GOLDEN CUBES AWARDS 2020/2023. RESULTS

 

The UIA Architecture & Children Golden Cubes Awards were founded to honour people and organizations that help children and young people to understand architecture. Entrants made submissions describing activities or products designed to teach children and young people to understand architectural design and the processes by which our environment is formed, Built
Environment Education, BEE.
 

Following a national selection process, 31 countries submitted their nominations to an International Jury in four categories - Institutions, Schools, Written Media and Audio-Visual Media. 82 National best nominations were sent to UIA, there were 30 entries in Institutions category, 19 entries in School category, 17 in Written Media category and 15 in Audio and visual category.
 

The International Jury met virtually on March 29 th and April 18 th 2023 to evaluate the best national nominated entries and select one in each category for an Award. The jury also selected eight additional entries for Special Mention.

The jury was fascinated by the variety of approaches of the different projects from the different countries all over the world. The jury renowned the fact that the entries from the five UIA regions, including new and non-member state counties. The jury acknowledged the fact of tackling the health and well-being, better quality of life, participation, and the UN 17 SDGs values and aspects in most of the works. BEE activities was successfully executed during the last three years, in spite of COVID pandemic: That shows the creativity and resilience of BEE actors.
 

The International Jury has selected the following winners and special mentions:

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Institutions Golden Cubes Award:

 

Winner project:
Entrant N°3931 Germany Spielstadt Mini München Play City Mini-München (Architecture and urban planning with children).

Entrant: Gerd Grüneisl, Kultur & Spielraum e.V.
 

Jury’s comment: Education about the urban dynamics of city life can never be more fun. Through a simple holiday game that engages children, families, experts and different city institutions, the playing practices offer children a variety of role in which they have various planning and design decisions to make. Social, economic, political and organizational interactional challenges do prepare the children for their adult life roles in their cities.
 

Special Mention:
Entrant N°3935 Portugal Let’s renovate our garden and make bridges out of walls.

Entrant: ArkiPlay – architecture is for all!

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Jury’s comment: In quest for health and well-being in vulnerable neighbourhoods in Portugal, this participatory project succeeds to alter the abandoned locations into sustainable, joyful, playful, amiable, edutainment spaces for kids, setting an example to be followed in many parts of the world.
 

Special Mention:
Entrant N°3979 Denmark Architecture building kits for hospitalized children.

Entrant: Arkibag Charlotte Carstensen

Jury’s comment: Through an infinite number of play options, isolated children’s physical and mental health is strengthened, as they become a part of the outside world beyond the hospital walls. Through playing with the architecture kit, the children’s enthusiasm, imagination and creativity are amplified, leaving them with brighter hopes for their roles as cocreators of their built environment upon departing the hospitals.