The Australian glass manufacturer has opened its 2012 Vision Awards, inviting submissions from the latest projects that use their energy efficient Viridian glass.

A trip to the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale is the major prize for the awards, which celebrate and promote the energy efficient and innovative use of glass in Australian architecture.

This year the category prize structure has been revised and a new 'Overall Vision Award Winner' category has been added. The winner will secure 2 x Vernissage Passes to the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale courtesy of Viridian and the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA).

The Vernissage is an exclusive three day opening of the Venice Architecture Biennale that precedes the public opening. Vernissage Passes cannot be purchased and are only allocated to media and the organisers of participating countries.

the Awards will be presented during the AIA's 2012 National Architecture Conference, which will be held in Brisbane on May 10-12, 2012.

CATEGORIES & PRIZES

2012 Overall Vision Award Winner - Trip to Venice and attendance to the exclusive opening of the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale

Commercial Energy Efficient Glass Design - $1,000 prize money

Residential Energy Efficient Glass Design - $1,000 prize money

Commercial Creative Interior Glass Application - $1,000 prize money

Residential Creative Interior Glass Application - $1,000 prize money

“The awards are designed to draw attention to the increasingly more sophisticated and innovative applications of glass that transform buildings and have a profound and positive impact on those living, working and spending time within those buildings,” said Lachlan Austin, Marketing Manager for Viridian.

Submissions will be accepted up until 31 April 2012, for projects completed between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011.

To download application information visit www.viridianglass.com/visionawards