WAF Reveals Theme for 2017 World Architecture Festival

UPDATE: You still have time to perfect and submit your award-winning entries! The final entry deadline for the World Architecture Festival Awards is this Friday 2 June at Midnight (BST).

The World Architecture Festival (WAF)
has announced the theme for the tenth edition of the conference: ‘Performance.’

Held November 15-17 at the Arena Berlin in Germany, the festival will focus on the topic of performance in architecture. This will include several new additions to the tour program, including a visit to Hans Scharoun’s revolutionary Berlin Philharmonie; Gerhard Spangenberg’s Radialsystem V, a former pump station transformed into a venue for contemporary dance and music; and Frank Gehry’s recently-completed Pierre Boulez Concert Hall.

WAF Reveals Theme for 2017 World Architecture Festival - More Images+ 13

Commenting on the selection of the 2017, WAF Programme Director Paul Finch said: "This year we will examine the multiple aspects of performance that architecture has to embrace: aesthetic, technical, economic and psychological. We will be discussing buildings designed for performance – for example theatres and concert halls – but also the role that buildings play in the life and spectacle of the city itself.”

Returning to Franz Ahrens’ Arena Berlin, this year’s WAF looks to build on a successful 2016 edition that saw the highest attendance numbers ever, with more than 2,300 architects and designers over three days.

What is WAF?
World Architecture Festival is a three-day event for architects and interior design professionals. WAF is the only global festival that combines awards, live judging, conferences and networking providing architectural knowledge and inspiration. It provides the opportunity to gain international exposure, make global connections and present your work live to a panel of judges.

Entrants for the WAF Awards programme can still take advantage of an Early Bird rate for two more days, until April 27. The final deadline for entries this year is May 18. Practices submitting three or more projects will be able to enjoy a 15% discount on entry fees.

In honor of the selected theme, the WAF has rounded up a selection of top performance venues that have been nominated for a WAF Award in its first 10 years:

Heydar Aliyev Center / Zaha Hadid Architects
Shortlisted - Culture, 2013

Heydar Aliyev Center / Zaha Hadid Architects; Shortlisted - Culture, 2013. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Guangzhou Opera House / Zaha Hadid Architects
Shortlisted - Culture, 2011

Guangzhou Opera House / Zaha Hadid Architects; Shortlisted - Culture, 2011. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Winspear Opera House / Foster + Partners
Shortlisted - Culture, 2010

Winspear Opera House / Foster + Partners; Shortlisted - Culture, 2010. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Oslo Opera House / Snøhetta
Winner - Culture, 2008

Oslo Opera House / Snøhetta; Winner - Culture, 2008. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

CKK "Jordanki" / Menis Arquitectos
Winner - Future Projects, 2010; Shortlisted - Culture, 2016

CKK "Jordanki" / Menis Arquitectos; Winner - Future Projects, 2010; Shortlisted - Culture, 2016. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Grand Canal Theatre / Studio Daniel Libeskind
Shortlisted - Culture, 2010

Grand Canal Theatre / Studio Daniel Libeskind; Shortlisted - Culture, 2010. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

La Llotja Theatre and Congress Center / Mecanoo
Shortlisted - Culture, 2010

La Llotja Theatre and Congress Center / Mecanoo; Shortlisted - Culture, 2010. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Melbourne Recital Centre and Theatre / ARM
Shortlisted - Culture, 2009

Melbourne Recital Centre and Theatre / ARM; Shortlisted - Culture, 2009. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center / Grimshaw
Shortlisted - Culture, 2009

Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center / Grimshaw; Shortlisted - Culture, 2009. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Merce Cunningham Dance Company Stage Design / Miralles Tagliabue EMBT
Shortlisted - Culture, 2009

Merce Cunningham Dance Company Stage Design / Miralles Tagliabue EMBT; Shortlisted - Culture, 2009. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Zénith / Foster + Partners
Shortlisted - Culture, 2009

Zénith / Foster + Partners; Shortlisted - Culture, 2009. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Cultural Centre / Eva Jiricna Architects Ltd
Entrant - Culture, 2011

Cultural Centre / Eva Jiricna Architects Ltd; Entrant - Culture, 2011. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

UK Centre for Carnival Arts / Ash Sakula Architects
Entrant - Culture, 2009

UK Centre for Carnival Arts / Ash Sakula Architects; Entrant - Culture, 2009. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Grande Halle / Agence Moatti et Rivière
Entrant - Culture, 2009

Grande Halle / Agence Moatti et Rivière; Entrant - Culture, 2009. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Acoustic Shells / Flanagan Lawrence
Shortlisted - Culture, 2009

Acoustic Shells / Flanagan Lawrence; Shortlisted - Culture, 2009. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

The Bamboo Playhouse / Eleena Jamil Architect
Shortlisted - Culture, 2014

The Bamboo Playhouse / Eleena Jamil Architect; Shortlisted - Culture, 2014. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

Learn more about the 2017 World Architecture Festival, here.

World Architecture Festival Launches Manifesto for the Architectural Profession

The World Architecture Festival has announced the launch of the 10th edition of the event referred to as the "Oscars of architecture" by launching the "WAF Manifesto," which identifies key challenges the profession will face over the next ten years.

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About this author
Cite: Patrick Lynch. "WAF Reveals Theme for 2017 World Architecture Festival" 31 May 2017. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/869999/waf-reveals-theme-for-2017-world-architecture-festival> ISSN 0719-8884

Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

世界建筑节公布2017年主题

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