Saint-Gobain announces winners of 14th MultiComfort House Students Contest
Creators of optimum indoor environments from across the globe honoured in Dubai
Saint-Gobain has presented the awards for the international final of its 14th MultiComfort House Students Contest following the competition held in Dubai chaired by Pierre-André de Chalendar, CEO of the Saint-Gobain group, and Dawood AbdulRahman Al Hajiri, director general of Dubai Municipality.
Created in 2004, the objective of Saint-Gobain’s students contest is to develop a project based on the principles of the Multi-Comfort concept: an optimum indoor environment ensuring the right level of fresh air, thermal, visual and acoustic comfort provided in a sustainable and energy efficient manner.
The task for the 14th international edition of the Saint-Gobain’s MultiComfort House Students Contest, developed in close collaboration with the Planning Department of Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Properties Group, consisted in creating a vision for a trans-cultural vibrant community development located in the perimeter of Dubai’s Cultural Village, a multi-purpose area located along the Dubai’s creek Al Jaddaf shoreline.
The challenge lay in Dubai’s very hot and humid climate. Students had to find a way to reconcile the reduction of energy consumption of cooling and ventilation systems with a beautiful and highly efficient building envelope. This without compromising any of the inhabitants’ comforts, and while providing optimum connection with the environment and having a minimum impact on it.
“Again this year, this 2018 MultiComfort Students Contest will be noted in the records for the high-level quality of the projects submitted by the students. I am always amazed by their innovative spirit to use the Saint-Gobain Multi Comfort solutions to create better and great living places everywhere. Congratulations to all of them!“ said Pierre-André de Chalendar.
Dawood Al Hajiri said: “The Municipality’s support for the competition comes in line with its keenness to achieve sustainability strategies in the UAE and reflects the efforts of the Municipality to adopt innovative designs and concepts of a global nature that achieve the principle of sustainability and conservation of natural resources.”
He added that the Municipality aims to make sustainability a lifestyle that covers all aspects of society by attracting future projects that saves energy.
He explained that Dubai Municipality is always seeking to educate the community about the concepts of sustainability and the rationalization of electricity and water consumption, which is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to make Dubai one of the smartest and most sustainable cities in the world by 2021.
“The MultiComfort House Student Contest sheds light on the incredible efforts of a young generation of distinguished architects who will be key contributors to ensuring that Dubai will enjoy a sustainable environment in line with our leadership’s vision,” added Samira AlRais, senior director of Policy and Strategy, Sustainable Development from The General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai.
During the event, the first prize was awarded to Vahin Parmananda and Mthokozisi Sibisi, from University of KwaZulu-Natal in Southern Africa.
The second prize was for Veronika Supruniuk from Brest State Governmental University Belarus.
The third prize went to the students from Germany, Tobias Bretz and Dill Khan from Hochschule Darmstadt.
During this edition there were also special awards for Spain’s Alejandra González, Paulino Poveda and Santiago Rodríguez and for Joanna Wnuczek from Poland
David Basulto, member of the jury and founder of Arch Daily, added: “The Multi-Comfort House Student Contest provides a unique and strong framework for students to develop their skills, by operating on a real site and dealing with the challenges of comfort on extreme conditions”
50 competing students’ teams from 28 countries presented their projects in four pitch sessions to an international jury including representatives of the Dubai Municipality, architects and experts.
