The concept of sustainability stands at the center of efforts to develop an architecture capable of meeting the challenges of the future. In urban structures as well as in design and the details of execution, sustainable architecture demands a value-preserving, resource-friendly approach to materials and construction. It was in large part in order to do justice to this development that in 2007, the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine and Jana Revedin created the international Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, which honors architects who have specifically excelled in the area of sustainability.

The concept of sustainability stands at the center of efforts to develop an architecture capable of meeting the challenges of the future. In urban structures as well as in design and the details of execution, sustainable architecture demands a value-preserving, resource-friendly approach to materials and construction. It was in large part in order to do justice to this development that in 2007, the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine and Jana Revedin created the international Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, which honors architects who have specifically excelled in the area of sustainability.

This book documents the work of the prizewinners for 2007 and 2008. A first section introduces the work and thought of each architect, while a second takes an in-depth look at two or three projects that illustrate their distinctive approach. The 2007 prizewinners are Stefan Behnisch, Germany; Balkrishna Doshi, India; Françoise-Hélène Jourda, France; Hermann Kaufmann, Austria; and Wang Shu, China. For 2008, the honorees are Fabrizio Carola, Italy/Mali; Philippe Samyn, Belgium; Carin Smuts, South Africa; Andrew Freear and his Rural Studio, USA; and Alejandro Aravena for Elemental, Chile.