UIA 2030 Awards (2021-2022)
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The UIA 2030 Award, a partnership with UN Habitat, promotes the work of architects that contributes to the delivery of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The first cycle of a biennial awards programme to run through 2030, the award invited architects around the world to submit entries for built projects which demonstrate design quality and have made significant contributions towards achievement of some of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Submissions were received from 125 projects in 40 countries. More information about how the award was conducted is available here.
The award was conducted in two stages and 43 Regional Finalists were selected to go through to Stage 2, at which point entrants were invited to submit a short video illustrating their building in use together with further information in support of their entries. Below are links to the 43 entries.
Category 1
Open Category: Recognising that architecture and the built environment contribute to the delivery of sustainable development in many ways, the Open Category will recognise a project which, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most significant overall contribution to delivery of the Global Goals.
Watch the UIA 2030 Award Category 1 highly commended and regional finalist videos here
Highly Commended
Regional Finalists
Category 2
Improving energy efficiency: This category recognised a project which has contributed significantly to improving the rate of energy efficiency, consistent with the principles underpinning Target 7.3 of SDG7, and demonstrates design quality.
Winner: Heilergeiger Architekten und Stadtplaner for the Karoline Goldhofer Daycare Centre
Jury citation: A skillful example of adaptive re-use which retains the client’s former home as the starting point for a new children’s day-care centre. By wrapping the existing building in a translucent envelope, the designers have adopted passive design principles to create a distinctive and highly efficient low energy building. The variety of flexible spaces thus created also align with and support the underlying pedagogy which promotes a student- centred self-guided curriculum.
Highly Commended
Regional Finalists
Watch the UIA 2030 Award Category 2 Winner, highly commended and regional finalist videos here
Category 3
Adequate, safe and affordable housing: This category recognised a project which has contributed significantly to the provision of accessible, adequate, safe and affordable housing, urban regeneration and/or slum upgrading consistent with the principles underpinning Target 11.1 of SDG11.
Winner: Home Modification for Low-income Families, in Hong Kong, China, by Domat
Jury citation: A pragmatic response to overcrowding and affordability, demonstrating the way in which creativity and design thinking can be harnessed to improve the lives of low-income families. Working together with local social workers, the architects have studied the challenges facing those living in cramped apartments and developed a flexible furniture system which maximises the utility of the space and can be rearranged to suit the changing needs of each family while delivering a myriad of associated benefits. The positive user feedback evidences how a relatively modest input can deliver a disproportionately larger impact and at scale, while the underlying issue of ‘Sub-divided dwelling units’ (SDU’s) is dealt with by the authorities.
Highly Commended
Regional Finalists
Watch the UIA 2030 Award Category 3 Winner, highly commended and regional finalist videos here
Category 4
Participatory, land-use efficient and inclusive planning: This category recognised a project which has contributed significantly to the provision of participatory, integrated, land-use efficient and inclusive human settlement planning, consistent with the principles underpinning Target 11.3 of SDG11
Winner: Housing Upcycle Programme, Barrio Mugica of Buenos Aires, Argentina by the Special Project Unit Barrio Padre Carlos Mugica, the Buenos Aires City Government
Jury citation: The improvement of Barrio Mugica is a perfect example of informal settlement upgrading and should serve as an inspiration to all those working in this sector. The entire team is to be congratulated for its commitment, for its collaborative, participatory approach, and for the way in which it has worked so hard to preserve the existing community while upgrading the fabric of the buildings and their services together with the public realm, including improvements to the street network and the provision of pocket parks. The project has improved the safety and well-being of residents while simultaneously integrating the neighbourhood into the fabric of the city.
Watch the UIA 2030 Award Category 4 Winner, highly commended and regional finalist videos here
Category 5
Access to green and public space: This category recognised a project which has contributed significantly to the provision of access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public space for all, consistent with the principles underpinning Target 11.7 of SDG11.
Winner: Co-creation of Urban Spaces by the Nobogonga River by Co.Creation.Architects
Jury citation: Initiated, conceived, and developed through intensive dialogue between the architects, the local municipality and the local community, the project has revitalised a series of neglected and disconnected riparian spaces, re-establishing a vital link with the local river in a country defined by water. The new waterfrontage has been transformed into an accessible, open, and vibrant public space and is clearly popular and well-used by all sections of the community.
Highly Commended
Regional Finalists
Watch the UIA 2030 Award Category 5 Winner, highly commended and regional finalist videos here
Category 6
Utilising local materials: This category recognised a project which has contributed significantly to building sustainable and resilient buildings utilising local materials, consistent with the principles underpinning Target 11.c of SDG11.
Highly Commended
Regional Finalists
Watch the UIA 2030 Award Category 6 Winner, highly commended and regional finalist videos here
ArchDaily’s Christele Harrouk had the chance to interview the award winners. Watch them here.