A new Prize for architects working towards alleviating poverty

A new Prize for architects working towards alleviating poverty

Created on the initiative of the UIA Past President whose name it carries, the aim of this prize is to highlight actions or realisations that contribute in an efficient manner to the struggle against the misery of those living below the poverty line. It honours an architect or a team led by an architect that has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the living conditions of the most destitute populations, to their habitat, their environment and their well-being. Two prizes, worth 1 000 euros each, are awarded: one to an individual architect; the other to a team led by an architect. The Vassilis Sgoutas Prize will be awarded every three years, on the occasion of the UIA world congress. The jury met in Bratislava, on 16 and 17 April 2008. It was composed of Gaëtan Siew (Mauritius), UIA President, Jordi Farrando (Spain), UIA Secretary General, Donald J. Hackl (USA), UIA Treasurer, Louise Cox (Australia), 1st UIA Vice-President, Martin Drahovsky, 2nd Vice-President (Slovakia), Giancarlo Ius (Italy), Mauricio Rivero Borrell (Mexico), Seif Alnaga (Egypt) UIA Vice-Presidents, Wolf Tochtermann (Germany), Director of the UIA international competitions commission and Vassilis Sgoutas (Greece), UIA Pasr-President. 2008 VASSILIS SGOUTAS PRIZE – “COLLECTIVE” CATEGORY Health Habitat Pty Ltd, directed by Paul Pholeros (Australia) For the past 22 years, «Health habitat» has been working to improve the health of aboriginal populations in remote areas, and more recently in Australia’s rural and suburban areas. Intellignetly designed bio-climatic sanitary units, in association with water recycling and waste reduction practices, have been integrated into the existing local habitat. They have proved to be decisive factors in the improvement of living conditions of these communities. Paul Pholeros and his team, that includes doctors, anthropologists and public health officers, work with the local indigenous people and have set an example being followed in other parts of Australia and the world. 2008 VASSILIS SGOUTAS PRIZE – “INDIVIDUAL” CATEGORY Hany Hassan Mahmoud El Miniawy (Egypt) For his life-long efforts in poverty-allieviating architecture projects. His projects range from the development, training and application of local environment-friendly materials, in housing and service facilities for the poor, to the participatory development and upgrading of low-income informal areas and planning programmes in the Sahara, Algeria, Aswan and Luxor in Egypt. He has set precedents for working with the poor in collaboration and with the support of their communities. MENTIONS Richard Dobson (South Africa) In the wake of apartheid, through his leadership and innovative solutions, he brought about the transformation of the Warwick Junction market in Durban thus up-lifting the lives of an estimated 8 000 market and curb-side traders by creating a vibrant socially and economically sustainable city market. Rather than relegating this activity to a peri-urban ghetto, he ensured its participation in the vitality of the inner city. Rodney Harber (South Africa) He has earned respect through his understanding of the current needs of contemporary society and his role as a militant for a more sane built environment. His lifelong work with the poor has been instrumental in increased community participation in the design and realisation of his projects. Equally importantly, he has had widespread influence, as a university teacher, on a whole generation of students. Brinda Somaya (India) Through her knowledge of the social parameters and sensitive architectural design, she has been one of the leading actors in the reconstruction of the village of Bhadli, in India. This village devasted by an earthquake recovered its coherence and vitality. This project has taught us how people, when helped in th right way, are capable of helping themselves being involved. It also proves that the incorporation of traditional architecture and aesthetic elements can add value to design as a whole.