Exciting News from the International World Architecture Community!

We are thrilled to announce that the project “Harbour Metabolism”, developed by students of the Transforming City Regions (TCR) master’s program at RWTH Aachen University, has been awarded the WA World Architecture Community Award in the Architecture-Student category, 49th Cycle in January.

The project was collaboratively designed by RWTH Transforming City Regions master students Qian Chen, Elif Ertemiz, Elies Horemans and Yuhan Liu as part of the Integrated Project II module and guided by Prof. Christa Reicher and Dr. Fabio Bayro Kaiser.

“A HARBOUR CITY THAT IS HARMONIZED BY THE URBAN METABOLISM WITH THE FOCUS ON SELF-SUFFICIENCY ON A HUMAN-CENTRIC SCALE WITH CIRCULAR LIVING AND WORKING.”

The project reimagines Amsterdam’s Coen- and Vlothaven as a sustainable, human-centric harbour city. Rooted in the principles of circular economy, urban metabolism, and Industry 5.0, the design integrates renewable energy systems, adaptive reuse, and community-focused programs. It offers a replicable model for urban transformation, balancing ecological resilience and social inclusivity.
Integrating these complex systems into a cohesive design framework was both a challenge and an inspiration, resulting in a project deeply rooted in research and future-oriented innovation.

By leveraging advanced tools like QGIS, Rhino and Grasshopper, the team explored innovative solutions for integrating circular systems into complex urban environments, creating a future-oriented design deeply rooted in research and collaboration.

For more information about the competition:
WA Awards Official Page https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-projects/awards-winners

View the project in detail:
Harbour Metabolism Project Page https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-projects/pzvmp/harbour-metabolism-project-pages.html