Videos

Watch a summary of statements by the authors of the Holcim Awards prize winning projects in Asia Pacific: What contribution does my project make to sustainable construction?

Each year, thousands of birds are smuggled in and out of Thailand for their exotic colors and bird calls, to be sold on the world’s growing black market. Rescued birds usually die in confinement because they are retained in cages for up to five years as evidence during prosecution of smugglers. The Bird Sanctuary in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand serves as both an educational facility and a bird rehabilitation center.

The Lali Gurans orphanage and library in Kathmandu addresses the needs of an under-served rural population. In a context lacking basic infrastructure, the new facility utilizes low-technology renewable energy and material resources, thus significantly reducing operating costs. Using local construction techniques and materials, the design invests in indigenous workmanship. 

The project in the rural town of Ambepussa near Colombo, aims to reintegrate former soldiers into post-civil war Sri Lankan society. Coming from underprivileged socio-economic backgrounds, young men are trained in building techniques through their involvement in the construction of public buildings – as for example in the realization of the Community Library in Ambepussa. 

Five equally-ranked Acknowledgement prizes were presented for the region Asia Pacific. The prizes winners: Madhusudhan Rao Chalasani - MADe, Hyderabad, India; Benoît Jacquet - EFEO, Kyoto, Japan, and Manuel Tardits - Mikan, Yokohama, Japan; Maj Plemenitas - LINKSCALE, London, United Kingdom; Tomohiko Amemiya - UNITYDESIGN, Tokyo, Japan; Santi Sombatwichatorn - D I Designs, Bangkok, Thailand.