AR's MIPIM prizes at Cannes. (View).

For the first time, The Architectural Review has offered prizes for architectural excellence in unbuilt development projects at MIPIM (Marche International des Professionels de l'Immobilier), the four day development and property show held annually in Cannes. Entries came from all over the world, and were divided by the jury (1) into four categories: mixed use and retail (sponsored by Chapman Taylor and Benoy), hotel and leisure (sponsored by Arup), offices (sponsored by Development Securities PLC) and residential (sponsored by Corus).

In each category, there was a winning scheme and two commended ones. The two overall winning schemes were chosen from the winners in each class. They were the Moving Image Centre, magnificently sited on Sydney Harbour by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, and the Swiss Re Tower in the City of London by Foster and Partners. They could scarcely be more different, but both will make key contributions to their complex historic cityscapes, and to the lives of their users. Both will be shown at greater length in the AR soon.

In addition, the jury decided to create the special category of Runner Up for a mixed-use addition to central Prague by Kohn Pedersen Fox, which the jury thought will make a great difference to a run-down area of the capital of the Czech Republic. There was one special award (for the amazing conversion of a London football stadium into housing, by Allies & Morrison). An honorary mention was given to a highly energy conscious office tower by Nabil Fanous Architects in Saudi Arabia, an area notoriously indifferent to climate considerations in development.

During MIPIM, popular seminars were held in which the qualities of category winners and commended schemes were debated. The AR prizes were presented by Peter Davey on MIPIM's last night.

(1.) Lee Polisano (Kohn Pedersen Fox), Roger Zogolovitch (AZ Urban Studio), Bryan Avery (Avery Associates), Nigel Woolner (Chapman Taylor), Tim, Battle (Timothy Battle & Associates), James Utting (Benoy), Julian Barwick (Development Securities), Greg Chikaher (Arup). AR Editor Peter Davey was chairman.