Czech Architecture Award 2025 - Presentation of the Jury

The Czech Architecture Award (ČCA) organized by the Czech Chamber of Architects will present the best of architectural production in the Czech Republic to the general public for the tenth time. Completed works can be submitted until April 8.
One of the advantages of the Czech Architecture Award is the composition of the jury, which is unique within similar competitions in the Czech Republic. As in previous years, the jury will again consist exclusively of architects from abroad. The Czech Chamber of Architects has decided to also use this jubilee year for a reflection on the development of the Czech architectural scene, which is why architects who served on the juries of the first five editions have been invited to participate in this year's jury.
Submissions for the 10th Czech Architecture Award are open until April 8. Architectural works completed in the Czech Republic in the last five years (from January 2020 to December 2024) can be submitted, and it is again possible to submit works that did not make the short list of nominees in previous years. Participation in the competition showcase is again completely free; applications are submitted via a simple online form here.
This year, all entered works will be evaluated by an international five-member expert jury, which will select a shortlist of 25 nominated works that will be presented to the public at the nomination evening at the end of June. The selected works will be personally visited by the jurors in September, and about 5 to 7 projects will be chosen to receive the title of ČCA Finalist at the festive gala evening on November 13, with one of them receiving the Main Prize.

International Expert Jury
This year's jury consists of five members. They are architect and educator at the Faculty of Architecture in Maribor Boris Bežan (Slovenia/Spain), architect and founder of the non-profit organization Woman Architects that supports professional development for women in architecture Andrea Klimko (Slovakia/UK), landscape architect, urban planner, and curator Yael Moria Klain (Israel), architect, urban planner, and academic Roger Riewe (Germany), and architect actively involved in many professional associations, Jeroen van Schooten (Netherlands).

We asked the jurors if architecture and the approach to it have changed in any way over the last 10 years in "their" countries and whether similar trends are expected in Czech architecture…

Boris Bežan:
“In the last decade, Slovenia has seen a significant increase in open architectural competitions, which is particularly remarkable for such a small country. This has gradually allowed younger generations of architects to create their own architectural language. Previously, restrained and functional designs typically appeared in competitions, but in recent years there has been a shift – especially in some public buildings – towards more ambitious and exceptional projects that go far beyond mere functionality and cost-effectiveness.
In Spain, particularly in Barcelona, a new wave of architecture has emerged, strongly focused on sustainability and experiments with social housing. This shift has largely been driven by initiatives from local municipalities aimed at promoting more inclusive and environmentally responsible architecture. However, sustainability is a complex issue with varying interpretations regarding materials – whether it concerns the use of wood in a country with limited forest resources or bricks and concrete products, the production of which requires significant amounts of energy. Current designs also show an effort to revive traditional materials and construction techniques, especially exposed bricks, as a way of engaging with the local architectural heritage.”
“In recent years, many finalists of Czech architecture awards have focused on thoughtful adaptation and new uses of historically valuable buildings. This trend reflects both the rich architectural heritage of the country and the desire of the younger generation of architects to design innovative and sophisticated solutions for interventions in this type of structure. Preservation and conversion of existing buildings are inherently in line with the principles of sustainable architecture, and the adaptation of heritage sites has thus become a key aspect of ecologically responsible design.
While there is a broader movement towards sustainable architecture in Europe, each country addresses it through its own specific challenges and priorities. In the Czech Republic, this often manifests in pioneering solutions for cultural heritage adaptation, whereas in other countries it may be about social housing or ambitious new constructions.”

Jeroen van Schooten:
“Yes, both architecture and the approach to it have changed in the Netherlands over the past 10 years. In 2015, the financial and related real estate crisis ended, which meant a restart of construction production and growth in employment in architectural firms. Many experienced professionals, however, left the field during the crisis, and younger, enthusiastic talents took their place. At the same time, investors and clients became more cautious, hesitating to invest in large and risky projects, while large construction companies also approached such projects skeptically. This change has led to an increase in smaller contracts, or large projects being divided into smaller sub-projects.
Alongside these economic shifts, the government's role in urban development, social housing, and spatial planning has weakened, and greater responsibility has been left to the market. As a result, profit has become a dominant motivation, affecting social solidarity and disrupting the social balance. The role of the architect has also changed - from a main builder to more of an advisor - which has led to a diminished role in the overall process. Final responsibility now lies more with developers than with architects, limiting their influence on the quality of architecture. Architects are less involved in negotiating the contractual terms of project documentation, which reduces their influence on the final outcome of the construction. We are fighting for greater sophistication and depth in architectural proposals.
In addition, architectural practice is influenced by a growing awareness of sustainability and the need to reduce CO2 footprints. Sustainability, the reuse of buildings, and transformations have become key principles shaping the way architecture is approached in the Netherlands today. I expect similar trends to be observed in the Czech Republic.”