Five nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2009
The Mies van der Rohe Foundation based in Barcelona, along with the European Commission, today announced the names of five finalists nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award 2009. For the first time in the history of this prestigious competition, a representative from the Czech Republic sat on the jury assessing selected European buildings submitted for the award.
The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture and the special prize for emerging architects are awarded every two years by the Mies van der Rohe Foundation and the European Commission. The purpose of the prize and the entire competition is to demonstrate creative potential, support innovative solutions, and alert the public to the significant role modern architecture plays in society and how it influences the quality of life in the European environment.
Out of 340 nominated top European projects designed by independent experts specializing in contemporary architecture, as well as professional institutions and other invited organizations from all EU member states, a seven-member international expert jury selected five buildings last week during its meeting, which it considers the highest quality:
For the first time in the history of the competition, the organizers chose a representative from the Czech Republic to be a member of the international jury. The jury member is Irena Fialová, a leading Czech architecture theorist, publicist, co-founder of the publishing house Zlatý řez, who also lectures at the Faculty of Architecture of Czech Technical University. The chair of the jury was Francis Rambert, director of the French Center for Architecture IFA, a theorist and critic. Other jury members included last year's award winner, Spanish architect Luis M. Mansilla, director of the Netherlands Architecture Institute NAI Ole Bouman, director of the Milan Triennale Fulvio Irace, winner of the 2007 Emerging Architects Award Vasa J. Perović from Ljubljana, the most prominent contemporary Spanish architect Carme Pinós from Barcelona, and as the jury secretary, director of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation Lluís Hortet.
According to Irena Fialová, assessing and selecting the best buildings from over three hundred excellent projects was very challenging. "Choosing five finalists was by no means easy; the quality of European architecture is very high and consistent today. Compared to previous years of the competition, the jury ultimately eliminated several buildings by famous architects and selected extraordinary buildings among the five finalists that may not be immediately comprehensible to the public but significantly improve the quality of life for people," says Irena Fialová. "In two cases, we are dealing with solitary objects and in three with urban-architectural tasks addressing complex issues or problematic areas in the urban environment. This represents a shift from architecture as a fulfilled wish of a private client towards architecture that cares for society. After a period of rapid development in technological capabilities and materials, where their innovative use was recognized in various competitions, we are now returning to the essence of architecture, to the creation of public space and the fundamental question of how architecture can contribute to a better life for people."
The juror was also surprised by the participation of young architects. Almost a quarter of the nominated projects came from studios where no architects over the age of forty work. She was also pleasantly surprised by the output of the new EU member states - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, and Slovenia, which have maintained a high level in architecture for many years. "Watching European but primarily Czech architecture reflected in the discussions of jurors from different cultural backgrounds was very beneficial. While the Dutch juror preferred a strong concept and rationality of buildings, the jurors from the Mediterranean region appreciated more the harmony and beauty of the buildings. Together with the French juror, I felt that we are somewhere in the middle of this north-south value scale; we desire both rationality and beauty in architecture," adds Irena Fialová.
Czech projects did not make it into the top five best buildings, but they may still have a chance. The jury always selects another 35 significant creative achievements, which are presented together with the finalists in a traveling exhibition across major European cities and in the prize catalog. The list of this year's additional entries will be published after another round of jury meetings scheduled for the end of April. During this meeting, the jury will hear presentations from all finalists, visit the five selected buildings together, and only after that will announce the winner of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture for 2009. The Czech Republic has regularly participated in the competition since 1997, and thus far, five Czech projects have been included in the catalogs and exhibitions of previous years. Hopefully, one of the eight nominated buildings for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2009 will be fortunate enough to achieve recognition, which include:
The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture and the special prize for emerging architects are awarded every two years by the Mies van der Rohe Foundation and the European Commission. The purpose of the prize and the entire competition is to demonstrate creative potential, support innovative solutions, and alert the public to the significant role modern architecture plays in society and how it influences the quality of life in the European environment.
Out of 340 nominated top European projects designed by independent experts specializing in contemporary architecture, as well as professional institutions and other invited organizations from all EU member states, a seven-member international expert jury selected five buildings last week during its meeting, which it considers the highest quality:
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| Multimodal Center – Nice Tramway, Nice, France (authors: Atelier Marc Barani) |
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| Zenith Music Hall, Strasbourg, France (authors: Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas) |
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| University Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy (authors: Grafton Architects) |
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| The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo, Norway (authors: Snøhetta) |
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| Library, Senior Citizens’ Centre and City Block Core Zone, Sant Antoni’s District, Barcelona, Spain (authors: RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes) |
For the first time in the history of the competition, the organizers chose a representative from the Czech Republic to be a member of the international jury. The jury member is Irena Fialová, a leading Czech architecture theorist, publicist, co-founder of the publishing house Zlatý řez, who also lectures at the Faculty of Architecture of Czech Technical University. The chair of the jury was Francis Rambert, director of the French Center for Architecture IFA, a theorist and critic. Other jury members included last year's award winner, Spanish architect Luis M. Mansilla, director of the Netherlands Architecture Institute NAI Ole Bouman, director of the Milan Triennale Fulvio Irace, winner of the 2007 Emerging Architects Award Vasa J. Perović from Ljubljana, the most prominent contemporary Spanish architect Carme Pinós from Barcelona, and as the jury secretary, director of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation Lluís Hortet.
According to Irena Fialová, assessing and selecting the best buildings from over three hundred excellent projects was very challenging. "Choosing five finalists was by no means easy; the quality of European architecture is very high and consistent today. Compared to previous years of the competition, the jury ultimately eliminated several buildings by famous architects and selected extraordinary buildings among the five finalists that may not be immediately comprehensible to the public but significantly improve the quality of life for people," says Irena Fialová. "In two cases, we are dealing with solitary objects and in three with urban-architectural tasks addressing complex issues or problematic areas in the urban environment. This represents a shift from architecture as a fulfilled wish of a private client towards architecture that cares for society. After a period of rapid development in technological capabilities and materials, where their innovative use was recognized in various competitions, we are now returning to the essence of architecture, to the creation of public space and the fundamental question of how architecture can contribute to a better life for people."
The juror was also surprised by the participation of young architects. Almost a quarter of the nominated projects came from studios where no architects over the age of forty work. She was also pleasantly surprised by the output of the new EU member states - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, and Slovenia, which have maintained a high level in architecture for many years. "Watching European but primarily Czech architecture reflected in the discussions of jurors from different cultural backgrounds was very beneficial. While the Dutch juror preferred a strong concept and rationality of buildings, the jurors from the Mediterranean region appreciated more the harmony and beauty of the buildings. Together with the French juror, I felt that we are somewhere in the middle of this north-south value scale; we desire both rationality and beauty in architecture," adds Irena Fialová.
Czech projects did not make it into the top five best buildings, but they may still have a chance. The jury always selects another 35 significant creative achievements, which are presented together with the finalists in a traveling exhibition across major European cities and in the prize catalog. The list of this year's additional entries will be published after another round of jury meetings scheduled for the end of April. During this meeting, the jury will hear presentations from all finalists, visit the five selected buildings together, and only after that will announce the winner of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture for 2009. The Czech Republic has regularly participated in the competition since 1997, and thus far, five Czech projects have been included in the catalogs and exhibitions of previous years. Hopefully, one of the eight nominated buildings for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2009 will be fortunate enough to achieve recognition, which include:
- Faculty of Information Technology at VUT in Brno - author: Burian – Křivinka Architectural Office
- Hotel Metropol - author: Chalupa Architects / dum architects
- Hráň near Slavonice - author: e-M.R.A.K. – Martin Rajniš architectural office
- Dox – Centre for Contemporary Art - author: Ivan Kroupa Architects
- New Headquarters of ČSOB - author: AP Atelier – Josef Pleskot
- Family House in Černošice - author: Ksa
- Residential Complex Na Krutci - authors: Kuba & Pilař Architects, DRNH
- Center for Ecological Activities Sluňákov - author: Projektil Architects.
The final results of the competition are expected to be announced in May of this year, with the opening of the traveling exhibition scheduled for September in Barcelona.
Markéta Pražanová
spokesperson of the Czech Chamber of Architects
spokesperson of the Czech Chamber of Architects
> www.miesarch.com
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