The ‘HEDERA’ project wins first prize at the SMC BMC Design Awards 2026

The awards ceremony for the SMC BMC Design Awards 2026, held under the theme “Live Better, Live Green,” took place the week of March 10 to 12. The winner was announced on Wednesday, March 11, during the event celebrated at JEC World 2026 in Paris.

Students Bernat Rucabado (GDISI) and Lucía Bonmatí (GEDI), mentored by Bernat Faura, took first prize with their HEDERA project: a lightweight, modular, and industrially scalable vertical garden system designed to transform building facades into sustainable green infrastructure. The project combines environmental performance with architectural integration, contributing to urban cooling and the promotion of biodiversity.

The competition recognizes and promotes excellence in design with composite materials, and this year’s edition focused on innovative concepts that foster sustainability, functionality, and consumer well-being. SMC and BMC materials enable the production of lightweight, complex parts in large series, combining high structural performance with an excellent surface finish.

The HEDERA project reflects Elisava students’ commitment to sustainable design and the search for solutions that integrate technological innovation with respect for the environment.