Double finalists at World Architecture Festival awards

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) shortlist has been announced and we are very proud to be part of the 2023 festival with two projects. We are finalists with both the Metro Tunnel Project in the Future Projects Infrastructure category, and Woolwich Elizabeth Line Station in Completed Buildings Transport category.

Metro Tunnel Project
Currently under construction, the twin nine-kilometre tunnels and five new underground stations of the Metro Tunnel Project will connect Melbourne’s northwest and southeast districts, transforming the way people move around the city and improve access to key landmarks and destinations.

The concept is centred around ‘Open Metro’, where the public realm is connected into the stations via daylight, natural ventilation, sightlines, and intuitive wayfinding which is combined with unique loose fit ceiling systems with a bold ’Melbourne’ colouration and rhythm. The fitout incorporates bespoke super-sized precision engineered objects; these organise and contain all the functional devices required in a 21st century metro.

The station entrances are individually characterised by utilising the materiality of their locality, with each design establishing clearly defined volumes showcasing the civil engineering below.

Melbourne’s five new Metro Tunnel stations is a world-class collaboration between leading international design practices; ourselves, Hassell, and RSHP, as part of the CYP Joint Venture comprising of Bouygues Construction, John Holland, and Lendlease Melbourne Metro.

Woolwich Elizabeth Line Station
Unique as the only new station on the Elizabeth Line, Woolwich Elizabeth Line Station is a key element in a masterplan for the regeneration of the former Royal Arsenal site, alongside 3,750 new homes and new cultural, heritage, commercial and leisure projects.

Its regenerative role means that what takes place above ground is just as important as what happens beneath: the station with its associated public realm connects it and the area’s new community to the wider town centre, and together with a series of Grade I and II listed buildings frames Dial Arch Square — a historic green space that is adjusted to form a gateway to the area. Initial proposals for Crossrail did not include a station at Woolwich, although the alignment passed through the site as the masterplan was being developed.

The architectural vision for Woolwich station springs from its location within the historic Woolwich Arsenal site and the rich heritage of the former military buildings nearby. The Arsenal had become separated from Woolwich town centre: this building and its improved public realm now reconnects the site to the wider neighbourhood.

We look forward to presenting both of these projects live in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands during the WAF festival.