Even well before construction of SAWA is completed, the run of awards for this revolutionary design continues. Following the project’s success at – among others – the World Architecture Festival, Architecture Masterprize, MIPIM / Architectural Review Future Project Awards, Iconic awards for Innovative Architecture and Green Good Design Awards, SAWA’s team collected two prestigious international architecture awards in a fortnight in Paris. At Espace Niemeyer, it was celebrated that the distinguished jury of DNA Paris Design Awards chose SAWA as the winner in the ‘Green Architecture’ category. Two weeks later, SAWA was lauded as Popular Choice winner of the 2023 Architizer A+ Sustainability Awards in the ‘Unbuilt Sustainable Residential Project’ category. The A+ Awards were presented last weekend in the presence of Lord Norman Foster at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
SAWA has a key role to play in advancing the decarbonisation of the construction sector
SAWA the first mass-timber and circular 50-metre-high residential building in Europe. SAWA is designed with the drive and high level of ambition to develop a zero-carbon building that contributes to solving the climate crisis and a healthy future. The realisation of SAWA marks an important step towards international sustainability goals and proves that construction industry can act differently. SAWA, also referred to as “the healthiest building” in the Netherlands, is adding value to the neighborhood and city in the broadest sense. These “shared values” relate to CO2 storage through timber construction, enhancing biodiversity, communal spaces including the vegetable garden on the deck and making a circular building with affordable housing, where people care for each other and for nature. The project comprises 109 homes, with spacious green terraces averaging 40 sqm per unit, of which 50 are mid-rent apartments. SAWA’s concept led to a certified and reproducible building concept that was further developed by NICE, on the basis of which Mei architects is currently designing more projects.
“The DNA Paris Design Awards is a fresh design Awards for creative thinkers and makers, who improve our daily lives through practical, beautiful and innovative design.”
DNA Paris Design Awards
DNA Paris Design Awards is established by Farmani Group and Paris-based artists collective, In Between. Farmani Group is the organizer of International Design Awards (IDA), Architecture MasterPrize (AMP), European Product Design Awards (EPDA), the Annual Lucie Awards for Photography and many other prestigious global awards. DNA Paris Design Awards is an accolade honoring the work of international architects and designers, who improve our daily lives through practical, beautiful and innovative design. The Awards acknowledge projects defined by courage, diversity and excellence.
“The latest collection of A+Awards winners forms a vibrant celebration of the world’s most innovative and impactful contemporary design.”
A+ Sustainability Awards
The Architizer A+ Awards is the largest awards program focused on promoting and celebrating the year’s best architecture. To reflect the vital work of architects in combatting the climate crisis, this year’s program of the 11th annual Architizer Awards introduced a new suite of Sustainability Awards. The new A+ Sustainability Awards honour architecture and design firms who are actively working towards a more sustainable built environment and focus on rewarding projects that push the envelope and form a positive precedent for greener building practices in its specific region and the wider world. A prestigious jury of leading sustainability experts from around the world evaluated all submitted projects and selected five finalists, among them SAWA, in the category “Unbuilt Sustainable Residential Project”.
SAWA Team of experts
Mei architects and planners is designing SAWA on behalf of NICE Developers and TBI company ERA Contour. In recent decades, Mei has built up a proven track record when it comes to designing and realising innovating residential concepts and valuable communities, based on shared values, both in the Netherlands and abroad. After the monumental Fenix I warehouse, with which the office won no less than 21 architectural awards, SAWA is Mei’s next promising project in Rotterdam.
SAWA was developed and designed in close cooperation with the Municipality of Rotterdam and with an extensive team of experts, including Pieters Bouwtechniek, DERIX, Pirmin Jung, Ralph Hamerlinck, DGMR, Peutz, DGMR, Atto Harsta, Piet Vollaard, Bureau Stadsnatuur and Copijn. Focus on Impact, development investor based in Rotterdam and Eindhoven, has taken ownership of the rental properties in SAWA.
