Heal the "pains" of cities – a task for young architects

Finding a “cure” for problematic areas in cities and towns will be the task for participants in this year’s international showcase of young architectural talents, the Young Architect Award. From February 21, students and emerging architects up to the age of 33 can submit their works on the topic “Problematic Areas in Cities and Towns”. The assignments focus on the architectural flaws of real cities and towns. Competitors can help revitalize the central part of Ostrava, propose solutions for the bus station in Liberec, or choose their own location they would like to change. Their works can spark discussions about the nature of public spaces and buildings and assist local authorities in addressing specific issues. The patron of the project is the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná.

The Young Architect Award competition for a new generation of architects under 33, titled Young Architect Award 2013, enters its 5th year. This time, the organizers have chosen a current social topic as the main focus of the competition, which addresses the sensitive issue of urban planning flaws. Competitors from the Czech Republic and abroad will seek the best solutions for “Problematic Areas in Cities and Towns.” They can find their own location that, in their view, requires the intervention of an architect, and submit their work in the Initiation Study category. Participants will also have the option of choosing from assignments prepared directly by representatives of cities or towns. Here, they will apply their talent in designing modifications to specific public spaces and buildings, such as the area around Čertovka in Prague, the bus station in Liberec, Kostelní Square in Nymburk, the creation of a recreational waterfront along the Svratka River in Brno, the use of the underground of Eliáš’s Tunnel in the village of Úsilné, etc.

A challenge for the competitors is also the Holcim Award, focused on projects that, in addition to the basic assignment, meet the criteria for sustainable construction. Criteria include respect for the environment, meaningful use of financial resources, etc. Sustainability is the main creed of Holcim Česko, which has become the main partner of the competition this year.

“The Young Architect Award provides a platform for expressing opinions on the arrangement and function of public spaces and buildings in cities from the perspective of the emerging generation of architects and, on the other hand, representatives of cities and towns. I believe that the unconventional ideas of the competitors will help open public discussion about the future of problematic locations and in some cases may even become the basis for public procurement assignments,” adds Tomáš Pilař from Kuba & Pilař architects, who is the chair of this year's jury. Along with him, the submitted projects will be evaluated by Jaroslav Wertig (A69 – ARCHITEKTI), Radek Suchánek (FUA TU in Liberec), Marek Kopeć (Marek Kopeć, Ondřej Dušek Architects), and Josef Pechar (Foundation “Nadání Josefa, Marie a Zdeňky Hlávkových”).

Support for the competitors was also expressed by leading figures in both Czech and world architecture, Eva Jiřičná, who is surely a great role model for many participants in the Young Architect Award. “Young architectural blood has the greatest potential for success, and I’m rooting for them,” says Jiřičná as the patron of the competition and adds: “Having talent alone is not enough. A person must love what they do and dedicate all their energy, time, and humility to it. They must admire those around them more than themselves, learn the magical word ‘tolerance,’ and know how to lose with a smile.”

More information: www.yaa.cz

Dates for the Young Architect Award 2013:

Announcement of the 5th edition of the Young Architect Award competition	21. 2. 2013
Application deadline	3. 7. 2013
Meetings of the expert jury	5. - 6. 9. 2013
Announcement of nominations	10. 9. 2013
Ceremonial announcement of results in the Gallery of Jaroslav Fragner in Prague	18. 9. 2013
Traveling exhibition	9/2013 - 4/2014

General partner: Beton Brož s.r.o.
Main partner: Holcim (Česko) a.s.
Partners: State Fund for Culture of the Czech Republic; Center for the Support of Computer Graphics of the Czech Republic s.r.o. (GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD); Gallery of Jaroslav Fragner; Foundation “Nadání Josefa, Marie a Zdeňky Hlávkových”; FOR ARCH
Patronage: Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic, ČKAIT, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of the Environment, Capital City of Prague, statutory cities: Brno, Ostrava, Liberec, ČVUT in Prague, FUA TU in Liberec, FA VUT in Brno, FAST VŠB-TU Ostrava, ZF Mendel University in Brno, FA STU in Bratislava
Main media partners: Moderní obec, archiweb.cz
Media partners: ARCHITEKT; ERA21; ASB; Střechy-Fasády-Izolace; Fasády; Stavitel; eStav.cz