Architectural Excellence LIVE

The world's largest festival and live awards for the global architecture community: debate, learn and be inspired
全球建筑设计最大节日及奖项盛典：辩论，学习，启发。

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Founder Partner: Grohe Partner sponsor: Azkonobel

2-4 October 2013
Marina Bay Sands
Singapore

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It has been amazing to be part of the WAF award winning team. When you look across the range and quality of projects put forward for the WAF Awards, to be short listed and then become associated with the overall winner is a momentous achievement for Grant Associates.

Keith French
Director - Grant Associates

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News 2008

Abu Dhabi

Trio of tall buildings demonstrates global diversity

Date posted: 22/10/08

Speaking at the second of the `Height´ seminars at the World Architecture Festival, Polisano explained that, with similar drivers around the world, it is the responsibility of architects to ensure that their designs respond to local situations.

He illustrated this with reference to three of his own practice´s projects, the Pinnacle in London, the newly opened World Financial Building in Shanghai, China, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority headquarters, which will be discussed by the `Offices´ jury tomorrow at 10.20. 

Polisano contrasted the differing requirements of the three cities. The London building was planned as the centrepiece of an emerging cluster of tall buildings. Its wrapped form presents different views in each direction, consistent with the ever-changing aspects that London´s dense urban network offers.

In contrast, Abu Dhabi is an orthogonal city, with a developing corniche. KPF´s building deliberately makes a different response to the waterfront and to the more crowded backlands. It also creates a series of public spaces.

In Shanghai, the World Financial Building was designed to be first among a number of objects. The distinctive hole in the top developed from the idea of a Chinese moon gate, losing its circular shape along the way.

Tall buildings, argues Polisano, are here to stay. `To preserve the ability to feed the world,´ he said, `we need to build tall and build compactly.´ He is keen to ensure that this does not result in homogeneous building.

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