The Principal 2009 Prince Claus Award goes to Simón Vélez, an architect from Colombia who promotes bamboo through his works. On Wednesday he received the Award from Prince Constantijn, one of the son of Prince Claus and Queen Beatrix, in the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam. Simón Vélez has been doing an amazing works with bamboo and it doesn't look like "the wood for the poor" anymore in his hands as he called it. Check it out his works through this link . The Queen Beatrix and her three sons and three daughters in-law were presence and many dignitaries from all over the world. Other thing which I want to share is my impression of the philosophy of Prince Claus Fund that Culture is a Basic Need. For someone who tries to raise awareness that development is not merely about materials, I do appreciate this statement. The Minister of Cooperation with Developing Countries, Bert Koenders. Simón Vélez Decorations in the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ symbolized bamboo and pu...