Saint-Gobain reveals the 5 winners of the Architecture Student Contest

This year, the competition, organized by Saint-Gobain in close collaboration with the University and the City of Helsinki, asked students to design an architectural project for 4 areas of land located in Viikki, northeast of Helsinki. They were to combine temporary housing for students and researchers or permanent housing for residents with functional outdoor spaces, focusing on both renovation and new construction.

For Benoit Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain: “At Saint-Gobain, we are convinced that architecture, in collaboration with the construction world, can provide strategic responses to the major challenges posed by climate change, resource scarcity and urbanization. Like the construction industry, architects are at the forefront of the transition towards the development of sustainable buildings that ensure a good quality of life and resource-efficient and environmentally friendly construction solutions. They can change the situation when in 2050 7 out of 10 people will live in cities and 80% of the buildings existing today will still be there. The jury and I were happy to meet these future architects so deeply committed to designing projects with a positive impact on people and a smaller footprint on the planet. »

Each year, projects increasingly take environmental aspects into account, for example including full life cycle analysis, while meeting the functional needs of users. This edition of the Architecture Student Contest is special: launched in Serbia in 2004, this is its 20th year of existence. An entire generation of students has now entered the competition and are shaping the future of sustainable architecture to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable common home.

The winners of the 5 prizes

New for the 19th edition, the Teachers' Prize is awarded to the project having received the most votes from all participating teachers.

1st prize: Sieni Park, Portugal

Sieni Park is rooted in Finnish culture and our sense of community. The project provides a peaceful haven in Viikki, connecting homes, workplaces and the nearby university campus. It combines old and new structures in a coherent design based on three fundamental pillars: sustainability, innovation and comfort. Thus, it produces a futuristic, sustainable and low-energy project, which honors and builds on the local tradition of eco-conscious building practices.

2nd prize: Rurban Habitat, Poland

Rurban Habitat presents a vision of circular architecture in the rurbanized part of Helsinki. Following the “research, reduce, reuse, produce and integrate” approach, the concept respects the existing context and uses vernacular and passive solutions. The modular design of the main houses promotes adaptability, prefabrication and green energy production. An allocentric design approach created an inclusive habitat for all, complemented by an innovative research and creation space.

3rd prize: From Boundary To Gateway, South Korea

From Boundary To Gateway offers residents and visitors experiences in harmony with nature. It brings natural light and Finland's environment indoors, as seen in the middle space, "Barnacle", to make nature and light an everyday aspect. The renovated building respects the original topography, improving the connection. The project reuses the old museum for outdoor exhibitions. All buildings and recreational spaces gently lead people into nature, and this project will serve as a gateway to nature.

Student Prize: Eco-Habitat: Greenhouse Dorms and Urban micro climate, Lebanon

Eco-Habitat blends Helsinki's farm heritage with modern urban elements, incorporating traditional forms and a central greenhouse courtyard for passive solar heating. It aims to create a resident-friendly microclimate as a model self-sufficient city, with residential blocks, aquaponics, gardens, waste management and more, forming a closed-loop system. It includes amenities such as a library and a bird-watching tower, providing a holistic roadmap for sustainable cities.

Teacher Prize: Viikki - The Edu-Buoyancity, Malaysia

Viikki - The Edu-Buoyancity addresses the growing concern of flooding in Finland with 'Urban Buoyancy', establishing accommodation for bioscience students above a lake that brings wildlife to invigorate the land and waters around it. an architecture of floating foundations. The student community is likened to Floating Urban Nomads, with residences designed to promote movement around community and nature, aiming to offer a unique educational experience and become a model of resilience for Finland.