Projects - Experimental
Projects that can be entered in to the Experimental Future Projects are conceptual projects or proposals that challenge conventional thinking.
Future Projects - Health
Projects that can be entered in to the Health Future Project category include, but are not limited to:
Doctors' and dentists' surgeries
Hospitals
Nursing homes
Future Projects - House
Projects that can be entered in to the House Future Project category include, but are not limited to:
Conversions
Private houses
Future Projects - Infrastructure
Projects that can be entered in to the Infrastructure Future Project category include, but are not limited to:
Bridges
Airports
Stations
Transport
Future Projects - Leisure-led Development
Projects that can be entered in to the Leisure-led Development Future Projects category include, but are not limited to:
Bars
Department stores
Fitness centres/gymnasiums
Food markets
Golf courses/clubs
Hotels
Restaurants
Shopping centresShops
Ski facilities
Spas
Sports halls
Stadiums
Swimming pools
Theme parks
Future Projects - Masterplanning
Future Projects - Masterplanning
Future Projects - Office
Projects that can be entered in to the Office Future Projects category include, but are not limited to:
Call centres
Offices
Future Projects - Residential
Projects that can be entered in to the Residential Future Projects category include, but are not limited to:
Mixed complexes
Private housing
Public housing
INSIDE - INTERIORS CATEGORIES
Inside - Bars and Restaurants
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Bars and Restaurant category include, but are not limited to:
Bars
Cafes and diners
Restaurants (of any size)
Inside - Education
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Education category include, but are not limited to:
Community learning
Nursery/infant schools
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special-needs facilities
University/college buildings
Inside - Health and Fitness
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Health and Fitnesst category include, but are not limited to:
Community health centres
Doctors' and dentists' surgeries
Gymnasiums
Hospitals
Nursing homes
Rehabilitation Centres
Sports centres
Swimming pools/spas
Inside - Hotels
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Hotels category include, but are not limited to:
Aparthotels
Casino hotels
Hotels (of any size)
Motels
Inside - Public Buildings
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Public Buildings category include, but are not limited to:
Airports
Ambulance/fire stations
Bus and coach stations
Car parks
Cinemas/Theatres
Community centres
Concert halls
Consulates and embassies
Embassies and consulates
Galleries
Law courts
Libraries
Municipal facilities/town halls
Museums
Performance spaces
Parliamentary buildings
Prisons/police stations
Railway stations/underground stations
Religious buildings
Spiritual/Contemplation spaces
Inside - Residential (housing, more than one dwelling)
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Residential (housing, more than one dwelling) category include, but are not limited to:
Hybrid housing-led development
Commercial housing development
Public/semi-public housing
Inside - Residential (single dwelling)
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Residential (single dwelling) category include, but are not limited to:
House
Apartment
Inside - Retail
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Retail category include, but are not limited to:
Department stores
Food halls
Shopping centres (any size)
Shops (any size)
Inside - Temporary/Meanwhile uses
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Temporary/Meanwhile uses category include, but are not limited to:
Display spaces
Exhibitions
Installations
Pavilions
Pop-ups
Showrooms
Inside - Workplace (Large)
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Workplace (Large) category include offices more than 1,000 sq metres.
Inside - Workplace (Small)
All projects must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
Projects that can be entered in to the Workplace (Small) category include, but are not limited to:
Offices (below 1,000 sq metres)
Shared space
Drop-in/bookable space
LANDSCAPE
Landscape
All projects in the Landscape categories must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 June 2024.
This category is for any Landscape project.
The Judges
In 2024, 140 judges representing 68 countries joined our expert panels. Only at WAF are you judged by your peers, your heroes and the industry’s power players, all live at the festival at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
Increase your chances of winning at WAF
Special Prizes
Alongside the WAF award categories are a host of special prizes awarded to projects from the main shortlist. Entrants do not have to pay any additional fees to be considered for the prizes. Shortlisted projects will go on to compete in the live-judging at WAF.
WAFX
WAFX celebrates international proposals which embrace cutting-edge design addressing major world issues. The WAFX shortlisted projects will be chosen from the WAF Future Projects shortlist with no additional cost or material needed from the entrant. Winners will go on to present on the Festival Hall Stage at WAF.
Inside
Inside World Festival of Interiors is the sister awards programme of WAF and celebrates the finest examples of global interior design. It takes place at the same time and location as WAF. Submit your interior projects across 11 categories.
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