Alongside the main WAF award categories are a host of Special Prizes awarded to projects that demonstrate excellence in a particular area. These prizes are awarded to projects submitted into the main WAF awards.
How do I enter?
WAF's special prizes are awarded to projects who enter into the main WAF awards. Entrants do not have to pay any additional fees to be considered for the prizes. Simply tick the relevant box on the entry form when submitting and increase your chances of winning at WAF! All finalists will go on to compete at the live-judging at WAF in Miami. The overall winner will be revealed at the Gala Dinner on the final day.
The GROHE Water Prize has its own FREE submission process and unlike the other prizes, you do not have to enter the main WAF awards to participate.
The 2025 Special Prizes
The GROHE Water Prize
Supported by GROHE
The Water Prize, supported by GROHE, awards visionary projects that are pushing the boundaries of design within the built environment and water. View the winner and finalists from 2024.
Best use of Natural Light
Supported by VELUX
This prize is to award completed building projects that showcase a unique use of a day-lighting. Special emphasis will be put on projects that consider the impact on human well-being. View the 2024 winners and shortlist here.
Best use of Stone
Supported by Turkish Stones
This prize is to award completed building projects that demonstrate innovative and exemplary use of stone within the project. View the 2024 winner and shortlist.
The Sustainability Prize
Supported by ROCKWOOL
Celebrating completed building projects that demonstrate new ways in which sustainable materials are deployed in projects of any scale including the brief, design, materials, construction, and longevity. View the 2024 winner and shortlist.
Use of Colour
The Best Use of Colour Prize celebrates the creative use of colour in architecture, both inside and out. View the 2024 winner and shortlist.
Small Project of the Year
Any completed buildings project can be entered, the only criteria is that it is judged to be small for type! View the 2024 winner and shortlist.
WAFX Awards
What is WAFX?
Launched in WAF’s 10th year, WAFX celebrates international proposals which embrace cutting-edge design addressing major world issues. Ranging from tackling the climate emergency to building community resilience.
How to enter
All WAFX winners are chosen from the WAF Future Projects shortlist with no additional cost or material needed from the entrant. Winners will go on to present their project live at WAF in Miami with an overall WAFX winner announced at the Gala Dinner.
2024 winners
The winning projects for each of the 2024 categories have been revealed, they all presented their projects live on the Festival Hall Stage at the festival, and the overall WAFX winner was revealed at the Gala Dinner.
Additional Prizes
Student Charrette
WAF's global student design charrette is an integral part of the Festival. Student teams are invited to submit proposals and entries will open soon!Architecture Book of the Year Award
Publishers are invited to submit entries to the Architecture Book of the Year Award programme. Entries will open in 2025
The Architecture Drawing Prize
Curated by WAF, Make Architects and Sir John Soane’s Museum, TADP celebrates the importance of drawing as a tool in capturing architectural ideas. 2024 was a fallow year for the prize and it will be returning very soon!
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