26-09-2019

Commercial Architecture - Winners of the Prix Versailles awards announced in Paris

Foster + Partners, Valerio Olgiati, Benoy, Heatherwick Studio, Chiba Manabu Architects, Marcio Kogan,

Luke Hayes, Nigel Young, Klépierre,

Paris,

Commercial Buildings,

On September 12, a grand ceremony was held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, to announce the winners of the Prix Versailles World Architecture and Design Awards in four categories: Shops & Stores, Shopping Malls, Hotels and Restaurants. The 2019 edition of the Prix Versailles, focused on commercial architecture, recognised a total of 21 world winners.



Commercial Architecture - Winners of the Prix Versailles awards announced in Paris

Culture and commercial architecture: are they opposite to each other or can this juxtaposition lead to points of contact through quality projects? A question which the Prix Versailles tries to find a positive answer to. The award was in fact born thanks to the collaboration between UNESCO and the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA - International Union of Architects), precisely to give international relevance to benchmark projects: commercial buildings, sports buildings and structures dedicated to transportation, characterised by high design quality and completed in accordance with the natural and local contexts, as well as with a focus on the principles of sustainability and energy savings. Thanks to their qualities, such projects promote an economic development based on three key concepts: “Inspiration, Progress and Inclusion". The final award ceremony was held on September 12 in Paris, at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). On the occasion, the President of the World Jury and former UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Francesco Bandarin, highlighted the key role architecture and design can play in an economy that wants to ensure a better quality of life for the greatest number of people. Representing the different areas of interest, the jury panel chaired by Francesco Bandarin also included architects David Adjaye, Kazuyo Sejima, Philippe Starck and Thomas Vonier (President of the UIA), chef Ferran Adrià, designer Iris van Herpen and orchestra director Alondra de la Parra. The Prix Versailles recognised winners in seven categories: Campuses, Passenger Stations, Sports, Shops & Stores, Shopping Malls, Hotels and Restaurants. For each category, a world winner plus two special prizes were selected, one for interior and one for exterior architecture, bringing the total number of world prizes awarded to 21.

Among the winners announced on September 12, divided into their respective categories, we would like to highlight the projects already presented on Floornature:< br /> Shops & Stores: MiCasa volume C, a project by architect Marcio Kogan and his MK27 studio for a home furnishing brand designed in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Special prize Intérieur 2019 for the Celine store in Miami designed by architect Valerio Olgiati. Special prize Extérieur 2019 for the Apple Piazza Liberty showroom in Milan, designed by the Foster + Partners firm.

Shopping Malls: Coal Drops Yard, commercial district and public spaces designed by the Heatherwick Studio, in King's Cross, in the heart of London. Special prize Intérieur 2019 for the Tianjin Luneng CC Plaza shopping centre, designed by the Benoy studio in Tianjin, China. Special prize Extérieur 2019 for the two Benoy and Didier Rogeon Architectes firms for the Prado shopping centre in Marseille, France.

Hotels: Six Senses Bhutan, designed by Habita Architects, which brings together in a shared project five resorts built in different locations in Bhoutan, yet all respecting the specific local characteristics. The award recognised the Thimphu - Paro - Punakha resorts. Special prize Intérieur 2019 for the Swedish Niehku Mountain Villa hotel, designed by the Stylt Trampoli AB studio. Special prize Extérieur 2019 for the Capella Ubud hotel in Bali, designed by the Thai architecture firm Bensley.

Restaurants: Song’s Chinese Cuisine, restaurant designed by Republican Metropolis Architecture in Guangzhou, China, where classical elements are reinterpreted with contemporary materials and overall vision. Special prize Intérieur 2019 for the Kyoto Hyoto restaurant designed by the Chiba Manabu Architects firm. Special prize Extérieur 2019 for the Sundy Praia restaurant designed by the Didier Lefort Architectes Associés firm on the São Tomé and Principe island.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Images courtesy of Prix Versailles, photo copyright: by architect (2-4, 9-10, 13-16, 19-25), Nigel Young (5-6), Luke Hayes (7-8), Klépierre (11-12), Krishna for Bensley (17-18)


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