Zaha Hadid Architects was among the firms to be shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival awards, Monday. Its Messner Mountain Museum Corones project was built on top of the Kronplatz mountain, 2,275 meters (7,463 ft) above sea level, in northern Italy and was nominated in the Civic category for Completed Buildings (Image courtesy WAF).
Zaha Hadid Architects was among the firms to be shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival awards, Monday. Its Messner Mountain Museum Corones project was built on top of the Kronplatz mountain, 2,275 meters (7,463 ft) above sea level, in northern Italy and was nominated in the Civic category for Completed Buildings (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
The sleek Crossrail Place by Foster + Partners will soon reside beneath the towers of bustling Canary Wharf in London. The railway station will look to see off competition at the WAF in the Future Buildings and Mixed Use categories.
The sleek Crossrail Place by Foster + Partners will soon reside beneath the towers of bustling Canary Wharf in London. The railway station will look to see off competition at the WAF in the Future Buildings and Mixed Use categories.
Nigel Young
The new Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain, by gpy arquitectos has been nominated in the Higher Research and Education section for Completed Buildings at the WAF awards (Image courtesy WAF).<br />
The new Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain, by gpy arquitectos has been nominated in the Higher Research and Education section for Completed Buildings at the WAF awards (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
It will face stiff competition from architecture firms Terroir and Kim Utzon Arkitekter, which created a stylish new facade of glass and aluminum for for the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden.
It will face stiff competition from architecture firms Terroir and Kim Utzon Arkitekter, which created a stylish new facade of glass and aluminum for for the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden.
Mark Syke
Another Higher Research and Education contender -- and a second shortlisted entry for Zaha Hadid Architects -- is the Investcorp Building for Oxford University's Middle East Centre at St Antony's College in Oxford, England.
Another Higher Research and Education contender -- and a second shortlisted entry for Zaha Hadid Architects -- is the Investcorp Building for Oxford University's Middle East Centre at St Antony's College in Oxford, England.
Courtesy WAF
The Hanazono Kindergarten and Nursey in Okinawa, Japan, was designed by Hibinosekkei + Youji no Shiro and has been nominated in the Schools category.
The Hanazono Kindergarten and Nursey in Okinawa, Japan, was designed by Hibinosekkei + Youji no Shiro and has been nominated in the Schools category.
Courtesy WAF
Designed by Thailand's Department of Architecture, The Commons in Bangkok has become a hit with local foodies and shoppers. It has been nominated in the Shopping category.
Designed by Thailand's Department of Architecture, The Commons in Bangkok has become a hit with local foodies and shoppers. It has been nominated in the Shopping category.
W Workspace/Photograph by Wison Tungthunya
With a swimming pool on the roof and stunning natural surroundings, the Jungle House by MK 27 Studios is a contender for the House award in Completed Buildings.
With a swimming pool on the roof and stunning natural surroundings, the Jungle House by MK 27 Studios is a contender for the House award in Completed Buildings.
Courtesy WAF
Another nominee for the House award is the stylish Villa Marittima at St Andrews Beach, Australia, by Robin Williams Architect (Image courtesy WAF).
Another nominee for the House award is the stylish Villa Marittima at St Andrews Beach, Australia, by Robin Williams Architect (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
The New Psychiatric Hospital in Slagelse, Denmark, will compete for the Health category for Completed Buildings (Image courtesy WAF).<br />
The New Psychiatric Hospital in Slagelse, Denmark, will compete for the Health category for Completed Buildings (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
An old sugar mill converted into a new culture park, the Ten Drum Sugar Factory in Tainan, Taiwan, is the work of S. T. Yeh Architect and will compete in the Old and New category for Completed Buildings at the WFA awards (Image courtesy WAF).
An old sugar mill converted into a new culture park, the Ten Drum Sugar Factory in Tainan, Taiwan, is the work of S. T. Yeh Architect and will compete in the Old and New category for Completed Buildings at the WFA awards (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
A more intimate structure than many of its fellow nominees, The Book Stop Project in Makati, Philippines, by WTA Architecture and Design Studio has been selected to compete in the Small Projects category (Image courtesy WAF).
A more intimate structure than many of its fellow nominees, The Book Stop Project in Makati, Philippines, by WTA Architecture and Design Studio has been selected to compete in the Small Projects category (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
Cermak-McCormick Place Station in Chicago, IL, is the newest station on the city's Green Line. It was designed by Ross Barney Architects and has been nominated in the Transport section of Completed Buildings at the WAF (Image courtesy WAF).
Cermak-McCormick Place Station in Chicago, IL, is the newest station on the city's Green Line. It was designed by Ross Barney Architects and has been nominated in the Transport section of Completed Buildings at the WAF (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have been nominated in Housing for their Y:Cube project in London, England. The ambitious scheme, carried out in conjunction with the YMCA, looks to provide disadvantaged young people in the UK capital with attractive, affordable properties.
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have been nominated in Housing for their Y:Cube project in London, England. The ambitious scheme, carried out in conjunction with the YMCA, looks to provide disadvantaged young people in the UK capital with attractive, affordable properties.
Courtesy Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
The interior of the Bhutan Happiness Centre in Bumthang, Bhutan, designed by 1+1>2 Architects and nominated in the Civic and Community award at the 2016 World Architecture Festival (Image courtesy WAF).
The interior of the Bhutan Happiness Centre in Bumthang, Bhutan, designed by 1+1>2 Architects and nominated in the Civic and Community award at the 2016 World Architecture Festival (Image courtesy WAF).
Courtesy WAF
World Architecture Festival: Shortlist for 2016 awards revealed

Story highlights

Nominees announced for 2016 World Architecture Festival awards

CNN  — 

Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects and Rogers Stirk Harbour are just a few of of the renowned architectural practices to be shortlisted for awards at the 2016 World Architecture Festival (WAF) it was revealed Monday.

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Is this the world's craziest new skyscraper?
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More than 340 architectural projects – from a luxury jungle home in Brazil to a happiness center in Bhutan – were announced as nominees at what organizers say has become the world’s largest architectural awards program.

Each entry will seek to win one of 32 award categories before going on to challenge for the most high profile WAF accolades of “World Building of the Year” and “Future Building of the Year”.

Last year’s winner of the coveted World Building of the Year award was the Interlace, an ambitious residential development in Singapore by Netherlands-based OMA and Buro Ole Scheeren from Germany.

The Interlace has been crowned the World Building of the Year 2015. Designed by OMA and Buro Ole Scheeren, is described as "one of the most ambitious residential developments" in the tropical island-state's history.
The Interlace has been crowned the World Building of the Year 2015. Designed by OMA and Buro Ole Scheeren, is described as "one of the most ambitious residential developments" in the tropical island-state's history.
world architecture festival
Although it's also called a "vertical village," the Interlace stretches horizontally with 31 apartment blocks, each six stories tall and 70 meters long. Such design is seen as a radical move away from the "clusters of isolated towers" that is typical of housing in the region.
Although it's also called a "vertical village," the Interlace stretches horizontally with 31 apartment blocks, each six stories tall and 70 meters long. Such design is seen as a radical move away from the "clusters of isolated towers" that is typical of housing in the region.
Courtesy World Architecture Festival
Though set in Singapore -- a highly-planned city-state -- the Interlace envisions itself as a "intricate network of living and social spaces intertwined with the natural environment."
Though set in Singapore -- a highly-planned city-state -- the Interlace envisions itself as a "intricate network of living and social spaces intertwined with the natural environment."
Courtesy World Architecture Festival
Stacked in hexagonal arrangements around open courtyards, the scheme strives to create a "network of internal and external environments," mixing shared and private outdoor spaces on multiple layers.
Stacked in hexagonal arrangements around open courtyards, the scheme strives to create a "network of internal and external environments," mixing shared and private outdoor spaces on multiple layers.
world architecture festival
The project beat other category winners announced earlier at the festival, including a bamboo community center in Vietnam and a dome-shaped transport hub and retail space in Manhattan.
The project beat other category winners announced earlier at the festival, including a bamboo community center in Vietnam and a dome-shaped transport hub and retail space in Manhattan.
world architecture festival
World Architecture Festival Director Paul Finch praised the project as a trailblazer, saying it "presents an alternative way of thinking about developments which might otherwise become generic tower clusters."
World Architecture Festival Director Paul Finch praised the project as a trailblazer, saying it "presents an alternative way of thinking about developments which might otherwise become generic tower clusters."
world architecture festival
The Interlace is the eighth project to claim the illustrious title of World Building of the Year since the competition's inception in 2008. The festival has been held in Singapore for the past four years and will move to Berlin in 2016.
The Interlace is the eighth project to claim the illustrious title of World Building of the Year since the competition's inception in 2008. The festival has been held in Singapore for the past four years and will move to Berlin in 2016.
Courtesy World Architecture Festival
'The Interlace' crowned World Building of the Year 2015

Zaha Hadid Architects has been nominated for its Messner Mountain Museum Corones project and the Investcorp Building for Oxford University’s Middle East Centre at St Antony’s College while Foster + Partners was recognized for its Crossrail Place station in Canary Wharf, London.

The 2016 WAF will take place in Berlin, Germany, between November 16 and 18. Entrants will be judged by an international panel before the winner is announced towards the end of the festival.

Designed by local architecture firm a21 studio, the Chapel in Vietnam is a community space primarily built of recycled material. The chapel uses leftover materials (such as steel frames and metal sheets) from the owner's previous projects.
2014 World Building of the Year winner: The Chapel by a21 Studio, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam —
Designed by local architecture firm a21 studio, the Chapel in Vietnam is a community space primarily built of recycled material. The chapel uses leftover materials (such as steel frames and metal sheets) from the owner's previous projects.
world architecture festival
It features colorful curtains for aesthetic appeal as well as a single structure on the inside -- a tree-shaped steel column, for support as well as aesthetic.
2014 World Building of the Year winner: The Chapel by a21 Studio, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam —
It features colorful curtains for aesthetic appeal as well as a single structure on the inside -- a tree-shaped steel column, for support as well as aesthetic.
a21 studio
The Auckland Art Gallery is a combination of adapting the art galleries' existing heritage buildings as well as the introduction of new extensions, including a basement storage, public exhibit areas and a new entrance.
2013 World Building of the Year winner: Auckland Art Gallery by Frances-Jones Morehen Thorp, Auckland, New Zealand —
The Auckland Art Gallery is a combination of adapting the art galleries' existing heritage buildings as well as the introduction of new extensions, including a basement storage, public exhibit areas and a new entrance.
Francis-Jones-Morehen-Thorp
The new additions to the building include the wooden rooftop panels and wooden supporting canopies, all of which are inspired by the natural New Zealand landscape.
2013 World Building of the Year winner: Auckland Art Gallery by Frances-Jones Morehen Thorp, Auckland, New Zealand —
The new additions to the building include the wooden rooftop panels and wooden supporting canopies, all of which are inspired by the natural New Zealand landscape.
PATRICK REYNOLDS/world architecture festival
Based in Singapore, the Cooled Conservatories is a project by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, and features two structures that are two of the largest climate controlled glasshouses in the world.
2012 World Building of the Year winner: Cooled Conservatories at Gardens by the Bay by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Singapore —
Based in Singapore, the Cooled Conservatories is a project by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, and features two structures that are two of the largest climate controlled glasshouses in the world.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The two climates contained are the "Flower Dome," which features a cool dry environment, and the "Cloud Forest," which features a cool and moist environment. The structure covers an area of over 20,000 square meters and features an indoor waterfall.
2012 World Building of the Year winner: Cooled Conservatories at Gardens by the Bay by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Singapore —
The two climates contained are the "Flower Dome," which features a cool dry environment, and the "Cloud Forest," which features a cool and moist environment. The structure covers an area of over 20,000 square meters and features an indoor waterfall.
world architecture festival
The first national museum of contemporary art in Italy, the MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts was conceived and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The structure received a unanimous winning vote from the judges, who were particularly impressed by its ability to weave itself into the city.
2010 World Building of the Year winner: MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts by Zaha Hadid Architects, Rome, Italy —
The first national museum of contemporary art in Italy, the MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts was conceived and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The structure received a unanimous winning vote from the judges, who were particularly impressed by its ability to weave itself into the city.
Courtesy Zaha Hadid
The building is built on the former military grounds in northern Rome. Highlights from the concrete heavy building include its use of natural light, glass ceilings, large windows and open spaces.
2010 World Building of the Year winner: MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts by Zaha Hadid Architects, Rome, Italy —
The building is built on the former military grounds in northern Rome. Highlights from the concrete heavy building include its use of natural light, glass ceilings, large windows and open spaces.
Iwan Baan
Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre is a cultural building designed to host ancient South African artifacts. Described as a "poverty relief project using ecological methods and materials" the architects sourced local materials (such as local pressed soil cement tiles) for building and turned to local labor forces for construction in an effort to help the community.
2009 World Building of the Year winner: Mapungubwe Interpretation Center by Peter Rich Architects, South Africa —
Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre is a cultural building designed to host ancient South African artifacts. Described as a "poverty relief project using ecological methods and materials" the architects sourced local materials (such as local pressed soil cement tiles) for building and turned to local labor forces for construction in an effort to help the community.
courtesy peter rich architects
The structure also took design inspiration from its surrounding "complex landscape" -- an effort which the judges also noted to be particularly well executed. Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre was selected from a total of 15 finalists. Upon winning the award, architect Peter Rich said, "I will continue my quest to be of service to the less privileged, because they deserve it."
2009 World Building of the Year winner: Mapungubwe Interpretation Center by Peter Rich Architects, South Africa —
The structure also took design inspiration from its surrounding "complex landscape" -- an effort which the judges also noted to be particularly well executed. Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre was selected from a total of 15 finalists. Upon winning the award, architect Peter Rich said, "I will continue my quest to be of service to the less privileged, because they deserve it."
world architecture festival
The first ever World Architecture Festival was held in 2008. The winners of the first ever 'Building of the Year' award was Grafton Architects, an Irish practice, who received the top prize for their Universita Luigi Bocconi in Milan.
2008 World Building of the Year winner: Universita Luigi Bocconi by Grafton Architects, Milan, Italy —
The first ever World Architecture Festival was held in 2008. The winners of the first ever 'Building of the Year' award was Grafton Architects, an Irish practice, who received the top prize for their Universita Luigi Bocconi in Milan.
world architecture festival
It has been highlighted for its 1,000-seat auditorium, public courtyards and suspended offices, which is described by the architects as "offices hung from enormous roof beams." This entry took the prize over 17 finalists, including 'starchitects' such as Zaha Hadid and Foster and Partners.
2008 World Building of the Year winner: Universita Luigi Bocconi by Grafton Architects, Milan, Italy —
It has been highlighted for its 1,000-seat auditorium, public courtyards and suspended offices, which is described by the architects as "offices hung from enormous roof beams." This entry took the prize over 17 finalists, including 'starchitects' such as Zaha Hadid and Foster and Partners.
world architecture festival
What does it take to become the World Building of the Year?

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Check out the gallery above to see some of the exciting projects in with a shout of securing WAF success in 2016.