Architecture

Greenery-covered retirement village declared World Building of the Year

Greenery-covered retirement village declared World Building of the Year
The Kampung Admiralty is likened to a club sandwich by WAF's judges due to its layered design
The Kampung Admiralty is likened to a club sandwich by WAF's judges due to its layered design
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The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers
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The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers
Kampung Admiralty was designed by WOHA
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Kampung Admiralty was designed by WOHA
Kampung Admiralty meets the needs of elderly Singaporeans in a safe and green environment
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Kampung Admiralty meets the needs of elderly Singaporeans in a safe and green environment
The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers
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The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers
The Kampung Admiralty includes apartments suitable for elderly people
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The Kampung Admiralty includes apartments suitable for elderly people
The Kampung Admiralty is likened to a club sandwich by WAF's judges due to its layered design
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The Kampung Admiralty is likened to a club sandwich by WAF's judges due to its layered design
The Kampung Admiralty includes a large plaza in the lower layer, with lots of space for activities and exercises
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The Kampung Admiralty includes a large plaza in the lower layer, with lots of space for activities and exercises
The Kampung Admiralty includes a shopping mall and restaurants, as well as childcare services, parks and more
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The Kampung Admiralty includes a shopping mall and restaurants, as well as childcare services, parks and more
The Kampung Admiralty's uppermost layer hosts a community park with extensive green terraces and apartments for elderly people
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The Kampung Admiralty's  uppermost layer hosts a community park with extensive green terraces and apartments for elderly people
The Kampung Admiralty saves energy with a focus on passive ventilation, natural light, and shading
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The Kampung Admiralty saves energy with a focus on passive ventilation, natural light, and shading
The Kampung Admiralty includes rainwater collection that irrigates for the green roofs, green walls and other greenery
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The Kampung Admiralty includes rainwater collection that irrigates for the green roofs, green walls and other greenery
The Kampung Admiralty has an incredible amount of greenery
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The Kampung Admiralty has an incredible amount of greenery 
The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers
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The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers
Landscape of the Year was awarded to Batlle i Roig Arquitectura for its Pedestrian Path along the Gypsum Mines project in Barcelona, Spain
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Landscape of the Year was awarded to Batlle i Roig Arquitectura for its Pedestrian Path along the Gypsum Mines project in Barcelona, Spain
Batlle i Roig Arquitectura created a new system of pedestrian and bicycle routes on the perimeter of Barcelona
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Batlle i Roig Arquitectura created a new system of pedestrian and bicycle routes on the perimeter of Barcelona
Batlle i Roig Arquitectura's Pedestrian Path along the Gypsum Mines involved the rehabilitation of a heavily mined area of Spain
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Batlle i Roig Arquitectura's Pedestrian Path along the Gypsum Mines involved the rehabilitation of a heavily mined area of Spain
Batlle i Roig Arquitectura's Pedestrian Path offers excellent landscape views of the area
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Batlle i Roig Arquitectura's Pedestrian Path offers excellent landscape views of the area
Small Project of the Year went to Camilo Moraes for Piedras Bayas Beachcamp
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Small Project of the Year went to Camilo Moraes for Piedras Bayas Beachcamp
Beachcamp is located on the coastline of Chile's arid Atacama Desert
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Beachcamp is located on the coastline of Chile's arid Atacama Desert
Beachcamp consists of a series of simple huts connected to novel tent-like domes
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Beachcamp consists of a series of simple huts connected to novel tent-like domes
Beachcamp was made using local materials
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Beachcamp was made using local materials
Beachcamp takes its place well in the unspoiled landscape
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Beachcamp takes its place well in the unspoiled landscape
The Glass Future Prize went to Studio Gang for its Tour Montparnasse in Paris, France
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The Glass Future Prize went to Studio Gang for its Tour Montparnasse in Paris, France
Studio Gang's design was developed for an international competition to redesign the French capital’s famous Tour Montparnasse tower
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Studio Gang's design was developed for an international competition to redesign the French capital’s famous Tour Montparnasse tower
Studio Gang envisions a dynamic shading system for Tour Montparnasse
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Studio Gang envisions a dynamic shading system for Tour Montparnasse 
The Future Project of the Year celebrates the best of the world’s unbuilt architecture
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The Future Project of the Year celebrates the best of the world’s unbuilt architecture 
The Future Project of the Year went to Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan, in Medellin, Colombia, by Sebastian Monsalve and Juan David Hoyos
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The Future Project of the Year went to Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan, in Medellin, Colombia, by Sebastian Monsalve and Juan David Hoyos
Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan aims to regenerate Medellin’s extensive river corridor
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Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan aims to regenerate Medellin’s extensive river corridor
The Future Project of the Year went to Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan, in Medellin, Colombia, by Sebastian Monsalve and Juan David Hoyos
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The Future Project of the Year went to Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan, in Medellin, Colombia, by Sebastian Monsalve and Juan David Hoyos
The Use of Colour Prize went to dePaor for its Palais Cinema project in Galway Ireland
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The Use of Colour Prize went to dePaor for its Palais Cinema project in Galway Ireland
Palais Cinema is enlivened by painted glass windows which are illuminated and glow at night
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Palais Cinema is enlivened by painted glass windows which are illuminated and glow at night
Palais Cinema was likened to a magic lantern by WAF's judges
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Palais Cinema was likened to a magic lantern by WAF's judges
The Best Use of Certified Timber Prize was awarded to Tzannes for its International House Sydney project in Australia
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The Best Use of Certified Timber Prize was awarded to Tzannes for its International House Sydney project in Australia
WAFs judges said "the architects have set new standards for future architectural solutions and workplace environments," regarding the International House Sydney project
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WAFs judges said "the architects have set new standards for future architectural solutions and workplace environments," regarding the International House Sydney project 
The International House Sydney project was primarily made using sustainably sourced wood
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The International House Sydney project was primarily made using sustainably sourced wood
View gallery - 35 images

Singapore's Kampung Admiralty retirement complex has been declared the World Building of the Year at the 2018 World Architecture Festival (WAF). The building was crowned during a three-day event in Amsterdam where awards were presented in numerous categories including Landscape of the Year and Small Project of the Year.

Designed by Singapore-based firm WOHA, Kampung Admiralty aims to meet the needs of elderly people in a safe and green environment. It is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously underutilized space between residential towers. Conceived as a vertical village, the project is likened to a club sandwich by WAF's judges due to its layered design.

The lower area is centered around a large plaza, with lots of space for activities and exercises. A medical center is placed in the middle, and the uppermost area of the complex hosts a community park with extensive green terraces and apartments for elderly people.

Elsewhere is underground parking, a shopping mall, restaurants, childcare services, parks, and more. The aim is to offer as many facilities as possible within the complex.

The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers
The Kampung Admiralty is located on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site that was previously a underutilized space between residential towers

WOHA sought to reduce the building's energy use with a focus on passive ventilation, natural light, and shading. Singapore is a relatively rainy place and rainwater is collected for irrigation for the green roofs, green walls and other plants.

"The judges admired the project for the way in which it dealt with the universal condition of longevity and health treatments, social housing provision, and commercial space, which enabled substantial public realm benefits," says Paul Finch, Program Director of the World Architecture Festival. "This hybrid building also incorporates a huge amount of greenery (more than 100 percent of its footprint) in a series of layered levels which have generated welcome biodiversity.

"This is a project that does something necessary in an intelligent fashion from the way it connects to transport to its natural ventilation strategy, all benefitting from a decision to layer a series of buildings rather than separating them into separate tall blocks. The jury felt this was a project with potential lessons for cities and countries around the world."

Landscape of the Year

Batlle i Roig Arquitectura created a new system of pedestrian and bicycle routes on the perimeter of Barcelona
Batlle i Roig Arquitectura created a new system of pedestrian and bicycle routes on the perimeter of Barcelona

During the same event, Landscape of the Year was awarded to Batlle i Roig Arquitectura for its Pedestrian Path along the Gypsum Mines in Barcelona, Spain. The firm created a new system of pedestrian and bicycle routes on the perimeter of the city that offer fantastic landscape vistas.

Small Project of the Year

Beachcamp is located on the coastline of Chile's arid Atacama Desert
Beachcamp is located on the coastline of Chile's arid Atacama Desert

Small Project of the Year went to Camilo Moraes for the Piedras Bayas Beachcamp on the coastline of Chile's arid Atacama Desert. The tourist lodgings consist of a series of simple huts connected to novel tent-like domes made using local materials that take their place well in the unspoiled landscape.

The Use of Colour Prize

Palais Cinema was likened to a magic lantern by WAF's judges
Palais Cinema was likened to a magic lantern by WAF's judges

The Use of Colour Prize was awarded to dePaor for Galway, Ireland's Palais Cinema. Its relatively plain concrete facade is enlivened by painted glass windows which are illuminated and glow at night.

Glass Future Prize

Studio Gang's design was developed for an international competition to redesign the French capital’s famous Tour Montparnasse tower
Studio Gang's design was developed for an international competition to redesign the French capital’s famous Tour Montparnasse tower

Studio Gang won the Glass Future Prize for its Tour Montparnasse design. Originally penned for an international competition, the concept envisions a striking update for the French capital's famous skyscraper.

Best Use of Certified Timber Prize

The Best Use of Certified Timber Prize was awarded to Tzannes for its International House Sydney project in Australia
The Best Use of Certified Timber Prize was awarded to Tzannes for its International House Sydney project in Australia

Australian firm Tzannes was declared winner of the Best Use of Certified Timber Prize for the International House Sydney project. The judges lauded the attractive design of the residential college and the use of sustainably-sourced timber.

Future Project of the Year

The Future Project of the Year went to Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan, in Medellin, Colombia, by Sebastian Monsalve and Juan David Hoyos
The Future Project of the Year went to Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan, in Medellin, Colombia, by Sebastian Monsalve and Juan David Hoyos

The future project of the year was awarded to the Medellin River Parks / Botanical Park Masterplan, in Medellin, Colombia. Designed by Sebastian Monsalve and Juan David Hoyos, it aims to regenerate Medellin's extensive river corridor.

See more of the 2018 WAF Award winners in the gallery.

Sources: WAF, Ramboll

View gallery - 35 images
1 comment
1 comment
Nik
''Singapore is a relatively rainy place...'' must be the understatement of the year! I lived in Singapore for two and a half years. There are two seasons, wet, and VERY wet! It has TWO monsoon seasons. One night we has 15 inches of rain, in ten hours. The tide was in, and so the sluice gates were closed, and we had to reach our work place by rubber dingy from the main road. The main Bukit Timah Road, into town, four lanes in each direction, with a monsoon canal down the centre, was thigh deep in water. It is so hot and humid, the we use to reckon that if you spat on the road, it would grow! There is no problem with making buildings green. The real problem is keeping them from being overgrown. Singapore is small, about the size of the Isle of Wight, approx 35 miles by 25, but very civilised. The people still have a lot of the attitudes and manners of the Victorian age, or did when I was there. Their retirement home looks like a haven of rest and tranquillity, and well deserves its award. Wish I could live in it myself.