Awards Category
1. Affordable Housing Category
For the affordable residential projects developed by the private developer or public sector. The project must adhere to the affordable housing policy, criteria, guidelines, rules, and regulations enforced by the Government or authority. The selling price of the houses must not exceed ceiling-price that approved by the Government or authority for affordable housing. This category aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, which aims to end poverty in all its forms by ensuring access to economic resources, social protection, and basic services, particularly for vulnerable populations.
2. Environmental And Public Infrastructure Category
For project that rehabilitates an environment or to conserve existing environment. For example, ex-mining land, polluted river, land fill, land that has been damaged severely by industrial used, or such similar damaged land. This category also includes public infrastructure projects designed for open and multiple accesses, undertaken by the government/public sector, or public- funded entities specifically for public use. This category promotes UN SDG 15：Life on Land, which protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.
3. Heritage Category
For restoration or conservation of old buildings that have been identified by the relevant authorities for Heritage Conservation. Any building that is identified for Heritage Conservation or Preservation by the relevant authority is restored to its original condition as best as possible. The building after restoration can be for any usage depending on the owner. Thus, the same building may enter more than one category. For example, if the building is used as a hotel, the owner may enter for Heritage Category and Hotel Category at the same time.
4. Hotel Category
For all types of hotels that are strictly operated for commercial accommodations, and etc.
5. Industrial Category
For industrial buildings, industrial parks, technology parks, warehouses, factories, and etc. This category aligns with UN SGD 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, which promote build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
6. Master Plan And Township Category
This category is for housing and commercial master plan and township development undertaken by private sector or developers, and government/public sector or public-funded entities that has been approved by the government authority for human dwelling township or residential housing estate. For Township development, for example, the new district centres, re-organisation of an area of the town and other similar developments. If the master plan or township development comprises of many phases, at least ONE (or phase one) of the project must have been completed and operational for not less than nine months in advance before taking part in the current year awards competition. The mere beautification and reconstruction plans are not accepted for this category. For public building and amenities carried out by the Government or authority with public funding or Government allocations and subsidies, it should join the Public Buildings And Amenities Category; similarly, if it is privately funded and aimed for profit, it should be classified under the Purposed Built Category.
7. Mixed-Use Development Category
For projects that comprise not less than three (and more) main components of properties, each must be a category of the awards, where those properties are physically and functionally integrated with covered pedestrian connections. For example, a development that blends residential, commercial, office, and retail uses. For all auxiliary facilities and service outlets that are provided per authority’s requirements or for residents’ convenience cannot be counted as a main component.
8. Office Category
For office buildings, office parks, office complexes, and etc..
9. Public Buildings And Amenities Category
For projects that undertaken by the Government or authority, or projects that financed by public funding or Government allocations and subsidies. For example, Government buildings, hospitals, roads, bridges, airports, stadiums, parks, and etc. For similar projects that are private-funded and aimed for-profits should be classified under the Purposed Built Category.
10. Purpose-Built Category
For private-funded projects/buildings that do not comply with other categories. For instance, the private hospital, airport, bus terminal, university, school, and etc. For projects that already have their own and respective categories, they cannot be accepted into this category. For projects that are funded by public money or Government allocations and subsidies, it should be categorized in the Public Infrastructure/Amenities Category.
11. Residential Commercial Category
For commercial based residential projects. These developments are constructed on commercial land and serve for human housing dwelling and commercial purposes. They are distinct from full- fledged hotels or resorts. Included in this classification are serviced apartments, serviced condominiums, SOFO (Small Office Flexible Office), SOHO (Small Office Home Office), SOVO (Small Office Versatile Office), condotels, golf course residences, wellness home, youth hostels and other similar commercial based developments designed for both residential and business functions.
12. Residential Landed Category
For landed housing projects, housing estates, and residential development buildings of up to 4 storeys for human housing dwelling.
13. Residential Low Rise Category
For apartments, service apartments, condominiums and residential development buildings with 5 and up to 14 storeys for human housing dwelling.
14. Residential Mid Rise Category
For apartments, service apartments, condominiums, and residential development buildings with 15 and up to 26 storeys for human housing dwelling.
15. Residential High Rise Category
For landed housing projects, housing estates, and residential development buildings with 27 and up to 39 storeys for human housing dwelling.
16. Residential Super High Rise Category
For landed housing projects, housing estates, and residential development buildings with 40 and more storeys for human housing dwelling.
17. Resort Category
For beach resorts, hill resorts, theme parks, marinas, and etc. A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors and family for holidays, vacations, or longer stay. A self-contained resort attempts to provide all-in-one or most of a vacationer’s wants while remains on the premises, such as food, drinks, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping. For a hotel in a resort area (like a beach hotel) provided only lodging or accommodation, it should be categorized under the Hotel Category.
18. Retail And Shopping Malls Category
For shopping malls, shopping centres, hypermarkets, and etc.
19. Sustainable, Smart & PropTech Category
The Sustainable, Smart & PropTech Category refers to innovative initiatives in the built environment that leverage technology, design, green and sustainability principles to transform how people live, work, and interact with property and urban spaces. This category recognise projects: a. Sustainable Buildings – Develop, retrofit, or operate properties that combine eco-friendly design with advance technologies, renewable energy, green design and certification, resource efficiency, long-term environmental resilience, digital efficiency and smarter performance. b. Smart Cities - Integrate digital technologies (IoT, AI, big data) at the urban scale to improve governance, mobility, utilities, and citizen services, enhancing overall liveability. c. PropTech Projects - Apply property-focused technologies such as digital platforms, smart devices, blockchain, and AI to modernize real estate transactions, management, and tenant experiences. This category in line with UN SDG 11：Sustainable Cities and Communities – to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by improving urban planning, infrastructure, and services.
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Note 1: For projects in Arab Saudi, Austria, Brazil, Central Asia (For Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan), Colombia, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and United States of America, only the Winners of the Chapter’s award are eligible to participate (MUST fulfill basic criteria). A site visit (except for re-submission) will be carried out for projects submitted from countries without a Chapter award, if needed.
Note 2: Projects that were submitted but did not win an award may be resubmitted in the following year’s competition, provided they have not exceeded seven years since their initial submission.
Note 3: No project shall be allowed to re-enter for the same category of which it has won an award earlier for that category, disregard the Gold Winner or Silver Winner.
