The Chamber of Architects is preparing a competition for the Grand Prix of Architects

Prague - The Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) plans to award a new industry prize. The competitive exhibition of completed architectural works will be called the Czech Architecture Award. To facilitate the award, the Academy of Czech Architecture will be established, whose members will include prominent figures from the field of architecture and related disciplines. The Chamber is informing about the new award on its website.
    "The specificity of the Czech Architecture Award will primarily lie in the fact that it will be an independent competition, which is still lacking in the Czech Republic," said the Chamber spokeswoman Zuzana Hošková to ČTK. Apart from the Building of the Year competition, which mainly focuses on construction, there are also student exhibitions of architecture or awards organized by companies and developers in the Czech Republic.
    The annual architecture award is awarded by the Association of Architects. However, it has recently faced criticism, especially from young architects. According to them, the Association fails to fulfill its mission and the prestige of its activities, including the Grand Prix for architects competition and exhibition, is declining.
    The Grand Prix, which is intended to showcase the best current architecture in the Czech Republic to as wide an audience as possible, is becoming rather a local event with little impact on the general public, according to critics.
    In addition to the Association of Architects and the Foundation for the Development of Architecture and Construction, which organizes the Building of the Year award, the ČKA is the third professional industry association. "One of ČKA's tasks is, among others, the promotion of architecture. Therefore, we would like to complement the current portfolio of the Chamber's events, which includes the Thesis Showcase and the ČKA Tribute, with a quality competition for architectural realizations that should have a broader societal impact," the spokeswoman stated. An example of the award organization for the Czech Chamber could be the well-regarded Slovak Architecture Award CE:ZA:AR, organized by the Slovak Chamber of Architects, according to them.
    The ČKA is seeking partners for the production of the award. In addition to the best realizations in several categories, the number of which could vary in individual years, it is also planned to include awards for theoretical works and recognition of both private and public investors.
    The competition will have a similar structure to other national awards, such as for design. Architects will be able to register themselves, but without registration fees, which often hinder the participation of young studios in practice. Besides that, academics who are knowledgeable about the scene will be able to nominate works at their discretion. "This will ensure comprehensive coverage and expert reflection of architectural production over the past period," says the spokeswoman.
    The award's concept also includes a year-round program consisting of accompanying events that will promote architecture throughout the year, not just on the day when the results are announced.