THE Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets celebrated the best in global real estate development and architecture in a glittering ceremony at the Conrad Hotel Dubai this week. With a strong international presence, 37 finalists representing projects from all around the world including China, India, Turkey, Russia and Brazil, eagerly gathered to await the announcement. Asia stole the show on the night by winning eight of the 13 categories for projects in Hong Kong and China, led by architect Aedas which took home an impressive five awards for future mixed use project, future and built commercial project, future leisure and hospitality project and future retail project. Aedas projects highlighted on the night were Heartland 66 in Wuhan, China; The Forum in Hong Kong; the Main Office Building of the Macau Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Tech Park in Zhuhai, China; Novotel Linkong 16-1 in Shanghai, China; and Qingdao Jinmao Harbour Shopping Center in Qingdao, China. Keith Griffiths, Chairman of Aedas, said “these awards will reinforce our leading position in architectural design and demonstrate our capabilities in designing world-class, award-winning architecture.” Sustainability was a key theme at this year's Awards, with many projects achieving high levels of not only environmental responsibility, but also social, economic and cultural. As such, the shortlist for the Sustainability Project category was extended to four projects, with the eventual winner announced as Ronald Lu & Partners and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, HKSARG for the Ko Shan Theatre New Wing in Hong Kong. The judges had an especially difficult time deciding the winner of the sustainability category because the entries this year were extremely strong. Many architects and developers are now putting sustainability at the heart of their projects. The final winner addresses all pillars of sustainability in their development: environmental, social, economic and cultural. Dr. Ronald Lu, Ronald Lu & Partners said, “This is the second year we have won at the Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets and it is a huge honour. Recognition of this kind is a great way to showcase our company's design theory outside of the Asia region. — SG
