The 2016 World Architecture Festival (WAF) has started today with architects and designers from around the world descending on Berlin to debate issues facing the industry and to celebrate the world’s best recently completed and future architectural projects.

Held in the Arena Berlin, the three-day event (16-18 November) is the only global festival that combines conferences, networking and awards - with the WAF Building of the Year to be announced at the end of the week.

The event is being held alongside the INSIDE World Festival celebrating global interiors.

The theme for the main festival is ‘Housing for Everyone’, with speakers debating how to overcome social, political and economic challenges to deliver decent housing and living spaces.

Zaha Hadid director Patrik Schumacher, interior designer Joyce Wang and UNStudio founder Ben van Berkel, who delivered the first keynote speech this morning, are among the speakers presenting at the two festivals throughout the week.

Leisure architecture is being represented at WAF, particularly in the WAF Awards, which celebrate projects across 30 categories including sport, culture and mixed-use. Leisure architects in contention can be found here.

A panel of industry professionals – including David Chipperfield and Christoph Ingenhoven – will judge the category winners to select the World Building of the Year, Landscape of the Year and the Future Project of the Year.

CLADmag managing editor Magali Robathan and news editor Kim Megson will be reporting from the festival throughout the week.