The buildings of the Plzeň region also include the fountains in Republic Square

Plzeň - The new headquarters of the Fortis company in Plzeň, the reconstructed castle Hrádek near Sušice, a biomass cogeneration unit at Plzeňská teplárenská, and three fountains in the square in Plzeň have today been named Buildings of the Plzeň Region 2010 in their respective categories. A record 44 buildings entered the competition, which is ten more than last year. In five categories, 13 buildings were nominated for the title.
      The competition, which took place this year for the eighth time, continues to gain prestige among architects, designers, contractors, and investors, and even a nomination is an accolade, said Miloslav Michalec, the head of the expert jury, to ČTK today.
      The jury awarded a special prize for the successful reconstruction of Santini's Chapel of St. Wenceslaus and St. Adalbert in Ostrov near Stříbro. "For creating a distinctive contemporary work of abstract forms in the historical context of a prestigious urban space," the jurors stated. The Governor's award went to the restoration of the birthplace of Augustin Němejec in Nepomuk, and the Mayor's award to the residential building Borský park. The Plzeň Chamber of Commerce evaluated the square in Dobřany as the most successful reconstruction. The Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians awarded the technical facility of the new Škoda Transportation building.
      The Fortis headquarters, which won in the new construction category, is an administrative building and warehouse of a company selling tobacco products and smoking accessories. It was designed by the architectural team Hausner/Spěváček. According to the jurors, the work is balanced in terms of operation, architecture, and technology. The Hrádek castle, registered by Šumavaplan, received an award in the category of building reconstruction "for a sensitive restoration that creates a unified and harmonious whole." The biomass cogeneration unit won among transport and engineering buildings due to its contribution to ecological energy production in Plzeň. In the public space category, the three fountains in Plzeň won. No award was given in the fifth category for sports and leisure buildings.
      "The purpose of highlighting the values associated with current events in the field of architectural art is even more significant in connection with the title of European Capital of Culture for 2015. Plzeň has much to build on. It is enough to mention the classic of modern architecture Adolf Loos," said Mayor Martin Baxa.
      "The aim of the competition is to popularize the fields of architecture and construction, support the building trades, and contribute to motivating investors, architects, construction companies, and municipalities to develop our region and beautify it through successful and subsequently awarded reconstructions," said Governor Milan Chovanec.
      The title of Building of the Year 2009 in the Plzeň Region was awarded to the Puppet Museum in Plzeň in the reconstructions category. Among new constructions, the administrative building with a dining room APB Plzeň in Losiná won. In the leisure building category, the lookout tower at Sedlo near Sušice found no competition. A special award in the reconstruction category went to Gallery 13 in Plzeň.