Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Project in Guangming Village / The Chinese University of Hong Kong & Kunming University of Science and Technology. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
The Chinese University of Hong Kong & Kunming University of Science and Technology’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Project in Guangming Village has been named the World Building of the Year for 2017 at the finale gala of the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Berlin.
The project becomes the 10th to hold the title of World Building of the Year. Last year, the award was given to Robert Konieczny + KWK Promes’ National Museum in Szczecin – Dialogue Centre Przełomy.
Winners of the year’s Future Project, Landscape, Small Project, Iran Special Prize and Best Use of Colour awards were also announced. Continue after the break to see the winners.
World Building of the Year:
Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Project in Guangming Village / The Chinese University of Hong Kong & Kunming University of Science and Technology. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
The project was initiated in response to the catastrophic Ludian earthquake in 2014, which destroyed most of the traditional rammed-earth buildings in the village of Guangming. When replacement materials such as brick and concrete proved to be too costly for most of the village’s residents, the architect team developed a new technique of constructing rammed-earth homes that will be more resistant to future seismic activity.
A prototype house built for an elderly couple was completed last year, proving the method could provide a safe, economical, comfortable, and sustainable reconstruction strategy for the village and the wider region of Southwest China.
Future Project of the Year:
Sydney Fish Markets; Sydney, Australia / Allen Jack + Cottier Architects
Sydney Fish Markets; Sydney, Australia / Allen Jack + Cottier Architects . Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
Small Project of the Year:
Streetlight Tagpuro; Tacloban, Philippines / Eriksson Furunes + Leandro V. Locsin
Streetlight Tagpuro; Tacloban, Philippines / Eriksson Furunes + Leandro V. Locsin. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
Landscape of the Year:
The Recovered Archaeological Landscape of Chengtoushan; Lixian County, China / Turenscape
The Recovered Archaeological Landscape of Chengtoushan; Lixian County, China / Turenscape. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
Iran Special Prize for Completed Buildings:
Pars Hospital; Rasht, Iran / New Wave Architecture
Pars Hospital; Rasht, Iran / New Wave Architecture. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
Best Use of Colour:
Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel, Australia / Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects
Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel; Fitzroy Crossing, Australia / Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects. Image Courtesy of World Architecture Festival
News via WAF.