This year's KOMA MODULAR architectural competition has its winners

Prague - The jury was addressed not only by elegant works but also by bold ones.

In June, a meeting of the jury took place, consisting of Tomáš Brix, Juraj Smoleň, Petr Šikola, Ondřej Chybík, and Michal Krištof, which after five hours of deliberation and discussions on thirteen competitive proposals identified three winners.

The assignment of the architectural competition was the revitalization of a vast unmaintained plot of the former Kras-Haka factory complex in Brno, located in close proximity to Mendlovo náměstí, which played one of the key roles in evaluating the results. The fundamental criteria were adherence to two main conditions of the competition assignment - a considerate integration of the proposal into the existing urban structure and the creation of aesthetically and dispositionally high-quality forms of social housing.

After several rounds of discussion and viewing of the competition works, the jury unanimously selected the three best proposals that stood out the most for their consideration of the surroundings, aesthetic quality, interesting ideas, and cultivated presentation forms.

The jury's opinion on the winning projects

An interesting connection of existing and new development with a generous element. It partially aligns with the street lines and creates a sufficiently spacious internal area with the possibility of access to the surrounding development. It preserves fragments of the original buildings and creates a large, meticulously designed community courtyard. Within the layouts, the jury highlights quality thinking about community housing with an emphasis on building community while respecting the context. The presentation is modest, clear, and at a high aesthetic level.

A high-quality comprehensive proposal with a clear presentation that is feasible. Although the details regarding setback distances and sunlight occasionally fail, the jury mainly finds prevailing qualities in the hierarchy of public spaces, the creation of quality housing in the greenery of the courtyards, which have a permeable structure. The indicated phasing takes advantage of the benefits of modular architecture. While the modularity is acknowledged, it still possesses an exceptionally high-quality aesthetic expression. The complexity of the entire proposal is supported not only by quality visualizations but also by a physical model.

3rd place - (authors: Bc. Kryštof Foltýn, Bc. Jaroslav Matoušek):
This is an avant-garde approach that deserves appreciation. An unconventional yet conceptual way of thinking. The bravery of the concept and its potential quality surpasses local significance to a city-wide scale. It fulfills Brno's desire for water. It communicates with the historical context of the given urban quarter. It utilizes the potential of modular architecture to create quality duplex apartments. Unfortunately, their presentation in the form of visualizations is missing. The urbanism in contact with the historical development and the overall figure of the design appears awkward. However, the jury positively assesses the incorporation of the heating plant into the life of the city.

Award Ceremony and Prize Amounts for Winning Projects

The authors of the three best projects were awarded prizes of 30, 20, and 10 thousand crowns according to their success ranking. The ceremonial presentation of these prizes took place on June 26 at the World Expo EXPO 2015 in Milan, where KOMA MODULAR is realizing the construction of the Czech exhibition pavilion this year. In addition to the financial reward, the winners of the competition were provided with a visit to the Expo as well as the historical center of Milan, including transport and accommodation.