Plzeň is looking for the best new buildings over the past four years and will award the Hanuš Zápal Awards for the sixth time

Plzeň - Plzeň is again searching for the best and unique new constructions that have emerged in the last four years. It has announced the sixth year of the Hanuš Zápal Award, for which nominations can be submitted until April 22 for buildings completed in the city from 2022 to 2025, the city hall informed CTK in a press release today.

The prestigious city architectural award is named after Hanuš Zápal, a significant Plzeň architect from the first half of the 20th century. As a city architect, he played a fundamental role in shaping the modern appearance of Plzeň. The award seeks and evaluates quality new constructions that have arisen within the city every four years. The purpose of the award is to stimulate public and investor interest in creating architecturally, aesthetically, and technically high-quality buildings that meet current criteria and thus elevate the building culture of Plzeň.

"Each year of the Hanuš Zápal Award reminds us of how significantly Plzeň is changing. New buildings influence the daily lives of all of us, and therefore it is important to recognize those that truly benefit the city," said Mayor Roman Zarzycký (ANO).

Nominations can be submitted by anyone who has the consent of both the author and the owner of the building. Nominations can be submitted via an online form or in writing. "We want not only professionals but also the general public to be able to participate in the competition. Anyone who perceives quality architecture in Plzeň has the opportunity to highlight buildings that deserve attention," said Irena Vostracká, director of the Concept and Development Department of the City of Plzeň. According to her, each previous year has shown how significantly Plzeň has changed in recent years and how new buildings enrich the city both aesthetically and functionally.

The submitted buildings will be evaluated by an independent expert jury composed of architects working outside Plzeň. They will assess architectural quality, urban context, and the contribution of the buildings to the life of the city. The official announcement of the results will take place on June 16.

The award was first given for a longer period from 1990 to 2005. From 26 submitted buildings, the design of the central fire station won. In subsequent years, the winning designs were for the 6th river complex of the Plzeň Science and Technology Park, the Faculty of Design and Art Ladislav Sutnar building, the Sladová residential building in the Světovar complex, and the residential building Otýlie Beníškové in Roudná. The architect Jiří Zábran was the author of the winning designs of the last two years.

Hanuš Zápal (1885 to 1964) as a city employee designed public buildings in Plzeň - schools and social institutions, and he also focused on preserving monuments in the region. His buildings remain among the city's pride today. These include the building of the Business Academy, the so-called skyscraper, theater workshops, crematory, a double villa in the brewery, the filter building of the Puech-Chabal system in the city waterworks area, and a number of residential and school buildings.