Documentation

2 nd 3 rd
PlanEt from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands
came in second place and was awarded with 5,000 Euros.
“This project seems odd at first sight as it gives plants ‘a
say’,” admits Charles Landry. It evaluates biological data
from plants, thus enabling completely new approaches
to urban development and the preservation of resources.
“The data from the plants have a direct impact on smart
city models,” argues the jury. And the winners Kasia
Molga and Erik Overmeire from World Wilder Lab find
the right words after the event: “We have always – even
before we won the award – appreciated the recognition
of such ambitious approaches in the Cultural and Creative
Industries, because people all too often rely on approaches
that are supposedly safe and tested. We now see
our work and its purpose confirmed and are motivated
to continue with our examinations, and to improve our
product design and the project as a whole.”
2015: The N.I.C.E. Award was awarded by Garrelt Duin,
Minister of Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry of
the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
2015: The Winners were
announced by Charles Landry.
WikiHouse from the United Kingdom
won the third prize worth 3,000 Euros for its open source
platform for do-it-yourself-building and construction
plans. Arantxa Mendiharat described this innovative idea
as essential for the prize, as this project uses a decentralised
approach to make data available that had only been
accessible to specialists so far: architecture becomes a
do-it-yourself-model to fight housing shortage.
4 th
HOME BACK HOME from Spain and
Creative Technologies in the Classroom (CTC)
from Sweden
These two projects share the fourth prize and were
awarded with 2,000 Euros each. The jury chose CTC
because of its exemplary approach to encourage pupils
and teachers alike to use the Internet as the main tool
for gathering information as well as documenting their
own projects. Jury member Arantxa Mendiharat explains
that most educational institutions were already using
modern technologies – or they would reject them without
knowing what is actually possible. This project, however,
introduces children to basic concepts of programming,
electronics and mechanics at an early stage. But it’s not
just children, says Charles Landry: “Teachers are also
experiencing a much more balanced and informative use
of new technologies.” Barbara Abel points out that the
project HOME BACK HOME turns a social problem into a
personal opportunity, thus freeing those involved from
all stigmas, conveying a feeling of success and strengthening
their confidence.
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2015: The N.I.C.E. Award
ceremony was opened by
Prof Dieter Gorny.