At the World Architectural Festival’s award ceremony on Friday, November 4, Sharon Davis Design was announced the 2nd place winner among all categories of Future Projects. The design firm competed against over 70 shortlisted projects to achieve this international distinction. The prestigious  panel of judges, which included Michael Sorkin, Jo Noero, Professor Kongjian Yu, and Tim Macfarlane praised the Opportunity Center’s focus on sustainability, female empowerment and using design to spur positive change. In her presentation, Sharon and project manager, Bruce Engel, explained how the Opportunity Center would be powered by onsite biogas, eschewing the traditional Rwandan fuel source of gathered firewood, which has lead to rampant deforestation in the country. The presentation demonstrated how a unique roof design would be exploited for rainwater catchment. They further explained how the Opportunity Center was composed of several different smaller buildings, so that it resembled a traditional Rwandan village, a layout which would feel familair and safe to the women who would be using the site. They refined the brick making process at a local brick manufacturing Co-op and taught Rwandan women how to make them. Backed up by the opinions of local contractors, Sharon and Bruce could boast that their bricks are the best bricks in East Africa!

A press release issued by the World Architectural Festival, described the judges’ reaction to the project:  “In the same category, the Women’s Opportunity Center project in Rwanda, designed by Sharon Davis Design, was highly commended by the super-jury. The project’s design revives a lost Rwandan housing tradition, featuring social spaces from intimate classrooms to a farmer’s market and guest lodging. The innovative program also includes a demonstration area, helping local women produce and market their own goods, and in doing so help fuel the local economy.”

Sharon Davis Design commends all the shortlisted designers and architects and congratulates Integrated Design Associates Limited of Hong Kong for taking 1st for the Hanimaadhoo International Airport located in the Maldives. They thank the beautiful and vibrant city of Barcelona for hosting the Festival and Emap for event planning par excellence.  Sharon Davis Design can’t wait to return next year to see all the innovative designs and to meet our counterparts from all over the world. Back at the Studio, we have cleared a place of honor for our shiny, yellow W and hope to compete again for many more.

Best of All Category “Super Jury”:

1. The World Architecture Festival Awards 2011 ‘super-jury’:

·         Michael Sorkin, Principal of the Michael Sorkin Studio, New York;

·         Jo Noero, Principal of Noero Wolff Architects, Cape Town;

·         Professor Kongjian Yu, Principal of Turenscape, Beijing, a double category winner in previous WAF awards

·         Tim Macfarlane, Design Partner, Dewhurst Macfarlane and Partners, UK

http://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/project.cfm?id=3647