Green Solutions Awards 2022-2023: find out the winners of the international platform

Of the 219 applicants this year, 29 projects were in the running on the international platform. Located in Canada, Scotland, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Spain, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands and Senegal, these projects provide a good overview of the sustainable solutions implemented in these countries. So, which winners did the jury choose? Which buildings, districts and infrastructures have qualified for the international phase? 

Find out below!

Infrastructure User’s Choice

Winner: Re:Crete Footbridge

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This project demonstrates the feasibility of re-using non-prefabricated concrete elements in load-bearing structures.

Building User’s Choice

Winner: Louly’s Canteen

This project has qualified for the international phase 

 

Sustainable Infrastructure Grand Prize

Winner: Re:Crete Footbridge

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This project demonstrates the feasibility of re-using non-prefabricated concrete elements in load-bearing structures.

Ex-aequo mention: The 5th generation heating and cooling grid of Plymouth

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This is a good way to decrease the energy consumption. The project can be replicated. 

 

Ex-aequo mention: The 5th generation heating and cooling grid of Glasgow!

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: Same. NB: These two similar projects count as one project

 

Mention: Irrigation of the Green Garden Concept

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: The project integrates the reuse of rainwater and grey water.

New Construction Grand Prize

Winner: The Danish Nature Agency’s official residence in Thy

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This is a wooden house that includes wood fibre insulation, and a good project regarding energy consumption.

Mention: Alnatura office building

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: The building is made with clay, and there are a lot of good solutions from an environmental point of view.

Renovation Grand Prize

Winner: CasaClima Class A – House B in Sacile

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This project is not particularly innovative, but it includes everything that a good intervention requires, plus its energy consumption is low.

Mention: Townfield Head Farm

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: We like this project because it’s all electric, with renewable energy. it respects the environment.

Hot Climates Prize

Winner: Malicounda High School

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This building has a very low primary consumption.

Mention: Thermic renovation of a guard house with baked clay

This project has not qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: It is a very small project, but very interesting. 

Circular Economy Prize

Winner: The Phenix

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: It’s a very good renovation of an industrial heritage!

Low-Tech Prize

Winner: Charles Lepierre French highschool of Lisbon

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This highschool deserves the low-tech prize thanks to natural techniques that are used to avoid mechanical ones.

Mention: Louly’s Canteen

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: Very interesting building, with low investment costs. The material and human resources used are local. The project can be widely replicated.

 

Health & Comfort Prize

Winner: Rådhuslunden City hall grove

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This modular building can adapt to any future use.

Mention: Fjord View – energy efficient social housing

This project has qualified for the international phase

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SPAIN

Due to the large number of Spanish projects, buildings in this country were assessed in parallel.

Building User’s choice

Winner: Hotel ‘Mas Torre del Marqués’ 

This project has qualified for the international phase 

New Construction Grand Prize

Winner: GreenSpace Gijon

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: It’s a very good project in many aspects, incorporating both passive and active measures. It’s the only positive energy candidate. Particular attention has been paid to indoor air quality. The building is LEED certified.

Mention: I+D+I SORIA CAMPUS

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: Two important points guided our choice: the use of healthy materials and the flexibility of the building’s occupancy.

Renovation Grand Prize

Winner: ShowPass

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: This project has everything a good renovation project should have. Energy consumption is low and so are the costs.

Circular Economy Prize

Winner: Hotel ‘Mas Torre del Marqués’ 

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: Local materials and workers are being employed. An LCA has been carried out, showing that the environmental impact is lower than for new construction.

Low-Tech Prize

Winner: Learnlife Eco Hub: pop-up learning space

This project has qualified for the international phase 

The jury’s verdict: The jury paid close attention to the social aspect of the spaces, an aspect that should be taken into much greater account. It is also important to note the non-permanent structure, which blends in with nature and its architecture is not so impactful.

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Selection methods 

Experts and the public helped to decide between the competing projects.  

The experts 

6 experts from the sector analysed the submissions and came up with a consensus award list. Many thanks to Christian Brodhag, President of Construction21 International, for chairing the jury, and to the entire panel:

• Jean-Marie Hauglustaine, University of Liège – Belgium
• Chong Meng, CABR – China
• Marco d’Egidio, Heineken – Italy
• Mohammed Ahachad, Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Tangier – Morocco
• Maita Fernandez Armesto, Barcelona City Council – Spain

Online voting by the public

Using the same principle, online users were able to vote for the projects they supported.