Report of the 5^th 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 26^th January 2021, a prestigious closing ceremony was held in Milad Tower Conference Hall to not only announce the winners of the 5^th 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 5^th 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 5^th Edition of Tehran Golden Adobe Global Award included the following:

1. Architecture, Urbanization & Protection of Cultural Heritage;
2. Sustainable Development, Resilience and Urban Livability;
3. Development of Infrastructure, Public Transportation & Municipal Services;
4. Citizen Participation & Cultural & Social Development of the City;
5. Innovation, Technology and Smart City;
6. Urban Economy, Investment & Entrepreneurship;
7. Local Governance, Urban Planning & Management.

Project evaluation criteria were as:

1. Localization
2. Generalizability
3. Innovation and creativity
4. sustainability
5. Resilience
6. Inclusion
7. Participation
8. Effectiveness
9. Efficiency
10. Necessity
11. Transparency
12. Documentation
13. 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