Teams from Thailand and New York have received top honors in the 2014 regional Holcim Awards for Asia Pacific, an award which recognizes the most innovative and advanced sustainable construction designs. Among the top three winners are the “Protective Wing” bird sanctuary and a locally-adapted orphanage and library in Nepal.
The 13 recognized projects will share over $300,000 in prize money, with the top three projects overall going on to be considered for the global Holcim Awards, to be selected in 2015.
The full list of Asia Pacific winners, after the break…
GOLD: “Protective Wing” Bird Sanctuary
Main Authors: Jariyawadee Lekawatana - Architectkidd, Bangkok, Thailand; Singh Intrachooto - Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Chak Cherdsatirkul - Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Each year, thousands of birds are smuggled in and out of Thailand for their exotic colors and bird calls, to be sold on the world’s growing black market. Rescued birds usually die in confinement because they are retained in cages for up to five years as evidence during prosecution of smugglers.
The Bird Sanctuary serves as both an educational facility and a bird rehabilitation center including a small hotel and bird viewing tower, in a site that simulates the natural habitat.
SILVER: “Children’s Ziggurat” Locally-adapted orphanage and library
Main Authors: Hilary Sample - MOS Architects, New York, USA; Michael Meredith - MOS Architects, New York, USA
The Lali Gurans orphanage and library addresses the needs of an under-served rural population. In a context lacking basic infrastructure, the new facility utilizes low-technology renewable energy and material resources, local craftsmanship, and vertical gardens for insulation and food, thus significantly reducing operating costs.
The project also addresses the needs of the nearby communities by offering a library accessible to the public and a seismically stable refuge area during earthquakes.
BRONZE: “Post-War Collective” Community library and social recuperation
Main Authors: Milinda Pathiraja - Robust Architecture Workshop, Colombo, Sri Lanka
With the aim of reintegrating former soldiers into post-civil war society, young men from underprivileged backgrounds are trained in building techniques through their involvement in the construction of public buildings – such as this Community Library.
The slender building sits lightly in the landscape and wraps around an inner courtyard, taking full advantage of cross ventilation and daylighting. Rammed-earth walls and recycled materials reduce the building’s ecological footprint.
Acknowledgement Prize: “Between Walls” Community medical center and school
Main Authors: Madhusudhan Rao Chalasani - MADE, Hyderabad, India
Acknowledgement Prize: “High-Tech Low-Tech” Sustainable research center featuring traditional woodworking methods
Main Authors: Benoît Jacquet - EFEO, Kyoto, Japan; Manuel Tardits - Mikan, Yokohama, Japan
Acknowledgement Prize: “In-Situ Network” Palm tree branches for coastal protection
Main Authors: Maj Plemenitas - LINKscale, London, United Kingdom
Acknowledgement Prize: “Megacity Skeleton” Stakeholder participation for urban up-grading
Main Authors: Tomohiko Amemiya - UNITYDESIGN, Tokyo, Japan
Acknowledgement Prize: “Resurrected Canals” Urban water transport system
Main Authors: Santi Sombatwichatorn - D I Designs, Bangkok, Thailand
“Next Generation” First Prize: “Panda-Watching” Historic village reconstruction
Main Authors: Zhe Peng - Harvard University, Graduate School of Design (GSD), Cambridge, USA
“Next Generation” Second Prize: “Adaptable Portable” Modular housing for urban poor
Main Authors: Nusrat Jahan Mim - Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
“Next Generation” Third Prize: “Social Design” Urban neighborhood remediation
Main Authors: Antonius Richard Rusli - Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, Bandung, Indonesia
“Next Generation” Fourth Prize: “Formal-Informal DNA” Urban network upgrading
Main Authors: Eugene Tan - National University of Singapore, Singapore
“Next Generation” Fifth Prize: “Re-Made Fabric” Garment district intervention
Main Authors: Meriem Chabani, Etienne Chobaux, John Edom - École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris Malaquais, Paris, France
Project descriptions via the Holcim Foundation.
