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Call for submission:World Habitat Award
United Kingdom Architecture News - Jan 02, 2014 - 09:00 1843 views
The World Habitat Awards are presented each year in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Historically the awards have been presented on World Habitat Day, which is organised in October each year by UN-Habitat, providing a unique opportunity to focus attention on the importance of shelter in people's lives.
As of 2014, the awards will be presented in April of each year at the World Urban Forum (even years) and UN-Habitat Governing Council (odd years), providing opportunities for international exposure, networking and dissemination of the award winning approaches.
History
The Awards were established in 1985 by the Building and Social Housing Foundation for the identification and the promotion of good habitat practices. They were initiated in 1987 as BSHF contribution to the United Nations International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. The concept of identification of good practice was virtually unknown in 1985 and the Awards were supposed to run over three years only. However, the response was so positive that BSHF decided to keep the competition running. After 20 years, the World Habitat Awards are going from strength to strength.
Over the years, a large range of excellent habitat projects were identified over the years in the countries of the global North and the global South. These projects of different sizes and shapes tackle a wide range of housing issues. From the very beginning, the focus has been not only on the identification of good housing practices but also in the sharing of knowledge and experience to others who can transfer them in their own situations. The first international study visit in a World Habitat Award project winner was in 1987 and the visits have continued ever since.
The first awards were presented in 1986 in London by HRH the Prince of Wales and the Dr Arcot Ramachandran, UN-HABITAT Executive Director.
Prize
As well as international recognition, awards of £10,000 will be made to each of the two winning projects. Trophies will also be presented to the winning projects, and travel and accommodation costs will be met for one representative of each winning project to attend the awards ceremony.
Submissions are welcomed for the 2014/15 World Habitat Awards.
Housing projects & approaches are sought that
- demonstrate practical, innovative and sustainable solutions to current housing issues faced by countries all around the world
- can be transferred or adapted for use as appropriate
- are already being implemented or are completed ie not at design, planning or early stages of development
- view the term habitat from a broad perspective and bring other benefits as well, such as energy or water saving, income generation, social inclusion, community and individual empowerment, health benefits, capacity building or education.
All entries are assessed and ten projects are shortlisted by an assessment committee. These shortlisted projects are then evaluated by an independent advisory group.
Evaluation visits are made to some of the shortlisted projects before recommendations are put forward to a panel of external judges, including the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).
WHA are pleased to announce that the World Habitat Awards will now be presented at the World Urban Forum and UN-Habitat Governing Council events in April of each year, increasing opportunities for international exposure, networking and dissemination of the award winning approaches.
The timetable for the awards is therefore being adjusted and the closing date for submissions for the next cycle of the World Habitat Awards is now 2 May 2014. These awards will be presented at the UN-HABITAT Governing Council in April 2015.
Note: Any submissions received by the original deadline (1st November 2013) will receive written feedback on their submissions by mid December.
Whilst it is not necessary to send any further information, those who have already submitted are, of course, welcome to resubmit their application closer to our new deadline.
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