ENVI-met UNI LAB Award 2023 Winners Announced

As countries around the world intensify their efforts to combat climate change, innovative solutions for urban resilience are needed more than ever. In this spirit, the ENVI-met UNI LAB Award 2023 once again acknowledges outstanding student projects from around the world that showcase adopt priority mitigation strategies and increase the impact of climate change on the urban environment. Over 200 submissions were received, and students demonstrated the measurable impact of urban design strategies and nature-based solutions to climate challenges. Let’s meet the winners and explore their inspiring projects.

Meet our Winners

1st Place – DaWei Chen:
Taking home the coveted first-place award is DaWei Chen, an undergraduate student in the Department of Urban and Rural Planning at Beijing University of Technology. Chen’s groundbreaking research focused on the intersection of green infrastructure and microclimate within the historical and cultural blocks of old Beijing. His study revealed how strategic greening measures, including spacing adjustments and plant types, can wield a transformative influence on environmental quality and human comfort. By regulating temperature, humidity, and wind speed, Chen’s work offers a glimpse into the future of urban planning and the critical role of green spaces in shaping our cities. Winning project here

2nd Place – Luiza Sobhie Muñoz and Daniel Felipe Outa Yoshida:
The second-place laurels go to a dynamic duo: Luiza Sobhie Muñoz, a PhD Candidate at FAUUSP in Brazil, and Daniel Felipe Outa Yoshida, a recent graduate from the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of São Paulo. Their collaborative project explored the impact of urban morphology patterns on plant health in Sao Paulo, Brazil, under current and future climate conditions. The findings of their research shed light on heat stress in urban zones and underscore the importance of urban morphology and shading effects in preserving plant health and regulating temperatures. Muñoz and Yoshida’s work promises to guide urban planners in making climate-resilient decisions for our cities. Winning project here

3rd Place – Mohammadreza Baradaran Motie:
Claiming the third-place honors is Mohammadreza Baradaran Motie, a recent graduate from Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran, Iran, with a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture. Motie’s study delved into the intricate relationship between wind speed, relative humidity, and pedestrian-level air pollution. His research not only corroborated previous findings but also illuminated the positive impact of specific greening patterns, particularly the „Tree center“ patterns with deciduous trees in median strips. These patterns effectively improved thermal comfort conditions and reduced air pollution in urban canyons. Motie’s work holds significant promise in addressing the pressing issue of urban air quality and enhancing the quality of life in our cities. Winning project here

Meet our Judges

The ENVI-met UNI LAB Award 2023 would not have been possible without the expertise and dedication of our panel of judges. Each judge brought knowledge and experience to the evaluation process, ensuring that the winning projects truly stood out in terms of innovation, practicality, and impact:

Richard De Dear is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning at the University of Sydney. He is also the Co-Chair of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA-EBC) Annex 69 on Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Low Energy Buildings. Additionally, he serves as a Technical Advisor to the World Health Organization/World Meteorological Organization Joint Climate and Health Office on Indoor Heat Risks to Human Health. His extensive expertise in thermal comfort and sustainable building design has made him a leading figure in the field.

Carmen Galán-Marín is an accomplished architect and Professor/Chair of Construction Technology and Sustainable Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Seville. She leads the SATH research group (Sustainability in Architecture, Technology, and Heritage). Her dedication to sustainable architecture and technology has made her a prominent figure in research and education.

Emanuele Naboni is an Associate Professor of Climate Change Design at the University of Parma (Italy). He also serves as a Lecturer at the Master of Architecture of Extreme Environments at The Royal Design Academy (Copenhagen, Denmark) and is a Module Leader at the School of Sustainability of Mario Cucinella Architects (Milano, Italy). His expertise in climate-responsive design and sustainable architecture has made him a respected authority in the field.

Jonathan Natanian is an architect and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He heads the Environmental Performance and Design Laboratory (EPDL) and has been leading StudioADAPT since 2014. His commitment to environmental performance and sustainable design has had a significant impact on architectural education and practice.

Edward Ng is an architect and holds the esteemed position of Yao Ling Sun Professor of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). At CUHK, he serves as an Associate Director of the Institute of Future Cities (IOFC) and is the Team Leader of Urban Sustainability and Public Health in the Institute of Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (IEES). His contributions to urban sustainability and public health have made him a respected figure in the field.

These judges brought their expertise and passion for sustainability and climate change to the ENVI-met UNI LAB Award 2023, ensuring that the winning projects exemplify the highest quality of of effort. We are grateful for their commitment to promoting innovative solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future.

We will launch the next ENVI-met UNI LAB Award 2025 in spring.