UIA World Congress of Architects concludes in Copenhagen with an awards ceremony

The 28^th edition of UIA World Congress of Architects, which recently concluded in Copenhagen, Denmark, welcomed architects and practitioners from the building industry and planning communities to discuss and deliberate on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Themed Sustainable Futures – Leave No One Behind, the four-day event—open from July 2 to 6, 2023—in the Danish capital platformed conversations and the presentation of new findings and sustainable, collaborative and inclusive developments in the realm of architecture.

An elaborate awards ceremony—welcomed by Connie Hedegaard Koksbang, a Danish politician, public intellectual, and a former European Commissioner for Climate Action in the European Commission—marked the end of the 2023 World Congress of Architects. The closing ceremony also witnessed the presentation of The Copenhagen Lessons—condensed in 10 ten points—by Natalie Mossin, as well as a ceremony to pass the banner on to the city of Barcelona, announced as the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture for 2026.

STIR enlists the awards and awardees acknowledged during the ceremony, held on July 6, 2023.

UIA Triennial Prizes

“To encourage merit, recognise talent and reward achievements of international consequence, the International Union of Architects (UIA) awards prizes every three years during the UIA World Congress of Architects,” the description on the UIA website reads. The five Triennial prizes are named after past presidents of the UIA.

The winner of The Patrick Abercrombie Prize for Urban Planning and Design was announced as L’auc from France, while the Honourable Mention was accredited to 300.000Km/s from Spain. Speaking about L’auc, the jury shares, “They transform old factories into ecological quarters, think about new types of community interactions and ways of being together. Their project ‘Base aérienne 217’ in Brétigny-sur-Orge reinvents ruined landscapes and includes regional city development, new thinking in city planning and complex possibilities for urban design in the 21^st century.”

The Auguste Perret Prize for Technology in Architecture was granted to Philip F. Yuan from China, and The Jean Tschumi Prize for Architectural Writing and Critique was apportioned to Anne Beim from Denmark and Vladimír Šlapeta from Czech Republic. The jury appreciated Yuan for his “ability to expand the boundaries of architecture by using digital technology, 3D printing and robotic construction, and who manages to keep his projects human-centred by taking into consideration local materials and working with the community.” Beim, on the other hand was cited an example of a holistic-thinking architect-academic and Šlapeta was recognised for his “outstanding contribution to teaching, deanship, through his writings, museum exhibitions, catalogues, and keynotes on the achievements of the Czech avant-garde in an international context and on contemporary European architecture.”

Hoàng Thúc Hào from Vietnam was announced as the winner of The Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable and Humane Environments, and Song Yehao from China and Jalal Ahmed from Bangladesh were announced the Honourable Mentions. The jurors described Hào’s projects as ones that “emphasise a sense of cohesion and a friendly environment for local people’s lives. His project ‘Worker Village’ reinvents the living standards of workers and encourages communication between neighbours with a shared courtyard and corridor and by inviting inhabitants to tend the gardens.”

Lastly, The Vassilis Sgoutas Prize for Implemented Architecture Serving The Impoverished went to Marina Tabassum from Bangladesh and Đoàn Thanh Hà from Vietnam, along with the Honourable Mention to Belen Desmaison from Peru. The jury mentioned, “Marina has made remarkable contributions in creating buildings in line with their natural environments and embracing the design challenges posed by the environment. Đoàn Thanh Hà’s impressive body of work embodies the spirit of the prize. The innovation shown in every project demonstrates the architect’s commitment to creating an architecture which is of its place. This is done through the considered use of local materials, by engagement with local communities and by employing the local skills and craftsmanship within each community. ”

Great Green Wall Single Stage Student ideas Competition

The ‘Great Green Wall Single Stage Student ideas Competition’ is an official student competition that garnered over 150 entries from 49 countries. Open to architecture students from across the globe, the objective of the competition was to encourage innovative yet simple ideas for affordable housing—that could accommodate up to 25 people–within the 8000 km long and 16 km wide living region stretching across the Sahel-Savanah desert region, from Dakar to Djibouti, also known as the Great Green Wall (GGW).

The first prize was awarded to Altynai Isaeva, from Kyrgyz State University of Construction and Architecture (KSUCTA), Kyrgyzstan, for the project ‘Sustainable housing for Africa,’ in Sauga, Burkina Faso. The entry was appreciated by the jury for “a very mature and correct proposal, able to redeploy typological memory and conceptual clarity through a simple configuration of a solid base. It is easy to imagine that this project could grow into a village incrementally, when families expand, following the architectural language of the initial house.”

While the second prize was awarded to Yuto Takenaka from Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, USA, for ‘Dandelion ARC Journey’, the third prize was given to Tian Haoran, Yang Mohan, Wu Ruopan and Cao Chuangwei Inner Mongolia, with tutors Hou Shuai and Ren Zhonglong, of Inner Mongolia University of Technology, China, for the project ‘Green Colonies, Niger’, the fourth prize was rewarded to Quan Dao and Quang Ngo, Hanoi Architectural University, Vietnam, for ‘Co-Living, Burkina Faso’ and the fifth prize was granted to Abdulhameed Yakubu, Khadija Oyanki, Rayyan Garba and Amina Musa from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, for their project ‘The Gidajen Laka.’

Honourable mentions in this category include Denis Ezekiel and Christopher Luvanda for the project ‘The design of sustainable dwelling’ in Senegal; Yiyang Liu and Meijia Sun for ‘Sprawling Community’ in Chad; Asena Janset Odaci and Zeynep Yazici for ‘Patch’ in Chad; Hatice Bahar Çoklar, Ece Irem Tuncer and Okan Temür for ‘Urban Loop’ in Burkina Faso; Nde Keulek Sidoine Baudrel, Mahamat Talba, Lizette Marlaine Tsafack Donfack, Parfait Audry Migoue Ymbe and Emy Sandrine Masso for the project ‘Competitive Cluster House’ in Senegal; Eren Vardar, Alperen Iraz and Süleyman Enes Kurt for ‘Saltogether’ in Djibouti; Li Bei Bei, Feng Yu Qing, Cai Zhen and Li Jun Jie for the project ‘Eco Tree’ in Burkina Faso; Johanna Lentzkow, Nils Hayoz and Laura Camerlingo for ‘EcoVillage’ in Burkina Faso; Lelissa Erkissa, Mikyas Tekle and Simon Mucheye for ‘Sustainable Hidmo Housing’ in Ethiopia; and L.A.S Shikara Silva and S. Suwanka Senadheera for the project ‘African Dream’ in Burkina Faso.

Golden Cubes Award

First held in 2011, the Golden Cubes Award, organised by the UIA Architecture & Children Work Programme, is now in its fifth edition. The award recognises and awards people and organisations that help children and young adults develop a better understanding of the built environment and architecture. Delineating the eligibility criteria for the competition, the website description details, “The UIA Architecture & Children Golden Cubes Awards invites competitors to present submissions relating to an activity, which is currently active, or to a product produced, or an event which has taken place.” The award accepts submissions across four categories, namely Institutions, Schools, Written Media and Audio-visual Media. While the Institutions category includes organisations, institutions, museums and more; Schools cover directors, teachers and students; written media encompasses books, magazines and non audio-visual educational tools; and audio-visual media includes films, audio-visual educational material and web sites.

In the Institutions category, Kultur & Spielraum e.V. was announced as the winner for their project ‘Play City Mini-Munich (Architecture and urban planning with children)’ in Germany. Honourable mentions, on the other hand, include ArkiPlay – Architecture is for all! for the project ‘Let’s renovate our garden and make bridges out of walls’ in Portugal; and Arkibag for ‘Architecture building kits for hospitalized children’ in Denmark.

Under the Schools category, the awardees include Architectural studio WORKS, Social Welfare Corporation HITONONE, SAIKAIENGEI, KUSAKANMURI, SAKANTOKURA, Bluemoondesign Office, Machi no Atelier for the project ‘Workshop centred on building a straw hut’ in Japan, and the honourable Mentions comprise Great Blessings Christian Learning Centre for ‘Thank God it’s Friday, TGIF Assemblies’ in Nigeria; and  Secondary School, Cornesti Village, Iasi, Romania for ‘The Park Tribune’.

For the Written Media category, GYIK – Műhely Foundation (Creative Art Studio for Children and Youth) from Hungary was named as the laureate for ‘LANDSCAPE-SPACE-REPOSITORY+, Creations to boost visual-spatial intelligence’. The honourable mentions announced include Marta Brkovic Dodig, Milena Vasic, Mina Radic, Marta Nikolic, Tea Ostojic, Andjela Bajic, and Ana Andrejevic from Serbia for ‘Spector – The Sustainability Inspector’ and the Takaguchi Laboratory, Waseda University / Maeda Laboratory, Takasaki University of Commerce / Insplace Inc. from Japan for the ‘Development of SDGs Super City Game: Card game of new concepts for the next generation’.

Lastly, under Audio-visual Media category, the awardee announced is Megawra | Athar Lina from Egypt for ‘Al-Khalifa Urban Dreams’. Honourable Mentions in this category include Insomnia Studio for ‘Street Play JLM’ and Dr. Ipek Türeli, Matt James, Happy Camper Media, Dr. Maija-Liisa Harju, Zhuofan Chen, Audrey Boutot, Sihem Attari, Pastille Rose, Audrey Boutot from Canada for ‘Architecture Playshop: Developing critical literacy with young children around climate change, forced migration and the built environment’.

Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Award

Established to promote the ideation of buildings and sites that “have created socially sustainable environments through high quality architectural design,” the most recent edition of the award received 116 entries from 37 countries, across four categories, namely New Buildings, Refurbished existing buildings, Public and open spaces, and Research undertaken by architect(s) on the theory or practice of universal design.

In the New buildings category, the award was given to SUP Atelier of THAD for ‘Village Lounge of Shangcun’, and the Honourable Mentions were announced as Ar. Md. Sharif Uddin Ahammed from Bangladesh, for ‘Shah Muhammad Mohshin Khan Mausoleum’; O’Connell Mahon Architects from Ireland, for ‘National Rehabilitation Hospital’; and Asociación Semillas para el Desarrollo Sostenible, from Peru, for ‘Alto Anapati Nursery School’.

Under the Refurbished existing buildings category, the award was accorded to Caroe Architecture Ltd, from United Kingdom, for ‘St Paul’s Cathedral – Equal Access Project’ and the Honourable Mentions include Sol Architecture et Urbanisme, from France, for ‘A Second Life for Jean Macé school, Trappes’ and 10dedosvalentes: Tiago Reis de Oliveira, from Portugal, for ‘Therapeutic Equine Center Pony Club Porto: Reconversion and extension of an ancient rural complex, Porto’.

Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect, from Thailand, received the award in the Public and open spaces category, for ‘Benjakitti Forest Park’. Honourable Mentions include VERITAS Architects, from Malaysia, for ‘Saloma Link’, SUP Atelier of THAD, from China, for ‘Tea Leaf Market of Zhuguanlong’ and AMVC – Arquitectos Associados, from Portugal, for ‘Mechanical Accesses to Leiria’s Castle’.

Finally, under the Research category, Magda Mostafa – Progressive Architects, was awarded, for ‘The Autism Friendly University Design Guide’. Honourable Mentions in this category include Anidare Company, from Peru, for ‘Thinking about cities that support care and their interpersonal relationships from childhood’; Francesca Tosi, from Italy, for ‘Home Care Design for Parkinson’s Disease’; and Ar. Sebi Nakarmi, Prof. Dr. Sudha Shrestha, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanjaya Uprety, from Nepal, for ‘Satisfaction with Public Buildings of Patan among People with Disabilities.’

The UIA Award for Innovation in Architectural Education focus on UN SDGs

Established in 2019 to “celebrate the multifaceted nature of innovation across the boundaries of cultures and geographies,” the award seeks to promote pedagogical practices that strive to create sustainable environments. Four entries were awarded the UIA Award for Innovation in Architectural Education focus on UN SDGs. They include Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, for ‘Design Activism Beyond Sustainability – Architectural Education based on Collaborative and Radical Pedagogy’; Department of Architecture, Gazi University for ‘Active Collaboration in Architectural Design Studio: Enhancing Knowledge Networks for Excellence in Pedagogical Practice’; Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture for ‘Building with Earth: A Mutual-educational Approach towards Sustainable Rural Revitalization Empowered by Traditional Wisdom’; and Architectural Engineering & Technology AET Programme, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University for ‘Sustainable Community Design and Social Development: Activating Spaces within Green and Healthy Corridors’. Honourable Mention in this category include Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin, for ‘Designing with Nature and Equality’.

International Innovative Health Design Awards

This award was set up to encourage architects to design buildings and built spaces in a manner that takes into consideration the social and environmental well-being of the inhabitants and users of the said spaces. Split under two categories, namely Built Work and Theoretical Work, the award invited practicing architects and architecture academics from across the globe to participate.

While SUP Atelier of THAD was awarded under the Built Work category for ‘Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) in Yixing, China’, those awarded in the Theoretical Work category include Francesca De Filippi, Roberto Pennacchio, Matteo Robiglio, Elena Guidetti, Valeria Villamil Cárdenas, Laura Juliana Gualdrón Frias (Department of Architecture and Design, Politecnico di Torino), Stefano Fantucci, Marco Simonetti (Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, Italy), and Michele Di Marco and Anna Silenzi (World Health Organization, Technical Science for Health Network), from Italy, for ‘Design for Healthcare SURGE. A Toolkit for the African Region’. Additionally, Rahul Kadri from IMK Architects was named as the Honourable Mention in the Built Work category, for Symbiosis Hospital and Research Center (SUHRC) in Pune, India.

Next Generation of Stroke Rehabilitation Centres

Organised by UIA Public Health Group and the NOVELL Redesign Team and co-sponsored by the Australian Health Design Council (AHDC), the award “encourages architects and their clients to use evidence-based design to promote health in buildings and cities, and promotes design that protects health, design that develops Better Health, and design that restores health once it is impaired.”

Winners of this award include Zheyuan Zhao, Jiayu Sun, Yutong Sun, Haibo Sun, Fei Lian (Advisor) from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, for their project ‘Xhosa Miracle Spring’ in Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The second prize was awarded to Zuozheng Shi, Han Cui, Biao Chen, Xiaohui Guo, Wen Ouyang (Advisor), Tingwan Huang (Advisor), from Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China, for ‘Community Patches – Warm Around, Life Around’, and the third prize was accorded to Byeongsoo Kim, Kyeonghyeon Park, from Kwangwoon University, South Korea, for ‘Meet Me at S.M.L. !’. The fourth prize was announced as Sidoine Baudrel Nde Keulek, Steve Wilson Ntakam Tonguembo, Lizette Marlaine Tsafack Donfack, Emy Sandrine Masso, from National Advanced School of Public Works, Cameroon, for ‘Sustainable Survivor’s Village’ and the fifth prize goes to Meng Chen, Nan Jiang, Fujia Lyu, Yutong Li, Hsin-Hsien Chiu (Advisor), from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, for ‘Forest Rehabilitation Villa’. 

Honourable Mentions include Neda Norouzi, Dana Martinez, Ariana Gomez and Narda Parga Moreno for ‘Riverside Recovery’; Harriet Asamoah, Nuhu Shuaib Abekah, Yiho Sare Yaboure Aristide Kevin Daouda, Philip Chinwendu Jason, Oliver Ackumey for ‘Kumasi Stroke Rehabilitation Center’; Salma Essam Eldin Anwar, Ameera Abdallah Anas, Muna Mohamed Elsadig for ‘Reinvigorate Center’; Artur Gała and Jan Kubec for ‘ Rehabitat’; Fryderyk Karzkowiak, Ewelina Zub, Barbara Gronostajska for ‘Wroclaw Stroke Rehabilitation Center’; Liu Qiwei, Huang Lingjiang, Peng Xu for ‘Blending To Harmony’; and Kenfack Azangmo Anselme Raoul, Tekeu Kelly Fakira, Tsafack Fabien Junior, Tiayo Nopousse Diderot, Joubouh Atiofak Bienvenu Espoir for ‘Revive Through Nature’.