Singapore hosts World Architecture Festival

Slotted at the Marina Bay Sands, the AkzoNobel-sponsored festival is designed to be an inspirational, design-led experience with opportunities to hear from some of the world’s best-known architects and talented young practices establishing themselves on the global stage.

Last year’s festival was attended by more than 1,400 architects from over 60 countries and territories. This year’s will include 300 firms presenting their work, 95 international judges, 70 industry shaping speakers, and 46 award winners, reported the organisers.

The WAF already has the award shortlist for this year’s event. Awards in the Completed Buildings category are civic and community; culture; display; health; higher education/research; hotel/leisure; house; housing; new and old office; production/energy/recycling; religion; schools; shopping; sport; transport; and villa.

The Landscape Projects category is for completed designs. Meanwhile, the Future Projects category includes commercial mixed-use; competition entries; culture; education; experimental; health; house; infrastructure; leisure led development; master planning; office; and residential.

Every shortlisted architect will present their entry to WAF’s illustrious international judging panels. They will show over 400 projects, from schools to cinemas, museums to mosques. The judges include Dietmar Eberle, Jeanne Gang and Patrick Bellew.

WAF 2013 will run in correlation with the World Festival of Interiors, or WAF Inside, said Jeremy Rowe, managing director of AkzoNobel Decorative Paints, South East Asia and Pacific.

As for WAF Inside, sponsored by AkzoNobel’s brand Dulux, 22 design professionals will give speeches and conduct Q&A sessions with the audience. Speakers for this year’s event include the world-renowned interior designer Nigel Coates, transport designer Paul Priestman, and installation designer Jason Bruges.

On top of that, WAF Inside will play host to an illuminating and inspirational seminar programme, unique design features and installations, and tours that give the participants the inside track on Singapore's thriving design scene.

AkzoNobel will introduce next year’s trends of colour during WAF. The AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Centre has worked closely with global partners to translate the trends into indoor and outdoor design ideas.