Aiming high in an eco-friendly way

Compact in size and packed with many exciting details: 31 pioneering projects from 13 countries were nominated for this year's International Highrise Award. The exhibits include information on the nominated buildings as well as the five finalists and the award winner. The ‘CapitaSpring’ project in Singapore, developed by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and CRA - Carlo Ratti Associati and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, was honoured, while the finalists include the ‘IQON Residences’ in Quito by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, the ‘Shenzhen Women and Children's Center’ and the ‘Valley’ in Amsterdam, both by MVRDV, and the ‘Bunker Tower’ in Eindhoven by Powerhouse Company. The show includes detailed models of the buildings as well as large-format photos, drawings, texts and films documenting the creative process of developing the architecture.

The origins of the International High-Rise Award go back more than 20 years: ‘In 2003, we developed a concept for DekaBank's social commitment. It was important for us to develop new projects that were designed for the long term, that were a good fit for Deka and for the city of Frankfurt, where our headquarters are located. Even today, architecture is still rarely an area of corporate sponsorship, but it is an important part of our lives. Frankfurt is home to the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (German Architecture Museum) and we therefore have the experts on site. This is why we jointly founded the International Highrise Award as the official prize of Germany's only high-rise city,’ says Silke Schuster-Müller, Head of Corporate Citizenship at DekaBank. Since 2004, the prestigious award has been jointly organised by the City of Frankfurt am Main, Deutsches Architekturmuseum and DekaBank every two years and is now in its eleventh edition. Considered a compass for the global development of high-rise architecture, the selected buildings combine exemplary sustainability, high design quality and social and urban planning aspects. Forward-looking construction technology and economic efficiency are also key criteria.

The honouring of ‘CapitaSpring’ underlines the growing importance of mixed-use high-rise buildings that combine areas for work, living and leisure in one place. At the same time, publicly accessible areas are provided, such as generous green spaces. ‘The award-winning project is characterised by its openness; the public ‘Sky Park’ and the street food market on the ground floor enliven the entire area. It is a project that sees itself as part of the city and thus gives something back to sustainability, inviting the public in,’ says architect Kim Herforth Nielsen, co-founder and director of 3XN and chair of this year's jury. According to the members of the jury, the building combines the best of both worlds, the interests of the city and the private client, in an ideal architectural solution. ‘‘CapitaSpring’ is currently the most convincing high-rise building in the world,’ was the joint verdict. ‘This skyscraper could not have been built anywhere else in the world at this time but in Singapore, and other cities should learn from it. Because that is the best way to realise good projects: Incentivising developers who want to
invest money and finding a good solution for the architects, who will then offer an adequate return,' stated Peter Cachola Schmal, Executive Director of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) in Frankfurt am Main.

The International High-Rise Award 2024/25 is endowed with 50,000 euros – the prize money will be donated by the client CapitaLand to the CapitaLand Hope Foundation, which supports education, health and welfare initiatives. The team was also honoured with a statuette by artist Thomas Demand, that is also on display in the exhibition.

Best High-Rises
The International High-Rise Award 2024/25
Until 12 January 2025

Museum Angewandte Kunst
Schaumainkai 17
60594 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Telephone: 069 - 212 445 39

Opening hours:
Mon closed
Tue, Thu to Sun 10 am – 6 pm
Wed 10 – 20 h

Christmas Eve, 24.12.2024 – closed
1st Christmas Day, 25.12.2024 – closed
2nd Christmas Day, 26/12/2024 – 10 am to 6 pm
New Year's Eve, 31/12/2024 – closed
New Year's Day, 1 January 2025 – closed