OREANDA-NEWS. Creative builders have until March 2013 (postmark) to submit their application materials for the KfW Award for construction and housing 2013.

Awards totalling EUR 30,000 can be won. The three main prizes are endowed with a total of EUR 20,000 while the remaining ten best-rated projects each receive prize money totalling EUR 1,000.

Awards are geared towards projects from private builders and joint building ventures which demonstrated creativity in the past five years and created individual living spaces out of unused areas and empty buildings in central locations.

Whether existing building gaps, open spaces or the conversion of empty school, factory or office buildings - there are diverse approaches to create living spaces through "unconventional means". Sustainability in the areas of energy efficiency and accessible housing will also be rated positively.

"More and more people recognise the attractiveness of urban and rural conurbations, but the availability of housing in these areas is limited. Thus, for the KfW Award we are looking for creative solutions that take advantage of the circumstances on site and create new living space," explained Dr Axel Nawrath, member of KfW's Executive Board. "With our award we want to honour responsible action. Through their projects the builders we are looking for have taken on responsibility for family, environment and the surroundings."