World Building of the Year 2018

Congratulation to WOHA, who designed Kampung Admiralty, winner of the prestigious World Building of the Year 2018 award at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Amsterdam. The substantial mixed-use building is Singapore’s first integrated public development that brings together a mix of public facilities and services under one roof.

The one-stop integrated complex maximises land use and is a prototype for meeting the needs of Singapore’s ageing population. Located on a tight 0.9Ha site with a height limit of 45m, the scheme builds upon a layered ‘club sandwich’ approach, with a range of commercial, residential and health space amid amenities and community services, topped by extensive green terraces adorning various elevated spaces.

The winner was selected by a ‘super-jury’ of four venerated representatives of the global architectural community – comprising Li Xiadong (Founder and Professor – School of Architecture, Li Xiadong & Atelier Tsinghua); Nathalie de Vries (Director and Co-founder – MVRDV); Frederick Cooper Llosa (Founder and Senior Partner – COOPER, GRANA, NICOLINI, Arquitectos) and Lesley Lokko (Head of Graduate School of Architecture – University of Johannesburg).

Paul Finch, Programme Director of the World Architecture Festival commented: ‘The judges admired the project for the way in which it dealt with the universal condition of longevity and health treatments, social housing provision, and commercial space, which enabled substantial public realm benefits. This hybrid building also incorporates a huge amount of greenery (more than 100% of its footprint) in a series of layered levels which have generated welcome biodiversity. The jury felt this was a project with potential lessons for cities and countries around the world’.