|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Wadi Hanifah on BBC 4: Below are links to a transcript and the original audio of an item broadcast on BBC 4 on May 26, 2012 about the Wadi Hanifah. Perhaps one of the most significant observations made when reporter Matthew Teller visited the site, beyond the significant physical change, is the underlying social change the project has enabled. There is no need to elaborate further here. Just read or listen.   Links:
Wadi Hanifah Awarded UNESCO Prize: At a ceremony held on May 24, 2011 at UNESCO'S headquarters in Paris, the Wadi Hanifah received the Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes (UNESCO-Greece), Special Mention of the Jury. The mission of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. The purpose of the Melina Mercouri International Prize (UNESCO-Greece) is to reward outstanding examples of action to safeguard and enhance the world's major cultural landscapes. The Prize, established by UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture of Greece in honour of the artist and former Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri, has been awarded every two years since 1999 to reward efforts to preserve and enhance cultural landscapes, specifically those fashioned mainly or not by human hands.  UNESCO maintains the World Heritage List which includes 911 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. We have 15 World Heritage Sites in Canada including Dinosaur Provincial Park, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park and the Historic District of Old Quebec. Saudi Arabia has two sites. One is the At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah which is actually in the Wadi Hanifah. Links:
OALA Pinnacle Award Presented to George Stockton: At the 43rd annual OALA (Ontario Association of Landscape Architects) Annual General Meeting and Conference on Friday, March 25, 2011 held in the Moriyama & Teshima designed Bram & Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library, George Stockton was awarded the OALA Pinnacle Award For Landscape Architectural Excellence. "This award recognizes an OALA member and his or her professional work. It singles out specific projects to draw attention to a body of work which demonstrates outstanding professional accomplishment." Links:
Initial Media Coverage Of The Aga Khan Award For Architecture: Within hours of The Aga Khan Award For Architecture being presented to Moriyama & Teshima for the Wadi Hanifah Restoration, numerous articles appeared online and in the printed press. Apart from Canada, initial coverage was available in the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Middle East countries. Links:
Wadi Hanifah Restoration Receives Aga Khan Award For Architecture: On November 24, 2010 at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, Moriyama & Teshima Planners was awarded The Aga Khan Award For Architecture for their work on the Wadi Hanifah Restoration. The Award was presented by His Highness the Aga Khan to George Stockton, president Moriyama & Teshima Planners, Drew Wensley, executive vice-president Moriyama & Teshima Planners, and Jason Moriyama, partner Moriyama & Teshima Architects. Moriyama & Teshima, in joint venture with engineers Buro Happold, successfully developed a design solution that enabled restoration of the 120-km watershed within a 4,032 square kilometer catchment that had become a toxic landfill in the heat of Riyadh. For the 2010 award cycle, 401 projects were nominated, 19 of which were shortlisted with five selected as Award recipients.   George Stockton (second from right) on stage after receiving the award in Doha For full information on the Wadi Hanifah Restoration and the Award, follow the link below. Link:
Calgary Riverwalk Article: The Calgary Riverwalk was featured in the Calgary Herald. Moriyama & Teshima created an approach for the re-development and renewal of blighted lands and pathways along the Bow and Elbow Rivers known as the East Village Riverwalk. Links:
Wadi Hanifah Featured in the Globe and Mail: The Globe and Mail published a very comprehensive article on the Wadi Hanifah in their Saturday January 13, 2007 edition as a centrepiece. Accompanied by maps and diagrams it explains the work that is being undertaken very clearly. Link:
Meewasin Short Listed For International Prize: Meewasin was short listed for the Thiess Riverprize, an international award that recognizes excellence in river management. The AUD$100,000 prize was awarded in September 2004 at the Riverfestival in Brisbane, Australia. It recognizes excellence in river management and provides incentive to further the worldwide effort of restoring healthy rivers. "It is particularly gratifying that we were short listed in our 25th year. Many communities are faced with the difficult task of cleaning up a damaged river system. Meewasin has not had serious cleanup problems to deal with but has been fortunate to harness the excellent support of the community to keep the river valley beautiful." - Susan Lamb, Chief Executive Officer of Meewasin. M&T Planners At The United Nations: On April 23, 2004 George Stockton, President, and Drew Wensley, Executive Vice-President of Toronto-based Moriyama & Teshima Planners Limited, were in New York to present the Wadi Hanifah Restoration Project to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. The Wadi Hanifah project provides an excellent model for practical environmental strategies that can be applied anywhere in the world, bringing together technology and natural processes to address one of the world's major issues today - the supply of clean water. UPDATE: A postcard was mailed in July 2004 to commemorate the UN presentation. 
 Wadi Hanifah Wins Top Honour Waterfront Center Award: The Washington D.C. based Waterfront Center bestowed the Top Honour Award to the Wadi Hanifah Comprehensive Development Plan in the Plans category. George Stockton and Drew Wensley of Moriyama & Teshima Planners accompanied by Alan Travers of Buro Happold were in attendance to accept the award on behalf of the M&T/BH joint venture team at the well attended annual international conference. The award ceremony was held in Montreal, Quebec on September 12, 2003. |
||||||
|
||||||