Out of almost three hundred nominations, an initial forty projects were selected by a panel of experts with the winning design coming out of these. The wining building is the MUSAC Contemporary Art Museum in León, Spain –by the architects Luise M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuńón. It has a system of interconnected trapezoids with a facade formed by coloured sections that reflect the colour scheme of the stained glass of the local cathedral and also enables changing the shape of the premises according to the needs and extent of particular exhibitions. According to the panel, its appearance and possibilities make it an exemplary museum of the 21st century.
Also a special prize for young architects was awarded. The winning project was the building of the Faculty of Mathematics in Lublaň by the architects Matija Bevk and Vasa J. Petrović.
The prize supports European creators
Under its previous name Mies van der Rohe Award, the European Union prize for architecture was first announced as early as 1987. Since 2001 it has been awarded under the title European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. It is awarded every two years and its aim is to acknowledge innovative conceptual, technical and construction solutions.
The buildings selected are ones that have achieved certain architectural innovations and bring originality of form and dynamic progressive solutions. Another motive was to create an opportunity for architects from the whole of the EU and to provide support to young architects at the same time. The prize for start up architects is awarded only for the first competed project. In the past Czech architectural studios have been selected among the nominees.
Altogether this is now the third time Prague has been selected for the “out-of-the-best-forty“project and will be presented in our country. Whereas in past years the organizer, publisher Zlatý řez, placed the “panels with buildings” photographs in Bethlehem Chapel, this year the production is presented in co-operation with Czech Chamber of Architects and the Faculty of Architecture ČVUT in the ground floor of the faculty building of the university.
This way it is more accessible to a wide range of interested people, especially to students who especially appreciate this event. The exhibition was financed by both the Ministry of Culture and the Capital City of Prague.
Repro: Zlatý řez archive
