Looking forward, looking back
The 50:50 theme at 2015 WAF: global thinking about how architecture and urbanism have changed and what will change over the next 50 years to come.
One of the WAF finalists: Christchurch Botanic Gardens by Pattersons.
2015 World Architecture Festival finalist in the Display category: Isaac Theatre Royal by Warren and Mahoney Architects.
Finalist in the Culture category: Te Uru Waitekere Contemporary Art Gallery by Mitchell & Stout Architects.
The World Architecture Festival is the world’s largest international architectural event. It includes the biggest architectural awards programme in the world, dedicated to celebrating excellence via live presentations to delegates and international juries.
2015’s WAF theme is titled 50:50 – looking forward, looking back, both a reference to the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence which it celebrates in 2015, and an investigation on how architecture and urbanism have changed during the last 50 years, while looking forward to what may change or remain the same in the next 50 to come.
Each year the World Architecture Festival comprises the awards, a thematic conference programme, an exhibition of award entries, sponsor and exhibitor stands and networking/social events. Held in Singapore, the 2015 event takes place from 4 - 6 November. The awards ceremony will recognize projects across 30 categories and ultimately select the World Building, Future Project and Landscape of the Year.
The conference will center around three key topics: Designing for Tomorrow, Imagining the Future and Cities and Urbanism. Among the sessions will be lectures on “The future of food: Radical approaches that preserve ecological sustainability” by Michael Sorkin and Rachel Belatchew of Belatchew Arkitekter; “The way we thought then, the way we think now” by Charles Jencks; and “Singapore 50:50” by Liu Thai-Ker of RSP Architects Planners and Engineers.
Peter Cook and Kerry Hill will also give a talk on “Reflections on 50 years of city evolution,” while Manuelle Gautrand will speak on “Paris reconsidered.”
Fourteen New Zealand projects from eight architecture practices feature among the 338 finalists, including Upper Queen Street by Irving Smith Jack Architects, Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery by Mitchell & Stout Architects, Christchurch Botanic Gardens Centre by Patterson Associates and Isaac Theatre Royal by Warren and Mahoney Architects.
View the full conference program here, and learn more about the 2015 speakers here.
Architecture New Zealand magazine is a partner of the 2015 World Architecture Festival.
