Holcim Awards 2014 – Asia Pacific

Since 2004 the Holcim Foundation has given awards for sustainable construction to "innovative, future-oriented and tangible construction projects to promote sustainable responses to the technological, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural issues affecting building and construction on a local, regional and global level." In the last of five regional competitions this year, Holcim has awarded thirteen Asia Pacific projects that share more than USD 300,000 in prize money. Previous awards were presented for Europe, North America, Latin America, and Africa and Middle East. Winners of the regional awards qualify for the Global Holcim Awards 2015.

Below we highlight the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners selected by the 11-strong jury* in July. They were asked to select winners based on "'target issues' for sustainable construction that consider environmental, social and economic performance – while also highlighting the need for architectural excellence and a high degree of transferability."

Holcim Awards Gold 2014 – USD 100,000
Protective Wing: Bird sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Main authors: Jariyawadee Lekawatana, Architectkidd, Bangkok, Thailand; Singh Intrachooto, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Chak Cherdsatirkul, Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Further authors: Felix Baroux, École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux, France; Pacharapan Ratananakorn, Pratchaya Lertrucksadee, Nattapong Chumkesorn, Tamfun Vatayanon, and Sorawut Kittibanthorn, Architectkidd, Bangkok, Thailand

Jury report: "The jury greatly values the project’s political message concerning the devastating effects of bird trafficking on the survival of endangered wildlife. The author’s ideological stance aligns with the principles advocated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), especially its “Red List of Threatened Species” – an eminent document guiding worldwide conservation policy and action. Considering architecture as an instrument of action, the project literally establishes the link between political activism and building practice, combining architectural qualities with conservation, education, research and eco-tourism in a complete and convincing way."

Holcim Awards Silver 2014 – USD 50,000
Children’s Ziggurat: Locally-adapted orphanage and library, Kathmandu, Nepal
Main authors: Hilary Sample and Michael Meredith, MOS Architects, New York, NY, USA

Jury report: "The jury appreciated the simplicity and robustness of the structure, a reinforced fly-ash concrete frame establishing a three-dimensional matrix for manifold functions, including a range of public amenities. Specific spatial qualities are introduced within the structure, offering children the opportunity to discover, not unlike Alice in Wonderland, spaces full of surprise and mystery – roof top terraces, hanging gardens, majestic halls and hidden chambers. The building ultimately manages to combine a social framework with a physical one in a seemingly seamless way."

Holcim Awards Bronze 2014 – USD 30,000
Post-War Collective: Community library and social recuperation, Ambepussa, Sri Lanka
Main author: Milinda Pathiraja, Robust Architecture Workshop, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Further author: Ganga Ratnayake, Robust Architecture Workshop, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Jury report: "The jury commends the intention of the project to focus as much on the building process as on the building as physical artifact. The combination of two objectives, pertaining to the term 'building' both as verb and noun, celebrates a specific understanding of architecture, one derived from the very structure of its making. Greatly appreciated is the project’s vocational training aspect, which will contribute – beyond the immediate task at hand – to 'capacity building' in a broader sense: the project would potentially heal collective wounds, build labor workforces, disseminate knowledge, foster sustainable development and strengthen social relations."

Visit the Holcim Awards website for more information on the above winning projects and to see the five winners of the Acknowledgement Prizes and the five recipients of the "Next Generation" prizes for young architects and students.

*The Holcim Awards jury for region Asia Pacific met at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China in July 2014. L-R: Yue Zhang (China), Marc Angélil (Switzerland), Ian Riley (China), Geeta Mehta (USA), Donald Bates (Australia), Rahul Mehrotra (India), Brinda Somaya (India), Stephen Siu-Yu Lau (China), Forrest Meggers (Singapore), Davy Sukamta (Indonesia), and Momoyo Kaijima (Japan).