Sustainability is the buzz-word of the moment and not without reason. With a planet that’s rapidly changing and a climate that’s warming up even faster, we should all be aware of our actions. Sure, one human being can’t change a lot and it’s true that big businesses in particular should be held accountable for their actions. Even so, if all human beings would adapt their behavior and think in a more sustainable way, we could change a lot in this world. After all, as consumers, every euro we spend should be a conscious choice and a vote towards a better future.
That being said, some choices we make in life have got a bigger impact than others. While the ecological footprint of a cookie you buy at the supermarket is rather negligible, the footprint a house you build isn’t. And when building new housing or commercial spaces, it’s important to think about how sustainable those buildings are after all. As most building work requires an architect, this discipline has a rather significant impact on our planet. And therefore it’s pretty great that every year, five sustainable architects are being awarded for their efforts.
Five architects, one mission
The Global Award for Sustainable Architecture was first awarded in 2006 and was put on the map by Jana Revedin with the help of the Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimoine. Every year, five architects are chosen whose approach is particularly sustainable and who share the principles of sustainable development and a participatory architectural approach for the needs of society.
Sustainable design is the catalyst for a new participative approach in architectural und urban planning processes.
Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimoine
“The very fundamentals of a project: durability, flexibility, economic, technical and ecological adequacy, cultural and social acceptance are being readdressed respecting society’s new concerns, fighting inequality, cultural disrespect and unreflected functionalism”, the organization notes on its website.
This year too, five architects have been selected whose work excels at being sustainable above all else. The laureates’ work, as you will see, differs greatly when it comes to esthetics yet they share a common goal and one we should all have: preserving our very dear planet Earth.
