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The Visualisation Prize

Architects shared their most inspiring renders for the chance to win Best Visualisation at the World Architecture Festival 2023. The winner is now revealed!

As an architect, you have the power to shape the world around you. To take a simple idea and transform it into something extraordinary.

Architectural visualisation eases this process by letting you look into the future and experience a design long before it exists. In doing so, you can ensure that it’s as close to your vision as possible - that it evokes the desired emotion and tells just the right story.

The fourth-annual Visualisation Prize, sponsored by Lumion rendering software , invited all finalists of the WAF 2023 awards to explore the limitless potential of visualisation.

See the winner and finalists below...

THE VISUALISATION PRIZE WINNER 2023

The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation, United States by Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design | The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation

THE VISUALISATION PRIZE SHORTLIST 2023

New Hope Central China Regional Headquarters by Lingui Fengchao Technology Service

Evergrande Xin Paifang No.9 by Shanghai ORIA planning and Architectural Design

Wake El Tesoro Bio Hotel and residences by DRIM

Hillcrest Rose Bay, Sydney by Woods Bagot

Federiciana Library by Mario Cucinella Architects

Komische Oper Berlin by kadawittfeldarchitektur

The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation by Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design

Kai Tak Sports Park by Populous

Norsk Retreat by Atelier Architecture & Design

At home in the woods by Park + Associates

Entry guidelines

Submission guidelines:

  • The Visualisation Prize is free to enter and is open to entries from anybody that has been shortlisted in the 2023 Future Projects, Completed Buildings, Inside and Landscape categories
  • To enter, please present your project rendered in 3D. The formats accepted can be still images (3 images required) or a video rendering (up to 3 min in length)
    *Image resolution no less that 72ppi
    *Preferred image quality 4K (3840x2160px for landscape, 2160x3840px for vertical & min 2160x2160px for square formats)

  • Rendered visuals must show a future project or a recently completed building
  • Projects must be rendered in-house at an architectural practice or reflect a collaboration between a visualiser and the architectural practice.

How to present your best work:

The 2023 Visualisation Prize will be live-judged by 3-4 judges, who are looking for:

  • Aesthetics. The judges are looking for a high degree of attractiveness and beauty. The render must look “good”, it should have style.
  • Emotional. The render must make viewers ‘feel’ something about the project. This could be joy, excitement, nostalgia, or any other emotion.
  • Technical. How do the colours look? Are there unwanted artefacts in the render? Do the camera movements feel natural?
  • Comparison. The project in the render must represent the original design with a high level of fidelity. The judges will compare the design with its depiction in the render.

What happens at WAF?

  • All finalists will present their visualisation live at the WAF which takes place from the 29 November - 1 December.
  • 1 December: The Visualisation Prize is judged, live! Shortlisted participants get 10 minutes to present their project with an additional 8 minutes for Q&As.
  • 1 December: Winner announced at the Gala Dinner in the evening, along with all of the other WAF and Inside 2023 winners.


How to submit:

Complete the short online form by clicking below. Please send your file via WeTransfer to waf.visualisation@emap.com along with the Entry ID of your original WAF/Inside entry (if applicable), project title and company name in the subject line of the email.

If you have any questions please contact us on waf.visualisation@emap.com

ENTRIES NOW CLOSED FOR 2023

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