It holds extraordinary value—Madrid Río Park wins Harvard’s Green Urban Design Award

▲ Madrid Río Park (Photo /http://www.esmadrid.com)

By Rita

Located in Madrid, Spain, Madrid Río Park has been awarded this year’s Veronica Rudge Green Prize in Urban Design, which is presented by Harvard University.

According to a report on www.thelocal.es, the jury members deemed the project highly promising. Through meticulous planning, the designers aimed to transform a city and its surrounding areas via infrastructure, demonstrating exceptional value in contemporary global urban design. “It is filled with optimism—the power of design to be a force for change.”

▲ Madrid Río Park (Photo /http://www.esmadrid.com)

The Green Urban Design Award is given out every two years. According to the website, potential winning projects focus on “making a positive contribution to the public realm of the city” and “improving the quality of urban life.”

The Madrid Río Park project was unveiled in 2005, targeting the long-neglected banks of the Manzanares River. The area has now been developed into sports zones, cycling paths, gardens, and even features an “urban beach.”