the Cityscape Architecture Review

(Dubai, Rotterdam) the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), has won two awards at the annual Cityscape World Architecture Congress in Dubai. In addition, for the first time in it’s history, the office has been given an award for excellence in business.

Dutch bank ABN AMRO recognized OMA as an innovative international practice with the annual Jan Huygen van Linschoten International Award.

On October 18th 2007, the Cityscape Architecture Review Awards Gala in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai awarded OMA’s Central China Television headquarters in Beijing with an award in the “Mixed Use” category. The award for the best masterplan went to OMA’s Gateway City in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, a new city for 150.000 inhabitants designed according to sustainability guidelines.

Cityscape Dubai is the largest business real estate conference in the World with an attendance of 45.000 real estate professionals from 120 countries. Each year 12 projects in emerging economies are awarded in various categories.
On the 14th of October Dutch bank ABN Amro awarded the 2007 Jan Huygen van Linschoten prize to OMA for its successful entrance and maintenance in emerging markets such as China, Kazakhstan and amongst others the United Arab Emirates.

The award honors innovative international practice, the ability to compete with the best in their particular field and excellent financial management. OMA is active in more than 30 countries and has achieved enormous international growth over the last two years.

This is the first award of its kind that OMA has received says Managing Partner Victor van der Chijs: “We have received many honors for our creative work; but this is the first time we are recognized for our business practice.” The 25.000 Euro award money will be invested into sustainability research.