16 ASEAN Projects Make Their Mark at WAF 2022

A whopping 16 projects (26 including the Philippines), representing 13 individual ASEAN practices storm the WAF 2022 shortlist, a modest rise over last year’s numbers. 14 of the ASEAN-penned projects are listed under the Completed Buildings and Landscape categories while two go under Future Projects. To recap, nine completed building entries and three future projects (not including the Philippines) represented the ASEAN region in the 2021 edition of the World Architecture Festival.

This year’s ASEAN slate features repeat appearances by WAF stalwarts like Singapore’s ONG&ONG, WAF repeat winner WOHA (with Australia’s LIMINAL Studio), and Thailand’s Architects 49. Singapore-based White Matter Design Studio is joined by Vietnam’s atelier tho.A, and Thailand’s EKAR Architects (with an admirable four shortlist placements for two projects) for shot at the plum prize. Thai landscape architectural design practice, TROP, scores a double appearance in their pet category with An Villa and Urban Valley Yanlord Arcadia, keeping compatriot Shma Company Ltd company for two China-based projects. Next-door neighbors Indonesia and Malaysia are represented by Magi Design Studio and O2 Design Atelier + Choo Poo Liang Architect (of Sentul Works, pictured in header) respectively. WAF newbie Thailand’s Looklen Architects join the shortlist with fellow first-timers MPN + Partners (Vietnam) and Designshop Pte Ltd (Singapore).

In terms of national representation, Thailand continues to be an ASEAN juggernaut with five Thai firms raising the flag. Singapore follows closely with four studios. Past WAF powerhouse Vietnam’s participation has dwindled down to two firms while Malaysia and Indonesia each net a single appearance.

Will any of our ASEAN neighbors emerge victorious in their respective journeys toward the top prize? Watch out for our standalone features of the shortlisted ASEAN projects in the coming weeks! For the full Completed Buildings and Future Projects WAF shortlist comprising 420 projects from 50 countries, click here. •

S O U T H E A S T A S I A

Completed Buildings Shortlist

Culture

Health

Hotel and Leisure

House and Villa, Urban and Suburban

House and Villa, Rural and Coastal

Mixed-Use

New and Old

Religion

Shopping

Landscape Shortlist

Urban

Future Projects Shortlist

Civic and Community

For the full Completed Buildings and Future Projects WAF 2022 shortlist, click here.