Innovative projects gain recognition

It is widely known that China, thanks to its rapid industrialization, has been categorized as one of the world's largest consumers of energy -- something that has also won her the status of one of the world's biggest polluters.

Last week, however, China's poor image with regard to environmental protection was vindicated when scores of the country's architects collected the greatest number of awards in a competition for environmentally friendly design held by the Swiss-based Holcim foundation, an institute set up by cement maker Holcim to promote sustainable development.

Of nine awards distributed by the foundation, Chinese architects collected five -- a feat that also helped to boost the country's status as one of the world most innovative countries.

A team of architect from Hangzhou, a city in the northeastern part of China, won first prize in the competition and collected US$100,000 in cash for Clan Settlement Regeneration, a project that aims to rejuvenate an old city by taking into account sociocultural aspects in an aging settlement.

The team of architects, led by Shanghai-based professor Chang Qing, rehabilitates old buildings and regenerates living spaces, while at the same time maintains the topological structure and preserves historical landmarks, an age-old settlement left by the distinguished Lai clan.

Jury panel member Ashok B. Lall said, "the project successfully demonstrates how new urban spaces can be integrated within the texture of traditional neighborhoods."

The Clan Settlement project was one among several similar endeavors by Chinese architects that won Holcim awards.

Another four projects mostly deal with the massive urbanization in China that has taken place in the past 20 years since the introduction of a market-based economy.

The urbanization has created an enormous demand for cheap, yet livable housing, which also takes into account changes in the structure of families.

Another winning project by a Chinese architect that deals with changes in society is 2+2+1 House in Cheng Du.

Designed by student of Southwest Jiaotong University Shen Yongde, the scheme is sensitive to social dynamics and change in lifestyles brought about by increasing urbanization.

An individual house in the scheme is designed to accommodate two elderly people, a couple and a child, providing a balance in the lives of three different generations, all in one place.

The creator of the project won $10,000 in prize money.

Social, environmental criteria prominent

Three other winning projects from Chinese architects promote environmentally friendly housing schemes that reinforce the harmony between human occupation and nature.

Two themes -- socially correct and environmentally friendly development -- seemed to take center stage at the Holcim awards.

Apart from one project that targets the rejuvenation of marine life in the Philippines, winners from countries outside China have also striven to find effective ways to provide decent homes for the ballooning population.

A similar project, pioneered by Indian industrialist Satya Sheel and called Chaupal Eco-House, New Delhi, was awarded a Holcim acknowledgement trophy and prize money of $5,000 for using known environmental technologies for water retention and recycling, solar energy generation and effective irrigation.

A project titled Air Suit-Housing Renovation initiated by a team of architects from Hiroshima, Japan, which won a bronze Holcim Award and $25,000 in prize money, aims at rehabilitating a 40-year old residential building without having to demolish the old structure. If anything, it recycles the bulk of the old material.

The house also uses an air "buffer" to absorb heat and cold, thereby improving energy efficiency.

The Air-Suit project, the Philippines' marine life regeneration and the Clan Settlement were declared three best projects and were eligible to contest the global awards competition slated for April 2006 in Bangkok.

In this year's contest, China submitted the greatest number of entries, followed by Indonesia in second place.

Although Indonesia's 17 projects were adjudicated by a jury panel none won an award.

The Holcim foundation was founded by the Holcim group in 2003 with the aim of promoting sustainable construction through the world competition.

Holcim is one of the world's leading suppliers of cement, aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel), concrete and construction-related services. It holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all continents.

-- M. Taufiqurrahman