This year’s International VELUX Award for students of architecture challenges students to explore daylight in the built environment under the theme of “Light of Tomorrow”.
The role of daylight in architecture goes beyond its quality in design to sustainable development, and how it can influence human health and well being.
The Award is presented by VELUX in close cooperation with International Union of Architects (UIA) and the European Association for Architectural Education (EAAE).
It’s an opportunity for educational institutions and teachers to put their students forward as the talent of tomorrow on an international stage, whilst also giving them the opportunity to be in with a chance of winning a prestigious international accolade that will help them gain experience and confidence in their future careers.
Students studying in British institutions will have from October 2011 until March 2012 to submit their entries for the Award, with winners being announced at a prize giving ceremony in October 2012.
The International VELUX Award aims to celebrate and promote excellence across the globe. In 2010, the Award attracted over 2,000 registrations from 85 countries. Out of 673 entries, 11 projects were awarded at a glittering ceremony in the French city of La Rochelle, with the winners and their teachers sharing the prize money.
Competition is fierce with students from the Far East continuing to raise the bar. Six out of eleven projects were crafted by Chinese students at the last event, with first prize going to a team from South Korea. Winners of previous awards in 2004, 2006 and 2008 have come from Norway, Denmark and the US respectively.
Per Arnold Andersen, architect and head of Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate in the VELUX Group, believes this is an exciting opportunity for educational institutions to showcase the best of their talent.
“The International VELUX Award is really open to interpretation – in any scale or in conceptual ideas and explorations, taking advantage of students’ curiosity, willingness to take risks and thinking outside the box. It’s such a fantastic opportunity for lecturers to put forward their most ambitious students for an internationally renowned award which will put both the institution and the student in good stead for the future,” he said.
The International VELUX Award jury comprises of internationally acclaimed architects and other building professionals representing different perspectives on architecture and different geographies.
Every student or team must register to participate and must be backed and granted submission by a teacher from a school of architecture.
