Spain's Instituto Balear de la Vivienda has won the prestigious AR Emerging award for 2022

The Instituto Balear de la Vivienda (IBAVI), a governmental agency in Spain, has been selected as the winner of the 2022 AR Emerging awards for its efforts in providing social housing on the Balearic Islands through a state-led mission. The jury for this year's awards praised the project, stating that it "brings hope and trust in state-built architecture."

IBAVI, an agency, and its in-house architect, Carles Oliver Barceló, have been recognized for their innovative work on social housing projects in the Balearic islands. Out of a shortlist of 16 entries, they were selected to receive a prize of £5,000 (est. $5,252.95 USD). The jury praised the agency for using locally quarried sandstone (marés) material in a "tectonic thinking" approach, which they described as a "systemic architectural approach." The jury stated that IBAVI's work is significant because it demonstrates the government's proactive involvement in the built environment.

The IBAVI organization was joined by Sanchez Benton Architects, a London-based firm that has received recognition from the jury for their innovative approach to adaptive reuse in their home country. The jury praised Sanchez Benton Architects for their commitment to degrowth and for their ability to transform existing buildings in a gradual, incremental manner. 

Finally, the Peter Davey Prize was awarded to Thailand's Sher Maker by the awards organization. AR's Editor, Manon Mollard, stated: "Sher Maker's work is diverse in scale, deeply connected to the Chiang Mai region, and encompasses both design and production. From tools to furniture to buildings, this practice exhibits a meticulous focus on materials, processes, and construction techniques." These winners will be featured in the upcoming AR Emerging issue. To learn more about this year's award recipients, visit the link provided.