Finalists of the Architect of the Year Award 2014

The expert jury, after a lively discussion during its evaluation meeting, selected the finalists for the Architect of the Year 2014 award. We can look forward to this year's winner being announced on September 17, during the gala evening of the 25th International Building Fair FOR ARCH, when the results will be solemnly announced at the National House in Vinohrady in Prague. The award will once again be presented by the chairman of the jury, prof. Zdeněk Fránek, dean of the Faculty of Arts at the Technical University in Liberec:

"It is an honorary title awarded annually to an individual who has excelled, or has long excelled, in the field of architecture and has significantly contributed to its good name. This award is unique and exceptional in our country, complementing the mosaic of other awards for architectural achievements or lifetime works, motivating endeavors promoting architecture, and shedding light on the necessity of cultivating sensitivity in this area."

Overview of nominations:

For the realization of a series of exceptional buildings in recent years - the Krkonošské center for environmental education in Vrchlabí, which sensitively responds to the natural context of the castle park and creates a highly cultivated environment for pedagogical activities aimed at understanding and protecting nature; for the family house Chameleon, which organically blends with its natural surroundings and provides an immediate experience of contact with it; for innovative and experimental approaches and assignments in teaching at the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague, which resulted in a series of public exhibitions (Anastomosis at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague) that received wide acclaim.

For the architect's significant engagement in public service (establishing and leading the Office of Public Space at the Institute of Planning and Development of Prague since 2012). The results of the Office's work are two significant documents with the potential to significantly improve the state of Prague's public spaces – the Manual for the Creation of Public Spaces and the Concept for the Banks of Prague. The architect is also involved in publishing books (Experiencing Architecture, 2013 and Bastion XXXI at the God’s Cross, with M. Cikán, 2012) and magazines, co-organizing exhibitions and public events (Gion A. Caminada, Creating Places, 2014, and MCA atelier, Table by the Window, on the table a book, 2014, House of Art in České Budějovice). In the year before last, she received the main award in the Grand Prix competition alongside her team in the MCA office for the revitalization of the Bastion near God’s Cross. In the same year and as part of the same team, she won the competition for the restoration of the state castle Bečov nad Teplou.

Photographer: Tomáš Novák

For a continuing series of architectural realizations across virtually all scales and assignments, which undeniably belong to the field's top tier in what is emerging in the Czech Republic. This year especially for the unique revitalization of the post-industrial district of Lower Vítkovice with a vision of connecting creative education and industry, aiming to redefine the identity of a long-neglected part of the city. Contemporary architecture in this case strengthens the typically industrial character of the place along with a new ambitious conference, cultural, visual arts, and music-festival program of regional significance. Also for a long-term intensive defense of architecture in the public discourse, recently supported by an unusually clear and open public stance while preserving the principles of democracy in higher education.


prof. Ing. arch. Martin Rajniš / Huť architektury – exhibition at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague

For an extraordinarily high-quality architectural creation, which, with its long-term focus on the simple building principles of joining and assembling wood, demonstrates the entire breadth and complexity of architecture as a field, as well as the issue of sustainability. For public appearances, and for representing Czech architecture abroad. For a clear and very convincing demonstration that a true Creator needs only very few resources to create original architecture.

“We need to start creating differently: instead of design and aesthetics, let’s draw inspiration from the deep laws of nature. To immerse ourselves in the environment, in the system from which we have emerged.”
Martin Rajniš

The exhibition presents a retrospective of the work of architect Martin Rajniš and his studio, focusing on the last 12 years. Martin Rajniš has made his mark on the map of world architecture with significant projects that unite the idea of long-term sustainability, ecology, and the perception of architecture as a tool for community-society development. The starting point of his work is the philosophy of so-called “natural architecture.”
 
Martin Rajniš's work focuses on smaller buildings constructed from natural materials (wood, stone, glass), and seeks paths that would, with minimal resources and with great humility toward existing buildings and landscapes, serve the widest group of users and return architecture to its key position in human civilization, which seems to be significantly threatened in the current world.
 
On May 19, 2014, Martin Rajniš received the prestigious "Global Award for Sustainable Architecture" in Place du Trocadéro in Paris, awarded annually since 2007 by the Lokus Foundation for exceptional contributions to world architecture.

The expert jury consisted of:
Chairman
prof. Ing. arch. Zdeněk Fránek, FUA TU in Liberec, Fránek Architects
Members
doc. Ing. arch. Antonín Novák, ARCHITEKTI D.R.N.H.
doc. Ing. arch. Michal Kohout, FA ČVUT in Prague, Quality of Housing Center o. s., UNIT architects s.r.o.
Ing. arch. Regina Loukotová, Ph.D., ARCHIP, GEM architects, s.r.o.
Ing. arch. MgA. Osamu Okamura, reSITE, ARCHIP, ERA21