The finalists of the World Architecture Festival (WAF 2020/2021) have been announced
In 2020 the festival didn't take place because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so in 2021 the number of participants doubled, including contestants for 2020 and 2021. And means the competition is higher.
There were 14 finalists in the Home/Villa category (completed projects). Most participants were from Asia (Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, China). 4 projects were from Australia. Unfortunately, neither Russia nor European countries are in the list.
The finale will take place in December 2021 in Lisbon where finalists will present their projects in front of a jury of 148 judges from 68 countries.
How to shortlist the Private House/Villa (completed project).
Boulder House (Seoul, South Korea). Architect AtelierJun.
Boulder House in the middle of an apartment block. The maximum privacy requested by the client was met. But looks too conceptual.
High Garden (Bangkok, Thailand). Architect Baan puripuri.
.Exploiting the idea of combining living space with plant life, the main façade is a sham with a lush garden behind it. The jagged moldings and vertical ribs in red hark back to traditional Thai architecture.
House Taurus (Sydney, Australia). Architect Durbach Block Jaggers.
The house on the shore of Sydney Harbor might look harsh and intimidating, like a stone bag of concrete. But the malleable shape of the facade is reminiscent of a wave, and the light gray color of the concrete — sea pebbles, it gives everything a light and organic feel.
Arc House (Sabzevar, Iran). Architects FMZD (Farshad Mehdizadeh) + MARZ.
To understand the context, you should know that the small town in Iran, where the house is built, is not remarkable in any way, there are almost no developed public spaces in it. So inside this 4-story single-family house we have designed as many common areas as possible, such as a terrace, galleries and a sports area. The focal point of the cohesive design is a vertical corridor leading all the way up to the top.
Kew Residence (Kew, Victoria, Australia). John Wardle Architects.
The addition with large panoramic windows to the house, which in 25 years has already undergone two renovations. Most of the renovations have been in the interior with tiles from Japan.
JARtB House (Melbourne, Australia). Architect Kavellaris Urban Design.
I wonder what it's like to live in an art gallery? You are welcome! JARtB House is a public art masquerading as a building in a residential neighborhood. The main message —architecture and art cannot be separated!
Tere Pavilion (Assinie-Mafia, Ivory Coast). Architect Koffi & Diabaté
The project is interesting because of its traditional method of construction, namely the construction of earthwork walls. By building them in layers, it was possible to use the pigmentation gradation of the walls as décor. A sloping roof of corrugated metal on wood framing allows air to circulate and cool the room.
Sky House (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). Architect by MIA Design Studio.
.Another attempt to connect man and nature in the dusty streets of Saigon. The house is roughly divided in half, with one part for living quarters and the other part for plants, water, sun and just empty spaces.
North Perth House (Perth, Australia). Architect NIC BRUNSDON.
.The house on a difficult landscape with limited access, and yet with a limited budget. The big selling point was the use of identical concrete panels with arched openings. When the opening is not necessary, it is covered with a wooden insert or translucent polycarbonate. Nothing additional was used in the finish except these three materials: concrete, wood, and polycarbonate.
The Home for Martial Arts (Foshan, China). PONE Architecture.
Laconic restoration of an old house for the next generation of descendants, a contemporary language woven into the annals of architecture.
Spice Terraces (Singapore). RT+Q Architects.
The architect René Tan's own home was a field for experimentation and new ideas, because there was no need to adjust to the client, often with conservative views. It became known as «the House of Spices because of the cultivation of various herbs on the terrace and in various corners of the house, although René himself calls it «the House of Refuse — his ideas, rejected by clients when designing other houses, were implemented here.
Nassim House (Singapore). Architect StudioMIlou singapore.
These are two residential houses on a hill, connected to each other by a pedestrian zone and vertical colonnades resembling a dense forest. The houses themselves are geometric, but perfectly integrated into the landscape. The entrances to the houses are inconspicuous because they pass underground, so the sense of being lost among the vines is heightened.
Montreal House (Calgary, Canada). Architect Sturgess Architecture (_SA).
.Two-story house, memorable for its volume and choice of materials. The Cor-Ten teel supporting frame and the large overhang of the wooden canopy tend forward, defying the laws of gravity.
Round house (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam). Architect Tho.A atelier.
The house built in a small space of 80 square meters using 3D technology. The spiral and curving theme refers to the development and the gradual change of generations. According to the artist, he was inspired by &lquo;grandfather playing music for his grandchildren in the old house.
WAF (World Architecture Festival) —one of the largest and significant international architectural events. It's been running since 2008. Every year 500-800 projects in 33 categories apply.