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Entries open as WAF heads to Miami

Following Singapore last year, the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025 is moving to the US for the first time in its 18-year history.

Entries open as WAF heads to Miami

Darlington Public School by fjcstudio, photo by Brett Boardman.


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March 12th, 2025

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WAF 2025 will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida from November 12th to 14th, bringing together leading architects and designers from around the world. It follows a run of editions at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, where Australian project Darlington Public School by fjcstudio – also previous winner at the INDE.Awards – won World Building of the Year in 2024. 

The 2025 festival will centre around the theme ‘Hearts and Minds,’ exploring the relationship between architecture as a product of intellect and its emotional impact. The program will feature an extensive lineup of talks, live-judged award presentations, exhibitions and networking opportunities. A key highlight of the event is the WAF Awards – and entries for 2025 are now open. 

Featuring 45 categories spanning completed buildings, interiors, future projects and landscape architecture, the awards also include a notable addition this year in the form of the WAF Interiors category dedicated to yacht, ship, and houseboat interiors. 

Winners from each category compete for the festival’s top honours: World Building of the Year, Landscape of the Year, Future Project of the Year and Interior of the Year. Special prizes will also be awarded to projects demonstrating exceptional use of materials, light and innovative design solutions addressing global challenges.

Quay Quarter Tower designed by 3XN with executive architect BVN, photo by Phil Noller.

WAF programme director Paul Finch comments: “We are delighted to be bringing the World Architecture Festival to Miami. We hope that the locational change, which is intended to generate extra interest from Central and South America, as well as from the USA and Canada, will be a stimulus to our regular award entrants.”

In a further expansion, WAF 2025 will introduce its ’40 under 40′ initiative, spotlighting the most promising young architects in North America. Additionally, the event will include a business-focused program hosted by Design Intelligence, a digital gallery of all entries and guided tours of Miami’s architectural landmarks.

Entries for the WAF Awards are open until April 25th, with an early bird rate available until March 14th. Judging will take place in June, and the shortlist will be announced in July.

WAF
worldarchitecturefestival.com

Read about this WAF 2024 project in Mexico

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