The Building of the Year in the Plzeň region is also proposed by citizens; it brings contracts to companies

Fountains awarded last year

Plzeň - Starting this year, not only the region, cities, and companies but also individual citizens can submit their proposals for the Building of the Year in the Plzeň Region. The ninth edition of this prestigious competition, announced today, has been providing winners with references and thus new contracts for three years, during which the recession in the construction sector has deepened.
Last year saw a record 44 projects registered. Competing for the award were constructions ranging from family houses, roads, chapels, observation towers to a biomass combustion block. This year, although the collapse of construction output deepened last year, organizers expect at least the same number of projects. Ivo Grüner (ČSSD), the representative of the Plzeň governor for regional development and EU funds, said this to ČTK.
"The level of construction is roughly the same as a year ago. A lot is being held up by regional buildings, the city of Plzeň, and municipalities across the region," he added. A major state investment in the region is "only" the III. railway corridor Prague - Cheb. According to Plzeň Mayor Martin Baxa (ODS), the current situation in construction is unfavorable, but "interesting buildings continue to emerge, which need to be highlighted."
"This year's novelty will also be a traveling panel exhibition of all the proposed buildings in various locations throughout the region," said the head of the Plzeň District Chamber of Commerce, Miloslav Zeman. He lamented the increase in VAT since January. "It affects construction companies immensely, and I hope that we will live to see the 10th edition. Although the government does not help us, there is still interest in construction. Cities and the region are trying to award contracts," he stated. According to Zeman, the emerging projects are of high quality compared to other regions. The trend of submitted buildings is steadily increasing, and organizers want it to peak in 2015 when Plzeň becomes the European Capital of Culture.
According to architect Miloslav Michalec, head of the regional development department, the organizers strive to maintain a high standard for the expert jury, which mostly consists of renowned architects. "Each year, we devote more to the competition, and that is the answer to why the number of submitted buildings is also growing during the recession," he added. More than half of last year's submissions came from municipalities.
The deadline for the competition for Building of the Year in the Plzeň Region for 2011 will be March 20 at 3:00 PM. Citizens can send their proposals, such as nominations for exceptional family houses, to the organizers, the regional office, or the Plzeň city hall. Their staff will ask the owners if they want to register. Detailed information can be found at www.stavbarokupk.cz. The announcement will take place on May 24 at the Plzeň Beseda.
The title for 2010 was awarded last year to the reconstruction of Hrádek Castle near Sušice. Among new constructions, the winner was the headquarters of Fortis in Plzeň, in transport and engineering constructions, a cogeneration unit for biomass, and in the public space category, three fountains in Plzeň. The jury awarded a special prize for the successful reconstruction of Santini's chapel of St. Wenceslas and Saint Voitech in Ostrov near Stříbro. The governor’s prize went to the restoration of the birthplace of Augustin Němejec in Nepomuk, and the mayor’s prize went to the Borský Park residential building.