Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
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.
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.
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.
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