The construction of the Moravian-Silesian Region is a multifunctional building by Atelier 38

Ostrava - The highest award, the Grand Prix, in the Building of the Moravian-Silesian Region competition 2009 was won by a multi-purpose building in Ostrava-Vítkovice. The building, designed by Opava architects from Atelier 38, also won in the category of Civil Engineering Structures. The family house in Kaňovice, designed by the Ostrava architectural office OSA projekt, was the most popular among the public, and it also received the main award in the category of Family Houses.
    Investors, contractors, and architects submitted 39 new constructions and renovated buildings to the fourth year of the regional competition, which is four more than last year. The winners of the competition, which was open only to buildings completed and approved last year and the year before, were announced today in Ostrava.
    In the category of Industrial Buildings, the main award went to the manufacturing and storage complex of LENA-toys in Dolní Benešov in the Opava district, designed by Opava's Studio-D. This year, the category of Apartment Buildings remained without a winner.
    Among transportation, engineering, and water management structures, the elevated connection of the industrial zone in Třinec-Balinách to the road between Třinec and Český Těšín won. The massive intersection, designed by Mott MacDonald Praha, has already received the title of Transportation Structure of the Year 2009 awarded by the Ministry of Transport and the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure. It also received the prestigious award for the best engineering design of the year 2009 from the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians.
    For the first time this year, the jury awarded a prize for technical solutions and quality in the category of Family Houses. The award went to a house named The Bird in Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem in the Frýdek-Místek region, designed by the Ostrava group ATELIER SIMONA GROUP. The house has already won two awards from the national competition Building of the Year 2009 - from the public and from the magazine Stavitel.
    For the first time in the regional competition, an award was also given for successful restoration and preservation of a cultural monument. The renovation of the property for a children's home in Fulnek in the Nový Jičín region received the award, designed by Olomouc architect Taťána Tzoumasová.
    This year, the jury awarded the prize for environmental contribution to the building Nordica Ostrava, designed by the Swedish architectural studio Tengbomarkitekter led by Ostrava native Ivan Krejčí. The design of the office building in the city center also involved Qarta Architektura and architects David Wittassek and Jiří Řezák.
    This year, for the third time, an unconventional diploma thesis received an award. The Dean's Award of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the VŠB-TUO was granted to Martin Náhlovský for the design of completing an urban block between Poděbradová and Porážková streets in Ostrava. The Governor's Award of the Moravian-Silesian Region was awarded this year to the extension of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of VŠB-TUO, designed by the Ostrava company PPS Kania.
    The regional competition was announced by the Moravian-Silesian Region, the Association of Entrepreneurs in Construction, the Municipal Architects Association, and the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians active in construction. Applicants for family houses paid 3000 CZK to participate in the competition, while for other structures it was 10,000 CZK excluding VAT.
    Last year, the highest award, the Grand Prix, was won by the Klimkovice Tunnel on the northern Moravian section of the D1 highway, and the year before that, the Roman Catholic Church in Ostrava-Zábřeh was awarded. In the first year of the competition, the highest prize was awarded to the auditorium and information technology center of VŠB-TUO in Ostrava-Poruba.