Finalists of the Architect of the Year Award 2018

At the beginning of summer, the expert jury selected five finalists for the Architect of the Year 2018 award. These are architects who have significantly contributed to architecture in the Czech Republic over the past five years through their excellent work or by supporting quality architecture and the profession. The ceremonial announcement of the results of the tenth edition of the competition will take place on September 11, 2018, at CAMP in Prague.
The Architect of the Year award does not evaluate a lifetime achievement nor seeks the best building from the past year. Its goal is to recognize a personality who has contributed significantly to the emergence of quality construction or demonstrated commitment in the field of architecture over the last five years. “By awarding this prize, we aim to highlight the importance and significance of architecture and its creators for our lives and the cultural development of society and also strive to promote awareness and the promotion of architecture,” says Pavel Sehnal, chairman of the ABF board.
Members of this year's jury (architects Adam Gebrian, Josef Pleskot, Regina Loukotová, Marcela Steinbachová, and last year's winner, artist Kateřina Šedá) evaluated 16 nominations, among which were Petr Hájek, Emil Přikryl, Martin Rajniš, Marek Štěpán, David Kraus, Klára Brůhová, Libor Foukal, Leoš Válka, Dagmar Vernerová, Yvette Vašourková, Igor Kovačević, Milena Hauserová-Radová, Mjölk, CBA - Miroslav Vodák and Tomáš Zdvihal, Zdeněk Fránek, Petr Hlaváček, and Roman Koucký. These are primarily practicing architects, but among them are also theorists, curators, publishers of professional publications, educators, representatives of institutions, and other supporters of architecture. The jurors also pointed out additional names, organizations, or groups who deserved attention. They also emphasized the significance of the position of city architect, which is increasingly being implemented in Czech municipalities.

Finalists - Architect of the Year 2018
The jury's effort is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of each nominee. “We observe the overall contribution of the nominated personality to society, their professional and moral integrity, their influence on the emergence of quality architecture, the development of the environment, their professional level, and personal commitment,” says jury member Josef Pleskot. Five personalities have advanced to the finals, and the jury also decided to grant one honorary mention.
Jury justification: Two architects who systematically deal with contemporary architecture, especially in České Budějovice. They lecture, discuss, inspire, compare, explain, criticize, and organize. They are invited to present across the country, promote architectural competitions, and contribute significantly to a better understanding of the role of architecture in society. In 2016, they published a two-volume guide to architecture that describes the background of the emergence of buildings from public sources in the South Bohemian region and Upper Austria – a useful resource for examples of good practice from 1990-2015.
Activities of the association: The CBArchitektura platform, founded by Miroslav Vodák (1979), a graduate of the FA CTU in Prague, and Tomáš Zdvihal (1986), a graduate of the Faculty of Art and Architecture at TU in Liberec, was established as an informal association of architects who feel an unwritten responsibility to their city and strive to influence both its current form and the discussion about long-term visions. In addition to their own design practice, their goal is to create conditions for the emergence of quality architecture. Their activities have long surpassed the borders of the city of České Budějovice. They promote architecture in small municipalities and cities across the country. Miroslav Vodák is a member of the Commission for Architecture and Urban Development of the city of České Budějovice.
Jury justification: A dynamic architect, educator, and troubadour of Czech architecture. In this context, he is an unusual personality primarily due to his creative approach, courage, and outreach. He is among the authors of dozens of inventive, original designs for various buildings, many of which have been realized. The public is most attracted to the Sky Walk in Dolní Morava (2015), while his more intimate constructions include prayer rooms for the Church of Brethren from 2010 - in Černošice and Litomyšl, the latter with an impressive cross by Václav Cigler. The Chinese professional public certainly did not overlook the CCC - Czech China Contemporary gallery in Beijing (2013).
Brief biography: An architect and educator, dean of the FUA TU in Liberec. He was born in 1961 in Boskovice. After studying at the Faculty of Architecture at VUT in Brno, he worked at ÚHA in Blansko, and in 1989 founded Fránek Architects. Currently, he engages in design, publishing, and teaching activities both at home and abroad. As an educator, he has taught at the FA VUT in Brno, VŠB in Ostrava, ARCHIP in Prague, and at TU in Liberec. He habilitated in 2008 at AVU in Prague, and in 2011 he completed the professorial procedure at VŠUP in Prague. Since 2012, he has been the dean of the Faculty of Art and Architecture at the Technical University in Liberec. He has realized numerous exhibitions and lectures for professionals and students at universities in the Czech Republic and abroad. His most significant realizations include, apart from those mentioned in the justification, a family house on Červený kopec, 1998-2004; a castle in Velké Opatovice, 1992-2007; Concrete House, Prague, 2005; Pavilion Vítkovice, Ostrava, 2010; Energy Central No. 6 Ostrava - Vítkovice, 2012; a family house in Croatia, 2014; Research Center Liko-Noe, Slavkov u Brna, 2015, etc.
Jury justification: A prominent architect of the middle generation and an influential educator. His realizations represent exceptional achievements in the field of architecture, extending into other disciplines as well. His work reacts to context while remaining distinct and experimental. He engages not only in individual building projects but also in long-term urbanism. Notable works include the Krkonošské Center for Environmental Education in Vrchlabí (2013), the concept of a pavilion at the Venice Biennale (2016), or the winning competition design for the reconstruction of the Ostrava slaughterhouse into a gallery (2017). Currently, he completed the extension of the DOX Center for Contemporary Art in Prague and the renovation of the water tower in Letná for a children's and youth house and nursery school. Among other things, he actively exhibits and is a co-author of several publications.
Brief biography: A practicing architect, professor at the Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague, and head of the architecture studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava. He was born in 1970 in Karlovy Vary. After studying at the FA CTU in Prague and the School of Architecture at AVU in Prague, he founded the architectural office HŠH architekti together with Tomáš Hradečný and Jan Šépka in 1998, and in 2009 his own architectural office Petr Hájek Architekti, s. r. o. Significant completed projects include: Upper Square in Olomouc, 2001 (HŠH architekti), Archdiocesan Museum Olomouc, 2006 (HŠH architekti), Riding Hall - multifunctional hall in Litomyšl, 2013 (HŠH architekti); Adjustments to the Castle Hill in Litomyšl, 2016 (HŠH architekti), KCEV - Education Center of the Krkonošsko National Park, 2014, Chameleon House, 2014, extension of the DOX+ Center for Contemporary Art, 2018; reconstruction of the water tower in Prague 7, 2018, or the terraces of the Lucerna Palace, 2017. He has received numerous awards for his work both in the Czech Republic and abroad. He is the founder and chairman of the board of the Art-Now Foundation to support art and talent and the founder of the LEA – Laboratory of Experimental Architecture association.
Jury justification: Petr Hlaváček is a deeply socially engaged personality. His high social sensitivity has always been reflected in his architectural work and over the past five years has grown into public engagement with the establishment of a new planning and development authority for Prague - IPR. He has done and continues to do much for the creation of a new progressive planning document, the so-called Metropolitan Plan for Prague. He actively popularizes the work of IPR and zealously seeks to gain general respect for it. In recent months, he has thoughtfully decided to directly enter politics, which can be perceived as a logical outcome of all his previous professional and social efforts and as proof that his genuine engagement is pure.
Brief biography: An educator at the Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague and a practicing architect in the office Headhand architekti, s. r. o. He was born in 1961 in Gottwaldov, graduated from the FA CTU in Prague, served as the vice-dean for development at the FA CTU in Prague from 2010-2015, and worked as the director of the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague (IPR) from 2015-2016, currently serving there as the chairman of the advisory council. An architect should strive primarily to perceive and respect the qualities and needs of the whole, in his opinion. He considers the balance and harmony of the built environment to be its greatest quality and value. Notable works include, for example, the accommodation facility of the AV ČR Library in Jenštejn, 2011 (collaboration: M. Hlaváčková, O. Korčák, M. Hlaváčková Jr., M. Draslar); Residential Building at U Michelského Mlýna, Prague 5-Michle, 2005 (collaboration: H. Seho, J. Dostál); Reconstruction of the Czech Embassy in Brasília, 2010 (collaboration: M. Hlaváčková, O. Korčák).
Jury justification: A trio of former students from the Faculty of Art and Architecture in Liberec decided to stay in Liberec and have been professionally active there for ten years. They do not cry, complain, or lament poor external conditions; they work. They realize buildings, participate in competitions and workshops around the world, and contribute to revitalizing public space in Liberec by running various cultural and social activities, including managing their own pub. In this way, they show other students that it is possible to establish your own office after school, work independently, achieve solid results, and still have fun.
Studio activities: The Liberec studio was founded in 2008 by Jan Mach (1981), Lukáš Holub (1977), and Jan Vondrák (1981) and has since been supplemented by four other architects. According to them, the main focus of their work is primarily fun and interesting clients, whose dreams they strive to fulfill. The studio extends beyond architecture, influencing the happenings around us, supporting, and organizing interesting events (e.g., the establishment of the Ki-no Liberec film festival or wilderness running competitions). It gained attention for constructing a public sauna at the Liberec dam in 2010, intending to highlight the unlimited possibilities of cultivating public places and public life, requiring only an idea, enthusiasm for a good cause, and a little money. Other projects include the construction of a lookout tower in Heřmanice, 2012, or the Forest Villa in Stará Boleslav in 2017. They have successfully participated in numerous competitions (2nd place in the international A Room for London competition, 2010; 1st place in the Warming Huts competition and subsequent realization of the project in Canada, 2012; 1st place in the invited architectural competition for the Kubík department store in Česká Třebová, 2015, etc.). They were guest architects at FUA TU in Liberec.

ARCHITECT OF THE COMMUNITY 2018
The Architect of the Year competition is organized by ABF, a. s., for the tenth year. An integral part of this is also the Architect of the Community award - a title awarded by the Ministry of Regional Development, the Union of Towns and Municipalities, and the magazine Moderní obec. The expert jury, working in the same composition as in the Architect of the Year 2018 competition, recommended three projects from ten submitted nominations to the organizers for further consideration, while the laureate will be decided by the organizers themselves:
Jury justification: Sometimes it is enough to restore things to their original state, technically improve them, and use them properly. The result is then a reflection of the synergy between the investor (the municipality), the architect, and the user. The kindergarten in Nové Sedlice exemplifies this crucial synergy.
Jury justification: The jury praised the comprehensive, persistent, and publicly open approach to the regeneration of public spaces in the Ostrava housing estate Fifejdy I.
Jury justification: It often happens that large and complex tasks start with an apparent detail. In Prostřední Bečva, this seems to be a similar case. From the artistic solution of one façade to an overall consideration of the role and form of the public space in the village. From the submitted materials, it is evident that the collaboration between the municipality and the architects has become more solid and is yielding the first, very cultivated results.

Announcement of Results
The ceremonial event with the awarding of the Architect of the Year 2018 prize and the Architect of the Community 2018 prize will take place on September 11, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the spaces of the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning (CAMP) in Prague. The Architect of the Year 2018 award will be presented by last year's laureate Kateřina Šedá. The event will be hosted by Daniela Písařovicová.

More information >