9th year of the Showcase of Theses 2008

The winner of this year's Diploma Exhibition for the first time in the history of the competitive exhibition has become Petra Chvílová, a graduate of the Faculty of Horticulture at MZLU, with the project “Urban Greenery and Landscape. Model Area of South Slopes in Zlín,” under the guidance of Doc. Ing. Pavel Šimek, PhD.
Every year, the Czech Chamber of Architects announces the Diploma Exhibition for graduates of schools and faculties of architecture with whom they collaborate continuously. The aim of this Exhibition is to compare the quality of teaching at these schools, thus striving to raise the standard of architectural education. The basic criterion for evaluating submitted works is their architectural quality. The jury evaluates the works regardless of the type of their assignment.
This year, 72 graduates applied to the ninth edition, including 40 from FA ČVUT in Prague, 15 from FA VUT in Brno, 8 from FA TU in Liberec, 4 from VŠUP in Prague, 2 from ZF MZLU in Lednice, 2 from AVU in Prague, and 1 from FAPPZ ČZU in Prague. Five registered students met the requirements for the special ArchiCAD award, and three for the special Allplan award.

The results of the 9th edition were ceremonially announced on October 21, 2008, at the premises of the Czech Chamber of Architects in Prague and presented in the form of an exhibition, which runs from October 22 to November 4, 2008. At the same time, all results are presented in a virtual gallery at www.diplomy.cz, where all awarded works from previous years of the Exhibition are also featured. The results are also presented in professional media. The submitted works will be further displayed during traveling exhibitions in the first half of 2009 at all participating schools.
This year's exhibition was financially supported by the companies Cegra, Nemetschek, Wienerberger, and Tisk Horák. Special prizes for the competition were donated by Nemetschek (Allplan BIM 2008, Architecture), Cegra (ArchiCad 11), and Wienerberger (a monetary sum of 15,000 CZK).

Judging Panel:
Mgr. Akad. arch. Roman Brychta, Ing. arch. Jiří Hůrka, Ing. Zdeněk Sendler, M.A. Svatopluk Sládeček, Prof. Ing. arch. Miroslav Masák, Ing. arch. MgA. Alena Hýblová.

1st Price from ČKA of 25,000 CZK

The theme of the open landscape at the city’s edge, as presented in this work, addresses several problems for contemporary architecture users simultaneously. On one hand, the design for the transition of the urban greenery system into the open landscape serves as a protection for the landscape. It prevents unwanted and uncontrolled overflow of the city into the landscape. On the other hand, it provides the necessary comfort for the inhabitants of the city. Zlín, as the subject of this project, is extraordinarily suitable. This predominantly modernist city, which has been developing towards panel housing estates, not only offers a solution for the transition of the city into the landscape but directly demands it. Responsible solutions to these problems may also address the questions that have been arising for almost a hundred years around the buildings of modern architecture. These concerns relate to the connections that were supposed to be part of it and an added value compared to traditional schemes. The jury greatly appreciates the patient and detailed work on a theme that is not immediately attractive, cannot bring the author easy visibility, and yet is vital. The author has not only alerted us to the topic but has managed to process it with understanding and convincingly, to the point where no one can doubt its feasibility.

2nd Price from ČKA of 15,000 CZK

The awarded design belongs to a group of diploma works with a specific assignment regarding its location and program. It tackles a very relevant topic. The proposed composition for the development of the long and narrow plot is elegant. Two elongated, low wings of the hostel are separated by a passageway with a courtyard garden. The breakthrough through the urban block is closed with taller buildings along the construction lines of Bratislava and French streets. The jury stated that the architectural approach to the assignment is convincing, without operational or technical shortcomings. The graphic presentation of the proposal is impressive. The level of the diploma work is high.

3rd Price from ČKA of 10,000 CZK

A representative of designs from so-called digital architecture. The topic of bridging. Connecting.

Special Recognition from the Jury

The author attempts to look at suburbanization differently than is common today, through the formation and cultivation of neighborhood relationships. This is achieved mainly by surrounding private gardens with pedestrian pathways, densifying the plots, and excluding cars from the enclave. Thus, more frequent chance encounters among residents can occur. The author realizes that this type of housing, accompanied by a loss of considerable privacy, is not for everyone. He proposes to preempt neighborhood issues in a “screening process.” The question is how realistic this is. Another “invention” is the method of model questionnaires, based on which houses can be designed to meet user needs while considering neighbors. The jury appreciates the socio-critical and analytical approach of the author.

Special Prize ArchiCAD 11 – license for program usage worth 69,400 CZK









Special Prize Allplan BIM 2008 Architecture – license for program usage worth 100,000 CZK














Special Prize Wienerberger Brick Industry, a.s. worth 15,000 CZK

In the diploma project, the jury appreciates the well-designed organization of the space. The project integrates the scale of the neighboring villa district and the proximity of apartment buildings into the urban solution. At the same time, the design sensitively incorporates the remaining stone values - the wooded slope and the existing pond, which become part of the composition of the internal space. The jury also recognizes the quality of the “kitan-esque” layout and the organization of the buildings. The use of load-bearing masonry refers us to the Anglo-American tradition of student campuses. The project is spatially, functionally, and artistically coherent.

You can find the presentation of all projects at www.diplomy.cz.