Arch Tracker

Light is a fundamental element of life and a key aspect of any architectural project. Prizes will be awarded to projects that have successfully met the architectural lighting needs of an interior or exterior space, having created a positive synergy between architecture, interior design, landscaping and lighting. The Lamp Lighting Solutions Awards value the creativity, innovation and sustainability of lighting projects, regardless of the manufacturer or the brand of lights used in the project. More Info after the break.

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Bjarke Ingels, architect and head of Danish practice BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) has been announced as the 2010 laureate of the European Prize for Architecture. This prize is awarded annually by the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Bjarke Ingles in Arch Tracker:

            
          Tek Building                       Tamayo Musueum               Tallinns New City Hall
                                                   With Rojkind Arquitectos        With Adams Kara Taylor

           
          Shenzhen International          National Library           Faroe Islands Education Center
Energy Mansion              In Astana, Kazakhstan                       With Fuglar

The European Architecture Prize, established as a collaborative effort between The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum, is to be formally presented to Bjarke Ingels at “The City and The World: Madrid Symposium” November 4-7, 2010.

On Friday, November 5, at a Gala Diner and special Award’s Ceremony, together with Colegio Oficial de Arquitecturos de Madrid, Madrid’s Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jiménez will officially present Mr. Ingels with the lauris nobilis—symbolic of the European Prize.

Mr. Ingels will give a lecture preceding the dinner at 6:00PM at Centro de Turismo Colón, Plaza Colón, Madrid.

Zaha Hadid, the renowned Iraqi-born British architect, was named UNESCO Artist for Peace in a ceremony at Organization Headquarters that took place on 24 June. The UNESCO award is bestowed to a person who promotes the values of organization by creating the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and people based upon respect for commonly shared values.

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova designated the Pritzker Prize laureate “in recognition of her efforts to raise public awareness of intercultural dialogue, to promote excellence in design and creativity, and her dedication to the ideals and aims of the Organization.”             

Born in Baghdad in 1950, Ms Hadid graduated in mathematics from the American University of Beirut before enrolling at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London (UK).             

A ground-breaking thinker and creator, Ms Hadid’s innovative buildings in Europe, Asia and America have been the centre of passionate debate. She has also designed clothes, furniture and even a three-wheeled automobile called ZCar.             

UNESCO Artists for Peace are renowned personalities who use their influence, charisma and prestige to promote UNESCO’s message. Author Frankétienne (Haiti), Musician Manu Dibango (Cameroon), fashion designer Bibi Russell (Bangladesh), musician Gilberto Gil (Brazil), actress and singer Maria de Medeiros (Portugal) and writer Scott Momaday (United States) are among this eminent group of people.

Zurich/Switzerland – The 3rd International Holcim Awards competition offering a total of USD 2 million in prize money is open to: sustainable building and civil engineering works; landscape, urban design and infrastructure projects; and materials, products and construction technologies. The Awards are an initiative of the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

Entries must be submitted online at www.holcimawards.org by March 23, 2011. The competition celebrates innovative, future-oriented and tangible projects and visions from around the globe and is open to anyone involved with approaches that contribute towards a more sustainable built environment. The 3rd International Holcim Awards competition is comprised of five regional competitions in 2010/11 and the global phase in 2012. More info after the break.

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The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd. and co-presented by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, announced ninety-seven (97) new distinguished projects and urban schemes selected in this year’s prestigious International Architecture Awards program for 2009.

Given the record numbers of entries this year and the widest geographic distribution of buildings worldwide, The International Architecture Awards have become a global event of an unprecedented scale—an important barometer for the future direction of new architectural design and thinking today—celebrating, recognizing, and highlighting the world’s foremost architectural solutions for the designs of new skyscrapers, corporate buildings, institutions, arts facilities, airports, private homes, industrial structures, and urban planning projects from London to Singapore.
More info after the break.

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Owen Franken/Corbis

The Chinese-born American architect I. M. Pei, who is best known in Europe for his transformation of the Louvre in Paris, has been named today (Tuesday 6th October 2009) as the recipient of one of the world’s most prestigious architecture prizes, the Royal Gold Medal.

Given in recognition of a lifetime’s work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Her Majesty the Queen and is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence “either directly or indirectly on the advancement of architecture”.

I. M. Pei is one of the most prolific architects of all time having completed over 170 projects and more than 50 masterplans. At the age of 92, he remains actively engaged in architecture. His work easily spans the divide between commercial and cultural architecture, and he is equally respected and sought after by clients in all fields.

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This is the inaugural year of The Ordos Prize, the first international architectural prize to emerge from Asia. Unlike other major prizes that recognize an architect for a significant project or body of work, the Ordos Prize is the first to honor emerging young talent and innovative design that engages both the physical and social environment.

The Ordos Prize grows out of the commitment to excellence in architecture by Jiang Yuan Cultural & Creativity Development Co., Ltd. Jiang Yuan first drew the eyes of the world to Ordos by commissioning 100 talented young architects from throughout the world to design 100 villas. The Ordos 100 is one component of a new cultural and creative industry center that Jiang Yuan has under development in this fast rising new city in Mongolia. In the past 30 years, China’s unparalleled growth has triggered unprecedented challenges to urbanism and architecture on the global scene. Riding on this tide, The Ordos Prize is destined to confront these questions.

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WINNER ANNOUNCED FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION PRIZE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE – MIES VAN DER ROHE AWARD 2009

Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Oslo by Snøhetta

The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe announced today that the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Oslo, Norway by Snøhetta is the winner of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Awar 2009

The Jury also awarded the Emerging Architect Special Mention to STUDIO UP/ Lea Pelivan and Toma Plejic for Gymnasium 46° 09′ N / 16° 50′ E, Koprivnica, Croatia.

The 60,000 € Prize funded with support by the European Union, one of the most importan and prestigious prizes for international architecture, is awarded biennially to built works completed within the previous two years.

By supporting the prize, the European Commission underlines the role of architecture as a driver for creativity and innovation, opens up culture to audiences beyond national borders and draws attention to the European professionals’ contribution in the development of new ideas and technologies that impact Europeans’ everyday life.

You can see the announcement online at www.miesarch.com made by The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel and Francis Rambert, Chair of the Jury.

This landmark building by Snøhetta, who also designed the new Library of Alexandria (2002), is the largest cultural centre built in Norway in 700 years. It sloping stone roof – made up of 36,000 fitted pieces – rises up from the fjord; allowing members of the public, residents and opera goers alike, to walk over the building, developing a relationship with the public structure. Integral to the 1,000-room interior, which is largely lined with crafted woodwork (using the traditions of Norwegian boat builders), are a number of art commissions interwoven into the structural fabric, including a cloakroom, a collaboration with their 2007 Serpentine Pavilion collaborator Olafur Eliasson.

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