Barcelona 4-6 November 2009

www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

Welcome to The World Architecture Festival, a unique event celebrating the world's finest work from the world's greatest architects.

At the heart of the Festival are the Awards, and something previously reserved for a select few - the opportunity to hear and see the shortlisted candidates present their schemes to a panel of world-renowned judges.

1,900 visitors from 70 countries gathered in Barcelona between October 22-24, to view all 722 entries from 63 countries in our unique Awards Entry Gallery, watch and listen to the shortlisted candidates as they explained the challenges they faced in creating their vision, hear the judges discussing the entries, networked with their peers, attended world-class sessions from the likes of Norman Foster and Robert Stern, and joined us in celebrating the best the world of architecture has to offer.

"The World Architecture Festival was a matchless occasion - one I hope will continue and prosper - the architectural community needs it."

Robert AM Stern, Chairman of the Super-jury The first World Architecture Festival was a huge success, attracting almost 2,000 visitors from 70 countries worldwide.

Festival visitors listened to shortlist presentations, learned from seminar speakers including Norman Foster and Massimiliano Fuksas, browsed the Awards Entry Gallery, and witnessed Universita Luigi Bocconi, Milan, by Grafton Architects win the first World Building of the Year award.

Universita Luigi Bocconi in Milan wins World Building of the Year at WAF08

Photograph: Federico Archivio Brunetti