a21studio's The Chapel in Vietnam wins the WAF World Building of the Year 2014

The World Architecture Festival 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands closed on a festive note with the final top-prize winners being announced during a gala dinner and awards ceremony on October 3. The international live competition is unique in that it lets anyone apply and have a chance to win. Event attendees can see the competition unfold before their eyes as they watch architecture teams present their projects and then listen to the jury's responses. The lengthy global shortlist started out with architects from over 40 countries and over 30 categories.

The WAF "super jury" awarded the overall winning World Building of the Year award to The Chapel in Vietnam designed by Vietnamese architecture firm a21studio. Three additional projects in Victoria, Canada, Australia, and China won major top awards including Future Project of the Year, Landscape Project of the Year, and Small Project of the Year. Two Inaugural Prize winners were also announced.

This year's super jury is led by renowned British architect Richard Rogers, and features Rocco Yim (Hong Kong), Julie Eizenberg (USA), Enric Ruiz Geli (Spain), and Peter Rich (South Africa).

See the winning projects below.

World Building of the Year: The Chapel, Vietnam, designed by a21studio

"The Chapel is a community space in a new urban ward on the outskirt of Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. As a result of estate crisis, the surrounding area lacks communal centers; therefore, the Chapel is designed to be the place for people to participate in activities such as conferences, weddings and exhibitions. The Chapel takes advantage of materials from the owner’s previous projects such as steel frames and metal sheets."

Future Project of the Year: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Canada, designed by 5468796 Architecture + number TEN architectural group

"The design team was shortlisted for a competition to envision the future renovation and expansion of the gallery. The competition brief asked that the proposal bring a ‘downtown’ presence to the museum’s suburban location and more vibrancy on the street, all without overwhelming the site or removing the existing trees."

Landscape Project of the Year: National Arboretum Canberra, Australia, designed by Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer

"The National Arboretum Canberra redefines the meaning of a public garden in the 21st Century. It  comprises 100 forests of endangered tree species from around the world on a 250 hectare former fire ravaged site. Growing out of the very real issues of sustainability, biodiversity and public   environmental concern, the National Arboretum is a strategy, a program and an ongoing event, not a design chiefly based on aesthetics."

Small Project of the Year: The Pinch, China, designed by Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The University of Hong Kong

"The Pinch is part of a government led reconstruction effort after an earthquake in September 2012  destroyed the majority of the village houses in Shuanghe village, Yunnan Province, China. Located in the new public plaza, it would serve to activate the community and provide a physical memorial for the earthquake. The design spans across different levels, and acts as a bridge between the rebuilt village and the new plaza."

INAUGURAL PRIZE WINNERS

Colour Prize: Departments of Law and Central Administration, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria, designed by Cook Robotham Architectural Bureau

"The project comprises a 200 meter long pair of buildings snaking west to east in a series of brightly coloured streaks that cheer up the often grey skies of Vienna’s Prater district. The building is designed around Cook and Robotham’s strongly held belief (based on many years as University teachers) that a lively and successful college building should have generous and engaging internal spaces that are not just seminar rooms or offices, but places to ‘hang out’ and possibly encourage you to stay around after class: so these are carved out of the interior and slither around in a similar way to the building as a whole."

Wood Excellence Prize: Alex Monroe Studio, Snowfields, UK, designed by DSDHA

"In 2009 DSDHA were asked to develop a new jewellery studio for designer Alex Monroe in Snowsfields, within the Bermondsey Conservation Area in London, to provide a showcase for Alex’s growing business which was previously based in Iliffe Yard, alongside DSDHA’s architectural studio. The proposal adds a hand-crafted three storey element to the existing Edwardian single-storey shopfront, providing sales, workshop, studio, meeting and dining spaces as well as a roof terrace with views towards London Bridge."