On 29 November, Charu Kokate of Safdie Architects will kick off the World Architecture Festival 2023 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
Renowned architects from Safdie Architects, Herzog & de Meuron and Atelier Ten join line-up of luminary speakers at WAF 2023 in Singapore
The three-day event features a stellar lineup of 75 speakers, including international architects such as Lily Jencks, Keeper of Vision at The Cosmic House, The Jencks Foundation; Patrick Bellew, Founder and Executive Chairman, Atelier Ten; Mario Cucinella, Founder, MCA Mario Cucinella Architects; John McElgunn, Senior Partner, RSHP; Wim Walschap, Partner, Herzog & de Meuron; Islam El Mashtooly, Design Director, OBMI; and Mouaz Abouzaid, Founder, Design Principal, Verform.
For the first time since 2015, Marina Bay Sands will host the festival, running from 29 November to 1 December 2023. Local speakers, including Tan Cheng Siong, Honor Harger, and Kelley Cheng, will also share their insights.
As well as architects and designers from leading global practices, the diverse speaking programme for both World Architecture Festival 2023 and Inside includes commentators from leading educational institutions and city planners, including Sir Peter Cook, Director, Cook Haffner Architecture Platform (CHAP); Tarek Qaddumi, Executive Director of Urban Planning, NEOM; Tashi Penjor, Architect and Chief Planner, Royal Government of Bhutan with Jonathan Rose, Director, Prior & Partners; and Trevor Boddy, Architecture Critic + Curator, Trevor Boddy Consulting Urban Designer chairing a discussion with Johanna Hurme, Principal and Sasa Radulovic, Partner at 5468796 Architecture.
The Inside World Festival of Interiors 2023, concurrent with WAF, will feature keynote speakers Adrien Gardère and Kelley Cheng, alongside Nigel Coates.
Paul Finch, Programme Director of World Architecture Festival comments: “We are excited to be hosting inspirational speakers from such a wide variety of geographies and backgrounds. We look forward to stimulating presentations and thought-provoking ideas that will form part of the ‘big conversation' that takes place at WAF each year.”
The diverse speaking program spans architects, designers, educators, and city planners, with a thematic focus on ‘Catalyst.'
The sessions will explore how architecture and design act as catalysts for positive change, fostering interactions across the built environment.
The Festival Hall Stage will host technical sessions, talks, discussions, and a showcase of WAFX Award winners, highlighting innovative design approaches addressing global challenges, from the climate emergency to community resilience.
You can find the most up-to-date programme on WAF 2023 website here.
Cover image: Victor He | Unsplash
