2A Continental Architectural Awards Explained

The 2A Continental Architectural Awards is an architecture award, organized by 2A Magazine to recognize and honor an individual or a group’s contribution to the world of architecture.^{[1] [2]}

Award categories

The award is presented under eight categories

1. Residential
2. Commercial (Office & Business, Retail, and wholesale, Production)
3. Public (Sport & Leisure, Education, Hospitality, Culture, Mixed Use, Health,
4. Religion, Civic, Transportation), and community-based projects
5. Urban Projects, Rural Projects, Landscape & Public Spaces (including squares and streets)
6. Old and New (Reuse and adaptation, Renovation, Restoration, Regeneration)
7. Interior Architecture
8. Future Projects / Innovative Designs^[3]

History

2015

The first Award event was held in Istanbul, Turkey, with the Istanbul Technical University being the main Academic partner. The other technical partners were The UNESCO, Istanbul Bilgi University and Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism of Iran. Its theme was “The Emergence of Contemporary Architecture in Asia.” The Jury members consisted of Sinan Mert Sener, Seung H-Sang, Romi Khosla, and Yavuz Selim Sepin.^{[4] [5]}

2016

The second 2A Continental Architectural Award event was held at Vienna, Austria in association with Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. This year’s theme was “Innovative Architecture in Asia.” The Jury consisted of some fine architects including Volkwin Marg, Nasrine Seraji, Wolfgang Tschapeller, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, Françoise Fromonot and Hiromi Hosoya.^{[6] [7]}

Iranian Winners: Moein Jalali, Hooman Balazadeh, Sara kalantari, Ehsan Hosseini & Elham Geramizadeh, Wael Al Awar, DCA,Cui kai + Wang Ke Yao, Hamid Mirmiran, Kazuhiro Kojima, Wolf D. Prix^[8]

2017

The 2017 2A Awards event took place in Berlin, Germany and was themed “Innovative Architecture in Various Continents.” Seated on the Jury were renowned architects Ulrike Lauber, Hubert Neinhoff, and Sergei Tchoban.^{[9] [10]}

2018

The awards ceremony was held at Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia with the theme "Innovative Contextual Architecture in Asia and Europe". Jury composed of Carme Pinós, Yoko Okuyama, Abbas Gharib, Willy Müller and Ali Basbous.^{[11] [12]}

Iranian Winners: Moein Jalali, Reza Mafakher, uillermo Vazquez Consuegra, Wolf D.Prix, Yawar Jilani & Mahboob Khan, Paloma Baquero Masats & Juan Serrano Garcia, Bruno Rechner^[13]

2019

The awards for Asia-Oceania, Europe, Africa, South Central, and North America was held at Polytechnic University of Madrid under the theme "Innovative Contextual Architecture in the Continents".^[14]

2020

The award was organised online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[15] Jury members included Bahram Shirdel, Silja Tillner, Donald Bates, Antoine Guiraud and Asako Yamamoto.^[16]

Administration

Ahmad Zohadi is the founder, organizer and director of 2A Continental Architectural Awards organised since 2015. He is the CEO and editor-in-chief of 2A Magazine, also the founder and chief editor of ‘Architecture & Construction’, a persian quarterly magazine, published since 2003, and distributed in Iran.

Notes and References

1. News: Iranian designs shine at 2A Asia Architecture Award . 7 June 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143330/http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/407592/Iranian-designs-shine-at-2A-Asia-Architecture-Award . 2018-06-12 . live .
2. News: 12 Iranian Projects win Asia Architecture Award . 7 June 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20171208003528/https://financialtribune.com/articles/art-and-culture/74704/12-iranian-projects-win-asia-architecture-awards . 2017-12-08 . live .
3. Web site: 2A Asia Architecture Award 2016: Innovative Architecture in Asia . ArchDaily . 12 June 2016 . 7 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143907/https://www.archdaily.com/789311/2a-asia-architecture-award-2016-innovative-architecture-in-asia . 2018-06-12 . live .
4. Web site: 2A Asia Architecture Award 2015 : "The Emergence of Contemporary Architecture in Asia". Arch Daily. 29 June 2015 . 7 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018164736/http://www.archdaily.com/769372/2a-asia-architecture-award-2015-the-emergence-of-contemporary-architecture-in-asia. 2017-10-18. live.
5. Web site: 2A Magazine launches the 2015 Asia Architecture Award . . 7 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141217/https://inhabitat.com/designcompetitions/2a-magazine-launches-the-2015-asia-architecture-award/ . 2018-06-12 . live .
6. News: 9 Iran Projects Win 2A Asia Architecture Awards . 7 June 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142843/https://financialtribune.com/articles/art-and-culture/52085/9-iran-projects-win-2a-asia-architecture-awards . 2018-06-12 . live .
7. Web site: Asia Art & Architecture Award in October . news-en.aruna.ir . 7 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171208003721/http://news-en.aruna.ir/archives/2016/May/25/3080.php . 2017-12-08 . live .
8. Web site: Winners announced for 2A Asia Architecture Awards 2016 . 2024-07-17 . worldarchitecture.org.
9. Web site: 2A AWARDS 2017: CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE . . 7 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612155210/https://u.wn.com/2017/12/17/2a_awards_2017_celebrating_international_architecture/ . 2018-06-12 . live .
10. Web site: 2A European Awards 2017 . Ven . 7 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144054/http://www.ven.com.tr/media/news/91 . 2018-06-12 . live .
11. News: Iranian architects big winners at 2A architectural awards . Tehran Times.
12. Web site: Winners Announced For 2A Continental Architectural Awards 2018 .
13. Web site: Winners announced for 2A Continental Architectural Awards 2018 . 2024-07-17 . worldarchitecture.org.
14. Web site: Open Call : 2A Continental Architectural Awards 2019 . 9 April 2019 . ArchDaily.
15. Web site: Welch . Adrian . 2A Continental Architectural Awards 2020 News . E-architect. 6 December 2020 .
16. Web site: Call For Entries To 2A Continental Architectural Awards 2020 . worldarchitecture.org.