In this year’s edition of the Mies van der Rohe Award, the best works built in Europe and completed between April 2021 and May 2023 were awarded. This year, 362 important works from 38 European countries, nominated for the competition by experts, sought the prestigious award.
The progress of the Czech building among the finalists was a historic success for Czech architecture and the city of Ostrava. But the winner was the Study Pavilion on the campus of the Technical University in Braunschweig, Germany. The jury appreciated the sustainability of the building, but also its contribution to the cultivation of the surrounding environment. The authors of the building are the Berlin architects Gustav Düsing and Max Hacke.
Photo: Archive of the Mies van der Rohe Award competition, Iwan Baan
They won the prize for designing a highly flexible learning environment that supports social exchange and interdisciplinary knowledge creation between students and teachers.
The two-story building provides workspaces for all faculties. The pavilion with a total area of 1,500 square meters is located in the central campus right on the river and forms a new landmark. The building is wrapped in a shielded glass facade that allows views of the natural landscape and the campus square.
The city gallery of contemporary art Plato Ostrava by KWK Promes is among the five finalists in the competition for the best European building
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The building can be dismantled and built elsewhere, even in a different form
The entire building can be dismantled and built elsewhere in the world. It is also possible to change the layout of the rooms according to needs. According to the jury, it is a modern university campus that will stand the test of time when lectures and presentations take place in the digital space and AI challenges classical learning models.
The slender steel-wood hybrid construction is fully demountable. The primary supporting structure, consisting of beams and columns, is modular. The wooden rib boards inserted into the beam frames are not mechanically connected and the facade is not glued, so it can be dismantled.
The prize for budding architects was won by the building of a library in Barcelona
As part of the Mies van der Rohe Award, the prize for the best budding architectural studio (Emerging Architecture Prize for 2024) is also announced. The Gabriel García Márquez Library in Barcelona from the Suma Arquitectura studio, founded by Elena Orte and Guillermo Sevillano in Madrid, is proud of it.
The jury was charmed by the interior and exterior of the building, which contributes to the cohesion of the local community.
Photo: Archive of the Mies van der Rohe Award competition, Jesús Granada
Gabriel García Márquez’s library in Spain was designed by the Suma Arquitectura studio.
The award ceremony itself will take place in May at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona. The winner will also receive a financial award and a sculpture by the artist Xavier Corberó inspired by the Barcelona Pavilion.
The first prize will bring its owner 1.5 million crowns. A special award to the architect of the best building will earn approximately half a million crowns.
The Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture was awarded to Peter Pennoyer. He designs buildings whose beauty will last
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Tags: European building year Study Pavilion Braunschweig jury appreciated easy disassembly
