Spain's Instituto Balear de la Vivienda wins top honors at the 2022 AR Emerging awards

Spain’s governmental Instituto Balear de la Vivienda (IBAVI) has been announced as the 2022 AR Emerging awards winner in recognition of their "state-led mission of delivering social housing on the Balearic Islands." This year's jury commented on the project stating it "brings hope and trust in state-built architecture."

The agency and its in-house architect Carles Oliver Barceló were selected out of a 16-entry shortlist and will receive a £5,000 (est $5,252.95 USD) prize over its innovative work on social housing projects in the Balearic islands. They were also applauded for the incorporation of locally quarried sandstone material (marés) through a "systemic architectural approach" AR dubs "tectonic thinking."

The jury added: "IBAVI's work resonates so deeply because it shows the state getting involved in the built environment in a progressive way.

IBAVI was joined by London-based practice Sanchez Benton Architects, who were highly commended by the jury over their continued innovation in adaptive reuse in their home country.

“In terms of degrowth,’ the jury stated. “Sanchez Benton Architects’ work shows the way for transforming existing buildings incrementally.'

Lasly, the awards recognized Thailand’s Sher Maker with the Peter Davey Prize. AR's Editor, Manon Mollard, commented: "This is careful work at a variety of scales, rooted in the local context of Chiang Mai, and with an interest in designing as well as making. From tools to furniture to buildings," adding "this practice demonstrates a delicate attention to materials, processes and construction techniques."

Each will feature in the upcoming AR Emerging issue. Learn more about this year's award winners here.