Rwandan Town Takes Top Honors at CNU Charter Awards

Architect Doug Farr, who chaired the jury selecting the awards this year from a couple of hundred entries, said at the awards presentation that "This year’s winners are a world apart from any narrow impression of New Urbanism. The winners are global, sustainable and tactical, visionary and incremental, and
 are tackling the issues of today’s world."

The student project, from University of California, Berkeley student Momin Mahammad, proposes revitalizing a stretch of housing projects on the Lower East Side of Manhattan by restoring the street grid through the open spaces and filling in strategically with new mixed-use development - all while preserving the much-needed affordable housing. 

The Kigali project departs in many ways from what one considers new urbanism, with modular, simple building structures and a unique plan that takes advantage of the hillside environment. 

A free PDF with images and descriptions of all of the winners is available for download.