Aerogel Architecture Award 2023

CALL FOR ENTRIES

We invite you to submit your examples of aerogel use in architecture, construction, refurbishment, and monument preservation as-built solutions or student projects. We are searching for the top realized projects internationally to showcase the best projects of architects, civil engineers, or top project ideas of students from these fields. Additionally, The best projects selected by our jury will be shortlisted for our Aerogel Architecture Awards ceremony hosted near Zurich at the NEST Empa campus, which will give broad recognition to the projects. The projects will be published in relevant international magazines and portals. Moreover, The award celebrates the best examples of energy efficiency, unconventional solutions, translucent daylighting, high performing building solutions with the use of super-insulating aerogel materials.

CATEGORY

REALIZED SOLUTIONS/architects, civil engineers, and their studios
STUDENT DESIGNS/architecture and civil engineering students

SCHEDULE

December 19, 2022 – Competition announcement and registration opens
April 30, 2023 – Project submission deadline (23:59 hours Zurich time)
June 02, 2023 – afternoon, Winners’ announcement event, Nest building, Empa Duebendorf (on-site and public stream) (AAA2023 is part of the 3rd day of AIA – Aerogel Industry-Academia Forum 2023, May 31 – June 02 – in preparation, save the date)

JURY

Ralf Kilian // Fraunhofer IBP / Preservation of Historic Monuments and Preventive Conservation / Germany
Beat Kämpfen // Kämpfen Zinke + Partner / Switzerland
Volker Herzog // Herzog-architektur / Germany
Manfred Wehdorn // Wehdorn architekten / Austria
Matthias Koebel // Siloxene AG / newly founded Empa start-up / Switzerland

CONDITIONS FOR SUBMISSION

Architectural and civil engineering studios can submit realized projects of renovation, refurbishment, or new buildings located in any country and place. Students of architecture and civil engineering can submit their proposals and design studio projects with the use of aerogel-based materials. Projects should be no older than three years. Additionally, Highly encouraged are submissions of realized projects of renovation of protected buildings, refurbished buildings, and new buildings where the energy efficiency was improved using aerogel insulation materials or translucency of silica aerogels are used. Moreover, Winners will be invited to Switzerland for the announcement event, which will take place at the NEST building at the Empa campus in Duebendorf (Zurich).

CRITERIA OF EVALUATION

Preservation of appearance in case of cultural heritage
Energy efficiency concept
The originality of the solution

AWARD

Winners in both categories will receive an invitation to present their projects at the Awards event, a trophy, a certificate, and broader public recognition, including publication of their project.

Student category will get additionally a financial prize:
1st place – 1500 CHF (ca. 1500 €)
2nd place – 1000 CHF
3rd place – 500 CHF
Honorable mention – 250 CHF (if a jury decides)