Lafarge announces $2m award for sustainable construction

A leading Sub-Saharan Africa building materials company, Lafarge Holcim, has begun the sixth cycle of its international competition which will run until February 25, 2020.

The awards offer a total of $2m in prize money and foreground projects and concepts from architecture, engineering, urban planning, materials and construction technology and related fields.

Submissions in the Lafarge Holcim awards main category include sustainable construction projects at an advanced stage of design, with a high probability of realisation and construction/ fabrication must not have started before January 1, 2019.

The awards Next Generation category seeks visionary design concepts and bold ideas at a preliminary stage of design, including design studio and research work.

The company said in a statement that to participate in this category, “Authors may not be older than 30 years. Students and young professionals are welcome to enter the awards main category with projects that have reached advanced stage of design.”

Independent expert juries in five geographic regions of the world evaluate submissions using the comprehensive “target issues” for sustainable construction of the LafargeHolcim Foundation. The criteria cover innovation and transferability; ethical standards and social inclusion; resource and environmental performance; economic viability and compatibility; and contextual and aesthetic impact.