We’re shortlisted in the 2022 World Architecture Festival Awards

The Australian Pavilion and The Eaves are finalist projects in WAF 2022

We are poised to spread our unique design approach internationally, following the success of The Australian Pavilion, Expo 2020, Dubai, The Eaves, West Village (in Brisbane’s West End), and other global commissions.

The Australian Pavilion and The Eaves have just been shortlisted in the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards, to be announced in Lisbon later this year.

Whilst our practice has an affinity with the Middle East, bureau^proberts has also designed and delivered commissions in China and south-east Asia. Our Creative Director, Liam Proberts, says the practice has been working overseas and with international clients for the past 15 years and has seen a worldwide shift towards the Australian design-led approach.

“We’ve always found that our Australian design work was of interest to overseas clients, which has reinforced our practice approach. We fold our international learnings to benefit our local projects and vice versa,” Liam says.

“In the last five years, we’ve noticed that the international clientele’s appetite for ideas rather than just capacity has increased. Capacity isn’t our entry point to international work. Instead, we bring an idea to the table and build capacity around that idea.”

As architects with roots embedded in Queensland’s adaptable, will-do mindset, the firm’s design-led approach to architecture and placemaking positively impacts their international work. “We ensure the requirements to deliver an overseas project are adaptable to the local culture, work practices, employment availability and level of skill,” says Liam.

The success of The Australian Pavilion and The Eaves in the international awards arena is evidence that bureau^proberts’ ideas, sense of commerciality and design skills resonate strongly in the international market.

As finalists in the world’s largest celebration of architecture – the 2022 World Architecture Festival – our international reputation continues an upwards trajectory. Liam says the practice is honoured to be recognised in the two World Architecture Festival categories of Display and Mixed-Use.

“Our locally-inspired and created work sits alongside the most outstanding projects and the most exciting new architecture in the world,” he says. “With the Australian Pavilion and The Eaves, we have created an expression of our Australian culture and environment. Both these buildings welcome people to gather and celebrate, echoing the warm and inclusive nature of Australians.”

“During the World Architecture Festival’s intensive live presentation and judging in early December, we’ll be promoting our country’s creativity and ingenuity … we’ll be bringing Australia to Lisbon.”