The WAF (World Architecture Festival) has posted its shortlist for its 2011 awards, including a large contingent of Australian contenders.

The 284 shortlisted of projects come from 59 different countries, and were selected from a record-breaking number of entries.

Billed as the world's biggest architecture competition, the object of the live event is to celebrate excellence in global architectural design.

Ecosciences Precinct, by HASSELL. Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones

This year’s awards jury includes Australia’s Michael Heenan, a principal of Allen Jack+Cottier Architects.

Heenan was quoted yesterday: “The gathering of people from all over the world coming and presenting what they have shown us today and explaining the things we couldn't answer just by looking at their boards is very exciting.”

Among the contenders for prizes this year are more than 30 Australian projects, including:

Surry Hills Library and Community Centre, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (pictured below)

Bayside Police Station, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
Gippsland Water Factory Vortex Centre, DesignInc
Liverpool Hospital Clinical Service Block 2 (CSB2), Rice Daubney
Crown Metropol, Bates Smart
Saffire, Circa Morris-Nunn Walker
Glass Loggia House, Allen Jack+Cottier Architects,
Strelein Warehouse , ian moore architects
Teixiera House, Brian Meyerson Architects
Small House, Domenic Alvaro
Ilma Grove, Andrew Maynard Architects
Bondi Penthouse, Brian Meyerson Architects
12-15 Regent Street, Tony Owen Partners
HMAS Creswell Griffiths House, BVN Architecture
Orange Grove House, Fiona Winzar Architects
Lilyfield Housing Redevelopment, HBO+EMTB
MUMA - Monash University Museum of Art, Kerstin Thompson Architects
PEGS Junior Boys School: Years 5 & 6 Building, McBride Charles Ryan
Deakin University, Building I Lecture Theatre, Woods Bagot
Trades North TAFE, JCY Architects and Urban Designers
Myer Bourke Street Redevelopment, NH Architecture
Harris Street Studios, Allen Jack+Cottier
Ecosciences Precinct, HASSELL
Milson Island Sport and Recreation Centre, Allen Jack+Cottier
Gippsland Water Factory Vortex Centre, DesignInc
Kurilpa Bridge, Cox Rayner Architects
Port Arthur Resort, Circa Architecture
South n Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Woods Bagot
The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA, Rice Daubney

Saffire Bay by Circa Morris- Nunn Walker. Image George Apostolidis

Other international projects shortlisted include a theatre made of straw in Estonia, a soccer school in Sowetto, a tree hotel in Sweden, a bamboo office in India and a moving gallery in New York.

Now in its fourth year, the competition attracted its highest number of entries to date with 704 entries.

For the first time, architecture and design enthusiasts will get the opportunity to have their say on which project should be crowned as the World Building of the Year 2011.

Buildings designed by renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid and Foster + Partners feature among buildings by smaller/ lesser known practices.

Each practice will compete as equals when presenting their designs live to international judging panels and Festival delegates at World Architecture Festival in Barcelona from 2nd to 4th November 2011.

The full shortlist is available here http://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/shortlist.cfm?eventYear=2011

David Wheeldon

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