World Architecture Festival is the world’s largest festival and live awards competition dedicated to celebrating, and sharing architectural excellence from across the globe. Over 400 live award crits Every shortlisted architect will present their award entry in front of WAF’s illustrious international judging panels, and you can watch. Hear the inside story on over 400 projects, from schools to cinemas, museums to mosques. Plus find out what judges including Ben van Berkel, Mok Wei Wei and Sir Peter Cook think of each and every scheme. Have you entered the WAF awards yet? Hurry you only have until the 30 June! Seminar and keynote programme Be inspired by some of the most influential and innovative voices practicing today. The festival’s industry-shaping lectures, discussions and debates with thought-defining speakers will deliberate today’s big questions including how to create vertical villages, solutions for rapid urbanisation, connecting the urban environment, reassessing the role of architect and retaining design quality in mega-projects. Book your place at the festival today and you can learn from and be inspired by Moshe Safdie, Peter Buchanan, William Lim, Ivan Harbour, Ma Yansong and amongst many others. Festival gallery Experience the breadth of international architectural excellence in the WAF festival gallery, displaying all WAF award entries, over 700 in 2011, from more than 60 countries. Working in... urban renewal and global forums - New for 2012! Sponsored by Aedas Want to work in China, India, Taiwan, Brazil or The Gulf? Obtain the inside track on winning work in boom markets from key clients, regulatory bodies and those that have been successful - broaden your knowledge base and your contact book in WAF’s focused Global Forums. The Global Forum enables you to find out, first-hand, the realities and challenges of getting work in a new market and learn from those who operate in the area. You will meet the clients and partners that you want to work with you so you can tee up your next project on the spot. Focussed sector trend forums - New for 2012! Uncover the key developments and trends that will impact on the sectors and typologies that you work in. Get ahead of the game with WAF’s Sector Trend Forums. As well as providing you with a global snapshot of the prospects and developments in specific sectors you will have the opportunity to meet and discuss key sector issues with leading companies. Debate with your contemporaries from across the globe on how to design for the particular challenges of the sector, hear the developments that will steer the way you need to design and meet the clients that are investing. You can choose from either retail, hospitals, hotels, transport, industrial and infrastructure, hi-rise and mixed use, cultural and public buildings or universities. Thematic exhibition WAF’s very own curated festival film picks up on the festival theme of Rethink and Renew. Watch in-depth interviews with some of today’s most thought-provoking architects and see the projects that they feel have rethought and renewed cities, landscapes and architecture itself. Festival hall The festival hall is the hub of the festival where you can catch up with contacts new and old, and engage face to face with leading suppliers and manufacturers from around the world. Exclusive installations and product showcases enable you to experience the latest in product innovation and design to inform your future projects. Plus, this year WAF has a brand new festival talks stage for you to experience. Located in WAF’s bustling Festival Hall, the Architect’s Office is where you can learn from today’s leading authorities on the topics that are transforming the way you work and win work, including 3D visualisation, BIM, digital marketing and material innovation. Identify how you can streamline and enhance your practice’s capabilities with one-to-one masterclasses and live demos that you can attend throughout the festival. Live student charrettes Witness the next generation of design talent flex their creative muscles in WAF’s live and nail-biting student charrettes. You never know, you might learn something new, or at least get an inspiration refresh! The WAF bar Sponsored by Rider Levett Bucknall Especially commissioned for WAF, the festival’s central bar is not only a meeting point for you to catch up with colleagues and friends, but is also an aesthetic highlight in itself! Designed by leading Singaporean design practice WOW architects the WAF bar promises not to disappoint! Parties, receptions and dinners When your days are jammed packed with architectural inspiration, networking and discovery we’re sure you’re going to want to let your hair down come sundown! WAF has a host of parties, receptions dinners and socials in some of Singapore’s hottest design destinations so you can celebrate and socialise in style! Network with the WAF community - architects, clients, judges, sponsors and the world's media. Awards ceremony The festival culminates with a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating the winners of each category, the student competition and overall awards. Community WAF is the annual meeting point for global architects, clients and suppliers. Be inspired with architecture’s leading lights and the global community as a whole. By seeing architecture from around the globe, and hearing from the architects themselves you will find new inspiration to tackle the design challenges you face today and tomorrow. Meet, share, collaborate and stay in touch using our online portals - Festival Connect, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media partners From over 60 countries, meet the leading critics, documenters and list makers of the international industry. Source: World Architecture Festival 2012