The World Architecture Festival has announced the 2022 Special Prize shortlist, ahead of this year’s festival which takes place in Lisbon from 30 November - 2 December. 

The projects shortlisted for the Special Prizes are selected from across the greater WAF Awards shortlist to shine a light on the submissions that exhibit an outstanding use of Engineering, Colour, Natural Light and Certified Timber, as well as the best Small Project of the Year Prize. 

This year sees two inaugural new prizes, The Futureglass Prize supported by Aestech and The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust International Building Beauty Prize supported by Ballymore. 

World Architecture Community is official Media Partner of WAF and INSIDE 2022 and will be bringing you the latest news about the festivals' speaker line-up and sessions.

In addition, WAC readers can receive an exclusive 20% discount over entry fees for WAF and INSIDE by entering this promo code online: WAC2220.

Best Use of Colour Prize

Holland Casino Venlo by MVSA Architects. Image © Corné Clemens

HONG NGOC PHUC TRUONG MINH GENERAL HOSPITAL by MPN + PARTNERS. Image © MF Pictures

John Lewis Elementary School by Perkins Eastman DC. Image © Joseph Romeo

The Best Use of Colour Prize celebrates the creative use of colour in architecture, both inside and out. 

The eight finalists for the Prize employ bright and bold colours innovatively to catch the eye, to provide a wayfinding tool or to create joyful spaces for its users. 

The shortlisted projects are:

• HONG NGOC PHUC TRUONG MINH GENERAL HOSPITAL by MPN + PARTNERS
• Holland Casino Venlo by MVSA BV
• Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship zone by HONGKONG HUAYI DESIGN CONSULTANTS (S.Z) LTD.
• The Docks by MEIXNER SCHLÜTER WENDT
• Harvard University District Energy Facility by Leers Weinzapfel Associates with RMF Engineering (MEP) and Thornton Tomasetti (Structural)
• SASIPAWAN WISDOM CENTER by Architects 49 Limited
• John Lewis Elementary School by Perkins Eastman DC
• Meadowbank Schools by WOODS BAGOT

Best Use of Natural Light Prize supported by VELUX

Sara Culture Centre by White Arkitekter AB. Image © Jonas Westling

Dobra 55 The Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics building by Kuryłowicz Associates. Image © Nate Cook Photography

Jakoba Mulderhuis by Powerhouse Company. Image © Sebastian van Damme

The Best Use of Natural Light Prize, supported by VELUX, recognizes the best use of natural light in completed buildings in particular to enhance human well-being, performance and joy. 

The eight projects shortlisted for this Prize are all public and semi-public spaces, designed to maximise natural daylight to engage with their surroundings and create dynamic spaces for their visitors. The shortlisted projects are:

• Sara Culture Centre by White Arkitekter AB
• University of Warwick Faculty of Arts by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
• Jakoba Mulderhuis by Powerhouse Company
• Dobra 55: The Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics building by Kuryłowicz & Associates
• Pingtan Children Library by Condition_Lab
• Paddington Elizabeth Line station by Weston Williamson + Partners
• Agrotopia by van Bergen Kolpa architects + META architectuurbureau
• Dining Space at DevaDhare by Play Architecture

The Futureglass Prize supported by Aestech

Biodome Science Museum by KANVA. Image © Marc Cramer

Australia 108 by Fender Katsalidis. Image © Peter Bennetts

Agrotopia by van Bergen Kolpa architects + META architectuurbureau. Image © Filip Dujardin

Including both completed and future projects The Futureglass Prize, supported by Aestech, is awarded to the project that best demonstrates new ways in which glass and glass technology can be deployed. 

The finalists for the inaugural Prize range from chameleonic glass-paneled buildings to innovative glass interventions in existing structures, showcasing the breadth of how glass and glass technology can be used in new and inventive ways. 

The shortlisted projects are:

• Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen by MVRDV
• Australia 108 by Fender Katsalidis
• The Burrell Collection by John McAslan + Partners
• Biodome Science Museum by KANVA
• Heper Lighting Factory by Yazgan Design Architecture
• A2A Headquarters by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel
• Core Wynwood by Perkins&Will
• 14A Konstitucijos Avenue by RSHP
• Agrotopia by van Bergen Kolpa architects + META architectuurbureau

Best Use of Certified Timber Prize supported by the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin by TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten. Image © Ilya Ivanov

Paseo Mallorca 15 by OHLAB. Image © José Hevia

Timber Bridge in Gulou Waterfront by LUO studio. Image © Jin Weiqi

This Prize is supported by the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). A special jury including a PEFC representative have identified entries which have used certified timber in an innovative, educational or artistic manner. 

The eight finalists for the Timber Prize represent a mix of the world’s largest timber buildings and smaller structures that reflect local culture through the use of traditional materials, both embracing how wood can be used to push the envelope of modern construction. 

The shortlisted projects are:

• Sara Culture Centre by White Arkitekter AB
• The Alice Hawthorn by De Matos Ryan
• Paseo Mallorca 15 by OHLAB
• HAUT Amsterdam by Team V Architecture
• EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin by TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten
• Eric Tweedale Stadium by dwp | design worldwide partnership
• Timber Bridge in Gulou Waterfront by LUO studio
• Växjö train station and town hall by Sweco Architects 

Small Project of the Year Prize

The Chamber Church by Büro Ziyu Zhuang. Image © Shengliang Su

Palanga Goat Shelter by Erginoglu & Calislar Architects. Image © Hasan Çalışlar, PAAF, Metin Çavuş, Dilara Demiralp, Aram Tufan

Yao-Fang-Men Park Church by SUYI and W2 Architects. Image © Chao Shen

The Small Project of the Year Prize is awarded to the best completed project that is small for its type. These finalist projects represent the ingenuity and craftsmanship of architects designing within restricted parameters. The Prize celebrates projects small in scale but big on innovation. 

The shortlisted projects are:

• Denis Goldberg House of Hope by noero architects
• Ravenscar House by Patterson Associates
• The Moving Kitchen by JC Architecture
• Palanga Goat Shelter by Erginoglu & Calislar Architects
• The Chamber Church by Büro Ziyu Zhuang
• Yao-Fang-Men Park Church by SUYI and W2 Architects
• Kings Langley Cricket Club and Amenities by Eoghan Lewis Architects
• Dining Space at DevaDhare by Play Architecture

Engineering Prize

Expo 2020 Thematic Districts by Hopkins Architects. Image © Marc Goodwin

SoFi Stadium by HKS Architects. Image © Kevin Korczyk

Secure Sanand by Studio SAAR. Image © Ankit Jain

The esteemed Engineering Prize is awarded by a specialist jury to a project that marries great architecture and engineering to push the envelope in building design. 

The nine finalist projects showcase the most striking, unique and sophisticated structures, whose complex engineering enhance the user experience and provide sustainable solutions in an ambitious way. 

The shortlisted projects are:

• Expo 2020 Thematic Districts by Hopkins Architects
• The St. Regis Chicago by Studio Gang
• Orange Village – Headquarters by Koffi & Diabaté Architectes
• Quay Quarter Tower by 3XN
• Secure Sanand by Studio SAAR
• Westfield Mall of the Netherlands by MVSA BV
• SoFi Stadium by HKS Architects
• Parkade of the Future by 5468796 Architecture + Kasian Architecture, Interior Design and Planning
• Paddington Elizabeth Line station by Weston Williamson + Partners

This year celebrates the inaugural Royal Fine Art Commission Trust International Building Beauty Prize supported by Ballymore, this Prize will be awarded to a completed building which ‘raises the spirits’ through architecture. 

WAF will announce finalists within the coming weeks. 

The finalists for the Special Prizes will go on to compete live at WAF Lisbon and the overall winner of each will be revealed at the Gala Dinner. 

Other prizes to be announced at WAF include The Lisbon Prize, which is supported by kreon to recognise and celebrate the best building in the city WAF is being held, The Visualisation Prize, supported by Lumion which celebrates this year’s best architectural render, WAFX, which celebrates the best of this year’s future projects, and The Architecture Drawing Prize, curated by Make Architects, Sir John Soane's Museum and WAF, and supported by Iris Ceramica Group.

You can also see WAFX 2022 Shortlist, presenting 20 Future Projects addressing societal and environmental challenges. Meanwhile, see the full shortlisted projects for WAF 2022 and INSIDE 2022.

Top image: Sara Culture Centre by White Arkitekter AB. Image © Jonas Westling.

> via WAF 

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