The LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction is committed to the underlying principles of sustainability, which assert that long-term development of the built environment requires a balanced interplay of responsible economic, ecological, and social agendas. The five “target issues” aim to clarify principles for sustaining the human habitat for future generations and serve as criteria for projects submitted for the LafargeHolcim Awards.

Innovation and transferability – Progress

Projects must demonstrate innovative approaches to sustainable development, pushing the envelope of practice and exploring new disciplinary frontiers. Breakthroughs and trend-setting discoveries must be transferable to a range of other applications.

Materials should be recyclable and integrated within circular economies. The production of waste should be avoided throughout a structure’s use-cycle.

Innovation and transferability – Progress

Ethical standards and social inclusion – People

Projects must adhere to the highest ethical standards and promote social inclusion at all stages of construction, from planning and building to use and servicing; to ensure an enduring positive impact on communities.

Proposals must demonstrate how they enhance the collective realm and contribute to an affordable and socially inclusive habitat.

Ethical standards and social inclusion – People 

Resource and environmental performance – Planet

Projects must exhibit a sensible use and management of natural resources throughout their entire life cycle.

Long-term environmental concerns, especially pertaining to stocks and flows of material, water and energy, should be an integral part of the design philosophy.

Resource and environmental performance – Planet

Economic viability and compatibility – Prosperity

Projects must be economically feasible and able to secure financing – whether from public, commercial, or concessional sources – while having a positive impact on society and the environment.

Avoiding the wasteful consumption of material resources and limiting CO2 emissions, an economy of means in construction is to be promoted. Construction must adhere to the logic of circular economies.

Economic viability and compatibility – Prosperity

Contextual and aesthetic impact – Place

Projects must convey a high standard of architectural quality as a prevalent form of cultural expression.

With space, form and aesthetic impact of utmost significance, the material manifestation of the design must make a positive and lasting contribution to the physical, human and cultural environment.

Contextual and aesthetic impact – Place

Final call to enter the LafargeHolcim Awards

The regional Awards competition remains open for entries until February 25, 2020 at 14:00 UTC and recognizes projects and concepts from architecture, engineering, urban planning, materials science, construction technology, and related fields. Submissions in this first phase of the competition will be evaluated by independent juries in each region of the world; the main winners then automatically qualify for the Global Awards 2021. A comprehensive “Step-by-step” guide explains the evaluation criteria and illustrates how to enter the competition at:

www.lafargeholcim-awards.org/guides

Since 2003, the LafargeHolcim Foundation advances the discourse on sustainable construction mainly through its Awards, the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design. The Foundation is an initiative of LafargeHolcim, the global leader in building materials and solutions.