Nominees for the Architect of the Year 2015 Award Announced

The expert jury, after a lively discussion, selected the finalists for the Architect of the Year 2015 award. The winner will be presented on September 16 during the gala evening of the 26th International Building Fair FOR ARCH at PVA EXPO PRAHA in Letňany. The award will be presented by the chairwoman of the jury, Regina Loukotová, rector of ARCHIP, and Pavel Sehnal, chairman of the board of ABF, a.s. The nominees were:

Adam Gebrian

Discussion with students of FA VUT in Brno, photo Remy Pavlovská

Adam Gebrian is an exception among Czech architects. He engages in the promotion of architecture. This includes everything related to the improvement of the state of Czech architecture, namely, raising public awareness about architecture, promoting good architecture, and criticizing poor architecture. His tireless publishing and discussion activity in the public space aimed at increasing awareness of architectural culture both in our country and in the world is ubiquitous and unmistakable, as if he were aware that he is the only architect undertaking this noble activity. From internet multimedia to print media to radio, he is also active in public forums, public conferences, as an architectural advisor, and as an initiator of architectural competitions. He is indispensable and irreplaceable in today's contemporary architecture, which is often hostile to such endeavors.

Petr Hájek

A great architect, an outstanding and charismatic educator. His architectural work can move world architecture forward. The results of the projects led by his students are events of the year. Each of his further buildings advances the field. A student of outstanding educators, he, as an excellent teacher, raises good architects. He ideally combines practice with theory.

KCEV

Krkonošsko-Environment Center in Vrchlabí

Pavel Hnilička

Terraced House in Košíře

For the preparation of new Prague building regulations, highly professional approach during their preparation and while leading the team at the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR). For his tireless public appearances discussing these regulations and their subsequent political and media defense, as a fundamental document enabling the realization of urban construction in Prague as intensive, economical, and sustainable, aimed at improving the quality of life in the city. For long-term education, lecturing, and publishing activities in the fight against unsustainable urban expansion into the countryside in the form of so-called urban sprawl, for unique research in our country on optimal densities of urban development in relation to the quality of living, and in connection with the relationship between the city and the countryside. Last but not least, also for his active and responsible work in the leadership of the Czech Chamber of Architects and a series of sensitive territorial and regulatory plans for the suburban Prague municipalities and their parts: Řevnice, Dobřichovice, Říčany, Mnichovice, and Ondřejov, as well as numerous architectural realizations, mostly reconstructions and new buildings of family houses in Prague and its surroundings.

Roman Koucký

For his uninterrupted thirty years of quality professional (since 1985), publishing (since 1992), and educational activity (since 1998), in the past year primarily for the completed realization of the arch bridge Trojský Most in Prague (in cooperation with Libor Kábrt, Jiří Petrák, Ladislav Šašek). The bridge, with a span of the main arch of 200.4 m and a length of 262 m, connects the banks of Holešovice and Troja and has become one of Prague's landmarks. Also for his activity as the director of the Urban Planning Section at the Institute of Planning and Development in the city, where he leads a team of experts preparing proposals for a new land use plan for Prague - the Metropolitan Plan.

Trojský Bridge, photo Ester Havlová

Ladislav Lábus

Benešov - Hotel Karlov

He is nominated for his wide socially engaged activity as the dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Czech Technical University, for long-term leadership of the architectural design studio, for his ability to defend the field in the media and public gatherings, for active work on the ground of the Czech Chamber of Architects, for participation in expert juries and review bodies, and last but not least for leading his own architectural studio and for his authorship in design.
In sum: For his long-term broadly-based active work, which is not performed merely from the perspective of a narrow point of view of an architect.
Thanks to this life stance, all of his projects and realizations concerning residential buildings have made a significant contribution to the Czech culture of living, and practically all projects realized by him and his office have demonstrated exceptional sensitivity to the context of the location and to the context of the entire Czech landscape. His realizations in the field of building renovations particularly stand out, where there is always a clear respect for old building structures and for history in general.
Recently completed family villa in Vidovice is a great example of architectural modesty, humility, and originality at the same time.

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