The jury of the International Highrise Award 2018 resolved unanimously.

The final of the International Highrise Award (IHA) 2020 has been decided: The winner of the competition for the world’s most innovative high-rise is the ‘Norra Tornen’ twin towers project in Stockholm/Sweden designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in Rotterdam. The prize comes with 50,000 euros and a statuette created by internationally renowned artist Thomas Demand.

Due to the restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus, architect Reinier de Graaf, partner at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, and the developer Oscar Englebert from Oscar Properties in Stockholm were unable to visit Frankfurt’s Paulskirche to receive the award in person. Instead, the statuette and check were presented symbolically in a digital ceremony by Dr. Ina Hartwig, the City of Frankfurt Deputy Mayor for Culture, Dr. Matthias Danne, Deputy CEO of DekaBank, and Peter Cachola Schmal, Director of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM).

In 2020, the prize money went to the cultural organisation Archis, based in Amsterdam. “Archis” is a think tank that focuses on the importance of architecture for people and its role as a cultural medium. The research project “Architecture of peace” investigates how cities can be rebuilt after conflicts and wars in order to create social cohesion. “Archis” is also the editor of publications, including the magazine “Volume”. For more information, visit www.archis.org and www.architectureofpeace.org

ZDF aspekte about the International Highrise Award 2020 (german)

Aired on October 30, 2020