House of the Year
Celebrating the most ambitious and inspiring projects that have been designed by architects across the globe. We’re looking for architects who have continued to push the creative envelope by designing ever more stylish yet sustainable single-family houses, balancing innovation with efficiency and functionality with aesthetic rigour.
Adaptive Reuse
In the pursuit of sustainable development and maintaining a connection with the past for the next generation, this highly competitive category celebrates buildings that have been renovated, restored or repurposed preserving the past for the next generation. Our panel of expert judges will be looking for projects that deliver the most striking transformative effects, while remaining sympathetic to the building’s original character in what will be an eco-friendly and considerate way of moving architecture forward.
Affordable Housing
This award recognises the importance of the affordable housing sector and showcases the innovation being applied to social and affordable housing projects. We are looking for the best examples of recent multi-occupancy residential builds, from apartment blocks to university campuses, submissions can be of any size, scale and proportion. We encourage entries to acknowledge the impact of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Colour in Architecture
Celebrating projects that harness the use of colour to dramatically transform a building or enhance the experience for its users and community. The judges will be recognising projects with colour schemes that are impactful in their respective building environments.
Facade
Championing the most innovative and original projects from across the globe recognising and promoting excellence in this increasingly important element of building design. Our judges are looking for designs that harness the latest technical advances to create visually stunning, cost-effective and highly efficient envelopes.
Small Spaces
A specialist category celebrating permanent and temporary small-scale architecture. With diminishing land availability, decreasing budgets and real estate at a premium, it falls upon architects and engineers to create ever more imaginative solutions to small-scale structures. From performance spaces, chapels, annexes and to cabins, restrooms and pavilion, our judges will be looking for smaller projects that demonstrate quality design excellence.
Sustainable Energy use within a Project
Sustainable Architecture supports the use of sustainable energy sources and where feasible, steps to design for energy efficiency, including the use of renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal products. The energy efficiency of buildings and energy conservation is also key with the use of insulating materials, glazing and ventilation all ensuring best possible outcomes.
Use of Sustainable and Environmentally-friendly Building Materials
Sustainable architecture will use environmentally-friendly building materials, recycled or renewable if possible as well as materials that use minimal energy to manufacture. Natural materials which are harvested responsibly and locally sourced products which reduce travel and support local economies are all key elements for a sustainable architect.
Sustainable Design and Land Use
Sustainable architecture needs to be sensitive to its location and recognise the existing natural resources as well as accommodate local environmental conditions effectively into the build. Sustainable architecture uses, where possible, local energy provision and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment.
Best Overall Sustainable Architecture Project
This project incorporates all the key elements of a sustainable architectural design including demonstrating the use of sustainable energy sources, building materials as well as maintaining sustainable best practices in terms of land use.
Pro-bono Architecture
Brand new for 2021, this category will be focusing on projects with a humanitarian focus at their core. The winner will be an example of built work developed pro-bono or with particular attention from a corporate social responsibility (CSR) standpoint contributing to the built environment in a way that benefits communities.
Bridges
Returning for 2021, the winner in this category will be awarded for excellence in the design and renovation of bridges. Including bridges for highways, railways, pedestrians, cycles or other light/heavyweight bridge structures.
Tall Buildings
Recognising designs that push tall buildings into new and exciting directions. Our judges will be looking for projects that redefine tall building design through the implementation of innovative technologies, plans, materials, and urban context. We encourage entries to acknowledge the impact of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Waterfront
Celebrating and highlighting projects that embrace and exploit the benefits of sites in proximity to water, whether working, living, or both. Whether it be a city port, harbourfront, canal or riverside, riverfront or the water’s edge, water plays an important role in balancing urban spaces. This award will aim to bring together some of the best designs and also highlight projects that have addressed the major issue of rising sea levels.