Press Release
The Verdant Syndicate Sustainable Mixed Use Complex by Wei Dou Receives the Silver A' Design Award in Construction and Real Estate Projects Design
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Wei Dou for construction and real estate projects design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Silver A' Design Award in the Construction and Real Estate Projects Design category for The Verdant Syndicate Sustainable Mixed Use Complex by Wei Dou. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Silver A' Design Award Explained
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Regarding The Verdant Syndicate Sustainable Mixed Use Complex
The Verdant Syndicate is a mixed use complex developed for a 4,269 square meter former farmland site in Henan, China. The complex joins nature, sustainability and community within an urban setting, respecting the agricultural heritage of the land while creating income for local residents. A stormwater management system collects and filters rainwater and carries it through gravity powered pipes, so plants are supported with little energy use. A flexible planting board system lets tenants add or remove units and turn shared areas into green spaces.
About Wei Dou
Wei Dou is an award-winning landscape designer focusing on landscape urbanism and sustainability, as well as community building. Wei worked at world renowned landscape architecture firms like Sasaki Associates and SWA Group. She holds a Master's in Landscape Architecture from Harvard and has 4+ years of professional experience at firms like SWA Group and Sasaki Associates, leading high-profile projects and promoting sustainability and environmental justice through design. Wei is a published scholar and reviewer at top journals.
Award Record
With this recognition, Wei Dou is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Construction and Real Estate Projects Design Award
The A' Real Estate Design Award is an international architecture competition recognizing good real estate projects by architects and enterprises worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to real estate designers, architectural firms, interior designers and construction companies from all countries. Typical entries include residential complexes, commercial buildings, industrial properties, mixed-use developments, hospitality establishments and educational facilities. The awarded real estate designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/real-estate
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/163671
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/163671
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!163671
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/355284
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- The Verdant Syndicate Sustainable Mixed Use Complex
- Function
- Sustainable Mixed Use Complex
- Category
- Construction and Real Estate Projects Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Dark Slate Gray, Black, Dark Gray, Silver and Dark Olive Green
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Wei Dou
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #163671
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This design is a forward thinking solution that blends nature, sustainability, and community within an urban landscape. It reimagines a 4,269 square meters farmland to honor its heritage while generating profits for local residents. Key features include an innovative stormwater management system that reduces energy use and supports plant growth, and a unique planting board system that allows tenants to adapt and personalize spaces, fostering a thriving, future focused community.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this project stems from the profound connection between land and community. A 4,269 square meters plot of farmland holds both modest agricultural potential and deep cultural significance. This project seeks to elevate the land's value by integrating the principles of a sharing economy and we-media, empowering local communities while preserving their cultural identity. The project aims to return benefits to grassroots levels, fostering sustainability and social equity.
- Research
- This research aimed to create a sustainable urban landscape blending nature and community. It used design research to explore innovative stormwater management and adaptable planting systems. The objective was to honor farmland heritage while generating profits for locals. Methodology included simulations of sunlight and stormwater flow. Data came from environmental studies, and tools like CAD and GIS were used. Participants involved local communities and environmental experts. The results improved energy efficiency, plant growth, and adaptable spaces, empowering grassroots communities. Insights showed how sustainability and cultural preservation can drive economic growth.
- Challenge
- The primary challenge was assessing the feasibility of plant selection and orientation. Extensive expert consultations and simulations ensured plants would thrive and maximize efficiency, considering local climate, light exposure, and seasonal variations. This rigorous evaluation confirmed the project’s practicality and cost effectiveness, proving that sustainability and innovation can be seamlessly integrated into urban design for environmental and economic benefits.
- Realization and Technology
- The design process combined landscape architecture, environmental engineering, and community-centered planning. Advanced simulations optimized layouts for sunlight and stormwater management, while materials were chosen for sustainability, using locally sourced, eco-friendly components. The planting board system, developed through iterative prototyping, emphasizes flexibility in installation. This approach ensures the design is functional, adaptable, and enhances both environmental and social value.
- Operation and Interaction
- The system collects and filters rainwater, using it to support plant growth with minimal energy use through gravity-powered pipes. Tenants can install or remove flexible planting boards connected to water and nutrition systems, allowing them to personalize their spaces and adapt to changing needs. Socially, the system fosters community interaction by turning shared spaces into green, collaborative areas where tenants can care for plants together. It also empowers grassroots communities, generating economic and social benefits while preserving cultural heritage and promoting social equity.
- Project Duration and Location
- Location: Henan, China
- Specifications
- 60m x 71m Site Located in the Sub-urban Area, Previously Farmland
- Keywords
- Community Resilience, Solar Energy, Movable Furniture, Co-Working Space, Office Building, Sustainable Economy, Productive Landscape, Urban Design, Edible Garden, Sustainability
