Curry Stone Design Prize Announces 2009 Finalists for Emerging Humanitarian Innovation

NEW YORK -

- Finalists Include Former Medellin Mayor, Architect of “Handmade” Buildings in Bangladesh; Co-founder of “Transition” Movement

Bold and transformative public works in Medellin, Colombia that revitalized the poorest areas of the city; the reclamation of traditional craftsmanship with a modern twist in rural Bangladesh; and a vibrant global grassroots movement committed to carbon-neutral living, are this year’s finalists for the Curry Stone Design Prize. The winning design initiative will be announced Sept. 24, 2009.

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090921/NY78610 )

The Curry Stone Design Prize, administered by Architecture for Humanity, is awarded every year to breakthrough design solutions with the power and potential to improve our lives and the world we live in.

“This year’s finalists embody the spirit of the prize, not only because of their ingenuity, but because each of these design solutions is scalable to so many regions in the world that are struggling with similar issues, from poverty to global warming,” said David Mohney, Prize Secretary. “These design initiatives inspire us to think big, take action, and realize the possible.”

The prize winner receives an award of US$100,000 .Finalists, who receive US$10,000 each, are selected from a pool of nominees submitted by architecture and design leaders. Jurors for this year’s prize are Els van der Plas, Director of Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development; Ravi Naidoo, Principal at Interactive Africa; Michael Bierut, Partner at the design firm Pentagram; prize founder Clifford Curry; and internationally recognized architect Lindy Roy.

The 2009 prize finalists are:

currystonedesignprize.com/recipients/2009

Visionary public works in Medellin, Colombia including the implementation of iconic, modern libraries and schools, transit, and social programs, led by the Alejandro Echeverri, the city’s former director of urban projects and its former mayor, Sergio Fajardo. These projects have helped transform what was considered the deadliest city in the world into a vibrant, urban hub in just four years.

“Handmade” buildings, new construction methods and architectural designs by Anna Heringer that involve local building methods and labor in rural Bangladesh and offer an environmentally and economically sustainable alternative to Western-style cement and steel buildings.

Transition Network, an “open source” movement for an international, community-led response to global warming and declining oil reserves, championed by the movement’s co-founder, Rob Hopkins.

Photos, videos and complete finalist profiles are available at www.currystonedesignprize.com.

Source: Architecture for Humanity

Sarah Bacon, sbacon at fenton.com; or Hugh McMullen, +1-212-584-5000, hmcmullen at fenton.com, both for Architecture for Humanity; Photo: https://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090921/NY78610