World Building of the Year

At a gala dinner on Friday, World Architecture Festival (WAF) director Paul Finch announced the World Building of the Year, the culmination of three days of presentations by shortlisted architects and the determination of winners in 16 categories. A "super jury" of Ken Tadashi Oshima of The University of Washington, Ken Yeang of Llewelyn Davies Yeang, Patrick Bellew of Atelier Ten, Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, and Dietmar Eberle of Baumschlager Eberle, selected the Aukland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki in New Zealand by Frances-Jones Morehen Thorp and Archimedia (the winner in the Culture Category) for WAF's highest honor. The project includes the transformation of landmarked buildings; a new building extension doubling the exhibition space; extensive basement storage and support areas; and the redesign of parts of adjacent Albert Park. A wood roof propped upon slender columns crowns the new spaces and gives the art gallery its striking image.

Read more about the Aukland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, other WAF winners, and the festival's three days of presenations and parties in our Insight feature on WAF 2013.