The Construction of the Year 2024 is Masaryčka, Imperial Baths, or the Hradec football stadium

photo: BoysPlayNice

Prague – The Construction of the Year 2024 has been awarded to the Masaryčka administrative building, the Imperial Spa, and the Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary as well as the multifunctional football stadium in Hradec Králové. The winner of the 32nd edition of the competition organized by the Foundation for the Development of Architecture and Building was selected by a jury from 38 nominees. The awards were presented today by the organizers at a ceremonial evening in Prague's Rudolfinum. The title of Foreign Building of the Year was won by the Bergtunnlar Skärholmen road bypass near Stockholm. In total, this year, the title of Construction of the Year was awarded to 15 projects and 26 special awards were given.

The Construction of the Year award was also given to the House of Services in Palkovice in the Frýdek-Místek region, the Červená Řečice castle in Pelhřimov, the renovation of the former Eggenberg Brewery in Český Krumlov, and the renovation of the Jiráskové Theater in Česká Lípa.

The jury was also impressed by the renovation and extension of the library in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm in the Vsetín region, the project Roztyly Plaza in Prague, the multifunctional complex Havlíčkova in Kroměříž, the Importo administrative building in Klatovy, the indoor swimming pool in the Znojmo district of Louka, the Prague project Smíchov City 1 and 2, and the modernization of the Hradec Králové - Pardubice - Chrudim railway.

The Prague Masaryčka, built by the Penta group, was designed by Zaha Hadid. The judges praised the unique architectural rendering of the building. They were impressed by the inventive spatial bravado of the Karlovy Vary Imperial Spa and by the exceptional approach to addressing the modern new construction of the Hradec Králové stadium, which sensitively respects the iconic elements of the original building.

At today's ceremonial evening, a number of special awards were also presented, from the Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO), for example. The residential building Nové Lauby in Ostrava received an award from the MMR and the administrative building 3 - EDU at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant in the Třebíč region received one from the MPO. For example, the Chairman of the Senate's award was given to the Holocaust Memorial for Roma and Sinti in the Czech Republic in Lety near Písek. The foundation itself awarded the Vinařství Thaya winery from the village of Havraníky in the Znojmo region.

This year, architect Zdeněk Jiran served as the chairman of the jury, alongside Martina Hovořáková, Renata Zdařilová, Miloš Rehberger, and Jan Pašek. The holders of the titles Construction of the Year 2024 received crystal awards from the Rückl glassworks, designed by designer Rony Plesl.