2023 Vitruvian Honors & Awards Program

Assessment Criteria

The Roman architect Vitruvius in his treatise on architecture, De Architectura, asserted that there were three principles of good architecture:

  • Firmatis (Durability) – It should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.

  • Utilitas (Usefulness) – It should be useful and function well for the people using it.

  • Venustatis (Beauty) – It should delight people and raise their spirits.

With these principles in mind; each submission should address the following areas of consideration:

Durability

  • Lifecycle planning

  • Resilience: passive/active/adaptive

  • Resistance to obsolescence (in its many forms)

  • Materiality: appropriateness and embodied carbon efficiency

  • Quality of design and construction

Usefulness

  • Functionality: fitness of purpose

  • Health, wellness and productivity

  • Carbon efficiency (operational)

  • Integration: holistic attributes

  • Cost effectiveness

Beauty

  • Tectonics, material and formal

Ready to submit a project for consideration? Please complete the online submission form in accordance with the deadline.