WAF 2025: exploring hearts and minds in architecture

By Malin Norman

World Architecture Festival is a celebration of the world’s best architecture, landscape and interior projects. This year’s edition takes place in Miami, 12-14 November, with a theme centred around hearts and minds. Scan Magazine catches up with WAF’s programme director, Paul Finch, for a glimpse of the upcoming event.

The annual World Architecture Festival (WAF) is where the architecture community meets to celebrate, learn, exchange and be inspired. Every year, WAF hosts the world’s largest live-judged architecture awards programme, complemented by keynote talks, an exhibition, and various fringe events including architecture tours, networking opportunities, and workshops.

Shortlisted in the category WAF Completed Build ings – Production, Energy and Logistics, RISE Bioec onomy Arena by Sweco Architects stands as a wood en geometric gem of innovation and sustainable design. The low-climate-impact structure, located in Örnsköldsvik in Sweden, is built almost entirely in wood. Photo: Tim Meier, Sweco

This year, WAF will take place in the US for the first time, reflecting the festival’s long-term commitment to make the awards programme truly global, and also recognising the huge influence that North American architecture has on the world. WAF 2025 will be hosted at the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center, 12-14 November. Located in the heart of South Beach and close to the Art Deco Historic District, it seems the perfect place for architects and designers to come together to compete, network and celebrate.

“We are delighted to be staging WAF in the US, for the first time, and also thrilled that so many architects from the US have entered the awards. We have also seen an increase in entries from Central and South America this year,” says Paul Finch, programme director. “The overall quality of the shortlist is as good as it has ever been, and we look forward to seeing over 460 presentations in Miami Beach this November.”

Architecture studio LOCAL has transformed a histor ic building in Bergen, Norway, into a vibrant cultur al house with mini-golf, food, and performing arts. The project is shortlisted in WAF Interiors – Bars and Restaurants. Photo: Ben Speck

Emotional charge in architecture

The theme for the main stage conference is ‘Hearts and Minds’ – contrasting the scientific and the more empathetic part of architecture – to be discussed more in detail at the opening talk by Finch. “Architecture and design are products of the mind: site and programme analysis, the thought required in respect of materials, specifications, construction technology, cost and planning and other regulatory processes,” the director says. “But these inevitable requirements are supplemented by the desire to satisfy clients, users and the public by appealing to the senses and the emotions.”

The Garzón School by Rosan Bosch Studio is one of the entries in WAF Completed Buildings – School. Located in Punte del Este, Uruguay, the vast and untamed environment is intertwined with the school’s identity, and learning seamlessly happens indoor and outdoor. Photo: Eleazar Cuadros

A broad range of architects and designers have been invited to reflect on this relationship between hearts and minds, in relation to their own work and work by others they admire. Two speakers will dive deeper into Miami’s architecture. First out, Bernardo Fort-Brescia, founding principal at Arquitectonica, will explore how Miami has evolved in the last 50 years by successfully addressing architecture, resilience, design, planning, diversity, and community. And Dawn Gunter, managing director of Gensler’s Miami office, will elaborate on user experience and the future of the Miami office space.

Hjärup Station by Sweco Architects has been nominated in the category WAF Completed Buildings – Transport. The project in Hjärup, Sweden, redefines how transpor tation infrastructure can serve as a catalyst for small town cohesion and identity.Photo: Tim Meier, Sweco

Also speaking on the first day is Wong Chiu Man, co-founder and managing director of WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design. Chiu Man is at the forefront of regenerative and sustainable design practices in creating highly immersive built environments that integrates architecture, landscape and interior design with an ecological emphasis.

The programme also includes, for instance, Fernando Menis, architect at Fernando Menis SLU, who is known for contextual architecture, circular materiality, and free geometry structures. Viviana Muscettola, director at Zaha Hadid Architects, will talk about meaningful beauty in architecture, whilst Beatrice Galilee, executive director at The World Around, a New York-based platform dedicated to visionary global design and architecture, will elaborate on radical repair.

The speaker programme at WAF 2025 is set to end on a high note. Australian architect Richard Francis-Jones, design director at fjcstudio, will close the final day with his talk titled “The Insecurities of the Architect.” Francis-Jones has won numerous awards, including WAF’s World Building of the Year Award on two separate occasions – the only architect to have achieved this.

Tscherning HQ by 3XN GXN is a radical way of designing an office interior, negotiating between people and ma terials. The project is located in Hedehusene, Denmark, and has been shortlisted in WAF Interiors – Workplace (Large).Photo: Claus Peuckert

Groundbreaking global achievements

WAF is the only architectural awards programme where all finalists present their projects live to a panel of judges and an audience of peers at the festival. The 2025 shortlist features over 460 projects across 43 categories, ranging from best creative reuse, housing and education, to best hotel, sports and culture.

The shortlist celebrates the most groundbreaking architectural and design achievements, with project entries from the world’s leading practices, including Bjarke Ingels Group, Foster + Partners, Studio Gang, Grimshaw, Nikken Sekkei, Mario Cucinella Architects, and Perkins&Will, competing alongside innovative work from exciting emerging practices.

Last year’s edition of World Architecture Festival took place in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, with 1800+ architects, designers, clients, suppliers and press coming together to compete, be inspired and celebrate. Photo: World Architecture Festival

Plenty more will happen at WAF 2025. The Festival Hall Stage will host presentations from the WAFX Winners, highlighting future projects that use cutting-edge design to tackle major global issues, including health, climate change, technology, ethics, and values. Visitors will also find technical sessions and showcases on this stage.

The WAF Special Prizes will be awarded to projects demonstrating excellence in a particular area, for instance, best use of colour and best use of timber. Each of the finalists will present live at the festival, with winners being announced at the Gala Dinner.

New this year is 40 Under 40 North America, a collaboration between WAF and The Architect’s Newspaper. It highlights 40 outstanding young architects from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, who will be featured in a dedicated exhibition where their work will be seen by some of the world’s most influential architects.

WAF 2025: exploring hearts and minds in architecture

www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

WAF 2025 will be hosted at Miami Beach Convention Center, in the heart of South Beach and the iconic Art Deco District, 12-14 November.

Facebook: ArchitectureFestival
Instagram: @worldarchfest
Instagram: @worldarchfest