The winner of the Diploma Thesis Exhibition 2018 is Igor Machata from VŠUP

Places on the edge of interest, appropriate and inventive interventions in problematic parts of the urban organism, a provocative challenge to open a preserved area in the historical center, poetic revitalization of the landscape, but also a raw refuge for street youth - these were the themes of the diploma works by the finalists of the 19th edition of the Diploma Work Showcase. This event is organized annually by the Czech Chamber of Architects with the aim of comparing the quality level of studies at universities of architecture and related fields. In this year's edition, 98 graduates competed for the awards. The winner was Igor Machata with the project OKDR 2.0 defended at the AAAD in Prague. His work was supervised by Ivan Kroupa and Jana Moravcová.

The work was evaluated by a professional jury led by chairman Pavel Pijáček. Other members included architects Tomáš Bezpalec, Lukáš Brom, Ida Chuchlíková and Vojtěch Kaas. The jury primarily assessed the architectural quality of the submitted works. "We focused on the convincingness of the concept, a clear relationship to the given location, and appropriate functional and massing solutions. Furthermore, we searched for current themes that resonate today, and finally, we very cautiously judged the method of presentation," explained Pavel Pijáček. Regarding the themes, the jury noted that "small urban complexes, including public space, supplementing historical structures in cities with buildings of various typologies, revitalization of non-functional industrial areas, and reconstruction of monument-protected objects are most popular among students and studio leaders." There were few experimental works with a tendency to provoke, but according to the jurors, it brought them great joy to evaluate them. The selection of awarded works, according to the jurors, includes a diverse thematic composition of projects.

The first prize went to the graduate of the AAAD in Prague Igor Machata with the project OKDR 2.0. Under the supervision of Ivan Kroupa and Jana Moravcová, he sought the potential of a place on the edge of interest - a location in the Bratislava district of Ružinov. The jury highlighted that "the author perceives the causes and the broader urban context and consciously works with the remnants of the House of Culture as a potential for incompleteness, which becomes its main starting point. Instead of the principle of tabula rasa, it offers a path of layering and seeks a way to preserve presence without stating a definitive form, while emphasizing the essential."

The second prize was awarded to Ondřej Blaha for the work Palmovka, developed under the supervision of Michal Kuzemenský at the Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague. According to the jury, the author chose a current topic and approached it with ease and a naturalness despite the problematic area being addressed.

The third position was awarded two prizes this year. The first went to the graduate of the AAAD in Prague Jakub Herz for the project Resuscitation of the Czech Sokol Community Area in Malá Strana. Under the supervision of Jan Šépka, he sensitively worked with historical objects and seamlessly integrated much-needed functions into them. Through the transformation of the area, he presented an "offer" to support Sokol activities and revive the currently non-functional base.
The third prize was also awarded to Klára Jeníková for her diploma work Subcentrum Klamovka - New Local Center in Plzeňská Street defended at the Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague. Under the supervision of Boris Redčenkov, the author, in the jury's opinion, created a new local center at a complicated site in Plzeňská Street in Prague with great insight. She proposed a sensitive conversion of the original tram depot, which she playfully developed with the construction of a gallery building.

Who comes out best from the national comparison?

National comparisons are an important tool for determining the level of graduates and provide feedback to individual schools. Of course, it is necessary to consider how representative the "sample" - the participants of the showcase - is. The jury also noted in its evaluation report this year that "the differences in the quality of works from individual schools and studio leaders were evident." According to the jurors, there was a lack of convincing works in the field of landscape architecture and gardening, which "were only saved by exceptions." Among the awarded works (and in terms of numbers, also participants), the Prague schools again dominated - Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague, AAAD in Prague, and the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design in Prague. The only exception was the work of a graduate of the Faculty of Art and Architecture of the Technical University in Liberec. The Diploma Work Showcase can also indicate the quality of specific studios - this year, graduates from the same studios as in previous editions again achieved visible success. "Besides meeting all the conditions we set for them, it is evident that the authors and supervisors of the awarded works displayed high commitment and a diligent approach," noted the jurors about the awarded authors.

Just like in previous years, the virtual gallery continues at www.diplomy.cz, where all award-winning works from previous editions of the Showcase are also published. A catalog of the exhibition is also available at the Office of the Czech Chamber of Architects.

"DIPLOMKY" 2018 in numbers

98 competitors (60 female architects and 38 male architects)