The World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2019 opened yesterday in Amsterdam, with the first awards announced for winners in a number of categories.

Heatherwick Studio's New York sculpture Vessel was recognised in the ‘Display - Completed Buildings’ category for offering a new and innovative way for the general public to engage and create chance encounters.

The ‘Culture - Completed Buildings’ award went to Civic architects, Braaksma & Roos Architectenbureau and Petra Blaisse at Inside Outside for their LocHal Public Library in Tilburg, which is described as a new urban living room in an iconic former locomotive shed.

The Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre in Vancouver, designed by HCMA Architecture + Design, triumphed in the ‘Civic - Future Projects’ category. The building contains nine major spaces – including an aquatic centre, ice arena, curling rink, gymnasium, skatepark and dedicates areas for children, youth and retirees – and was commended by judges for its accompanying landscaping.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris won the ‘New and Old - Completed Buildings’ award for The Bower mixed-use commercial development housed in a former collection of 1960s buildings originally built for British Telecom.

In the ‘Leisure Led Developments – Future Projects’ category, Tabanlioglu Architects was the winner with their Tersane Halic - Halic Shipyards project that incorporates marinas, hotels, housing, offices and leisure areas while respecting the typology of old Istanbul.

And the ‘Sport - Completed Buildings’ category was won by Anna Noguera + Javier Fernandez with their Turo de la Peira's sports centre, which was recognised for its "outstanding use of resources with a sustainable ethos".

The WAF runs for 4-6 of December, with category winners awarded from the shortlists throughout and overall winners announced on the final day.