The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced its shortlist of 2025 Special Prize nominees, including a project based in South Africa.
COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Courtesy of WAF
The prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced its 2025 Special Prize shortlist nominees. The shortlist aims to recognise projects that embody exceptional architectural merit, and the nominees were selected from the greater WAF awards shortlist.
The categories are:
- Best use of Colour
- Best use of Timber
- The Sustainability Prize supported by ROCKWOOL
- Small Project of the Year
- Best use of Stone supported by Turkish Stones
- Best use of Natural Light supported by VELUX
- The American Beauty Prize supported by Royal Fine Art Commission Trust
- GROHE Water Prize
Below in order of the categories are the selected shortlisted projects.
Best Use of Colour
The Best use of Colour prize celebrates the creative use of colour in architecture, both inside and out.
The shortlisted projects are:
- Island Oasis by Architecture Joyce Owens LLC, in the USA
- Blacktown Exercise and Sports Technology Hub (BEST) by ARM Architecture, in Australia
- Alibaba Xixi Tech Campus Landscape by ASPECT Studios, in China
- Canberra Hospital Expansion by BVN, in Australia
- Wuhan Snow World by CLOU architects, in China
- Scaife Hall of Engineering by KieranTimberlake, in the USA
- CBMAA Campus Parking by Marlon Blackwell Architects, in the USA
- Central Nakhon Pathom by Stu/D/O Architects, in Thailand
Best use of Timber
The Best use of Timber prize celebrates completed buildings that stand out for their innovative and impactful use of wood. This year’s shortlist includes a forest-like Pavilion designed by NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD for Expo 2025 Osaka.
The shortlisted projects are:
- QUINTA DE ADORIGO WINERY by ATELIER SERGIO REBELO, in Portugal
- Retrofitting a Hotel in the Wood District by Baar-Baarenfels Architects, in Austria
- T3 Diagonal Mar Offices in Barcelona by Batlleiroig, in Spain
- University of Queensland Soundshell by Kirk Studio, in Australia
- Japan Pavillion by NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD for Expo 2025 Osaka, in Japan
- Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Environmental Education Building by Leers Weinzapfel Associates, Architects Inc., in the USA
- Rancho del Bosque by Sordo Madaleno, in Mexico
- RISE Bioeconomy Arena by Sweco Architects, in Sweden
The Sustainability Prize, supported by ROCKWOOL
Celebrating completed building projects that demonstrate new ways in which sustainable materials are deployed in projects of any scale including the brief, design, materials, construction, and longevity.
The shortlisted projects are:
- urbanest Battersea by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris LTD, the UK
- T3 Diagonal Mar Offices in Barcelona by Batlleiroig, in Spain
- Croton Water Filtration Plant by Grimshaw, in the USA
- ROSEBERY ENGINE YARDS by GROUP GSA, in Australia
- 1265 Borregas by MGA | Michael Green Architecture, SERA Architects, in the USA
- AGNES Kantonsspital Baden by Nickl & Partner Architekten Schweiz AG, in Switzerland
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Saunders Center for Orthopaedics & Physical Performance by Perkins&Will with SLAM Architects, in the USA
- Younghusband by Woods Bagot, in Australia
Small Project of the Year
Any completed buildings project can be entered, the only criteria is that it is judged to be small for type.
The shortlisted projects are:
- DOM-INO HUB by atelier tho.A, in Vietman
- Garage for car collection by ATRIUM, in Russia
- The Osona Viewpoint Network by Batlleiroig, in Spain
- The Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas by Fernando Menis, in Spain
- University of Queensland Soundshell by Kirk Studio, in Australia
- Shrine of Healing (Dambana ng Paghilom) by Nazareno Architecture + Design, in the Philippines
- Chicken Hero Pavilion by RAD+AR, in Indonesia
- Courtyard35 – Hutong Cloudscape by WAY Studio, in China
- Old Street Station Entrance by WW+P Architects, in the UK
Best use of Stone, supported by Turkish Stones
This prize is to award completed building projects that demonstrate innovative and exemplary use of stone within the project.
The shortlisted projects are:
- Naxxar House by AP Valletta, in Malta
- Vourla House by GAD Architecture, in Turkey
- Ritual Space by GEOMIM, in Turkey
- Heartland Whole Health Institute by Marlon Blackwell Architects, in the USA
- The Central Courtyard Villa by NextOffice [Studio of Architectural Research & Design], in Iran
- Desert Rock by Oppenheim Architecture, in Saudi Arabia
- SCREEN 504 by SANJAY PURI ARCHITECTS, in India
Best use of Natural Light supported by VELUX
This prize is to award completed building projects that showcase a unique use of a day-lighting. Special emphasis will be put on projects that consider the impact on human well-being. Included in this year’s shortlist is South African architecture firm Hubo Studio‘s Redhill Early Learning Center.
The shortlisted projects are:
- Quinta De Adorigo Winery by Atelier Sergio Rebelo, in Portugal
- New building for the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona by Batlleiroig, in Spain
- Redhill Early Learning Center by Hubo Studio, in South Africa.
- Lantern House by Leckie Studio Architecture + Design Inc, in Canada
- AGNES Kantonsspital Baden by Nickl & Partner Architekten Schweiz AG, in Switzerland
- University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center in Paris by Studio Gang, in the USA
- Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw by Thomas Phifer and Partners, in Poland
- Terrazas para la vida by Urbanitree, in Spain
- Central Station by Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan + Partners, in Australia
The American Beauty Prize
This award will be made to a completed building which ‘raises the spirits.’ The American Building Beauty Prize finalists are chosen from all shortlisted projects within the completed building categories.
The shortlisted projects are:
- NYPD 40th Precinct by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, in the USA
- Wildflower Film Studios by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, in the USA
- Pritzker Military Archives Center by Jahn/, in the USA
- Isla Intersections Supportive Housing & Paseo by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, in the USA
- CBMAA Campus Parking by Marlon Blackwell Architects, in the USA
- 1265 Borregas by MGA | Michael Green Architecture, SERA Architects, in the USA
GROHE Water Prize
The GROHE Water Prize, an award that highlights projects that are implementing innovative design within the built environment and water, shortlist and winner will be announced later in the year.
All the above-mentioned shortlisted projects will have an opportunity to present their project to the World Architecture Festival panel of judges as they go head-to-head for the prize.
World Architecture Festival and Inside World Festival of Interiors will take place at Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, on 12 – 14 November 2025. | worldarchitecturefestival.com
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