Building for Better Lives “2026 FIABCI-Taiwan Real Estate Excellence Awards” Demonstrate Taiwan’s Capacity to Build Sustainable, Resilient and Livable Cities

Great architecture goes beyond mere design and functionality; it must respond to how people live and how a city navigates the future. The paradigm of architectural value in Taiwan is undergoing a profound evolution. The 2026 FIABCI-Taiwan Real Estate Excellence Awards—widely acclaimed as the "Oscars of Taiwan Architecture"—were officially announced on August 3, honoring over 270 outstanding projects. Ranging from ecological restoration, smart engineering, and age-inclusive housing, this year's winning entries demonstrate that Taiwan's construction industry is deeply embedding humanity, technology, sustainability, and social responsibility into its core values—translating them into tangible, visible changes that the public can truly experience.

Senior government officials attending the ceremony included Deputy Secretary-General to the President Ho Chih-wei, Political Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Yen-po, Deputy Minister Wu Tang-an, Deputy Director-General of the National Land Management Agency Chu Ching-lun, and Director-General of the Architecture and Building Research Institute Wang Jung-chin. Their presence underscored Taiwan’s continued progress in technological innovation, sustainable development, and urban governance.

Lily Chang, President of the Real Estate Association of R.O.C. and FIABCI-Taiwan, and FIABCI World President of 2026-2027. Recently her visit to the UN highlights in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda. She noted a clear shift in global urban development: from mere construction volume to resilience, sustainability, inclusivity, and quality of life. Spanning over 80 countries with nearly 50 chapters worldwide, FIABCI offers a vital international platform. Guided by “Love & Sharing”, she intends to leverage FIABCI's international platform to showcase Taiwan's professional, innovative, and human-centric construction achievements to the world. She emphasized that the FIABCI-Taiwan Real Estate Excellence Awards recognize not just buildings, but a city's commitment to its people's well-being. Great architecture improves lives, while great cities enable people to live with greater safety, well-being, and dignity.

Achieving net-zero goals and addressing climate challenges require development to balance quality, ecological conservation, and social needs emphasized by Chang-Hsin Lin, Convenor of the Judging Committee. Award-winning projects—including the Xiuluan Bridge on the Sakyaking River in Hsinchu, the Hsu Liang-Yu Library in Dongshi, Taichung, the Pingzaiding Rice Terraces in Lugu Township, Nantou, and Green Park in Kaohsiung—demonstrate how conservation-led planning, layered planting, natural irrigation, and context-sensitive design can enable the built environment to coexist harmoniously with nature.

Ting-Fung Lin, Deputy Convenor of the Judging Committee, highlighted how the Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank Headquarters, Shin Kong Huashan Financial Center, Danjiang Bridge, and Xin-zhuang Sports Park Underground Parking Lot employ technologies including AI, 3D laser scanning, building information modeling (BIM), construction simulation, and smart central control systems. Technology is more than just a construction tool; it effectively elevates project quality and management efficiency, mitigates risks during both the construction and maintenance phases, and further bolsters the city's overall resilience against future challenges.

Nan-Yuan Huang, Chief Advisor to the Judging Committee, highlighted the growing partnership between the public and private sectors. The Songshan Minquan East Urban Renewal Project in Taipei integrates offices, housing, and community facilities, while the Taichung Arena Phase II Social Housing Project brings together childcare, senior day-care services, shared spaces, and community gardens—demonstrating a commitment to age-inclusive communities and housing equality.

The Special Contribution to Urban Development Award was presented to Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi, Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, and Chien Hsueh-yi, Principal of Chien Architects & Associates. Chen Kuo-hui, Chairman of Kuan Ho Aesthetics, received the Property Man of the Year Award.

Taiwan achieved outstanding results at the 2026 FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards, earning four Gold Winner and five Silver Winner awards. These honors demonstrate Taiwan’s international competitiveness in architecture, engineering, and urban governance, while highlighting its commitment to respecting the land, caring for its people, enhancing quality of life, and advancing sustainable development.

Lily Chang noted that while AI can help design cities, it can never replace human values. Technology can improve efficiency, but it cannot substitute for responsibility or conscience. “Technology should serve humanity,” she emphasized. “The true stature and value of architecture lie in advancing urban civilization and enabling people to live with greater safety, security, and dignity,” She said. “Architecture is a means of improving people’s lives, and people must always remain at the heart of urban development.”

"Better Cities, Better Lives. Build for People, Build for the Future." Moving forward, the FIABCI-Taiwan Real Estate Excellence Awards will continue to serve as a leading benchmark, inspiring Taiwan's construction industry to pursue excellence. It aims to lead Taiwan beyond the pursuit of outstanding buildings toward the creation of truly great cities—because only by building for people can we build a stronger, more sustainable future for generations to come.