Photos courtesy Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes. Photos © Nic Lehoux.

Winner of one of this year's Governor General medals, Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects' Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre (Osoyoos, B.C.) is designed to be a specific, sustainable response to the building's environment—the biome of the South Okanagan Valley.

A trio of projects from Canada has been shortlisted for next month's first annual World Architecture Festival in Barcelona. For the event's awards program, 224 design projects (representing 43 countries) will vie for 'best in class' status among 17 categories, ranging from 'Religion and Contemplation' to 'Office.'

The Canadians making the cut were:
• Pictou Landing Health Centre (Halifax's Piskwepaq Design Inc.)—Health category;
• Quai des Cageux, Promenade Samuel de Champlain (Montreal's Daoust Lestage inc. design urbain)—Holiday category; and
• Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre (Vancouver's Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects)—Holiday category.

From October 22 to 24, these three nominees will be among those presenting work in front of "an international super jury� comprising design professionals and critics from around the world (including Lord Norman Foster, Sir Peter Cook, and Will Alsop). The 17 winners will then be narrowed down to one 'World Building of the Year.'

More than 722 submissions from 63 countries attempted to reach the festival's shortlist. For more information, visit www.worldarchitecturefestival.com.

Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre features the largest rammed earth wall in North America. At 80 m (262.5 ft) long, 5.5 m (18 ft) high, and 600 mm (24 in.) thick, this mass—insulated wall was built from local soils mixed with concrete and colour additives.