Festival of talent.

Nearly 2000 people attended the first World Architecture Festival in Barcelona for three days at the end of October. Organised by Emap, owner of The Architectural Review, it is intended that the event become annual. It included the world's biggest architectural awards programme, with more than 700 entries exhibited, and with live presentations by more than 200 architects to 17 international juries. The 17 category winners represented in public to a 'super jury', chaired by Yale Dean of Architecture Bob Stern on the final day of the Festival. The jury selected the first World Building of the Year (pp30-31). In addition there was a packed programme of seminars and keynote presentations in the Festival venue, the Jose Luis Mateo-designed CCIB. Speakers included Lord (Norman) Foster, Wolf Prix, Charles Jencks, Massimiliano Fuksas, Suha Ozkan, William Curtis and Raj Rewal. One strand of seminars, on 'Height', supported a thematic exhibition curated by Jeremy Melvin; other features included product exhibits in inflatable structures, dinners for judges and category winners in the Mies van der Rohe Barcelona pavilion, and an awards ceremony in the Forum building by Herzog & de Meuron. Festival programme director was AR editor Paul Finch.

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For more information and to see details of entries, go to www.worldarchitecturefestival.com or www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com

World Architecture Festival

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