The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced the initial shortlist for the Best Use of Stone Award. Selected from the overall WAF Awards shortlist, this special accolade—sponsored by Turkish Stones—honors completed architectural projects that showcase innovative and exemplary applications of natural stone, a versatile and durable material. WAF will take place from November 12 to 14, 2025, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, located in the heart of South Beach and the iconic Art Deco District.
The shortlist for the “Best Use of Stone” category consists of seven projects: Naxxar House by AP Valletta, located in the village of Naxxar, Malta, transforms an 18th-century palazzino into a contemporary residence using local craftsmanship and materials, establishing a respectful dialogue between the existing structure and new additions, and adding a sculptural stone façade that provides privacy while giving a modern interpretation to the historic fabric. Vourla House by GAD Architecture in İzmir’s Narlıdere district combines functionality, sustainability, and natural integration with elegant architecture, offering a holistic living environment encompassing the main house, guest house, and staff residence that harmonizes contemporary comfort with environmental sensitivity. Heartland Whole Health Institute by Marlon Blackwell Architects, inspired by the natural texture of the Ozark region, presents a holistic health center dedicated to wellness education and connection with nature, integrating public and professional spaces through a material palette of stone, wood, and brass details. The Central Courtyard Villa by NextOffice reinterprets traditional Iranian courtyard architecture in a contemporary manner, transforming the space into a three-dimensional, permeable, and sensory experience that provides both privacy and climatic balance, offering a rich spatial spectrum between introversion and extroversion. Desert Rock by Oppenheim Architecture in Saudi Arabia, completed in 2024, emerges as a pioneering LEED Platinum-certified ecotourism project, with buildings that nestle discreetly within the rocky landscape inspired by ancient Nabatean culture, constructed mostly from recycled onsite materials and utilizing microclimates to minimize environmental impact. SCREEN 504 by Sanjay Puri Architects in Rajasthan, India, is a 21-storey contemporary residential project drawing from 16th and 17th-century traditional architecture, featuring screened balconies for solar mitigation, natural ventilation schemes, water recycling systems, and locally sourced materials, emphasizing sustainability alongside landscape integration.
The shortlisted projects are:
- Naxxar House by AP Valletta
- Vourla House by GAD Architecture
- Heartland Whole Health Institute by Marlon Blackwell Architects
- The Central Courtyard Villa by NextOffice [Studio of Architectural Research & Design]
- Desert Rock by Oppenheim Architecture
- SCREEN 504 by Sanjay Puri Architects
For more information;
https://worldarchitecturefestival.com/WorldArchitectureFestival2025/en/page/best-use-of-stone-2025
