(Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of the iAONR on September 5, 2025)
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1: From improving the living environment to achieving sustainable development goals, iAONR continues to focus on the implementation of the United Nations The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To recognize exemplary projects in the field of global natural resource planning, iAONR hereby establishes the International Model Award for Natural Resources and Planning and formulates these measures.
Article 2: The Model Awards aim to recognize and promote outstanding examples in sustainable development, such as the recycling and regeneration of natural resources, climate resilience, green transformation, environmental improvement, and revitalization, and to propel society towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
CHAPTER 2 AWARD CATEGORIES
Article 3: The International Model Awards for Natural Resources and Planning are divided into several categories based on project attributes.
(1) Climate resilience category
This category focuses on the professional excellence of completed projects in addressing climate change, carbon reduction collaboration, urban resilience and safety, and other areas, demonstrating environmental sensitivity and a firm commitment to addressing environmental, urban, and social challenges.
Typical example types: Sponge communities, green parks, urban resilience, river and lake ecological improvement, disaster prevention and shelter, post disaster recovery, green infrastructure, and among others.
(2) Ecological restoration category
This category focuses on completed projects in ecological integrity restoration (vegetation restoration, soil and water conservation, animal habitat connectivity), biodiversity, livelihood relevance (ecological product transformation), and among others. These projects highlight the effectiveness of systematic restoration and long-term management.
Typical example types: wetlands, mines, coastal zone restoration, biological corridors, protective forests, nature-based solutions (NbS) projects, and among others.
(3) Green and low-carbon category
This category focuses on full lifecycle carbon accounting, technological innovation, and cost-effectiveness. These projects emphasize carbon footprint transparency and traceability, as well as strong local adaptability of technology.
Typical example types: ultra-low energy consumption buildings, green buildings; Green low-carbon parks (residential areas, rural areas, campuses), brownfield development and reuse, water environment governance, and among others.
(4) Age friendly category
This category focuses on inclusive design and mechanisms that break down barriers, enabling every member of the city and community (regardless of age, illness, disability, or pregnancy) to participate and use equally, conveniently, and with dignity. The project implementation fully reflects fairness and friendliness.
Typical example types: age friendly cities, communities, residential areas, public spaces; Child friendly spaces, accessible parks, intergenerational shared spaces (elderly care+ childcare), and among others.
(5) Heritage revival category
This category focuses on heritage protection and inheritance, revitalization and symbiosis, cultural and economic innovation (such as the modernization of traditional crafts), and community identity. These projects highlight the coexistence of old and new, while achieving stronger economic sustainability.
Typical project types: historical and cultural cities, urban areas, neighborhoods, towns, villages; The dynamic renewal of industrial heritage, architectural sites, cultural districts, cultural and creative transformation, and the protection of intangible cultural heritage villages.
(6) Urban renewal category
This category focuses on the revitalization of urban life and sustainable regeneration, with mixed functions of residential, production, and service projects, promoting urban structural optimization, functional improvement, cultural continuity, and quality enhancement, and creating livable, resilient, and smart cities.
Typical project types: renovation and utilization of existing buildings, renovation and reconstruction of old residential areas, community construction, renovation and reconstruction of old neighborhoods, old factory areas, urban villages, and among others., and recycling of existing idle houses and inefficient land; Safe reuse of contaminated land, transformation of industrial production rooms into innovative parks, and among others.
(7) Rural revitalization category
This category focuses on improving the living environment through planning and construction, and creating beautiful rural areas with local characteristics; Relying on local resources and advantageous industries, developing characteristic agriculture, rural tourism and other industries, promoting industrial development and upgrading, preserving and enhancing rural cultural resources, and the integration and development of cultural and tourism industries as demonstration projects.
Typical project types: characteristic towns, agricultural, cultural and tourism complexes, urban agriculture, characteristic villages, as well as the renovation of idle school buildings/farmhouses in rural areas, the creation of cultural spaces, and the preservation of local culture.
(8) Business environment category
This category focuses on demonstration projects such as commercial upgrading, consumer scene creation, and business revitalization in commercial spaces such as commercial districts, commercial parks, industrial parks, cultural districts, and consumer centers.
Typical project types: commercial districts, commercial parks, industrial parks, cultural districts, commercial complexes, retail spaces, consumer centers, markets, and among others.
(9) Smart Innovation Category
This category focuses on the use of innovative digital technologies and intelligent means such as artificial intelligence, big data, and AI to enhance public services and highlight the priority of human-centered care.
Typical project types: digital urban areas, scenic spots, communities, parks; Smart cities, parks, and scenic spots; AI exhibition hall, exhibition hall, building, garden; Light and shadow blocks, gardens, and among others.
CHAPTER 3 QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPLICATION
Article 4: Projects completed within the past five years worldwide are eligible for registration and participation.
Article 5: The submitter may be any institution or individual.
Article 6: The submitted materials shall be written in English, but the original materials
as evidence may be written in any other language.
Article 7: The iAONR reserve the right to disqualify any of the following submissions:
(1) Not meeting the selection criteria;
(2) There is a conflict of interest;
(3) Incorrect format or difficulty to read;
(4) That do not meet the terms and conditions set by the iAONR.
Any fee will not be refunded for non-compliant submissions.
CHAPTER 4 AWARD MANAGEMENT
Article 8: The Model Awards selection is held once a year. To apply for the Model Awards, please register online.
Article 9: Expert review shall be organized in October each year. Projects with complete application materials shall be included in the review and evaluation process immediately.
Projects with incomplete materials shall be postponed to the next batch of review and evaluation.
Article 10: The organization and management of the Model Awards shall be hosted by the iAONR, organized by the Branch of Urban and Regional Planning in the
iAONR and the Yuanye Awards Urban Design Center, and implemented through the Yuanye Awards International Competition Platform.
Article 11: The Office of the Model Awards Organization shall be located at the Yuanye Awards Urban Design Center. The applying institutions and individuals shall select the category that best reflects the main purpose and demonstration effect of the project. If the project involves multiple categories, the selection shall be based on the main project characteristics, functions, and user experience. Please refer to the instructions under each category. If unsure, please contact the award secretariat.
CHAPTER 5 APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
Article 12: Registration Form.
Article 13: Copyright Confirmation Letter.
Article 14: Project Documents.Content requirements: Project name, project description (including project location, scope, scale, background analysis, design scheme, technical strategy, revenue generating practices or materials, social impact or post implementation effectiveness, and among others.), explanatory pictures, charts (including pictures that can effectively support the description).
The project file contains a separate PDF file (≤ 20 pages), which is the only document evaluated by the jury during all review stages. If necessary, a video showcasing the work can be provided.
Article 15: Electronic display boards.
Two horizontal A1 size exhibition boards (300dpi PDF) for promoting publishing or exhibitions.
CHAPTER 6 APPLICATION METHOD
Article 16: Register on the official platform of Yuanye Awards International Competition.
Article 17: Online registration shall be conducted on the special page of the Model
Awards, and basic information, copyright declaration, and among others. shall be uploaded.
Article 18: Upload project files and materials on the special page of the Model Awards.
CHAPTER 7 REGISTRATION FEES
Article 19: Unit members or individual members (chief designers) of the iAONR and the Yuanye Awards Organizing Committee, as well as strategic partners of the iAONR, shall pay a fee of 350US$ per submission, or 100 US$ per submission for applicants from under-developed regions such as Africa and Latin America.
Article 20: Application for participation allows simultaneous registration and joining of the iAONR, and simultaneous application of entries.
Article 21: All submission fees are non-refundable and must be fully paid at the time of submission. Otherwise, it may result in disqualification.
CHAPTER 8 REVIEW AND EVALUATION
Article 22: Qualification Review
The Secretariat conducts a preliminary review of all application materials. Select works that meet the basic requirements and enter the evaluation stage.
Article 23: Preliminary review
The expert committee is composed of senior industry experts, scholars, and association representatives. They will conduct in-depth evaluations of the preliminary shortlisted works, review detailed materials, and select candidate lists for various awards.
Relevant national associations and international organizations can apply to the award secretariat to become strategic partners. The relevant organizations that have been approved as strategic cooperation units shall be entrusted by the award secretariat to organize experts and scholars for preliminary review.
The list of experts in the expert review group shall be approved by the award secretariat.
Article 24: Final review
The award organizing committee will invite internationally renowned experts and scholars to form a judging panel, with a chairman, vice chairman, and committee members. The judging panel may conduct online speeches and defenses as necessary to determine the final winners of each award. Several Model Awards and nomination awards will ultimately be selected.
Article 25: Participants and staff in the evaluation shall evaluate and exercise their evaluation powers in accordance with the principles of science, impartiality, and independence. All participants and staff are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the content, review process, personal opinions of review experts during the review, and unpublished review results of the project under review. If there are projects related to the reviewing experts themselves, a recusal system shall be implemented.
CHAPTER 9 ANNOUNCEMENT AND COMMENDATION
Article 26: Each award shall establish a Model Award and a nomination award.
According to the expert review results, a public announcement will be organized on the official websites of the iAONR and the Yuanye Awards. The public announcement period is fifteen working days.
Article 27: Units or individuals who have objections to the award list must provide written feedback to the Secretariat of the Evaluation Committee within the prescribed dispute period. Feedback information should clearly indicate the disputed content and be accompanied by relevant supporting documents.
Late submissions will not be accepted. The unit that raises objections must affix its official seal on the materials, indicating the name and contact information of the contact person; For individuals who raise objections, their
real name, workplace, contact information, and other relevant information must be clearly stated on the materials. Any objections related to candidate units, candidates, and their rankings shall be resolved by the applying unit itself. Objections to the evaluation level will not be accepted.
Article 28: For projects with objections, the award secretariat shall organize judges and relevant experts to conduct investigations and reviews, and propose handling opinions, which shall be submitted to the evaluation committee for a ruling.
Article 29: The judging committee, based on public opinions, decides on the final list of winners, which will be announced by the iAONR. The awards will be presented at the annual meeting of the iAONR.
CHAPTER 10 OTHER MATTERS
Article 30: Intellectual Property Rights
The intellectual property rights of the works submitted by the contestants belong to the authors, but the iAONR has the right to use the award-winning works in related promotional activities without paying additional fees. The association will respect the author’s right of authorship and other related rights.
Article 31: Declaration of Responsibility
Participants must ensure the authenticity and accuracy of their application materials. If false information or infringement is found in the application materials, the iAONR has the right to cancel their participation qualification, and the legal responsibility arising therefrom shall be borne by the participants themselves. Any participant who causes loss(es) to the iAONR shall bear liability for compensation.
Article 32: Right of Interpretation
The final interpretation of this award solicitation activity belongs to the iAONR. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact the Association Secretariat.