The second year of the regional competition Krkonošská cena za architekturu has announced its winners. On Thursday, September 21, 2023, the main award for the building of the emergency exit of the Stachelberg fortress was presented during a festive evening. Awards for special achievements were given to Náplavka and náměstí Míru in Vrchlabí, and another was awarded to a set of buildings titled Contemporary Krkonošský House. This year's announcement was preceded by a debate among experts in the fields of architecture and urban planning with representatives of local governments and other organizations from the MAS Krkonoše region. The general partner of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu was again this year the Škoda Auto Foundation.

On Thursday, September 21, 2023, the announcement of the second year of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu took place in the industrial monument of the Kluge Brewery in Rudník. “Together with the jurors, we aimed to seamlessly continue from last year's pilot edition of the competition, which aims to recognize quality architectural achievements within the MAS Krkonoše region and to bring the phenomenon of a neighborly approach common in Western European countries into this environment. Our goal is to connect representatives of local governments with experts and show them a way to develop towns and villages with the perspective of meaningfully building upon today's actions in the future,” said Ing. arch. Josef Smutný, organizer and father of the idea of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu.
The second year of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu also took place thanks to the main partner, the Škoda Auto Foundation, which supported the award in the grant call New Visions for Culture. “The Škoda Auto Foundation has long supported the development of public spaces. A natural part of this is quality architecture that improves the lives of residents both aesthetically and practically, respects the surroundings, and also stimulates dialogue. And discussion is the ferment that keeps regions alive and moving forward. That’s why we support the Krkonošská cena za architekturu in its second year. It is a great platform where professionals meet the public, helping to define how we actually want public spaces in the regions to look. I am glad that we can contribute to solving this issue with our foundation,” says Ladislav Kučera, director of the Škoda Auto Foundation.
Other partners of the 2nd year of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu were the Czech Chamber of Architects, the Hradec Králové Region, Kámen Pečky, Aparthotel Svatý Vavřinec, and the Švásta & Kadlec winery. The event was held under the auspices of the governor of the Hradec Králové Region, Mgr. Martin Červíček, and under the patronage of the director of KRNAP, PhDr. Robin Bohnisch.

Awards of the 2nd year of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu
Seven submitted works advanced to the finals of the second year of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu. After a personal tour of all this year's finalists, the jury decided to award the main prize, a special prize for a public space initiative, and an award to the set of buildings titled Contemporary Krkonošský House. The awards are given to both the authors of the works, architects, and landscape designers, as well as the investors.
The main award of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu 2023 was given to the emergency exit T-S 72 Stachelberg in Babí near Trutnov, designed by Benedikt Markel and Tomáš Hradečný from the IXA studio. The jury unanimously recognized this building, which exceptionally combines architecture and art while reflecting the landscape and historical context. The structure, situated at the site of a previously unbuilt log cabin within the Stachelberg fortress, serves as the entrance or escape exit from the underground of the future visitor center. “The building is very sensitively integrated into the landscape context, and its structural design is gentle on the historical foundations of the object. The raw material conception of the concrete-steel (corten) structure strongly evokes the historical moment and the role of Czechoslovak fortifications,” described Ing. Jitka Tomsová, a jury member.
The initiative in the area of working with public space became Náplavka and náměstí Míru in Vrchlabí designed by Atelier L. By modifying náměstí Míru and part of the waterfront with the embankment, Vrchlabí has committed to a targeted care for key public spaces. Both areas thus became fundamental cornerstones in the mosaic image of the city. The reasons for the award were provided by jury member Ing. arch. Jaroslav Wertig: “The square has been successfully re-emphasized as a focal point for the local community, reconciling it with the main transport thoroughfare for the benefit of the pedestrian user. Outdated elements manipulating pedestrians have been removed for the benefit of their free use of the square. By building the embankment, the river, which gave the city its name and identity, has been brought back into the city. Is there a more significant place in Vrchlabí where one can descend to the Elbe, touch its surface, sit by it, get wet, or daydream?”
The award for special achievement was also given to three contemporary Krkonošské family houses of private investors. “Each building is different, each reflects its builder. However, the common denominator for all three is humility towards the mountains, building with natural materials, and the pursuit of innovation,” described the award for the group of family houses by jury chairman Ing. arch. Jiří Opočenský.
The awards were received for the House in the Mountains designed by Bíza architekti, Boudička in Pec pod Sněžkou, and the shingle house at Tippelt’s huts, both signed by A1 architekti.

House in the Mountains, Bíza architekti - The jury appreciated the generosity of the glazed timber building, which connects with the traditional chalets of the village of Strážné in scale. The combination of the residential house and wellness creates a harmonious composition and defines a protected garden space on the plot. Wood flows from the exterior into the interior, the veranda extends the main living space and creates a suitable filter in front of the glazed wall facing the southwestern views.
Boudička, Pec pod Sněžkou, A1 architekti - At first glance, the simple mass of the house set into a steep slope conceals a mysterious puzzle of interior spaces. The jury appreciates the unobtrusiveness and inventiveness of this building. The living space wraps around the tiled stove and rises into the attic. Family members and visitors have custom sleeping arrangements prepared here. Children find themselves in a wonderland.
Shingle House at Tippelt’s huts, Velká Úpa, A1 architekti - At the site of the original cottage, a house has been erected that is hard to classify in time or space. The shingle-clad building carries the dialogue of the present with history, as well as Japanese culture and Krkonošské building traditions. The externally modest house surprises with many thoughtful details inside. The slightly eclectic to dreamlike mix of cultures and ideas soothes the soul.
The second year of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu confirmed the quality of building culture in the MAS Krkonošské region. “We are aware that we are showcasing the best that has been realized in our region over the past 5 years. We would like to motivate all investors to collaborate with experts and not to underestimate the quality of the projects they plan or their preparation,” confirmed the importance of meaningful planning in land development Kateřina Fejglová, manager of MAS Krkonošské, who is a co-organizer of the Krkonošská cena za architekturu. All final competition initiatives will be on display as part of a traveling exhibition launched during the festive evening. The first destination is the Kluge Brewery itself, where photos and visualizations of the finalists will be displayed until the end of October, with other exhibition destinations to be available on the competition website.