Call for Project Proposals
Submission deadline: 1 December 2011
The international biennial "Zumtobel Group Award for Sustainability and Humanity in the Built
Environment’ established in 2007 and which will be presented for the third time in the autumn
of 2012, honors outstanding architectural and engineering performance in the generation of
sustainable solutions, pioneering social and humanitarian initiatives and research projects in
the built environment that make a notable contribution to a livable, sustainable and equitable
future. The two prize-winning projects together carry a total purse of Euro 140,000.
Point of departure
Given the environment’s dramatic response to exploitation and pollution, the issue of sustainability is
loaded with social and economic significance. Especially in the built environment, architects, urban
planners, engineers and related disciplines are challenged to engage with these issues by combining
scientific knowledge, technical innovation and an abundance of design ideas with a strong sense of
responsibility and courage.
Founding of the Zumtobel Group Award
For many years now, the Zumtobel Group has declared the issues of sustainability and energy
efficiency as key objectives in the production, function and application of its products. Being aware of
the finite nature of the earth’s resources and in the sure knowledge that significant innovative solutions
within the realms of architecture and urban planning can foster a decrease in global energy
consumption and an enrichment of the general quality of life, the Zumtobel Group initiated the biennial
"Zumtobel Group Award for Sustainability and Humanity in the Built Environment", curated and
organized by Aedes Berlin. The award acts as a stimulus for new developments and concepts within
the built environment that meet current and future demands for improved urban living conditions and
energy needs.
The Criteria
The Zumtobel Group Award acknowledges and rewards outstanding contemporary realized and
conceptual works of exceptional content, aesthetics, technology and construction that make a
consistent and significant contribution to humanity and sustainability in the built environment.
The Zumtobel Group Award endeavors:
- to address the challenges and possibilities of sustainable architecture and urban planning,
- to identify and discuss the various expectations and interests related to issues of humanity
and sustainability in the built environment,
- to encourage current and future generations to actively engage in research into and
implementation of new sustainable and humanitarian perspectives in the built environment,
- to stimulate strategies of interdisciplinary communication, knowledge exchange and
networking in this field.
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The international Zumtobel Group Award is presented in two categories "Built Environment"
and "Research and Initiative". In each category one winning project and four nominees will be
selected.
Built Environment Category
This category is dedicated to outstanding architectural or urban design projects that have been
realized within the last two years and that meet and envision current and future demands for
sustainable lifestyles.
The Award goes to an implemented architectural or urban project of exceptional merit that must fulfill
the criteria in terms of innovative solutions for sustainable and/or humanitarian contributions in the
built environment leading to a distinct improvement in the quality of human living conditions, including
new contributions in the implementation of the latest technologies.
This applies not only to new buildings but also to projects dealing with existing structures, in the
context of re-use, conservation, refurbishment or addition of new components.
Research and Initiative Category
This category is dedicated to innovative, current research projects and social initiatives including new
contributions in the implementation of the latest technologies.
The Award goes to ongoing research investigating the improved implementation of sustainability and
humanity. Aiming especially to encourage an emerging generation of researchers and practitioners in
architecture and urban design, the award in the category "Research and Initiative" facilitates and
promotes the further development of an ongoing initiative or research project. Individuals as well as
groups from within university contexts, NGOs and private or public initiatives are eligible. The purse
could also help fund the implementation of the winning project.
Project Presentation Requirements
The presentation of the proposed project must include the following information:
In the “Built Environment” category
- on the general program concept,
- on the strategy and concept of the project with regard to sustainability,
- on the technologies/methods/measures utilized during implementation,
- on the urban-planning and spatial approach,
- on the socio-cultural and humanitarian context,
- on the design strategy and the usage of sustainable materials,
- on cooperation with partners,
- on the significance of the project.
In the “Research and Initiative” category
- on the means of investigation / the research project,
- on the sustainability strategy,
- on the societal and humanitarian context,
- on the aims of the project,
- on the aspect of innovation,
- on cooperation with partners,
- on the program concept,
- on the design strategy,
- on the significance of the project.
- on the socio-political dimension of the project.
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Conditions of Participation
Only the project author is allowed to submit the proposal. The project author has to be 18 years of
age. Participation is not limited to certain professions, such as architects or urban planners; it is the
quality of the concept and the innovative impact of the submitted project that is decisive.
The submitted projects in the category “Built Environment” have to be completed between January
2010 and January 2012.
Projects in the category “Research and Initiative” may still be in the process of realization.
The digital application forms will be available from 1 September 2011 on the Zumtobel Group
Award website. Applications must be submitted by 1 December 2011.
Proceedings
20 submitted projects per category will be shortlisted. These 20 projects will be presented to an
international and interdisciplinary jury for examination and decision-making. The jury will nominate five
projects in each category and from among these five will select one winner in each category.
The jury session will take place at the end of May 2012.
Jury members
The jury will consist of international and interdisciplinary experts.
-Kazuyo Sejima. Japan
-Stefan Behnisch, Germany / USA
-Yung Ho Chang, China
-Brian Cody, Austria / UK
-Winy Maas (invited), Netherlands
-Peter Sloterdijk, Austria / Germany
-Kenneth Yeang, Malaysia / UK
-Kunlé Adeyami, Nigeria / Netherlands
-Harald Sommerer, Austria CEO Zumtobel Group
Prizes
The award-winning project in the “Built Environment” category will be honored with EUR 80,000. There
is no prize money for the nominees.
The award-winning project in the “Research and Initiative” category will be honored with EUR 60,000.
There is no prize money for the nominees.
Awards Ceremony
The awards ceremony will take place in Bregenz, Austria, in the autumn of 2012.
Publication
An Aedes catalogue with the nominated projects as well as the award-winning projects in both
categories will be published to coincide with the awards ceremony, when it will be presented.
Timeline
- Submission of project proposals by 1 December 2011
- Jury session in May 2012
- Awards ceremony autumn 2012
Any recourse to courts of law is barred.
For more information, visit:
www.zumtobel-group-award.com
www.aedes-arc.de