Report of the 5th Edition of Tehran Golden Adobe Global Award
Tehran Golden Adobe Global Award (TGAGA) is an international award to conglomerate projects and practices from cities, regions and local communities worldwide with the objective of gathering successful experiences leading towards the recognition of the extreme importance of local governance and urban management in promoting the socio-economic environment, sustainability, and the encompassing peace and health, that is the final focal point in well-being of the citizens. The award has been held since 2014 and is co-organized by Communications and International Affairs Center of Tehran Municipality, the World Association of Major Metropolises (Metropolis) and UN-Habitat.
On 26th January 2021, a prestigious closing ceremony was held in Milad Tower Conference Hall to not only announce the winners of the 5th Edition of Tehran Golden Adobe Global Award but to bring high officials of different nations under one roof to yet again dissipate the message of global unity.
The award was commenced by Dr. Gholmhossein Mohammadi, Chairman of the Award Policy Council, having his speech addressing the necessity of peaceful and healthy cities. It then continued by speeches from Iranian high officials. In the meanwhile, audiences were entertained with traditional Persian music performances which were admittedly to their delight, especially for the foreign attendees. The award then proceeded with a few more speeches commenting on the positive effects the award has engendered since its conception. Dr. Pirouz Hanachi, the Honorary Director of the Award and Mayor of Tehran, as the final speaker addressed the importance of such events; events that despite the global tendency of individualism among nations and citizens, invite them to a life of peace and serenity. He recited a poem from Hafiz and pointed to the elements of soil and adobe as symbolic building blocks of future cities.
A total of 541 projects from around the world had participated in the award. Of these, there were 296 international projects, 58 countries and 194 participant cities. Projects submitted from cities and countries around the world to participate in the 5th Edition of Tehran Golden Adobe Global Award were evaluated and the best projects were selected and introduced. Top projects receiving the awards were as follows: In total, 21 projects were selected of which 7 projects received the Tehran Golden Adobe Global Award statues and 14 projects received commendations.
The axes of the 5th Edition of Tehran Golden Adobe Global Award included the following:
- Architecture, Urbanization & Protection of Cultural Heritage;
- Sustainable Development, Resilience and Urban Livability;
- Development of Infrastructure, Public Transportation & Municipal Services;
- Citizen Participation & Cultural & Social Development of the City;
- Innovation, Technology and Smart City;
- Urban Economy, Investment & Entrepreneurship;
- Local Governance, Urban Planning & Management.
Project evaluation criteria were as:
- Localization
- Generalizability
- Innovation and creativity
- sustainability
- Resilience
- Inclusion
- Participation
- Effectiveness
- Efficiency
- Necessity
- Transparency
- Documentation
- New Technology
The winners of the award were as follows:
- Architecture, Urbanization & Protection of Cultural Heritage
First Place: Boualisina Cultural & Historical Pedestrian- Hamedan / Iran.
Commended: Bringing Gardens Back – Moscow / Russia
Commended: Razi Cultural Center- Tehran / Iran
- Sustainable Development, Resilience & Urban Livability
First Place: Development of Cycling- Tehran / Iran
Commended: Sund Nature Park- Copenhagen / Denmark
Commended: Chulalongkorn Centenary Park - Bangkok / Thailand
- Development of Infrastructure, Public Transportation & Municipal Services
First Place: Waste Reduction Plan - Tehran / Iran
Commended: Health Path - Ardebil / Iran
Commended: Seoullo Sky Garden - Seoul / South Korea
- Citizen Participation & Cultural & Social Development of the City
First Place: Second Hand Store - Munich / Germany
Commended: Milad Tower Cultural Program during COVID-19 – Tehran / Iran
Commended: The Street Is Yours - Lisbon / Portugal
- Innovation, Technology & Smart City
First Place: Access the Gdynia - Gdynia / Poland
Commended: Management of On-street Parking – Tehran / Iran
Commended: My City Application - Mashhad / Iran
- Urban Economy, Investment & Entrepreneurship
First Place: Revival of Ancient Crafts – Qazvin / Iran
Commended: More than Ever Local Trade during COVID-19 - Gava / Spain
Commended: Interactive Map of Local Businesses - Issy-les-Moulineaux / France
- Local Governance, Urban Planning & Management
First Place: The Urbanization of Barrio - Buenos Aires / Argentina
Commended: Yazd Learning City - Yazd / Iran
Commended: Revival of Tehran Historical District (District 12) - Tehran / Iran