First prize and honourable mention at Archiprix 2019
BK alumnus Devant Asawla was awarded the shared first prize at the Dutch Archiprix 2019 for his project ‘The living landscape of Quebrada Jaime’. Additionally, BK alumna Serah-Ingrid Calitz was given an honourable mention for her project ‘Sino-African counterpoints’.
The winners of the Dutch Archiprix 2019 were announced by the jury on 22 June 2019, comprising two first prize winners and four honourable mentions. About the project ‘The living landscape of Quebrada Jaime’ by Devant Asawla, the jury stated: “The exquisite and extremely consistent project is sited on the slopes of Valparaiso in Chile. It does much for the local community, is in perfect keeping with the on-site characteristics, and has been sensitively worked up in detail.”
The honourable mention for the project ‘Sino-African Counterpoints’ by Serah-Ingrid Calitz presents an alternative for developing urban projects in Tanzania. The proposal shows how these can be an alternative to developing in the China-financed Special Economic Zones, and involves the inhabitants, existing collectives, and the traditional Swahili house.
The jury pointed out the broad spectrum of projects composed by the thirty submissions, with briefs ranging from housing to landscape, from politics to refugees. The jury is enthusiastic about the personal drive and approach of the designers, by the abundance of relevant briefs, and several examples of intelligent innovativeness. The other first prize was awarded to Amsterdam University of the Arts alumna Lesia Topolnyk, for her project ‘Un-united nations headquarters’.