Winners of the second European Holcim Awards competition for projects and visions in sustainable construction were announced at a ceremony in Madrid. Total prize money of USD 270,000 was presented to ten projects that demonstrate the latest in eco-friendly and sustainable approaches from the building and construction industry.

The new mahala (neighborhood) for Romani people in Belgrade is an outstanding demonstration of how private initiatives can lead to a substantial improvement in the living conditions for chronically-poor inhabitants of urban informal settlements. Contrary to other slum upgrading projects, the new mahala for Romani people will not be placed in the existing slums, but at a new location on land owned by the city of Belgrade which is already well-equipped with public utilities and in the neighborhood of schools, hospitals and shops. The close integration of various goals such as education, employment, health care, housing, anti-discrimination, poverty reduction and gender issues is a unique and very promising approach. 

In an informal settlement, some 220 Romani families live in chronically-poor conditions. The city’s social housing program plans a new neighborhood in an area serviced by schools, hospitals and shops. By involving the residents in the design of their new living spaces, the Culturally-responsive urban village ensures the housing units are in harmony with the residents’ culture.