MIPIM, the world’s premier real estate summit, honors leading projects through its annual awards ceremony. ourbania features each of the projects.


Green Buildings
Sustainable building has become all the rage in recent years, due to the onset of global warming and climate change. Architects and developers have tuned into the vibes of the environment and are doing their part to make the built-world a better world. In an attempt to reduce the environmental footprint of structures, architects have incorporate energy and water efficiency technologies, waste and toxins reduction, and sustainable development in their designs.

The nominees are:
1. BDP Manchester Studio (Manchester, UK)
2. Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies, CSET (Ningbo, People’s Republic of China)
3. Elm Park Mixed-Use Development (Dublin, Ireland)

Hotels and Tourism Resorts
Though there has been much chagrin over the global economic crisis of the past months, certain developments in the hotel and tourism area have been able to prosper despite the uncertain times, namely this year’s 2009 MIPIM Hotel and Tourism Resort nominees. The candidates are from France, Italy, and South Korea and were designed by world-renowned architects. Though no favorite has been named, the Phoenix Island Villa Condo & Club House in South Korea took home the 2008 MIPIM Asia award. The winners will be chosen March 12, so stay tuned to find out the winners.

The nominees are:
1. Cœur Méditerranée (Marseille, France)
2. Grand Hotel Via Veneto (Rome, Italy)
3. Phoenix Island Villa Condo & Club House (Seogwipo-si, Republic of South Korea)

Residential Developments
Architects thought outside of the box and showed enthusiasts of the built environment just how innovative they could be this year through the development of residential spaces. Living spaces are being redefined by the creative minds of architectural entrepreneurs. The nominated structures range from a structure entitled “Mountain Dwellings” in Copenhagen, Denmark which is fashioned in the shape of mountains, to the “Quartis les halles, my creative quarter” in Duesseldorf, Germany which encorporates all types of new concepts in living.

The nominees for the 2009 MIPIM Residential Developments Award are:
1. Highbury Square (London, UK)
2. Mountain Dwellings (Copenhagen, Denmark)
3. Quartis Les Halles - mein kreatives Viertel (Düsseldorf, Germany)

Refurbished Office Buildings
It has become a growing global trend to revive rundown buildings and structures in urban, downtown areas. Therefore, companies have been snatching up old warehouses, stations, and stores and turning them into prime office real estate. This type of refurbishing in architecture is the ultimate form of recycling; Taking what is old and making it new. Three particular structures have been brought back to life and have been nominated for the 2009 MIPIM Refurbished Office Buildings Award.

The nominees are:
1. 103, Grenelle (Paris, France)
2. Las Palmas (Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
3. Les Ecuries de la Chasse Royale (Brussels, Belgium)

Business Centres
The development of the world’s urban business centres is vital for economic growth and for enhancing the quality of life for urban city dwellers. Business Centres help to increase housing, office space, and parking. In addition, modern structures strive to be as self-sustaining as possible and have the least amount of impact on the environment. This year two developments from Germany and one from China were chosen as the nominees for the MIPIM Business Centres award.

The nominees are:
1. Der Angerhof (Munich, Germany)
2. Kranhaus1, formerly known just as ‘Kranhaus’ (Cologne, Germany)
3. Shanghai World Financial Center (Shanghai, People’s Republic of China)


For a complete list of nominees, follow the link: MIPIM Awards