LOLA landscape architects, Deltavormgroep en Piet Oudolf have won the commission for the extension of the historical park Groot Vijversburg in the north of The Netherlands with their submission “Star Maze”. For the tender five teams were selected. The other design teams were: B+B in collaboration with Michael van Gessel, OKRA, Hosper en Strootman.

Park Groot Vijversburg is a romantic public park with a growing art collection, located in the north of The Netherlands. The park is broadening its boundaries and is ambitious to become a national destination. The winning landscape design gives a contemporary interpretation to two new park chambers which create a link between the historical park, a post-war recreational area and a nature reserve.
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The Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay, unveiled the winning project in the architecture competition for the new indoor soccer centre at the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex (SMEC). The jury has chosen the concept developed by Saucier + Perrotte / Hughes Condon Marler Architects from among the four submitted by the finalist firms.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate the winners of this architecture competition, who have demonstrated daring and creativity,” the Mayor said. “This is one more step toward the completion of this long-awaited project, which will provide Montrealers with access to a sports centre that is not only functional but boasts a modern design meeting the highest standards of quality. This public building, a testament to the talent of our local architects, will be incorporated into the SMEC, one of the largest parks in Montréal.”
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The proposal of Dreiecksplatz wins the unanimously voted First Prize for Europan 11 in Vienna, Austria. No runner-ups or honorable mentions were selected for this site.

Located between the Vienna Ring and Vienna Woods, the site embraces the marks of both environment – urban and nature – as a basis for future development. Currently surrounded by houses with a large amount of private green space, what is needed in the site is a generous, quality public space that will invite and sustain diverse groups of community to gather, live and work by. Major forms of transit – bus, tram and bicycle – anchor three corners of the triangle-shaped plaza with an integrated train platform in the middle. Various residential, commercial and social programs both frame and spill out toward the public triangle and support its liveliness. Green space is maximized at all different scales, fostering health, education and social interactions, while each kind of nature – from ‘wild woods’ to herb garden – defines the atmosphere of individual housing zone.

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In recognition of his contributions to architecture in both theory and practice Steven Holl has been named the 2012 AIA Gold Medal Winner. The AIA Gold Medal, voted on annually, is considered to be the profession’s highest honor that an individual can receive. Steven Holl will be honored at the 2012 AIA National Convention in Washington, D.C.

Image credit: www.vastushilpi.com

“What, in my view, especially commends him as a candidate for the Gold Medal,” said Harry Cobb, FAIA, founder of Pei Cobb Freed, “is his brilliantly demonstrated capacity to join his refined design sensibility to a rigorously exploratory theoretical project.”

Steven Holl stated, “I am grateful, I am still beginning and I consider this award shared with all my collaborators. I feel this award is a positive advocacy to make theoretical explorations and experimental works. I was on the way to my final review at Columbia University when I received the call from Washington D.C. and felt it connected to my teaching and efforts toward education. I remember John Hejduk’s statement that teaching is a social contract, and I remain committed to teaching.”
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jaja makes it to the top with their project proposal ”Sundbyen” in the competition a new harbour front in Ålesund, Norway. ”Sundbyen” was a proposal amongst many in the open international competition that attracted proposals from 10 different countries. jaja based their project in the Ålesund’s existing identity and closeness to water. The project enhances the city’s existing qualitites, interprets it and creates a natural coherence between place, history and future development. Amongst other, the jury states: ”The scale of the building and proposed shapes seems very attractive, and the structure makes good connections to the existing city… The jury has great sympathy for the proposal’s main concept because it refines and maintains the qualities the city already has. More good public spaces by the water is established on a relatively simple way, without digging out canals and removing too much of todays developed sites.” jaja’s winning proposal is the vision for a future development that is expected to begin in the beginning of this year.
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© Jesper Ray

The 8 House in Copenhagen, Denmark, which allows its residents to bike all the way from the street up to its 10th level penthouses, receives the 2012 AIA Institute Honor Award for Architecture that recognizes achievements that elevate the general quality of the architectural practice. The 8 House which entails 650,000 ft² is honored by the jury panel for the buildings distinctive design and ability to contribute to the city and its surroundings.
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Designed by Luis de Garrido, and nominated the best benchmark in residential sustainable architecture.

Madrid, November 2011. The SAYAB complex has been chosen as the most sustainable residential building in Colombia, having received the Gold Medal in environmental responsibility. Recently it has been nominated for best residential benchmark in sustainable architecture in the Americas.

The prize was awarded by the prestigious “Fundación América Sostenible,” which makes SAYAB an international benchmark in sustainable architecture and social housing.

The ambitious project was designed by the architect Luis de Garrido, who has been a longstanding benchmark in sustainable architecture, and was built by the prestigious construction company IC Prefabricados.

The prize was awarded due to the unique characteristics of the project, whose objectives are summarized in the name: SAYAB means “Natural source of life” in Mayan.
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JDS’s Holmenkollen Ski Jump has been announced as the winner of the 23rd Norwegian Steel Day Prize for excellence in steel construction. The conference is a open professional and social forum for professionals, and is the natural meeting place for updating of knowledge, new contacts and care of existing and previous contacts in the steel community.

Web: jdsa.eu