<p>Archweb Award 2006: Martin Rajniš</p>

Architect Martin Rajniš (1944) has been sailing in the warm currents of Czech architecture almost since graduating from university (1969). During his postgraduate studies at the AAU (1972), he worked during the rigid normalization period in the Liberec SIAL under the guidance of the doyen of Czech architecture in the second half of the 20th century - Karel Hubáček. This training likely sparked his great interest in the technical aspects of buildings, which were typical of the "machinist" SIAL. The most prominent building from his time at SIAL is undoubtedly the Department Store Máj on Národní Street. A flash of light in dark times was certainly the realization of the exhibition at Expo 86 "History of Transport". After the Velvet Revolution, Martin Rajniš worked at the Prague VŠUP (1990-97) and developed a very successful career in the 90s with D.A. Studio. After its spontaneous dissolution, he first founded the office H.R.A. and subsequently E-M.R.A.K. The main focus of his interest became the development and implementation of the structural system SSBS.
The editorial team of archiweb sees in the personality of Martin Rajniš a very significant impulse for the domestic scene. Rajniš is an icebreaker navigating the freezing waters of Czech construction. The increasing number of regulations, norms, and subjective whims in Czech construction has received a slap in the form of Rajniš's houses, which may lead to reflection. Rajniš used the best possible tool - architecture. His work inspires the youngest generation and calls for not remaining in stereotypes. Since we consider the houses of architect Martin Rajniš to be the most interesting contribution to the current discussion on modern architecture in the Czech Republic, we award him this year's Archiweb Prize.