Ten projects by 8 Filipino
designers and architects have been shortlisted as finalists in this year’s
World Architects Festival (WAF), one of the world’s most prestigious annual
festival and awards ceremony in the architecture and development industry. Not
only is this the most typologically diverse showing for the Philippines yet, it
is also the most number of Filipino designs that have been selected for WAF,
topping the previous record.
GROHE, a founding partner of
WAF and
leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings,
supports the local designers, some of whom are veterans and previous winners of
WAF, namely previous
winner BAAD Studio, last year’s WAFX
special prize winner WTA Architecture and Design
Studio, Highly Commended recipient BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design, Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates, and HANDS Design Studio. In addition, three design firms also
make their WAF shortlist debut this year: Studio Fuerzo, DST Design+Build, and Davao-based BERSABARC Design Studio.
This year's WAF theme is “Together” in order to consider how
architecture is responding to the renewal of collective life post-pandemic and
committing to combating climate change. In line with the theme, it has also
been three years since the global community of architects and designers have
been able to meet in-person at WAF. It will be an opportunity for speakers and
panels to discuss issues and conditions which relate to the collective use of
architecture and public space in a variety of settings, including changes as a
result of health considerations and how domestic life, workplace culture, and
social engagement is operating in our new world.
“The
pandemic has changed how we live at home and at work. Each year, climate change
is also becoming a more pressing issue and an important consideration in
building homes and office buildings. With these in mind, GROHE looks forward to
WAF where the talent of Filipino designers and architects will be on full
display for the world to see. GROHE is proud to support local architects and
designers and their designs that are unique to the Pinoy perspective of what
we’ve experienced of the pandemic and climate change in our country,” said Hermie Limbo, LIXIL country general manager.
WAF award categories are Completed Buildings,
Future Projects, and Landscape. Aside from the WAF awards, there will also be
special prizes, such as the WAFX Award, among others. The WAFX
Award celebrates cutting-edge design approaches to address major world
issues, such as the climate emergency.
Looking back on the online
Crit sessions at the WAF last year, Jorge Yulo, who is also a finalist this
year, said, “They look for your narrative and the social and environmental
responsibilities you addressed. Aesthetics takes a back seat after the
shortlisting.”
Vying
for the Completed Buildings award, under the House & Villa, Urban/Suburban
category, are Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates with their entry,
“Equilateral House,” and BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design with “Pandemic House.”
For the House & Villa, Rural/Coastal category, BAAD Studio submitted, “The Mendoza Farmhouse.” For the New and Old category, Studio Fuerzo’s entry is the “New Provincialate House,”
while under the Hotel and Leisure category, HANDS Design Studio’s entry is “Casa Tropica.”
In
the Future Projects award shortlist, under the Civic and Community category is BAAD Studio’s “Pilgrim’s Shelter.” For
Competition Entries, there are BERSABARC’s “Hexarion
Martian Colony” and WTA Architecture and Design
Studio’s “BSP Security Plant
Complex.” WTA Architecture and Design
Studio also
submitted “Batangas
Forest City” for the Masterplanning category. Rounding out the finalists is DST Design + Build’s “The
Tree House Project” in the House category.
Speaking of his WAF
experience last year, William Ti, who is also a finalist this year with WTA,
said, “I remember a comment about how there seems to be something going on in
Philippine architecture with many more projects getting in to WAF. This makes
me feel proud about how far we’ve come and look forward to the time when
Filipino architecture can be recognized globally.”
The Filipino finalists will join the other
shortlisted international contestants for WAF in Lisbon, Portugal from November
30 to December 2. As
part of the competition, they will take part in Live Crit Rooms, which are
unique live-judged awards programs. The Live Crit Rooms are also opportunities
for them to discover inside knowledge of the most outstanding projects in the
world and gain invaluable insights from a panel of expert judges, who are
world-renowned architects from leading practices.
Launched in 2008, the World Architecture Festival is the world’s largest
annual international architectural event and includes panel discussions and
talks by leading global architectural thinkers and industry personalities.
To know more about the Filipino designers, follow GROHE’s official Facebook
page, https://www.facebook.com/GrohePacific.
To know more about the World Architecture Festival, visit https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/.
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