Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft - Das internationale Forum der Deutschen Bank - 2010

The 4th Deutsche Bank Urban Age award in Mexico City received the highest number of applications since its establishment in 2007
(2007 Mumbai 73; 2008 Sao Paulo 133; 2009 Istanbul 87).

The submissions reflect the vibrancy and creativity of México City dwellers in facing the social and urban challenges of their city. From a plurality of social and geographical backgrounds the projects indicate that strong and diverse alliances are being built to improve the urban environment and quality of life. The support of universities, local authorities and government programs as well as the cooperation of different community organizations has been an important ingredient for the success of the projects.

Besides the large number of submissions, the Mexican projects are of a general high quality and fall into a diverse range of categories such as education, culture, environment, sanitation, public space, local economies and social integration.

The jury, composed of international urban experts and local figures with knowledge of city’s diverse urban communities, met in Mexico City on 22-24 June to select the winner. Mexican members include architect Jose Castillo as Chair; actress Vanessa Bauche; political analyst and public intellectual Denise Dresser; architect Enrique Norten: artist Betsabeé Romero. They were joined by the former Mayor of Washington DC’s Anthony Williams and Ricky Burdett, the Director of LSE Cities at the London School of Economics.

After the selection of 24 high quality submissions, the jury visited a selection of projects to inspect their implementation on the ground and evaluate their impact on the urban environment and local communities, also to confirm their adherence to the Deutsche Bank Urban Age’s Award selection criteria.

The winner will be announced on July 22, 2010 in the presence of Marcelo Ebrard, Mayor of Mexico City. The Ceremony will take place at Centro Cultural Indianilla.

Wolfgang Nowak, director of Deutsche Bank’s Alfred Herrhausen Society said: All the projects which applied for the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award are ambassador’s of the good ideas of Mexico City.


Shortlist of projects

1. Ago Reago – Ingeniería sociocultural (“I do and re-do” – Sociocultural engineering)
2. Alas para volar (Wings to fly)
3. Asamblea comunitaria de Miravalle (Community Council of Miravalle)
4. Bicitekas
5. Casa de Cultura Consejo Agrarista – CODECO (Culture Centre Consejo Agrarista)
6. Central del Pueblo (Centre for the People)
7. Circo Volador (Flying Circus)
8. Comunicación Integral Zona Metropolitana Xico Kaa’a (Xico Kaa'a Metropolitan Area Comprehensive Communication)
9. Corredor cultural Regina  (Regina Street Cultural Walk)
10. Taller Territorial (Territorial Workshop)
11. Escuela de Participación Ciudadana y Conservación del Patrimonio (Citizenship and Heritage Conservation School)
12. Espacios nutritivos (Nutritional Spaces)
13. Isla urbana (Urban Island)
14. Jardín botánico CICEANA (Botanical Garden)
15. La Marabunta
16. La Nana – Fábrica de Artes (La Nana – Factory of Arts)
17. Machincuepa Circo social (Machincuepa Social Circus)
18. Pase usted
19. Recuperación de los patrimonios del pueblo de Santa Fe (Restoration of Santa Fe Village's Heritage)
20. Recuperando espacios para la vida (Recovering Spaces for Life)
21.  Redes de información y aprendizaje (Learning and Innovation Network)
22. Conectándonos – Rescate de la Barranca del Río San Borja (Connecting – Rescue of the San Borja River's Ravine)
23. Ruta de la Amistad – México ’68  (Route of Friendship, Mexico '68)
24. Sarar transformación (Sarar Transformations)

Notes to editors

• The Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award was established in 2007 to encourage citizens to take initiatives to improve their cities.
• The award is organized by the Deutsche Bank’s Alfred Herrhausen Society.

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