Erwin Viray recently talked about his role as Holcim Awards Ambassador in an interview for professional media in South East Asia. Ambassadors support the competition by liaising with professional architects, planners, engineers, project owners, builders and construction firms to encourage engagement in the 4th International Holcim Awards.
Last updated: September 10, 2013 Tokyo, Japan
He is Professor of Architecture and Design, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan, has been Editorial Associate of a+u (Architecture and Urbanism), Tokyo since 1996, and was formerly Assistant Professor of Architecture, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore (NUS).
Q: As Holcim Awards Ambassador, what do you consider to be the impact of this competition?
A: This competition, the Holcim Awards, has a great impact on our life, on our future.
Q: What do you like most about the Holcim Awards competition?
A: The Holcim Awards Competition brings together many people and ideas that explore the potentials of sustainable construction and building a better environment, and the infinite possibilities of man’s creativity.
Q: In which area of sustainable construction do you see our biggest challenges for the future and what kind of projects would you advocate most?
A: The biggest challenge for the future is our ability to confront ourselves, testing the paradigms of our thoughts and how we do things. In both senses, physically and non-physically, a discourse can happen on the construction of things, where an encounter between thought, materials, techniques, actions and emotions of people can happen. We just have to open our minds, and allow a space to be created where life, powerful and enthralling, grows.
4th International Holcim Awards
The Holcim Awards is one of the most significant competitions in its field in terms of reputation and international scope. The fourth cycle of the competition offering a total of USD 2 million in prize money is now open for entries. The competition seeks leading projects from industry professionals and bold ideas from the “Next Generation” that contribute to sustainability within architecture, building, civil engineering, landscape and urban design, as well as construction materials and technologies. Entries must be submitted online at www.holcimawards.org by March 24, 2014.
Want to know more?
Further information on the Holcim Awards competition is available at www.holcimawards.org – or send your question to helpdesk@holcimawards.org.
Further reading
Holcim Foundation Awards
Entries open in two million dollar sustainable construction competition
Zurich, Switzerland
4th Holcim Awards Competition
Comprehensive instructions for entering Awards
Zurich, Switzerland