Famous Finalists of the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture

The European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation announced on February 10 the names of five finalists for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe 2009, one of the most important and prestigious architectural awards in the world.

The award, named after one of the greatest architects in the world, the German Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969), was established in 1988, and to this day, the fundamental criterion for awarding the recognition has remained the same: the European Union aims to highlight the role and significance of architecture as a driver of creativity and innovation, as well as the unique contribution of European professionals in the development of new ideas and technologies. The selected finalists are: Multimodal Center – Nice Tramway, Nice (France), Atelier Marc Barani; Zenith Music Hall, Strasbourg (France), Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas; University Luigi Bocconi, Milan (Italy), Grafton Architects; The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo (Norway), Snøhetta; Library, Senior Citizens’ Centre and City Block Core Zone, Sant Antoni’s District; and Barcelona (Spain), RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes.

The European Commissioner for Education, Culture and Multilingualism, Ján Figel, stated: – Each of the selected projects is proof that investing in European architectural talent, creativity, and innovation is worthwhile. For the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009, promoting new ideas is as important as highlighting entrepreneurial efforts. I am particularly pleased that a series of lectures on the finalist projects will be held by the architects themselves on April 22 in Barcelona, thus bringing them closer to the general public. The winner of the Mies van der Rohe Award will be announced in May. The finalists were selected from 340 projects proposed by members of the European Council of Architects and other national architectural institutions and advisory bodies. The expert committee is chaired by Francis Rambert, and the members are: Ole Bouman, Lluís Hortet, Irena Fialová, Fulvio Irace, Luis M. Mansilla, Vasa J. Perović, and Carmen Pinós.

Francis Rambert stated: – We were impressed by the quality of the selected projects, many of which explore important urban issues of infrastructure and renewal as well as the development of new typologies. In a wide range, each of the works imaginatively responded to the given context and conditions. Among the winners from previous years were architectural names such as: Rem Koolhaas and Ellen van Loon, Zaha Hadid, Dominique Perrault, Peter Zumthor, Rafael Moneo, and Álvaro Siza Vieira. The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies van der Rohe 2009 is funded under the Union’s cultural programs. It is awarded biennially for works completed in the previous two years. The expert committee also awards a special recognition to a young architect.

A traveling exhibition of the winning works is planned for September this year. In addition to this award, the Union’s cultural program also funds the annual European Union Prize for Contemporary Pop Music (EBBA), the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage, and soon the European Union Prize for Literature.