The building of the year in the Plzeň Region is an administrative building in Plzeň

Plzeň – The newly built administrative building Konplan in Borská Pole in Plzeň and the housing in detached family houses with gardens called the Bolevec Area in Plzeň are the Buildings of the Year 2019 in the Plzeň Region. The winners of the 17th annual competition were announced by the jury this evening in Plzeň. This year, 37 new constructions, building reconstructions, new sports facilities, public spaces, or transport structures entered the competition in several categories. The number of entries was the highest in the last eight years. The jury selected 19 nominations, from which the winners emerged.

The Konplan administrative building earned its title for its original design and convincing execution. According to the jury, the building stands out with a facade made of metal slats, which are occasionally interrupted by green islands. "We awarded the prize for a sovereign architectural achievement, which, also thanks to its urban qualities, significantly surpasses the regional scale," commented the choice by jury member Petr Klíma. The Konplan building also won in the public voting. The second Building of the Year is the Bolevec Area, where the arrangement of family houses on the edge of the plot replaces the 3.5-meter-high noise barrier walls that would otherwise have to be constructed here. "We particularly appreciated the original scheme of development and the expressionately pure contemporary architecture that managed to connect with the charm of old farms and estates," stated the chairman of the jury Miloslav Michalec.

The jury award went to the new library in Spálené Poříčí for integrating the new building into the overall context of the historical development, and an honorable mention from the jury went to the renovation of the kindergarten in Klenčí pod Čerchovem. The jury highlighted especially the imaginative solution of the garden with play and experiential elements made from natural materials that utilize rainwater.

The award from the Plzeň Region Governor was given for inventive technical solutions for the renovation of the historical bridge and the addition of an attractive footbridge on the Pňovany-Bezdružice railway line. The City of Plzeň Mayor’s Award was given to Bytový dům Sylván in Plzeň.

The award from the Plzeň Regional Chamber of Commerce also went to a residential building. "The Apartment Building on Radyňská Street deserved the award especially for how its unconventional solution sets it apart from the often banal treatment of facades of insulated buildings. From the outside, it surprises with raw metal plates with a rusty patina while fitting into the context of the street, shaped at the end of the 19th century. Its residential qualities must also be appreciated," evaluated Petr Chvojka, the chairman of the chamber's board.

The Union of Entrepreneurs in Construction in the Czech Republic also awarded a residential building. The Papírnická residential complex in Plzeň offers a quiet courtyard with trees, without parking spaces, which are located in another part of the building. The private spaces of the apartments and the inner courtyard with a generous communal terrace open towards the Radbuza River.