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"(Beijing, March 25, 2008) Today, the final appraisal and closing ceremony of the “New World New Block” city block international design competition co-hosted by New World China Land Limited (“New World China Land” or “the Group” for short; HK stock code: 0917) and the Design Trends magazine is held in New World Central Chamber in Chongwen District of Beijing. 

The ceremony was attended by Zheng Shiling, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chairman of the final appraisal committee, Zhu Wenyi, professor and doctoral supervisor of School of Architecture of Tsinghua University, Wang Weiqiang, professor and doctoral supervisor of College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University and vice director of Architecture and City Space Research Institute of Tongji University, Alex Krieger, urban design professor from the Institute of Urban Planning and Design of Harvard University, Jean-Paul Viguier, famous architect of France, and Chen Xiaoou, design director of Beijing Project Management Center of New World China Land. Moreover, Ma Qingyun, dean of Architecture College of University of Southern California, also specially emailed the appraisal opinions on all works from America to the appraisal committee. 

Members of the appraisal committee carefully reviewed and discussed all 130 candidate works. After two appraisals and selections lasting for one plus months, all awards for the competition were eventually unveiled. 

In the appraisal, the two eco-city-centered works, namely The Urban Forest and Loading Forest, had triggered significant debates among appraisers. Authors of both works tried to bring green and comfortable environment to the field with exquisite techniques, and achieve the maximal benefits for the city space with the most feasible and concise methods. In which, The Urban Forest was more innovative for it not only took green as the theme, but also took into account the sustainable development, and thereby designing the rainwater collection system and energy recycling system; it also considered how to create a funnier street scene. “The green space design is the first priority to Chinese contemporary urban design.” Professor Jean-Paul Viguier praised the prize-winning works, “we must figure out how to transplant nature into city and make it possible for us to smell the breath of nature.” 

Finally, The Urban Forest, the works of the team led by James Wines from the University of Pennsylvania, USA won the first prize; Loading Forest, Urban Pixels, and Flaming Cubic Taihu Rock won the second prizes; another six works won the third prizes. While, An Old Film selected through online voting and mass balloting in the official website of the competition won the Best Welcomed Prize. 
In the closing ceremony, Professor Zheng Shiling, chairman of the final appraisal committee, on behalf of the appraisal committee, introduced the final appraisal to attendees, participants and media, and members of the appraisal committee also made highlighted comments respectively on all works, and spoke highly of New World China Land for holding such social event. 

The 5-plus-month “New World New Block” city block international design competition has drawn extensive attentions from all walks of life. No matter the high public participation degree in the tour exhibition of the works, or the extensive social discourse feedback, or the government’s attention, etc. have echoed the original intention of the organizer, New World China Land, that is enabling the public to pay more attentions to our public living space, and expecting the future city streets to carry more social living functions.