“The Holcim Awards was the most important recognition we received,” said Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Partner architect at BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. He presented the Awards prize-winning project “BIG-U (Dryline)”, protecting lower Manhattan from flooding, at the 12th Holcim Bau-Forum in Hannover, Germany. Under the theme of “Direction: Future”, the event brought together builders, architects, planners, and authorities for an inspiring exchange on the future of building and construction. In the context of diverse challenges including climate change, resource conservation, labor and digitization – Kai-Uwe Bergmann presented a range of projects that look to an exciting future, and a challenging role for architecture.

Construction of the first of 28 chalice-shaped concrete pillars that will be the eye-catching feature of the 400m long and 80m wide train station concourse in Stuttgart begins. The pillars will support the roof of the underground station and serve as “light eyes”, allowing daylight to enter the hall below. 

Extensive construction work for this urban redevelopment and railway realignment project starts in October 2015, just to the south of where the new Stuttgart Main Station will be built. To keep noise levels for residents as low as possible, acoustic barriers up to ten meters high will be erected before construction work commences. One of the main project tasks is to construct a new underground hall of railway platforms that will form the hub of the rail network.

USD 1 million in prize money was awarded to the best sustainable construction projects entered in the first global Holcim Awards competition. Joint winners of the Holcim Awards Gold were an urban integration project in Caracas, Venezuela, and the design for a new main railway station in Stuttgart, Germany.

The project is highly commended for its innovative approach to integrating material, structural, and product research in a straightforward, sustainable response to reclaiming lost territory of the city. An efficient and refined deployment of technology is combined with intelligent resource management that offers valuable knowledge transfer across the disciplines of architecture, planning, landscape design, as well as civil, urban, and environmental engineering.

Following five regional competitions, 15 Award-winning projects will now compete in the first global Holcim Awards competition for sustainable construction projects. The global phase of the competition showcases the best entries from more than 1500 submissions from 118 countries, and encourages innovative, future-oriented and tangible approaches within the building and construction industry.