European Green Cities Award
Successful, ambitious, inspiring and innovative green infrastructures projects
13 participating countries
Award ceremony Autumn 2021
Brussels
Introduction
Price winning projects that let green excel in its positive impact on urban welfare
Part of the “Green Cities Europe” campaign, a yearly, international contest with award ceremony will be organised.
The goal of the award
The European Green Cities Award encourages successful, ambitious, inspiring and innovative green infrastructures projects.
What projects participate
All inspiring projects that make optimum use of the added value of green infrastructures in the living environment can participate.
For imaging some examples:
- Interior planting of a school
- A new residential area with public gardens
- A business garden with workplaces
- A hospital with green treatment rooms
- A new city park with sports and play facilities
- A green renovated industrial estate
(Participating projects need to be fully realised and put into use no more than 5 years ago.)
Who is the participant?
Any person involved in the project can initiate an application. The official submitter is ultimately the party that financed the project.
Any costs?
Participation in the competition is free of charge. If you incur costs yourself, for example for submitting your project or for your presence at the prize-giving ceremony, these will be at your own expense.
Some more details
The process with timeline
1 June 2021: Project forms can be submitted for national, Dutch projects via info@degroenestad.nl
15 July 2021: The deadline for submission of projects for the national preliminary round
30 July 2021: De Groene Stad selects the best national project and submits it to the international competition
Autumn 2021: International Winner selected by jury, award ceremony
The judging process
The application forms of the 13 nominated internationale projects are shared with all the members of the jury
Based on the supplied information and the public available information about the project, every member of the jury individually rates the judging criteria with 0-10 points (hgher is better), including a short motivation.
(Judging Criteria below)
The members of the jury are allowed to request the participants for more information.
The members of the jury may visit projects and consult with each other. This is not compulsory.
After all scores are submitted, the organising country will share the scores with all members of the jury.
The project with the highest score will be selected as a winner. In the situation that two projects score the same, the jury will vote for the winner.
Award ceremony
The award event will take place at a date and location in Belgium to be determined later.
The prize
The prize consists mainly of honour. A lot of attention for the project in the (printed and social) media is expected.
In addition, the winning project will receive a ‘trophy’.
Who to contact?
If you have any questions, or need more details, don’t hesitate to contact the organisation. Each participating country also has a local contact. The members of the jury cannot be contacted unless they ask for it.
Central organisation and The Netherlands: info@degroenestad (In German, Dutch or English)
Thank you for mentioning “Green Cities Award” in the subject line of your e-mail.
The judging criteria
- Greenery (A double weighting shall be applied to this criterion!)
The greenery will be assessed on the right assortment for this application. Quality and diversity are taken into account. Special and unique applications may contribute to a higher appreciation. - The overall design (landscape and optional associated buildings)
The most important point of assessment is the integral design in which the elements in the project match each other. And where the project connects to its surroundings. The uniqueness of the design is an added advantage. - The contribution to the well-being of users
Depending on the type of project, visitors, patients, students, residents or employees benefit from the added value like well fare, productivity ans social cohesion. The size of the expected effect and the size of the group of profiteers determine the rating. - The impact on the climate
For the valuation, the impact of the project is estimated on the following components: Rainwater collection and discharge and temperature regulation. - The impact on the environment
Materials used are assessed for environmental impact during production and for circularity. If the project has a logical effect on the perception of noise nuisance and on the capture of CO2, NOx and particulate matter, this may be taken into account. - The impact on economic factors
For the assessment, an estimate is made of the relationship between the investment (construction and maintenance) and the revenues. This may include an estimate of the effect on property value in the surrounding area and positive impact on local economy (for shops , restaurants…). - Used constructing materials
It will be assessed on the right product choice for this application. Quality is taken into account. Special and unique applications may contribute to a higher appreciation. - Innovativeness and reproducibility
Innovativeness is appreciated. A good reproducibility of the entire project, or parts of it, improves the score. - Important remark!
The set-up of the award does not allow all criteria to be fully researched and factually substantiated. These cases are judged subjectively by the judges on the basis of their insights and experience and on the basis of the information provided by the participant. Only the jury chooses the winner. No correspondence is possible outside the jury about the content of the assessment process.
National preliminary entry form
Would you like to submit your project? Then fill out the PDF below and send it along with attachments to info@degroenestad.nl by July 15, 2021. Please use the english language for the international jury, in case your project is selected for the international competition.
NETHERLANDS
Grotestraat Nijverdal
Climate-adaptive city centre
FRANCE
Le quartier du Ramponneau
Urban renewal program / landscaping project
BELGIUM
Beringen-Mine
a transformation from black coal to green gem.
A green renovated industrial estate
BULGARIA
Art center ‘Rila Renesans’
Social infrastructure and education
DENMARK
The Climate City in Middelfart
Climate adaption and urban development
GERMANY
Taylor Park
Green industrial zone
WINNER 2020: BERINGEN MINE
FROM BLACK COAL TO GREEN GEM
In July, the best green projects in 7 countries were selected for the Green Cities for a sustainable Europe Award. An international professional jury then assessed these projects and selected the best project. December 3rd 2020, the winning project was announced in an online talk show.
Here is the announcement of the winner of the European Green Cities Award 2020: