For projects which sought the creation or enhancement of public open spaces (eg. waterfronts, streets, squares and recreational open areas). Projects need to highlight how the open space achieved a quality design and successfully integrated elements of accessibility and connectivity, shelter/shade, landscaping, urban furniture and lighting.
Eligibility Criteria
- Submissions can only be made by a local warranted Perit or a practising firm of Periti;
- The projects must have been approved by the Planning Authority after 1st January 2017 and built, completed and commissioned by the end of November 2022.
Compulsory Entry Requirements
- Documentation of how the project has been appropriated by the community towards serving their need for public open spaces and enhancing their quality of life;
- What innovative approach was adopted to provide open space amenity;
- What measures were taken to reduce the project’s overall environmental impact and how well were those measures carried out;
- Photos of the open space in its wider context, showing how the project has positively contributed to its surroundings (before and after);
- Photos of the completed project.
Judging Criteria
- Form: Through its spatial layout, materiality, and detailing, is the project clearly recognizable and relevant in its response to its site, audience and intent?
- Function: Does the design positively contribute to making the project work well for the intended use, including for its client, users, and the public at large?
- Impact: Does the open space have a positive impact on its context? Does the intervention allow the open space to respond better in its relationship to its surroundings? How accessible is the space? Does it engage the public in activities? Is the space comfortable? Is it a sociable place?
- Environmental consideration: What active and passive means were used to assure more efficient use of energy and minimise negative impacts on the ecological environment? Does the design respond to climatic challenges?
- Innovative: Does the project have originality of concept and thinking? Has the design enabled the project to take a fresh approach? Work to improve existing practices? Push material and conceptual boundaries? To what extent were the users or community included in the design process? Was there an element of public participation?
