HCMC University of Architecture comes first and second at Holcim Prize

The team from the HCMC University of Architecture in the moment of triumph at the award ceremony of the Holcim Prize 2010 in HCMC last week - Photo: Holcim Vietnam

Two of three teams from the HCMC University of Architecture defeated other competing teams to grasp the gold and silver prizes in the final round of the Holcim Prize 2010 competition in HCMC last week.

A four-member team of the university won the first prize trophy and pocketed VND50 million for its ecological floating toilet project and another VND150 million to translate their research into reality within six months. The other team of the university got the second prize worth VND10 million for its project to build floating houses in the flood-prone Mekong Delta.

The third prize worth VND7 million went to a team from the Hanoi University of Architecture. The 12 teams attending the final were from the HCMC University of Architecture, the HCMC University of Technology, Can Tho University and the Hanoi University of Architecture.

“We wish that the winners, supported by the application fund from Holcim, will have a successful implementation of their research result in the next six months and will bring back great benefits for the community within the project area as well as to the society at large,” Gary Schutz, general director of Holcim Vietnam Ltd., said in his opening remarks at the final competition held at the HCMC University of Technology.

Organizer Holcim Vietnam also granted three other prizes in the sustainable construction, environment and community categories to the teams from the HCMC University of Technology, Can Tho University and the Hanoi University of Architecture respectively. The six remaining teams received consolation prizes.

The Holcim Prize 2010 attracted over 95 entries from the four universities which outlined their creative ideas on community development, sustainable construction and environmental protection.

Schutz of Holcim Vietnam said, “Let’s make Holcim Prize a successful way to activate the smart and curious minds of the students who participate in a way which makes you all “Sustainable Development Ambassadors” within your campus life and for the rest of your life! If it does then Holcim Vietnam looks forward to receiving more participation in Holcim Prize 2011.”

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