UIA and UN Habitat unveil sustainability-focused winners for UIA 2030 Award

The International Union of Architects and UN Habitat have unveiled the winners for the latest edition of the UIA 2030 Award, recognizing projects that “demonstrate design excellence while contributing meaningfully to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” 

The initiative invites architects around the world to submit completed projects. The biennial event is now in its third cycle, having been launched in 2022. The winners have been divided into six categories, aligning with the UN SDGs. 

According to the jury, the winning projects “demonstrate how architecture and urban design can provide integrated responses to climate adaptation, ecological restoration, housing, public space, participation, and social inclusion.”

The winners are as follows:

Category 1: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Winner

• Meishe River Restoration: Turning Grey Into Green (China) by Turenscape

Commended

• The Phi Phi Wastewater Management Ecological Park (Thailand) by Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect Co Ltd

Category 2: Protect labor rights and promote safe working environments

Winner

• Tierras Temporary Housing Units in Palenque (Mexico) by Manuel Cervantes Estudio

Highly Commended

• Taoli – Zhaoshan Village Center (China) by SUP Atelier of THAD

Category 3: Adequate, safe, and affordable housing (SDG 11.1)

Winner

• Sanjaynagar Slum Redevelopment (India) by Community Design Agency

Highly Commended

• Inhabited Work in Huayruro (Peru) by INSITU Arquitectura

Commended

• Glass Brick Dwelling in Bayi Village, Weinan (China) by Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology Design and Research Institute
• 31 Social Housing in Torre Baró, Barcelona (Spain) by Aldayjover Architecture and Landscape + Burgos & Garrido

Category 4: Participatory, land-use-efficient, and inclusive planning (SDG 11.3)

Joint Winners

• Hutong Community Renewal (China) by Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University
• Kahawa West Health Centre (Kenya) by Kounkuey Design Initiative

Highly Commended

• Stabilization of Anthropogenic Urban Cave System in Tomelloso (Spain) by Aguado + Vellés + Aperte

Commended

• IDS Industrial Precinct Masterplan (Bangladesh) by Studio Morphogenesis Ltd
• “Designing?” (China) by YIIIE Architects
• E.CO Rotunda, Hong Kong (China) by The University of Hong Kong

Category 5: Access to green and public space (SDG 11.7)

Joint Winners

• Parque Prado (Colombia) by Connatural Arquitectura en el Paisaje
• A Floating Forest: Fish Tail Park in Nanchang City (China) by Turenscape

Highly Commended

• Śhālā Twam (A Space for You) (India) by Bhoomija Creations
• Espacio Modelo (Uruguay) by Intendencia de Montevideo
• La Jalquilla: A School for All (Peru) by Asociación Semillas Para El Desarrollo Sostenible
• Sanath Road, Gurugram (India) by Beyond Built Pvt. Ltd
• Ho Chi Minh City Book Street (Vietnam) by TA Landscape Architecture
• Al Hakoura Community Garden, Ramallah (Palestine) by Ramallah Municipality & UN-Habitat
• Nyhamnen Ferryterminal Park (Sweden) by ZITA

Commended

• Sweitat Sensory Garden (Palestine) by Al Ameed Architects and Engineers Company
• Mashiach Now Square, São Paulo (Brazil) by Natureza Urbana
• Community Plug (India) by Studio Aranya
• Atal Sarovar: A Water-Sensitive Urban Integration, Gujarat (India) by INI Design Studio

Category 6: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters

Winner

• Les Mamas Belgues Flooding Park (Spain) by Calatayud + Mira + Parraga + Sanchis

Highly Commended

• Revitalization of the Citadel of Agadir Oufella (Morocco) by Studio Salima Naji
• Kon-Tigo, Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero (Mexico) by Manuel Cervantes Estudio

Commended

• Rockaway Resiliency and Coastal Adaptation (United States) by WXY Architecture + Urban Design