Six finalists announced for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2011

The European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation announced the six finalists competing for the 2011 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – the Mies van der Rohe Award. They have been shortlisted from 343 works in 33 European countries. The award ceremony will take place on June 20 at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, Spain.

"Our finalists have two things in common - they are European and they are among the world's most visionary architects. The EU Prize celebrates their talent and showcases the economic, social and cultural importance of our creative industries", said Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

The 6 finalists are:

Neues Museum, Berlin David Chipperfield Architects	Acropolis Museum Bernard Tschumi Architects	Museum MAXXI, Rome Zaha Hadid Architects
Rehabilitation centre, Arnhem Architecturbureau Koen van Velsen	Concert House Danish Radio Ateliers Jean Nouvel	Bronks Youth Theatre, Brussel Martine De Maeseneer Architects

As well as highlighting excellence in contemporary buildings, the Prize highlights the contribution of European architects to the development of new ideas and technologies in urban development. Launched in 1987 and co-funded by the EU Culture Programme and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, the €60.000 prize is the most prestigious award in European architecture and is awarded every other year to works completed within the previous two years. This year’s ceremony is the 12th to take place since its launch.