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Competition Rules

I. COMPETITION ORGANIZER

  1. The competition is organised by the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN), registered at Društvo WGIN, Trata 31, SI-4220 Škofja Loka, Slovenia, EU.
    ID Number: 2709481000 | VAT Number: 84998911 | Website: www.wgin.org

  2. WGIN issues these rules for the World Green Infrastructure Award. The Organiser reserves the right to modify these rules at any time by publishing updates on its website.

II. OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPETITION

  1. The competition aims to promote excellence and best practices in building-integrated greening, green infrastructure, academic research, student projects, and policy initiatives.
  2. It seeks to inspire innovation in green infrastructure design by recognising the collaborative efforts of investors, planners, contractors, designers, researchers, students, and municipalities.
  3. The Awards celebrate projects that demonstrate best practices and highlight the benefits of green infrastructure for local communities and the global environment.


III. COMPETITION DURATION

  1. ​​​Submission Period: March, 2026 – May 31, 2026.

  2. Announcement of Winners: At the World Green Infrastructure Congress, Barcelona / Lleida, Spain, October 27–30, 2026. 


IV. ELIGIBILITY AND SUBMISSION CRITERIA

  1. Eligibility: Open to individuals aged 18+ and public and private sector legal entities meeting the competition criteria (hereafter "applicant" or "competitor").
  2. Project Requirements: Nominations are only accepted for projects, policies and works that are completed before submission. Detailed criteria are outlined in each category description.
  3. Membership: ​​WGIN membership is not required to submit the nomination. Membership registration is available here: https://worldgreeninfrastructurenetwork.org/memberships/

  4. Multiple Entries: Multiple nominations across different categories will be accepted, ​ ​but non-WGIN members are limited to no more than 2 nominations per category. If more than two nominations are submitted, only the two earliest submissions will be accepted for further consideration.

  5. Projects that have received a WGIN award in previous years are not eligible to submit in any category. Honourable mentions may be re-nominated in the award competition, but will not be eligible to receive repeat honourable mentions.
  6. A person whose project or work has won in previous years may submit nominations in subsequent years, subject to the condition described in point 5. 

 

V. COMPETITION CATEGORIES

  1. Green Roofs: A green roof, also known as a living roof or vegetated roof, is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. This system often includes additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems to support plant growth and ensure proper water management. Green roofs can range from shallow, low-maintenance "extensive" systems to deeper, more intensive systems that support a wider variety of plants and require more upkeep.

  2. Green Walls: Include all types of realised projects related to vertical greenery inside and outside of buildings. This can be constructed with climbers directly on the facades, on trellis, or as modular systems. Welcome, creative technical mixture structures of various technologies. The projects are not limited to new projects; welcome are realised projects within the timeframe of the past 5 years.

  3. Green Neighbourhood & On-Grade Projects: Is open to a wide range of initiatives focused on integrating greenery into urban environments. The project must be a publicly accessible area or common space of some community and include comprehensive environmental and social benefits. Projects of all scales are eligible, from small pocket parks or community gardens to large-scale urban developments encompassing entire cities.

  4. Green Infrastructure Policy: Will recognise and highlight excellence in public policy, individual or team leadership that develops and implements policies and/or programs which result in the acceleration of urban green infrastructure. The award aims to primarily recognise the people who work to create policy that supports building integrated green infrastructure.

  5. Green Infrastructure Research
    1. Academic Work: Will select the excellent activities and projects in public or private sectors related to architecture and socioeconomics with high performance and excellence.
    2. Student Posters: Invites students worldwide to showcase their innovative ideas and projects in the field of green infrastructure. We are looking for posters that present original research, case studies, or conceptual designs related to green infrastructure. The content should be clear, concise, and visually engaging, demonstrating the student’s understanding and application of green infrastructure principles.

  6. Innovate Living Systems: Innovative Living Systems category invites realised projects with integration of living systems (for example, plants, fungi or algae) on or within a building envelope.

  7. Unintended Greenery: Incidences of unintended greenery at a specific site or within a defined geographical area. 


VI. SUBMISSION PROCESS

Documentation: Nominations will only be accepted when all required data and supporting documents (photos in JPG/TIFF, PDFs, etc.) are completed. Low resolution photos will be sufficient - short-listed projects will be asked to submit high resolution photos if needed. Please provide photo credits or confirm copyright ownership. The Organiser may request additional information to support the judging process.


VII. COPYRIGHT AND USAGE RIGHTS

  1. By submitting, the applicant confirms they have the authority to grant WGIN the right to use the materials for competition-related purposes without infringing third-party rights.

  2. Participants grant WGIN the right to use submitted materials for judging, promotion, publication, and advocacy. Commercial use (for profit) requires the copyright holder’s consent.

  3. Materials may be presented globally at conferences, in media, seminars, WGIN publications, website, and on social media platforms.  

 

VIII. JURY AND EVALUATION

  1. Jury members will be announced on WGIN’s website. The jury may seek additional information and opinions from other experts if needed.
  2. Nominations will be evaluated based on category-specific criteria.
  3. Winners and honourable mentions will be announced at the World Green Infrastructure Congress. Results will be published on WGIN’s website and social media within two weeks following the announcement.
  4. Minimum Entry Requirement: Categories with fewer than five entries or those not meeting "world-class" standards may have no award granted.


IX. AWARDS

  1. Main Awards: ​Only one winner may be awarded per category (​subject to section VIII.4).

  2. Honourable Mentions: Up to two per category may be awarded. Repeat honourable mentions are not possible.

  3. Announcement: Awards will be presented at the time and place designated by WGIN. More information about this will be published on www.wgin.org and https://awards.wgin.org/home 


X. PERSONAL DATA PROCESSING

  1. By participating, applicants consent to WGIN processing their personal data in accordance with EU GDPR (Regulation 2016/679) and applicable Slovenian laws.
  2. Data collected: Name, contact details, and information necessary for competition participation.
  3. Rights: Participants have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict their data, and can withdraw consent at any time.
  4. Data will be retained for 5 years after the competition results are announced.
  5. WGIN ensures data security and limits access to authorised personnel only.


XI. LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

  1. The Organiser is not liable for copyright infringements related to submitted materials. Applicants are responsible for securing the necessary permissions.
  2. The Organiser is not responsible for any costs incurred by participants during the competition.

 

XII. FINAL PROVISIONS

  1. Participation implies acceptance of these rules. The Organiser reserves the right to interpret and amend the rules as needed.
  2. The Organiser may suspend or terminate the competition in cases of fraud, misconduct, or unforeseen circumstances.
  3. The competition is not considered a game of chance under Slovenian law, and prizes are not legally enforceable.

 For questions, please contact us at marta.weber.s@wgin.org or visit www.wgin.org or https://awards.wgin.org/home