The 2007 Sinocities Awards 2007 have been handed out to three projects that contributing to the architectural, urban design or landscape strategy of a generic Chinese city, called Sinocity. Entries were received from around the world and were judged by a panel of architects, designers and urban planners.
he defining objectives for competition entrants was – in the words of event organiser, FAR, a Shanghai-based non-profit foundation that seeks “to exchange knowledge about architecture and contribute to a worldwide discussion about sustainable architecture, urbanism and design” – an ability to define a goal regarding the specific spatial challenges of Sinocity and represent the solution within the given material. “A solution that also implies potential for other urban areas is appreciated,” FAR says.
The winners are listed below, with the comments from the judging panel.
For more details on each individual project and Sinocity itself, visit http://www.sinocities.net/awards/english/faq/winners.htm
Sinocities Awards 2007 Winners
1st Prize (RMB25,000)
Scube; Zhang Fan, Lu Xiangning, Su Hang (China)
“China is a culture with little collective leaning, a culture of individuality. This project addresses the relationship between the individual and the public, a relationship needing much exploration for the creation of successful public realms in China. Chinese (PUBLIC) space needs more individual intervention in order to become dynamic, useful and engaging. The box concept is brilliant in bringing individual space into collective space. Chinese space needs more individual intervention in order to become rife. The project is a very poetic and pure way of creating a literary landscape, adding people’s stories and memories to the actual planning of public space. The space is shared and managed by people themselves. This is a practical model for the positive privatization of public space, generating a sense of ownership. It responds magnificently to the zeitgeist of the new Chinese city with a solution that is proposed at the grass roots level. Besides, it addresses the evident theme of migration that bears challenges for all Chinese cities including Sinocity.”
2nd Prize (RMB5,000)
Reanimating China; Thijs Van Bijsterfeld, Nikoline Dyrup Carlsen (The Netherlands).
“A mature assessment of the problems and realistic opportunities in current Chinese urbanism and specifically Sinocity, these subtle interventions could indeed reanimate public life and bring social opportunities into districts which currently have few. It shows a good understanding of the Chinese urban fabric and its singularities or challenges. It has a clear strategy, prescribes a solution based on empirical thinking rather than being symbolic. It seeks solutions based on the footprint of the city rather than replacing the existing fabric. There are a lot of useful tools to operate on Sinocity’s problems. It uses modest and clever ways to turn the monofunctional city into an animated human scale city. The jury criticizes that the planning advices given in the project may be too educative. A somewhat more hands-on approach may be necessary: the shown methods are basically known but not implemented in China.”
3rd Prize (RMB5,000)
X-Station; Xu Wei, Li Juan (China)
“This practical intervention consisting of several bridges and connecting public spaces hits the point of nowadays problems. It also directly looks for a solution for Sinocity. It improves the pedestrian circulation and provides social opportunities in lifeless districts. It explores well, with a high level of realism, the inhumane thoroughfares dissecting Chinese cities today. If developed together with public transportation companies, this can be a highly feasible and profitable proposal.”
Honorable Mentions
Blog City; Raymond Chu Wing Hin, Michael Chan Sheung Wai (Hong Kong)
Renmin Road; Victor Njo, Willem Wolters (The Netherlands)
Magical Life Within 300mm; Shi Yan, Zhang Fan (China)
Last update : Wednesday, 01 August 2007
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