Recap: World Architecture Festival 2023

It had been a long time since I was in an environment where internationally renowned, distinguished Architects were flexing their muscles, jockeying for position with a world building of the year accolade at stake. It was a visual delight to see a wide array of architectural schemes, both completed and designs for the future.

As expected, buzz words circling around the crit rooms were ‘sustainability’ and ‘AI’, but what stood out was the need for engagement. Encouraging involvement from end users ensures their value and inclusion in the process, securing the project’s long-term sustainability. What also resonated was that successful projects truly demonstrate a level of impact within the community they serve, going beyond a project’s original mission.

I felt buoyed that a project’s scale was irrelevant, as demonstrated by our own shortlisting of Radley College. Likewise, many of the category winners did not appear to be the the bookie’s favourites.

I can reflect on the event with a distinct sense of pride that Radley College was competing against five newly built religious buildings. Its suitability in the religious building category alone was questionable. Radley College was really in a category of its own and this is something to consider when approaching WAF submissions in the future. Why is there no conservation category when there is an adaptive reuse one? Particularly, given many projects in that category are either recognised national monuments or have the potential to be in the future. It led me to believe that Radley College was punching above its weight, but it ticked all the boxes and went toe-to-toe with some truly inspiring religious buildings. I come away wondering if it could have been successful in another category.

The event also left me with a certain feeling that AI will continue to develop as a powerful tool, however, at the heart of every great project is a champion for design and quality — passionate individuals that live and breathe the commission. The quality of presentations at WAF was inspiring, and I’m now acutely aware of the need to approach these events with simplicity in mind. The hook should be no more than a single image or diagram that truly captivates your audience. I also feel inspired by my peers and hope that our legacy today be equal to those of the past, many of whom continue to clearly inform the architecture being built today.

I wonder whether the architecture of future events will see a more focused transition toward adaptation schemes? Whether this is heritage driven, such as with Battersea Power Station, or repurposing modern buildings like last year’s winner Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower, which successfully met the challenge of reusing a modern building that was at risk of redevelopment or demolition. As advocates for the built environment, we need to embrace the climate emergency and get more creative with our abundant stock of modern buildings, as well as to build in an inherent flexibility so buildings can be easily adaptive to new uses in the future.