Pan-European competition across 23 countries: DIFA-AWARD 2004 to recognise vibrant urban developments
Pan-European competition across 23 countries: DIFA-AWARD 2004 to recognise vibrant urban developments
First international competition focusing on urban quarters for towns and cities with 100,000 inhabitants or more / Deadline for entries 31 December 2003
Is the “quarter” a typically European response to the need to modernise, enhance and regenerate run-down, depopulated urban districts? It would certainly appear so: from Helsinki to Warsaw and Madrid, town planners in medium-sized towns and major cities are increasingly focusing on the integrative effect of the quarter, making this type of project a symbol of sustainable urban development. The DIFA-AWARD 2004 is the first town planning competition to recognise the importance of the quarter to European urban development. Having been held twice before in Germany only, the DIFA-AWARD will now explore the economic and social potential of quarter development in Germany and 22 other European countries. Towns across Europe with 100,000 inhabitants or more have until 31 December 2003 to submit successfully realised projects for consideration. The total amount of prize money for the coveted award is 30,000 euros.
“The DIFA-AWARD 2004 offers a chance to study ‘quarters’ in a pan-European context for the first time. Looking beyond national confines will also facilitate a comparison of different planning and management approaches in the field of quarter development,” says Peter Rees, City Planning Officer for the Corporation of London and a member of the competition’s international jury.
The DIFA-AWARD 2004 aims to find projects that boost the vitality of built inner-city quarters, and prizes will be awarded accordingly. The evaluation process will pay particular attention to whether a tangible increase in vitality has been achieved by creating publicly accessible places such as squares, parks and arcades, and through effective quarter management. The latter is understood to include involving both the visiting public and local residents. Entries will undergo a two-stage selection process at the hands of an interdisciplinary jury of experts including architects Professor Albert Speer and Helmut Jahn, as well as Christiane Thalgott and Professor Jörn Walter, heads of planning for the cities of Munich and Hamburg respectively. The awards ceremony for the DIFA-AWARD 2004 will take place in October 2004 at EXPO REAL, Munich’s commercial property show, in the presence of the best 15 shortlisted entrants.
The DIFA-AWARD was launched in 2001 with the title “City of the future. Future of the city” and is held on a bi-annual basis by Hamburg-based DIFA Deutsche Immobilien Fonds AG. Over 100 entries were submitted for the DIFA-AWARD 2002 by 60 German towns and cities and the competition has gained a reputation as a forum for forward-looking solutions in the field of urban development. “As inner-city locales that support social integration and combine high quality of life with excellent working conditions, quarter developments are now crucial aspects of town planning. The participation of all affected parties in each phase of planning and construction is of key importance to ensuring the vitality and acceptance of urban quarters and a sustainable flow of visitors,” says Dr. Frank Billand, the DIFA board member in charge of project development.
The competition materials for the DIFA-AWARD 2004 “Contributions to revitalising quarters” can now be downloaded from www.difa.de.
Contact: Competition Office, Keuchel PR, Rüdiger Keuchel, Tel. +49 (0) 40 87 88 14 – 12, email: rkeuchel@keuchel-pr.de
About DIFA:
DIFA Deutsche Immobilien Fonds AG, the specialist investment institution for open-ended real estate funds within the FinanzVerbund der Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken group and part of the Union Investment Group, is the second biggest German capital investment company in the industry. Total assets under management are approx. 15.5 billion euros and the DIFA portfolio comprises 180 properties located both inside and outside Germany. As investor, principal, developer, landlord and service provider across all areas of the property market, through its CityQuartier developments the company is committed to creating innovative new urban environments that bridge the divide between living and working.Press contactDIFA Deutsche Immobilien Fonds AGFabian Hellbusch
Caffamacherreihe 8, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
Tel: +49 40 3491 9160, Fax: +49 40 3491 9190
Internet: www.difa.de
eMail: fabian.hellbusch@difa.de
