Batumi Aquarium in Georgia has been shortlisted in two categories: the Community Future Category and the Tourism, Travel and Transport Future Category.
Inspired by the characteristic pebbles of the Batumi beach, which are continually shaped by the wash of the waves through millennia, Henning Larsen Architects designed the building as an iconic rock formation visible from both land and sea. The formation constitutes four self-supporting exhibition areas where each of the four stones represents a unique marine biotype – the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, the Indian Ocean, the Black and Red seas and an interactive exhibition. The building is expected to become a landmark and an organic reference to all elements of the sea, capturing the special atmosphere by the sea.
The Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Riyadh has been shortlisted in the Community Future Category and the Special Award – Environmental Category.
The new building comprises a large auditorium, lecture halls, library, classrooms, a large hall for visa applicants and office space. The building accommodates a number of shared facilities such as a cafeteria and prayer rooms. Architects have integrated elaborated façades to make the building vivid and bright. When entering, the architecture of the building is expressive and easily conceivable. All the larger facilities for the Consular Affairs Department and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies are located in a large room stepping upward.
The Crystal Towers situated in Riyadh has been shortlisted in the Commercial/Mixed Use Future Category.
The two 18 and 26-storey Crystal Towers are connected through a raised podium that allow direct passage between the Financial Plaza and the Wadi, creating a clear and dramatic entrance to the lobbies and providing a shaded outdoor meeting area. As the two towers have separate lift cores, the building is suited to accommodate two flagship tenants and a number of additional tenants. The project is designed to achieve LEED Certification upon completion of construction.
The King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh has been shortlisted in the Special Award – Masterplanning Category.
Henning Larsen Architects has created a network of footbridges, called Skywalks, which departs from the stations and connects the various buildings in the area. The footbridges are built of separate geometric modules, which can be pieced together in different lengths and whose flexible construction can easily be adapted to the various building facades of the city.
The Cityscape Awards reward excellence in architecture and design from the emerging regions and seek to recognise and reward architects who have shown outstanding designs, performance, vision and achievement in key areas across architecture. The winners will be announced during an Awards Gala Dinner at the Grand Hyatt Dubai on the evening of 5 October 2010.
All shortlisted entries will be displayed at the awards gallery during the Cityscape Global Exhibition from 4-7 October, 2010.
