3rd International Holcim Awards Europe

Tim Edler of realities:united with the Gold Award
Photo: © Holcim Foundation

The winners of the 3rd International Holcim Awards competition for sustainable construction projects and visions from across Europe have been announced at a ceremony in Milan. A total of USD 300,000 was presented to ten outstanding projects submitted by architects, planners, engineers and project owners. The winning projects show the wide range of approaches in the region to sustainable construction that respond both to intensified urbanization and innovation in building materials and construction techniques.

The Holcim Awards Gold 2011 for Europe and USD 100,000 was awarded to German architects realities:united for a project on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Museuminsel in the heart of Berlin. The Flussbad urban plan will remediate an area rich in cultural heritage by transforming an under-utilized arm of the River Spree into a natural 745m-long "swimming pool". The project will form a swimming zone equivalent to 17 Olympic-sized pools - and directly improve the quality of urban life and the ecology of the waterway.

Panorama Flussbad - Left side by architect Tim Edler, realities:united.
Image: Holcim Foundation

Member of the jury and Co-director of London-based public planning agency, Publica, Lucy Musgrave, congratulated the project for creating a direct and strong impact on the quality of urban life and positive ecological contribution through remediation of the city’s waterways. “It is an excellent example of what could be achieved within challenging inner city areas that possess a rich tradition and cultural heritage where the local public has been overlooked,” she said.

All Awards:
Holcim Awards Gold 2011 – USD 100,000
Urban renewal and swimming-pool precinct, Berlin, Germany
Author: Tim Edler, realities united, Germany
Further authors: Jan Edler, realities united, Germany; Denise Dih, DODK, Germany

Holcim Awards Silver 2011 – USD 50,000
City hall and civic center recycled from former factory, Oostkamp, Belgium
Main author: Carlos Arroyo, Carlos Arroyo Arquitectos, Spain
Further author: Vanessa Cerezo, Carlos Arroyo Arquitectos, Spain
Project development: Wolkenbouwer (Carlos Arroyo Arquitectos, Spain + ELD Partnership, Belgium)

Holcim Awards Bronze 2011 – USD 25,000
Lifestyle apartments and infrastructure recycled from former freeway viaducts, near Scilla, Italy
Main author: Philippe Rizzotti, Philippe Rizzotti Architects, France
Further authors: Samuel Nageotte, Samuel Nageotte Architecture, France; Tanguy Vermet and Manal Rachdi, Off Architecture, France

Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prizes 2011 – USD 18,750 each prize
High-density cottage garden structure, Appeltern, Netherlands
Main author: Marijke Bruinsma, De Stuurlui Stedenbouw, Netherlands
Further authors: Marjan van Capelle and Arjen de Groot, Atelier Gras, Netherlands

High-efficiency concrete formwork technology, Zurich, Switzerland
Main author: Matthias Kohler, Gramazio & Kohler, Architecktur und Digitale Fabrikation – ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Further authors: Fabio Gramazio, Silvan Oesterle and Axel Vansteenkiste, Gramazio & Kohler, Architecktur und Digitale Fabrikation – ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Low-cost apartments incorporating smart materials, Hamburg, Germany
Main author: Frank Barkow, Barkow Leibinger Architects, Germany
Further authors: Regine Leibinger, Barkow Leibinger Architects, Germany; Mike Schlaich, Schlaich Bergermann und Partner, Germany; Matthias Schuler, TRANSSOLAR Energietechnik, Germany

Medium rise timber office building in low-to-no carbon emissions district, Helsinki, Finland
Main author: Matthias Sauerbruch, Sauerbruch Hutton, Germany
Further authors: Adrian Campbell, Arup, United Kingdom; Jan-Christoph Zoels, Experentia, Italy

Holcim Awards “Next Generation” 1st prize 2011 – USD 25,000
Efficient fabrication system for geometrically complex building elements, London, United Kingdom
Main author: Povilas Cepaitis, AA School of Architecture, United Kingdom
Further authors: LLuis Enrique, Diego Ordoñez and Carlos Piles, AA School of Architecture, United Kingdom

Holcim Awards “Next Generation” 2nd prize 2011 – USD 15,000
Materials reuse and regional transformation scheme, Gijón / Xixón, Spain
Author: Elisa de los Reyes Garcia, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain

Holcim Awards “Next Generation” 3rd prize 2011 – USD 10,000
Bioluminescent devices for zero-electricity lighting, Seville, Spain
Author: Eduardo Mayoral, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

About:
The Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction conducts the competition in five regions in parallel across the world. More than 6,000 submissions for projects located in 146 countries entered the Holcim Awards which aims to promote sustainable responses from the building and construction industry to technological, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural issues.

Further Information:
Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
Hagenholzstr. 85 • CH-8050 Zurich/Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0) 58 - 8 58 82 92
Fax: +41 (0) 58 - 8 58 82 99
eMail: info@holcimawards.org
web: www.holcimawards.org