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Archi-Zinc Trophy
The Third Archi-Zinc Trophy was held in June, designed to reward recent work with outstanding architecture, environmental integration and, naturally, the use of zinc in new applications. The 150 candidates to this competition demonstrated their fondness for the material. Presided over by Dominique Boudet, editor of the AMC magazine Le Moniteur Architecture, an international jury chose fifteen projects distributed among four categories and a series of special prizes. Be they fantastic or more discreet, the winning projects reveal a wide diversity.
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1. “Public Equipment” Winner
Geo Centre on the Island of Møn (Denmark)
Architect: Søren MØlbak - PLH Agency
With a construction of white concrete built into the chalk cliffs of this Danish island, only the superstructure of the reception building and cafeteria rise above the cliffs. Decorated with glass and cedar wood, it is covered in natural VMZinc® completely hidden by the line of the riverbank, as a sign of respect for the environment. The zinc softens the emergence of the superstructure, making it more discreet. |
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2. « Individual Habitat » Winner
Bunker House at Hamm(Germany)
Architect: Mick Amort
A relic of the past, this defensive concrete bunker has now become a home, evoking the image of scaffolding with straight lines of Anthra-Zinc® in the balustrade and strongly highlighted framed windows. This project owes its success to complicated geometrical and material work. The colouring and careful working of this type of prepatined zinc balances the roughness of the ordinary grey concrete. |
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3. « Collective Habitat » Winner
University Residence in Barcelona (Spain)
Architect: Josep Lluis Mateo - MAP Architects
This building has to respect town planning requirements and adjoin existing buildings. Used as the sole material, Quart-Zinc® used as standing joints provides architectural consistency. The architect unravelled it like a band to cover the two façades and to cover the residence. The highly original solar protection has been fitted out with the same material. |
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4. « Corporate Space » Winner
Headquarters in Oderzo(Italy)
Architect: Carlo Dal Bo
The topic of aerodynamics inspired the design of this building, particularly the sloping south-facing windows, the structure of the offices and the staggering of the windows from one level to the next. But the desire to establish a connection with nature dictated the choice of a Quart-Zinc® wrapper for covering the façade. This choice highlights the flexibility of the building. |
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5. « Audatious » Award
House in Barcelona (Spain)
Architect: Blai Perez Gonzalez - TABP
The constraints of a narrow triangular plot of land and exposure to the sun did not stop this architect from unveiling a sculpted home which, unravelling its space in an angular, complex spiral, seems to defy the laws of balance. Its integral coating of Quartz-Zinc® as standing joints (coating) and its stacked profile (façade) provide a uniform, balanced and water-tight look to the whole. |
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6. « Environmental » Award
Student Accommodation at Vigny-Musset in Grenoble urban regeneration zone (France)
Architect: Pierre Granveaud - GKP Architecture and Aktis Architecture
Environmental concerns broaden the use of zinc to new applications. The façade of this building has received a coating of Quartz-Zinc®, chosen for its quality and durability as an integral part of the thermal insulation treatment of the exterior. Usually reserved for industrial buildings, the Sinus profile has a more “domestic” scale here. |
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7. « Technical Performance » Award
Brest Airport Terminal (France)
Architects: Christian Weinmann & Denis Dietschy - DRLW Architectes
The original shape of this building is not down to chance. Right from the first sketches, architect Denis Dietschy has sought an image that makes you look twice. The undulating forms of the Manta ray are suggested by the dual curves of the roof, supported by a fine metal structure. This real technical challenge was brought into reality with the collaboration of Arcora and the VM-ZINC® design assistance office. The texture and the “skin” colour are rendered by the coating of Quartz-Zinc®. |
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8. « Jury's Grand Prize »
Palafolls Municipal Library (Spain)
Architects : Enric MIralles, Benedetta Tagliabue - EMBT
Ten years in the planning, this project is a complex semi-underground labyrinth of brick walls. Thanks to its location and its coating of natural VM Zinc®, the building seems to simply rise up from the ground. With extreme care taken over its construction, this material makes the building integrate wonderfully into the surrounding environment. |
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