Sommet and Barclay & Crousse Win Top Honors at Santa Cruz International Architecture Biennial

The tenth edition of the Santa Cruz International Architecture Biennial (BASC) concluded with the announcement of its major award recipients. The National Grand Prize was awarded to the Santa Cruz-based firm Sommet S.R.L. for their Quartier Italia Eco-Sustainable Building project located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The International Grand Prize was secured by the Lima, Peru-based studio Barclay & Crousse for their design of the Franco Peruvian School. The winners were revealed during the closing ceremony of the event, which was held at the International Construction, Architecture, and Design Fair (Ficad) within the Fexpocruz venue. A jury panel of 22 professionals from various nations assessed submissions across ten categories. Sebastián Fernández de Córdova, founder and general manager of Sommet S.R.L., stated that the accolade acknowledges the dedicated effort of his team. Percy Vargas Brittez, president of the Santa Cruz College of Architects, emphasized that the winning projects will represent Bolivia at the upcoming Latin American Architecture Biennial in Colombia, highlighting their role in elevating the country's architectural profile. Organized under the theme 'Habitar' (To Inhabit), the competition attracted 382 participants from 12 countries. Ernesto Urzagasti, the BASC director, noted the event's consistent growth and the high caliber of diverse, contextually engaged proposals. The awards ceremony followed a virtual announcement of nominees earlier in the week. A comprehensive list of honorees across multiple professional, academic, and intellectual categories was also released, recognizing projects from Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, and Panama.