An international jury, chaired by the photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand, presented the first “Global Award for Sustainable Architecture” to Austrian architect Hermann Kaufmann at the Villa Savoye in Poissy (Yvelines) on Monday, September 24. Also receiving a special award, for his entire body of work, was Balkrishna Doshi.
Five architects are chosen each year for the award because of their continued efforts, and commitment to, sustainable development of urban areas and living environments. Among the candidates were Françoise-Hélène Jourda (France), Wang Shu (China) and Stefan Behnisch (Germany).
When choosing to honour Hermann Kaufmann with the first “Global Award for Sustainable Architecture”, the jury emphasised the coherence of the work of the Austrian architect, who came from a family of carpenters and craftsmen. He was declared a creative personality, a person who is tirelessly committed to sustainability, taking into account the social, ethical, economic and political development.
With the “Global Award for Sustainable Architecture”, each winner is given the chance to construction of an ecological house in one of the 51 municipalities of the Seine-Aval region, in the north-west of the department of Yvelines. It is a residential construction project within the framework of the “Opération d’intérêt national” (Act of national interest) launched by the state. The 51 houses ultimately then will represent “a basic collection of 21st century architecture”.
The municipality of Chanteloup-les-Vignes was selected as the venue for the first edition of the Global Award. The prize-winner will set up an urban residential complex with an area of 300 m², which is a significant step towards sustainability. This house will then be available to the public, a meeting room for conferences, exhibitions and workshops, and it will also be used to establish a housing unit for small groups or individuals. The completion is scheduled for the end of 2008.
Extract from the original French language press release
This prize was created by the architecture centre “Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine” and Epamsa. It was supported by the Yvelines departmental assembly and internationally by the committee of the Global Award. It was designed to gather together, and connect, public and private stakeholders who believe that sustainable housing offers immediate opportunities to contribute to the common good and to stimulate the international debate around sustainable architecture.