“In Brussels, urban development also means keeping production in the city center,” explained Kristiaan Borret, City Architect of the Belgian capital. Instead of moving existing facilities to the outskirts, they are integrated into the developing neighborhoods. Two projects of the Brussels Canal District masterplan received international recognition in 2017 by winning the 5th LafargeHolcim Awards in Europe.

The winning entry of the architectural design competition for the headquarters of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Associations (AACCSA) in Ethiopia aims to contribute to the spatial improvement of the urban environment, and to create an architectural dialog engaged in a global context with a strong local identity.

It does so by integrating public spaces at ground level, continuing the “busy-ness” of the street within the building. A façade made of “woven” locally-quarried trachyte stone – reminiscent of Ethiopian stone architecture and ancient textile techniques – regulates ventilation as well as sunlight.

Read project feature in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)

The Acknowledgement prize-winning project by BC architects for construction in Ethiopia is featured in an exhibition of project posters and models that showcase the submissions by Belgian architects in the fourth cycle of the Holcim Awards competition. Organized by Holcim Belgium, the exhibition at Architects’ House, Rue Ernest Allardstraat 21 in Brussels is open Monday to Friday 9:00-12:30 or upon request until December 5, 2014.

Ken De Cooman of BC architects, Belgium sees the most sustainable element of his Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prize winning project as the use of local trachyte stone material that is linked with local identity and craftsmanship – but linked to a global program of the nation’s Chamber of Commerce headquarters. “Weaving Publicness: Socially-integrated office building with sustainable façade” in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia aims to contribute to the spatial improvement of the urban environment, and to create an architectural dialog engaged in a global context with a strong local identity.

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The twelve winning projects of the Holcim Awards 2014 Africa Middle East focus mainly on enhancing social and environmental resilience, as well as the economy of construction. The winning submissions show how multi-disciplinary responses to the challenges facing design and building are being developed. A green building in Turkey, an urban forest rehabilitation in Lebanon, and a low-cost housing plan in Ethiopia received the top prizes.

The jury acknowledges the architectural and spatial qualities of the building – a carefully crafted piece of architecture within the city fabric of Addis Ababa. Of particular importance is the sequence of public spaces “weaving” the hustle and bustle of the city streetscape deep into the new facilities of the Chamber of Commerce. Trade – as a form of interaction and key activity of civic life – evolves as the central theme of the design proposition. Additionally, the jury valued the façade structure and its composition as a fresh alternative to the outlandish curtain walls that clad high-rise building throughout the city.