The "Bee house" project, designed by James Ennis from Ireland, has been selected as the winner of the first European Award for a Sustainable Present competition by an international design panel on September 28, 2009. Selected out of more than 100 contributions, the exhibition, presentation of the winners, and a display of the 30 best projects will take place at the EESC on December 9, 2009 in the framework of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. This project organised by the EESC is the first "green public procurement" project of a European institution.
In a statement, the selection panel applauded the Bee House's "concern for biodiversity, encompassing plant, animal and human life in a message that emphasises simple and essential ecological values in modern life".
Winning Projects
"United in diversity, living with bio diversity," was the conceptual idea behind the winning "bee house" design project. Consisting of a window box containing flowers, it is in fact a micro habitation for bees, raising awareness for the vital role of bees in food production and life in general. The project was awarded with the first prize of 10.000 Euro. James Ennis was born in Dublin in 1976; he now works in Milano, Italy.
The second prize of 4000 Euro was awarded to the "Dynamic" design project of Mauro Amoruso from Torino, Italy. Transforming human stress into green energy, the device can be used to recharge mobile phones.
The third prize of 2000 Euro was awarded to the "USE LESS" project by Dominika Rams from Poland, a thought provoking "use-less" object bringing the issue of consuming less energy and water straight to the point.
An exhibition displaying the 30 most significant projects, including the winning designs, will be opened at the EESC in Brussels on December 9, 2009.
This is the very first "green public procurement" project b y a European institution involving the world of design. The winning Bee house will be produced in Europe and used by the EESC as a promotional gift and communication tool aimed at supporting sustainable production and consumption.