World Architecture Festival 2009 focuses on architecture in the new world economy

The world’s biggest architectural summit, the World Architecture Festival, will take place in Barcelona for the second year running, with new opportunities for the industry to showcase its work as part of the word’s biggest architectural Awards programme.

Programme Director Paul Finch confirmed that following its successful inaugural year, World Architecture Festival (WAF) will again take place in Barcelona at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona (CCIB) from 4th to 6th November 2009.

The Festival’s thematic exhibition, ‘Less Does More’ will examine the challenges facing architects in the new world economy. The exhibition will focus on how creative design, imagination and innovative thinking can reduce the amount of time, energy, material and finance needed to create buildings and cities – producing more value for less cost.

Last year the Festival attracted nearly 2,000 delegates from around the globe and more than 500 architects, planners, designers and policymakers have already registered their interest in WAF 2009. There are already 23 confirmed media partners for the event.

Finch also announcedthat this year’s Awards will feature three new sections providing more opportunities to win recognition. As well as completed buildings (15 categories) there will be Awards for Interiors and Fit-out (8 categories), Structural Design (9 categories) and Future Projects (8 categories) – 40 categories in total.

The WAF Awards celebrate the work, concerns and aspirations of the international architectural community. Unlike other schemes, the WAF Awards involve shortlisted architects presenting their schemes live to delegates as well as international judging panelsas they compete for the ultimate accolade of World Building of the Year 2009 and other awards.