The buildings of the year 2016 are the tunnel, the museum, and the sky path

Prague - The Buildings of the Year 2016 are the Blanka tunnel in Prague, the archaeological park in Pavlov, the modernization of the railway line between Tábor and Sudoměřice, the Sky Walk in Dolní Morava, the reconstruction and completion of the city stadium in Ostrava-Vítkovice, and the renovation of the Hospital complex in Kuks. In the public voting, the Vítkovice stadium won, and in the category of Foreign Building of the Year, the prize goes to the modernization of the expressway in Warsaw. The results of the 24th year were announced this evening by the Foundation for the Development of Architecture and Construction, which organizes the competition.

This year's edition received 65 applications, seven fewer than last year's record year. 29 buildings progressed to the second round. All of the advancing buildings were visited by the expert jury, which nominated 15 in the Czech Republic and three abroad.

The Blanka Tunnel is, at 5.5 kilometers long, the longest urban tunnel complex in Europe. The jury praised it for creating a transport-critical building with consideration for overcoming complex conditions. The construction was plagued by several problems, such as soil subsidence in Stromovka and damp cables. The original plan included completion in 2011, but the deadline was ultimately pushed back by four years. The estimated costs of 17.2 billion crowns increased by 150 percent.

The investor of the renovation of the Kuks Hospital was the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). "The restoration of the Kuks Hospital is truly a successful example of the revitalization of a cultural monument. The symbol and name of the entire project became the pomegranate, a symbol of the historical administrators of the hospital, which is also a symbol of resurrection and rebirth," stated NPÚ General Director Naďa Goryczková to ČTK.

The archaeological park in Pavlov was awarded by the jury for creating a unique museum space with regard to the use and processing of reinforced concrete. The modernization of the railway line between Tábor and Sudoměřice caught the jury's attention for ensuring higher speed, safety, and comfort in transportation, as well as a sensitive intervention in the landscape. The Sky Walk in Dolní Morava won the award for creating a non-traditional, yet comfortable structure of a new type.

In the public voting, which took place on the internet until noon today, the reconstruction of the multi-purpose city stadium in Ostrava-Vítkovice won by a large margin. It hosts events such as the Zlatá tretra athletics meeting, and the Baník football team plays their matches there, as does the national football team.

This year, for the third time, the Foreign Building of the Year was announced. Buildings realized by Czech firms can apply for the title. The title was awarded to the modernization of the S8 expressway in Warsaw carried out by Metrostav.

New and reconstructed buildings, urban implementations of public space, landscape modifications, residential and non-residential buildings, transport and engineering structures, as well as specific construction works were eligible for the title. The prerequisite for entering the competition was the completion and commissioning or approval between June 2015 and the end of this May. "At first glance, it is difficult to compare a large office building with a small chapel. But it is possible to compare the quality. The jury paid attention to the aesthetic and spatial design, placement in a specific environment, and architectural expression," noted competition manager Petra Miškejová. The buildings were also evaluated based on structural solutions, innovation, and execution.

Next year, the jury will announce the winner of the 25th year and also the Building of the Quarter Century. "In preparations, we draw from the entire archive of the competition, but other buildings will also be able to apply," added Miškejová.

Buildings of the Year 2016

Building	Author/Designer	Investor	Contractor
Blanka Tunnel Complex	Metroprojekt Prague, Satra, Pudis	City of Prague	Metrostav
Archaeological Park Pavlov	Radko Květ	Regional Museum in Mikulov	OHL ŽS, SKR stav
Modernization of the Sudoměřice - Tábor Line	Sudop Prague	SŽDC	OHL ŽS
Sky Walk in Dolní Morava	Fránek Architects	Sněžník	Taros Nova
Reconstruction and Completion of the City Stadium in Vítkovice	David Kotek, Zuzana Sýkorová, Josef Zlámal	Statutory City of Ostrava, Vítkovice Arena	Metrostav, Hochtief
Pomegranate - Reconstruction of the Kuks Complex	Atelier 4	National Heritage Institute	Pomegranate - association of Hochtief and Gemma Art Group

Source: Foundation for the Development of Architecture and Construction