Tengfei Feng

In the blink of an eye, CREDAWARD has journeyed for 10 years.

Ten years ago, in an era of bustling excitement and fierce competition, where everyone was full of ambition and the world was buzzing with activity, gradually faded away, leaving us behind in helplessness and sighs.
This is an inevitable historical pattern, and no one can change it.
So, there’s no need to sigh!

In the real estate industry, some people got off the train midway, while others are still on board. Those on the train have changed some train cars and seats, but they have persevered and are still enjoying the people inside the train and the scenery outside.
Those who can persist until the end are all elites!

Today’s CREDAWARD has a different suffix, the soup has changed, and even the medicine is slowly changing. Because the stove has changed, and the fire is different.
The changes in the industry are beyond human control, so there’s no need to keep discussing market trends. Only history follows certain patterns, and that’s the cycle of rise and fall.
We experienced prosperity, and we’ve also gone through downturns, which is perfectly normal!

What’s important is: we are still here, and the story of CREDAWARD is far from over!
Since we are alive, we should face reality, continue the story, and strive to make it as exciting as possible.
All we need to do is to take the last year of the first 10 years seriously and do our best.
As for how to tell the story of the next 10 years,
I say, why worry about it?

An architect’s career is often influenced by various inevitable and accidental factors. Some root themselves in architectural creation and follow the path of masters, while others step into design management roles. Regardless of the direction one takes, the underlying passion always revolves around innovation and pursuing dreams. It involves creating, judging, and selecting works that contribute to artistic and technological progress from a standpoint of social responsibility. This is precisely the direction that CREDAWARD strives to promote!

The initial intention behind participating in CREDAWARD was quite simple: we wanted to use this award as a means to understand the creative trends in real estate architecture, grasp the design dynamics in real estate architecture, and at the same time, guide the development of skills in real estate architecture.

From the first edition of the award to the current fifth edition, the most significant feeling is that it has not been easy! The organizing committee’s collaborative efforts in establishing the award, annual adjustments of award categories based on industry trends, and the step-by-step adherence to selection criteria that rely on works to speak for themselves—all of these have gradually earned recognition and reputation for the award within the industry.

Over the course of five years, with at least three judging meetings every year, what has moved me the most is the atmosphere—the excellent atmosphere. Whether it’s the panel of judges or the operations team, the atmosphere is incredibly harmonious. This perhaps constitutes the best gene of the award.

The lineup of judges for the award has become increasingly formidable, attracting and gathering the most important design elites in the current real estate industry circle. From the initial group of over ten judges to the nearly 30 members of the judging panel today, each judge is professional, cutting-edge, and trustworthy. Our selection process is patient, meticulous, diligent, and rigorous.

My understanding of good real estate design is to meet the requirements of the owner, fulfill the demands of the customers, satisfy the needs of society, and cater to one’s own exploration.

A real estate architect is an architect engaged in real estate design and management. Real estate architects not only focus on planning and architectural design but also play the leading role in the entire chain of real estate development processes. This includes project expansion, land acquisition, industrial integration, planning, design management, project operation planning, cost control, marketing strategies, business operations, and more. Every aspect of real estate development relies on the leadership and involvement of real estate architects.

Looking back, there are not only countless lessons and experience but also many visible achievements, which are lingering on my mind. No matter how things change in the world, as long as the industry is still there, the real estate design is there. The CREDAWARD will hold the persistent spirit, forge ahead and win a win-win future.

As time has brought us to today, the world’s landscape has changed.

We are facing wars, pandemics, issues with food and energy, economic challenges, and more. The world is experiencing an unprecedented transformation, with the domestic economy struggling amid the strong impact of economic downturns and recurring health crises. The real estate situation is worsening, and numerous real estate companies are facing difficulties, with no clear signs of improvement.

With uncertainty about the timing of economic recovery and the complete control of the pandemic, nothing about the future can be certain. The future of real estate is uncertain, and consequently, the future of real estate design is uncertain as well. Real estate is not just about real estate, and design is not merely design.

Fortunately, even in the face of dire circumstances, thousands of real estate professionals are not bowing to fate. They are holding hands tightly, refusing to let go. Among them are developers, designers, implementers, and managers. As long as the entire chain remains unbroken, they will persevere and believe that better days will come. Even in times of disappointment, there is no room for despair.

It is because of this resilience that this year’s award received submissions of over a thousand projects, and the design quality was uncompromised. Yes, it’s often said that a phoenix rises from the ashes. Flying against the wind is the best way to soar.

CREDAWARD will forever be an award that represents the entire architecture industry!