With only one month to go before the 2014 World Architecture Festival (WAF) begins in Singapore, WAF has unveiled new additions to the Festival Program, including a keynote speech by Ole Scheeren of Buro Ole Scheeren. With “Architects and the City” as WAF’s overarching theme this year, Scheeren’s talk will be on the relationship between architects, architecture and urbanism.
Other keynote speakers include Rocco Yim of Rocco Design Associates who will speak on his involvement in the West Kowloon Cultural District, the largest arts and cultural project in Hong Kong to date, and Richard Rogers who will speak candidly about his life as one of the most influential global figures in architecture and his future agenda. Moshe Safdie will close the Festival, looking back over his extensive career to talk exclusively about the defining moments that shaped its path.
Read on after the break for more information on WAF’s three days of fascinating talks, networking opportunities and its annual awards.
This year’s main conference sessions and talks will focus on the contributions architects can make to cities and how they affect – and are affected by – politics, infrastructure, planning communities and technology. Among the newly added sessions are “Starting from Scratch,” where leading architects and developers of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city will discuss the key issues surrounding new town programs, and “Pleased to meet you: Heatherwick Studio,” where the firm will showcase their use of materials from the ordinary to the extraordinary and experimental.
Another key component of WAF this year is a series of networking sessions for attendees to meet some of the region’s prominent developers and city planners.
Held annually, WAF recognizes the world’s most amazing architecture projects. The shortlist for its 2014 awards has been announced, with almost 300 projects competing, including the likes of Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners and Aedas, alongside other smaller practices. This year WAF will take place from October 1-3 in Singapore. Make sure you check out the full program and register to attend the event.
