The World Architecture Festival (WAF) is the largest global gathering of architects and designers, where thought leadership, networking and opportunities converge.

This year’s theme, ‘Tomorrow’, explored how architecture, urban design and interiors will evolve with trends such as population movement, urban expansion, digital technology, artificial intelligence, immersive environments, and cultural change.

Over 800 entries competed for awards across multiple categories, with 21 winners hailing from Asia and Australasia, including two projects from India.

Among the winning projects from India was Agritecture, which claimed the ‘Future Project: Experimental’ category. This innovative design redefines sustainable urban living by transforming greenhouses into versatile, multifunctional spaces that blend architecture with agriculture.

The project integrates reclaimed materials and energy-efficient solutions to foster a balanced coexistence with nature. Agritecture focuses on self-sustainability and ecological integration, demonstrating how built environments can enhance and coexist with natural ecosystems.

By incorporating reclaimed wood, mild steel and polycarbonate sheets, the design ensures structural durability while allowing ample light. The project’s multifunctional zones—encompassing living, working, and agricultural spaces—promote a holistic and interconnected lifestyle.

The second project, OHHO Residence by Play Architects, received recognition in both the ‘Completed Buildings: House and Villa (Rural/Coastal)’ and ‘Best Use of Stone’ categories.

The award-winning project is to a north-facing residential site measuring 4,000 square feet within a picturesque neighbourhood abutting a national zoological park in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

OHHO (conceived as home-cum-office), explores the contextual relevance and versatility of the traditional Indian planning principles of nine squares with the central square being an open courtyard.

With the plan and material coming from the tradition, OHHO challenges and pushes Chapdi’s structural possibilities through its innovative, interlocking – carpentry joinery-like approach, using stone in its purest form.

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