The cream of the architectural world gathered at the Waldorf Hilton, London, last night for the fourth annual Emirates Glass LEAF Awards.

The event, attended by over 300 architects and designers, and hosted by Maxwell Hutchinson, a past president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and renowned architect and TV and radio broadcaster, was a resounding success.

Considered one of the highest accolades in the architectural calendar, the Emirates Glass LEAF Awards recognise and reward excellence within the architectural and design field. With nearly 150 entries from 33 countries, this year’s event highlighted the keen international competition for the Awards with many leading names in the architectural and design fields and several new and less well-known organisations vying for the coveted awards categories.

Chris Hayward, managing director, ViB Events, organisers of the Emirates Glass LEAF Awards commented: “Now in their fourth year the Awards have rapidly become one of the most prestigious international prizes in the architectural calendar, recognising the outstanding contribution made by international architects and designers. This year’s event was no exception with a record number of award entries of the highest calibre for the 11 award categories and overall award winner.”

Dartford Judo Club, The Maggie’s Centre at Kirkcaldy, Fife, the Urban Oasis in Birmingham, The Museum of Liverpool and new The Young Vic Theatre in London were among ten buildings in the UK competing to win a prestigious LEAF Award, one of the highest accolades in the architectural and design sector.

The winners, representing the very best in architectural and design achievement from all over the world, were:

THE BEST ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Electrolux

Winner: New British Embassy, Sana’a, Yemen; architects Design Engine Architects.

The judges commented: “The Embassy building is a worthy winner, displaying an extremely sustainable approach, while practicing excellent design”. The judges were particularly impressed that working in Yemen, where money ‘is often thrown at projects’, the architect had chosen a simple idea and followed it through to the very end.

THE LEAF INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD
Sponsored by Sikkens

Winner: Qantas First Lounge, Sydney, Australia; architects Woods Bagot.

The judges commented: “this was a clever and thoughtful response to the architect’s work. While the space is aeronautically orientated, they said, one does not feel as though one is in an airport due to the relaxing, escapist feel.”

THE LEAF NEW BUILD OF THE YEAR (BUILT)
Sponsored by The LEAF Review

Winner: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, USA; architects

Steven Holl Architects.

The judges commented on the intelligence of the overall concept, and were particularly impressed by the manner in which Holl Architects has stayed true to the design from inception to finish.

THE LEAF NEW BUILD OF THE YEAR (IN DESIGN)
Sponsored by Vogue UK

Winner: ARB Bank, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

The judges were fascinated by this project, referring to it as “simple yet so right”. A unanimous winner, most of the debate surrounded who the architect behind it might be. None of them incidentally guessed right!

THE BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY AWARD
Sponsored by Hewlett Packard

Winner: Loyola Information Commons and Digital Library, Chicago, USA; architects Solomon Cordwell Buenz

This proved a difficult choice for the judges. What swung the vote was the manner in which this building’s relationship with energy – a passive, low technology approach – goes against much of contemporary American architecture. The panel felt that the architects were helping to make real advancements in this sphere and should be acknowledged for doing so.

THE LEAF STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Design-Build.com

Winner: Kensington Oval, Barbados; structural engineers Arup Associates

The judges were particularly impressed by the management of light here, calling the structure “really beautiful” and concluded it was “a great place to watch cricket from!”

THE LEAF PUBLIC BUILDING OF THE YEAR (BUILT)
Sponsored by Rheinzink GmbH & Co

Winner: Young Vic Theatre, London, England; architects Haworth Tompkins Architects.

The judges called this ‘a complex undertaking that works,’ and commended the manner in which it addressed the theatre’s multiple functions.

THE LEAF PUBLIC BUILDING OF THE YEAR (IN DESIGN)
Sponsored by RAK Ceramics

Winner: Watercube National Swimming Centre, Beijing, China; architects PTW Architects.

This was a particularly popular winner. Its relationship with water, the dynamism of execution and originality of concept led one judge to exclaim: “It’s even better than the Bird’s Nest!”

THE BEST MATERIAL SUPPLIER TO THE ARCHITECTURAL INDUSTRY AWARD
Sponsored by The Building Centre

Winner: Sir John Lyon House, London, UK; material suppliers EH Smith.

The judges felt that this overall was a superbly designed building utilising materials to the particular environment and was therefore a worthy winner of this category.

THE LEAF YOUNG ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hill McGlynn

Winner: Ribera del Duero Wine HQ Burgos, Spain; architect Estudio Barozzi Veiga SL.

This was a unanimous winner and “leapt out as an entrant”, in the words of one judge. The panel felt that they were looking at something quite different; displaying imagination, an understanding of context, an intelligent reaction to brief and a particularly impressive illustrative manner.

THE LEAF INTERNATIONAL BUILDING OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by industryappointments.com

Winner: The Setre Chapel, Kobe, Japan; architects Ryuichi Ashizawa Architects & Associates.

This building demonstrated all the qualities to make it a worthy winner.

COMMENDATION AWARD – Focus on sustainable environmental ability

Winner: City Central Tower 1 Adelaide, Australia; architects Woods Bagot.

The judges were particularly impressed by the manner in which this architect was able to create something principled in a commercial environment. “We need more of this”, one judge commented.

COMMENDATION AWARD- supporting excellence in architecture and construction

Winner: Damac Heights, Dubai, UAE; property developers Damac Properties.

THE EMIRATES GLASS LEAF AWARDS OVERALL WINNER

Winner: ARB Bank, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.


Email: alexshephard@clareville.co.uk

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