Design, texture, mood, body and function – the key factors with which luminaires, lighting components, electrical technology and house and building automation influenced the judges were many, varied and, in some cases, surprising.
This year saw the 21st edition of the ‘Architecture+Technology Innovation Award’ organised by architecture journals ‘AIT’ and ‘XIA by AIT’ in cooperation with the building-technologies events of Messe Frankfurt, ISH and Light + Building, in Frankfurt am Main.
A total of 39 products were entered and, on 1 October 2020, it was the job of an expert jury to select the winners in the fields of architecture and interior architecture. By the end of an intensive day, they had chosen the recipients for an Innovation Award, two special mentions and six honourable mentions.
The Architecture+Technology Innovation Award is aimed at designers and manufacturers of innovative materials and products and emphasises the importance of architectural quality when it comes to luminaires, lighting components, electrical technology and house and building automation. “This quality forms a solid basis for a successful result”, says publishing manager Kristina Bacht. She adds: “Interestingly, quality cannot be measured solely by digital means. The jury examined each product with regard to materiality, weight and surface texture. Accordingly, it benefited from a variety of different perspectives.”
From the numerous products available on the market, the winners were those that correspond to a particularly high degree with the needs of architects and interior architects. The Architecture+Technology Innovation Award honours conceptual solutions for selected objects and products that are convincing in terms of design and functionality. Important criteria for the judging also include material authenticity and the spectrum of potential areas of application.
Moving images
The judging of the Architecture+Technology Innovation Award was captured on film and includes many interesting images and statements by the judges. (English version comes soon).
→ www.light-building.com/innovation-award
The awards will be presented during personal appointments with the winners in the autumn of 2020. All entries will be published in a special section of AIT 12-2020.
→ To AIT-Online https://ait-xia-dialog.de/gkt-themen-kategorien/innovationspreise/
The jury
Experts in relevant fields, the judges were Catrin Brändle-Wigand, Evangelischer Regionalverband Frankfurt and Offenbach; Matthias Koch, KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten; Julian Andreas Schoyerer, Schoyerer Architekten Syra and Christian Simons, Schneider+Schumacher Planungsgesellschaft.
The winners
The winner of the Architecture+Technology Innovation Award 2020 was ‘La Linea’ by Artemide. Special mentions went to ‘Dot Slim’ by Georg Bechter Licht and ‘Lighting Pad Lounge’ by the Nimbus Group. Also chosen for honourable mentions were the ‘Alphabet of Light Circular’ by Artemide, ‘Ettlin Lux Ambiloom’ by Ettlin Spinnerei und Weberei, ‘WLAN Touch ac’ by Homeway ‘Combina D’ by L&L Luce&Light, ‘Combination Brilliant Fit, Flush R-M, Modul 625, Pure I80M’ by Lifa innovative Lichtsysteme and ‘Curling Wall’ by Serien Raumleuchten.
The entrants
A total of 39 products were entered. The manufacturers: Albrecht Jung, Artemide, Ayuppie.com Italy, Bartenbach, Bender, Bergmeister Leuchten, Derungs Licht, Erventec / Müllerundröhrig / Gerber Architekten, Ettlin Spinnerei und Weberei, Georg Bechter Licht, GEWISS Deutschland, Gira, Homeway, Kiteo, L&L Luce&Light, LED Linear, Licht Raum Funktion, Lifa | innovative Lichtsysteme, Macrolox, Nichia Chemical Europe, Nimbus Group, Serien Raumleuchten, STR Elektronik Josef Schlechtinger, Top Light, Ulrich Lippert.
+++ The next Light + Building will be held in Frankfurt am Main from 13 to 18 March 2022 +++
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Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With just under 2,600 employees at 29 locations, the company generates annual sales of some €736 million. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both Visuality, materiality, haptics – the judges assessed the products entered with all senses. They included ‘La Linea’ by Artemide, which was chosen for the Architecture + Technology Innovation Award 2020. Source: AIT – Moritz Bernoully Page 4 Light + Building The world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building-services technology Frankfurt am Main, 13 to 18 March 2022 onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).