Bold and transformative public works in Medellin, Colombia that revitalized the poorest areas of the city in just four years; the reclamation of traditional craftsmanship with a modern twist in rural Bangladesh; and a vibrant global grassroots movement committed to carbon-neutral living, are this year’s finalists for the Curry Stone Design Prize. The winning design initiative will be announced September 24, 2009 at the IdeaFestival in Louisville, KY.
The Curry Stone Design Prize, administered by Architecture for Humanity, is awarded every year to breakthrough design solutions with the power and potential to improve our lives and the world we live in.
“This year’s finalists embody the spirit of the prize, not only because of their ingenuity, but because each of these design solutions is scalable to so many regions in the world that are struggling with similar issues of poverty and the very real threat of global warming,” said David Mohney, Prize Secretary. “These design initiatives inspire us to think big, take action, and realize the possible.”
The prize winner receives an award of $100,000; finalists receive $10,000 each. Finalists are selected from a pool of nominees submitted by leaders from the architecture and design communities. Jurors for this year’s prize are Els van der Plas, Director of Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development; Ravi Naidoo, Principal at Interactive Africa; Michael Bierut, Partner at the design firm Pentagram; prize founder Clifford Curry; and internationally recognized architect Lindy Roy.
The 2009 prize finalists are:
Transformative Public Works in Medellin, Colombia
Alejandro Echeverri (urban planner) and Sergio Fajardo (former Mayor)
In recent years the Colombian city of Medellín undertook a series of public works that have lead to the transformative urban renewal of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. Bold and unexpected, these projects were initiated under the thoughtful leadership of Alejandro Echeverri, the city’s former director of urban projects and Sergio Fajardo, its former mayor Together, they mobilized a team of renowned architects to design a series of modern and visually striking libraries, schools, parks, and community centers that have dramatically transformed what was considered the deadliest city in the world into a vibrant, urban hub. The city’s commitment to erecting the most beautiful buildings in its poorest areas, matched with ambitious social programs, has contributed to a drop in crime and galvanized tourism. These works have also helped bridge the class divide, linking Medellín’s most impoverished people to the cultural and economic fabric of the city.
Handmade Buildings
Anna Heringer (designer)
The “handmade” village schools and single-family homes designed by Anna Heringer in rural Bangladesh are an elegant blend of old and new, bucking the growing trend toward cement and steel buildings in the region by offering a sustainable alternative. These buildings combine local materials such as bamboo and straw with modern building components, and are constructed entirely by hand by local people, without the need for machinery or dependence on outside markets. These beautiful, small-scale community-built structures reaffirm that “progress” can be both ecologically sensitive and support local craftsmanship.
Transition Network
Rob Hopkins (founding member)
The Transition Network is an international, community-led response to global warming and declining oil reserves. The “open source” movement, inspired by Rob Hopkins, a founding member of the Network who founded the Transition Town Totnes, connects more than 200 cities and towns worldwide that have adopted creative and collective approaches to reducing their carbon footprint, from large-scale community gardens to introducing a local currency to encourage local consumption. Hopkins literally wrote the book for the movement, The Transition Handbook. “In Transition,” a new wiki documentary made from video footage submitted by Transition Initiative leaders worldwide, is available for group screenings this month, followed by a DVD release in December.
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