Urban Innovation Awards was organised for the first time by International Union of Architects (UIA) on June 28, at the 11th World Urban Forum held this year, in partnership with UN-Habitat. Opening remarks were delivered by José Luis Cortés, President, UIA. Pei Ing Tan, Secretary General, UIA addressed the audience and mentioned that the Urban Innovation Awards 2030 recognises and promotes the work of architects which contributes to the delivery of UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development together with the New Urban Agenda.
First category from the list of awards was Open category in which the architecture/built environment contributes to delivery of SDGs in many different ways. Jurors found it difficult to choose just one from so many good projects, therefore decided to mention six projects as ‘High Commended” in the mentioned category. These are:
Village Lounge of Shangcun by SUP Atelier of THAD located in Shangcun Village, Jixi County, Anhui
Province, China,
Warm Nest Project of Zoige by China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Corporation Ltd, built in Xiare’er Village, Zoige County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, China,
Green Field Factory of Karupannya Rangpur Limited by Nakshabid Architects located in Alamnagar, Rangpur, Bangladesh,
Naidi Community Hall by CAUKIN Studio, located in Savusavu, Vanua Levu Island, Fiji, Enghave Climate Park by Third Nature (Tredje Natur) located in Copenhagen, Denmark, Beaufort West Clinic by Gabriel Fagan Architects, located in Beaufort West, Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Second category recognises projects that have contributed significantly to the rate of improving energy efficiency, consistent with SDG 7 and target 7.3. The winner was Karoline Goldhofer Daycare Centre by HeilerGeiger Architects located in Memmingen, Germany.
The third category recognises projects that have contributed significantly to the provision of adequate, safe and affordable housing, urban regeneration, and/or slum upgradation that is consistent with the SDG 11 and its pinning target 11.3. The winner was Home Modification for low-income families by Domat in Hong Kong, China.
The fourth category recognises projects which have contributed significantly to the provision of participatory, integrated land use efficient and inclusive human settlement planning, consistent with the principles under the SDG 11 and the pinning target of 11.3. The Winner was Housing Upcycle Programme, Barrio Mugica of Buenos Aires by Special Project Unit Barrio Padre Carlos Mugica, Buenos Aires City Government.
The fifth category recognises projects which have contributed significantly in delivering the access to green and public space, being consistent with the principles under the SDG 11 and target 11.7. The Winner was Co-creation of Urban Spaces by the Noboganga River by Co-Creation Architects in Jhenaidah Sadar, Jhenaidah, Bangladesh. The sixth category recognises projects that have contributed to building resilient and sustainable structures utilizing the local materials and in consistence with the SDG 11 and target 11.C. The Winner was House of Dreams by Insitu Project, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Zhoushan Village, Henan Province, China. It has been developed by revitalisation of former cave settlement into a training centre and constructed entirely using waste materials and memorabilia which evokes the region’s history.
