GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings and founder sponsor of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), will continue the sponsorship of the WAF for the 12^th year in a row. Due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation, this year’s edition took place as a virtual event with completely new and exciting formats focussing on the main topic “Living with Pandemics”: From 30^th November until 04^th December live content, talks, panel discussions and networking opportunities fostered the professional exchange between architects and designers all around the world. The community was attended by renowned keynote speakers such as Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang, Sir David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates, Ben Van Berkel of UNStudio and Sir Peter Cook.

GROHE did not only award this year’s winner of the Water Research Prize, honoring initiatives which investigate the architectural implications of water in respect of buildings or the built environment on December 2^nd but also contributed to the live sessions at WAFVirtual:

Monday, November 30^th 10:35-11:15 am (GMT) | Factory-Made to Measure

How can designers and manufacturers exploit the possibilities of digital design and construction to create buildings focused on health and well-being?

James Pickard, Founding Director, Cartwright Pickard

Karl Lennon, Director A&D Accounts EMENA, Grohe AG / LIXIL EMENA

Wednesday, December 2^nd 9:10-9:50 am (GMT) | GROHE Water Research Prize

Announcement of this year’s winner and Q&A session

Patrick Speck, Vice President LIXIL Global Design and Consumer Experience EMENA

Friday, December 4^th 13:20-14:00 pm (GMT) | Rooms with a Point of View

Hotel designers are taking steps to ensure safe distancing rather than density. How is the challenge progressing?

Richard McConkey, Head of Hospitality & Associate Director, Universal Design Studio

Tom Ito, Global Hospitality Practice Director, Gensler

Pascale Porro, Director Hotel Accounts EMENA, Grohe AG / LIXIL EMENA

Federico Toresi, Global VP Design Premium & Luxury Brands, Accor

On demand | CPD session on 3D printing

GROHE is the first leading sanitary brand in Europe to employ the use of 3D metal-printing manufacturing techniques. The CPD module considers 3D printing in general terms – what it is, different techniques and materials used, areas of application, manufacturing and environmental impacts.

Karl Lennon, Director A&D Accounts EMENA, Grohe AG / LIXIL EMENA

“Being the founding member of the World Architecture Festival and supporting it for the last twelve years, we are delighted to see that WAF has developed into a must-attend event for the global architecture community” said Stefan Schmied, Vice President Global Projects Grohe AG.

“We were excited to participate in the virtual transformation of the festival and discuss the challenge for hotel designers to ensure safe distancing in hospitality and also how designers and manufacturers can realise the possibilities of digital design and construction to create buildings focused on health and well-being.”

Paul Flowers, Leader, LIXIL Global Design added: “It is more important than ever for designers and architects to share ideas and collaborate. GROHE is immensely proud to support WAF for the 12th year and its first virtual festival to engage in these discussions and foster professional exchange. Only together can we make impactful change on the holistic experiences we create.”