- Celebrations for 13 winners; Asian projects take home seven awards
The Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets have celebrated the best in global real estate development and architecture in a glittering ceremony and cocktail reception in the world’s tallest tower last night.
Contested among 38 entries from 11 countries, the 13 winners were announced at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa, with projects from Asia stealing the limelight and taking home seven of the coveted awards.
Of the seven Asian winners, China came out on top winning both the Mixed Use Project Award for Built and Future, and the Built Retail Project Award. It was Singapore’s Ministry of Health, however, that stood out from the crowd, securing both the Community & Culture Project Award and the Built Sustainability Project Award for their Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
Turkish developers were also back in full force, winning three of the 13 awards for projects based in Istanbul. This recognition comes at a great time for the Turkish property industry, after recent reports reveal Gulf investors are showing renewed interest in the Turkish real estate market.
Meanwhile, Dubai Energy and Water Authority (DEWA) took home the Future Leisure & Tourism Award for its Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Panel Park Project, which will be the first and largest of its kind in the region.
The Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets have gained major credibility in the international real estate industry over the last 13 years, and with a new judging process implemented for the 2014 edition, the awards have attracted hundreds of entries from across the globe.
Deepak Jain and George Katodrytis, judges at this year’s Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets said: “The awards submission process was revised for 2014, resulting in uniformity and consistency of project information. The data submitted by companies competing in the awards has been extremely focused and we have seen a strong international participation across the emerging markets.
“The presentations delivered by shortlisted finalists were of a very high standard, and equal attention was given to design, economics and management. The finalist projects had the edge, however, by displaying a blend of new contemporary design with cultural context.”
Cityscape Global 2014 opened on 21 September, and was a hotbed of activity as leading international and local real estate developers announced their latest property developments and news to entice hungry potential investors.
Organised by Informa Exhibitions, the Middle East’s largest and most influential real estate event hosted 280 exhibitors from 28 countries this year, with 40 per cent of exhibition space occupied by international property developers.
The largest ever presence of international exhibitors at Cityscape Global called for the introduction of eight dedicated international pavilions from Turkey, Bahrain, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, UK, Morocco and Jordan .
Turkey in particular was a driving force this year; the Southeast European country brought 30 major property developers to the show, with award winning Turkish House of Architecture and Design, Tabanlıoğlu Architects returning to the event for the 10th time.
Melkan Tabanlıoğlu, AIA Intl Member, said: “Dubai is a centre of urban experimentation as well as one of the world’s fastest growing metropolises. Generating a culture and an international meeting hub, Cityscape Global provides a fruitful and dynamic platform for architects and all other construction related disciplines to reveal their work to potential investors and governing authorities of different countries. It’s a global arena of exchanging ideas and capacities.”
The Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets are supported by the Headline Sponsors Aubrilam; MDT-tex Miele and Property Solutions.
Wouter Molman, Director of Cityscape Group said: “This year’s edition has been one of the busiest we have experienced in years, with dozens of major announcements made from exhibitors the world over. The future certainly looks bright for real estate, not only locally but globally, and we look forward to building on the success of Cityscape Global 2014 for many years to come.”
The Middle East’s largest and most influential property show is co-located with three dedicated and expert-led conferences, the Global Real Estate Summit, Future Cities and the Real Estate Brokers Summit, which are expected to bring together more than 1,000 senior real estate professionals.
