For the third time in a row Sikkens sponsored the annual International Interior Design Award during the LEAF Awards 2006. The LEAF Awards (honoring the players, products and designs that set benchmark standards within the build and design marketplace) are open to all companies, technologies and individuals that have made an outstanding contribution to the world of architectural design and build.
There is particular recognition of those who have not only had exceptional success, but have also demonstrated industry leadership within their respective fields.

The overall winner of the LEAF Awards 2006 are David Chipperfield Architects and Barcelona-based b720 Arquitectos, who recently completed the new centre for the America’s Cup - the Edificio Veles events in Valencia. The building and park will be the social focal point for the world’s premier offshore racing competition, to be staged in Europe for the first time in over 150 years.

The Sikkens International Interior Design Award, one of the eight LEAF Awards categories, focuses on the best interior design for either a newly build project or the interior renovation of an existing building. The Sikkens award was presented by the new brand manager, Frans Boumans, to Stephenson Bell Architects, Manchester UK for their work for AstraZeneca in Alderley Park, Cheshire. AstraZeneca’s brief was for the provision of 20,000m2 of multi-disciplinary laboratories to house 260 cancer research scientists. This was to include a glazed circulation ‘street’ to link with the existing facilities, promote interaction and provide a focus for the research community.

Today’s design, architecture and building business is becoming more and more international, especially for large projects. For example, the Hamburg based Iranian architects who carry out projects in Turkey and Dubai, which are for them more the rule than the exception. Being Akzo Nobel Deco’s international brand, Sikkens aims to keep in touch with these top architects. By participating in this LEAF Award, Sikkens confirms how important the relationship with architects is and tries to improve its brand awareness and image.

In all, more than 100 international projects were sent in by architects who were all present at the combined award ceremony and workshop in Dubai on 14 -17 September. The official ceremony was broadcasted live by the local Middle Eastern television station and was watched by between 60,000 and 70,000 people. Next year the Leaf Awards 2007 will be held in Rome.