Lead Dušan 2022 - competition results

The main awards of the largest student architectural and design competition in the Czech Republic were awarded this year to the projects Searching for a Garden City in Nový Střížkov by Anna Mahdalová and the Rhea wicker cradle by Tereza Horičková. The award for the best atelier went to the Jaroš, Bednář atelier for the project Collaboration of design students from the FA CTU and top craftsmen under the project Bohemian Perfection and the Valouch, Stibral atelier, whose students worked on the houses 'Na dráze'. This year's announcement of results returned to the Faculty of Architecture, where an exhibition of student works will take place for the next two weeks.
The winners were selected by two juries in two categories. In the first category, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, the jury included Peter Bednár, Michal Marcinov, Markéta Smrčková, Radek Toman, and Markéta Zdebská. The jury’s selection was framed by foreign experiences and experiences from the academic environment. The jury appreciated projects that also addressed the immediate surroundings of the buildings, seeking new and fresh approaches to social issues as well as quality craftsmanship and comprehensive and clear presentations.
"While most of the school was satisfied with designing those proverbial standard roofs overhead, Anna Mahdalová designed a truly distinctive, unique neighborhood with a human scale and a friendly character." Radek Toman praised the winning work of Anna Mahdalová, which dealt with Searching for a Garden City in the Kuzemenský, Kunarová atelier.
At the same time, the jury criticized the low average quality of the faculty and assignments that do not reflect current social topics. Juror Peter Bednár wrote about the school: "The nominated ateliers and designs offer quality that is a pleasure to look at, with well-assigned topics and a high level of processing across all projects. The high personal commitment of both instructors and students is immediately evident. However, these qualities are unfortunately more of an exception from the perspective of the entire faculty."
First place in the atelier category was awarded to the duo Valouch, Stibral and their students. "The beautiful assignment 'Na dráze' (places in Prague along the railway) offers an opportunity to seek, think, and discuss a common and also social theme while finding specific places, their poetry, their problems, and responding, correcting, creating, finding solutions." summarizes juror Markéta Zdebská. This year, no individual or atelier was nominated from the Institute of Landscape Architecture.
In the jury for the second category, Design, were Eduard Herrmann, Monika Martykánová, and Petra Vlachynská.
"I appreciate the sensitively addressed details, such as the attachment of the basket with leather straps, making part of the basket removable and allowing it to be hung in space like a swing or a simple 'brake' against swinging in the form of two logs that are inserted into the swinging mechanism." Monika Martykánová said about the winning project of the wicker children's cradle Rhea by Tereza Horičková. The work was processed in the Jaroš, Bednář atelier.
Ateliers with unclear assignments or unnecessary sheets that contained only photographs or models were criticized.
"With the jury, we selected the Jaroš, Bednář atelier as the winning atelier. In this atelier, we believe the most successful works emerged, both in terms of execution and overall presentation. The selected theme of crafts may have contributed to this. Many used it to realize their objects in extracurricular craft workshops, where they could familiarize themselves with the techniques first-hand." Eduard Herrmann said about the winning atelier.
The announcement took place at the Faculty of Architecture on Thursday, March 3, where the exhibition will continue until March 17.
Organizers from the student association also expressed solidarity with Ukraine and offered their help to everyone at the school without exception. They also mentioned the necessity of mutual empathy in the school, intolerance of unfair treatment, and the importance of mental health. After the announcement, guests could stay in the faculty and view the exhibition, enriched with the jury's texts.
In this year's edition of the Lead Dušan, the Architecture Students' Association decided to focus on the environment in which education takes place – namely, the environment of the Faculty of Architecture. On the platform olovenydusan.cz, they offer other students and employees of the Faculty of Architecture the opportunity to express their thoughts about the future of the school. The responses will be used as a basis for discussion with the faculty.
Every student of the faculty automatically participates in the Lead Dušan competition, founded in 1993 by members of the association, by submitting a semester studio project (first and final years are exempt). Independent expert juries (separately for design and architecture) visit the exhibition and select the highest quality from the processed assignments. The goal of the competition is to provide an external perspective on education, which aims to bring reflection to both teachers and the students themselves.
An overview of all nominated works and a record of the award ceremony can be found at olovenydusan.cz.
We offer interviews with winners and organizers.

Awards:
Architecture Individuals - Anna Mahdalová, Kuzemenský, Kunarová atelier - Searching for a Garden City
Architecture Atelier - Atelier Valouch, Stibral - Na dráze
Design Individuals - Tereza Horičková, Jaroš, Bednář atelier - Rhea Children's Cradle
Design Atelier - Atelier Jaroš, Bednář - Collaboration of design students from FA CTU and top craftsmen under the Bohemian Perfection project

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