Current House: Winners of the National Rounds of the Competition

The competition was organized as part of the Via Villas project, which aims to raise awareness of residential architecture in the Visegrad countries and Slovenia in terms of both education and the preservation and conservation of cultural heritage. The project includes the publication of books such as Famous Villas of Hungary, Famous Villas of Poland, and Famous Villas of Slovenia, which detail the villa architecture of the respective countries through text and visual material. Architects, art theorists, and other experts are involved in their creation. Versions are planned in Hungarian, Polish, Slovenian, and English (Famous Villas of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, and Famous Villas of Slovakia have already been published). The presentations of the books will be accompanied by traveling exhibitions in all Visegrad countries. The outputs of the entire project will be presented at an international conference and exhibition of residential architecture from the Visegrad countries, which will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels in May 2013.

The subject of the competition Contemporary House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects was the preparation of a design proposal for a family house for a family of four. The aim was to find an architectural solution that would reflect local specifics of historical and modern residential architecture, with the support of local traditions distinguishing itself from uniform development being considered a very important criterion. The sense of the project was a challenge for mutual comparison of the youngest architectural creations of students from the Visegrad countries. The goal was to respond to current issues of individual housing and lifestyle and to try to offer a vision for the future of family housing that reflects both the specific traditions and conditions of individual regions, as well as the common foundation of European culture.

In the Czech Republic, the competition Contemporary Czech House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects was organized in collaboration with architecture faculties of Czech universities (CTU Prague, VUT Brno, TU Liberec, and VŠB-TU Ostrava). The results of the competition were announced on Monday, April 16, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture of CTU in Prague. At the same time, the opening of the exhibition Contemporary Czech House took place, featuring 12 Czech entries by students from three Czech universities. Additionally, 25 works by Polish students from the competition "Contemporary Polish House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects" were presented together.

In Poland, the competition was organized by the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice in collaboration with the Museum of Architecture in Wrocław. The results of the Polish national competition were presented on January 19, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, concurrently with the opening of the exhibition of 33 competition entries.

In Slovakia, the competition Contemporary Slovak House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects was organized by the Faculty of Architecture STU in Bratislava in collaboration with Foibos Books SK and the results were announced on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture STU in Bratislava. Simultaneously, the opening of the eponymous exhibition took place, showcasing 25 competition entries from Slovak students.

In Slovenia, the project of the Slovenian contemporary family house was created by Eva Prelovšek Niemelä (Slovenia) and Aarne Niemelä (Finland), young architects living in Ljubljana. Their work is titled "The House at the End" of the city: A Contemporary Slovenian House at the Transition Between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea.

In Hungary, the national competition Contemporary Hungarian House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects was held in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Debrecen and the Association of Hungarian Architects. The results of the competition were announced on April 25, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Debrecen. The jury selected awards from 28 works.
An exhibition of all 28 works was presented on May 14, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Debrecen along with presentations of winning works created by young architects from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia.

The results of competition entries in all Visegrad countries were made accessible to the general public at national exhibitions associated with guided tours involving young creators.

Winners of the national competitions from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia met from May 14 to 18, 2012, at an international workshop in Debrecen, Hungary, where they could compare their works with each other and discuss them with architects, architectural historians, and educators from the Visegrad countries. They also worked together in two creative teams on the project Contemporary European House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects. The results of their workshop and additional optional works from both teams will subsequently be presented at a seminar in Brussels in May 2013, where they will be showcased along with the outputs of the entire Via Villas project.

Not only the creative engagement of the finalists but also the course and results of all national competition rounds demonstrated the interest of young architects in the given issues and fully fulfilled the purpose of the competition - a challenge for mutual comparison of the youngest architectural creations of students from the Visegrad countries and their collective responses to current issues of present and future life. There were also spontaneous calls from young architects and their educators to continue the competition in the future. Therefore, it will not remain just a single edition; the competition will also be organized in the coming years and we believe it will become a long-standing tradition.

The project was supported by the European Culture program (2007 – 2013) and the International Visegrad Fund and has been presented since the beginning of its announcement at: www.greatvillas.org
The results of the Polish national competition were presented on January 19, 2012, at the Gallery of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, concurrently with the opening of the exhibition of 33 competition entries. The organizers of the Polish competition were the Silesian University of Technology and the Museum of Architecture in Wrocław. The exhibition was held under the patronage of the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Ostrava, Anna Olszewska.

Jury of the Polish national competition:
Prof. Dr. Hab. Eng. Arch. Jacek Radziewicz-Winnicki – chair
Prof. Dr. Hab. Eng. Arch. Andrzej Niezabitowski
Dr. Eng. Arch. Magdalena Zmudzinska-Nowak
Dr. Eng. Arch. Jerzy Wojewodka
Dr. Eng. Arch. Ryszard Nakonieczny

The jury unanimously decided to award the main prize for the project:
The Podhale-Style House, authors Sylwia Dendys and Katarzyna Nycz

The contemporary Polish house inspired by the regional architecture of Podhale is based on a traditional type of dwelling from the areas of Zakopane, but at the same time alters its social structure and construction technologies. The shape of the house was strongly influenced by the mountainous landscape of Podhale and specific climatic conditions. The gabled shape of the roof translated into a modern language and the material used maintained harmony with the regional architectural landscape. The portion of the building hidden in the ground offers a wide view of the mountainous landscape of the Tatras. The house located in the open countryside blends well with its surroundings due to its terraced arrangement and the green roof of the garage at street level.



An honorable mention was awarded to the project:
Contemporary Polish House, authors: Agnieszka Szymiczek and Tomasz Kapuł

The results of the architectural competition Contemporary Czech House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects were announced on Monday, April 16, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture of CTU in Prague. At the same time, the opening of the exhibition Contemporary Czech and Polish House took place, showcasing 12 Czech competition entries from students of three Czech universities and 25 works by Polish students who participated in the national round of the competition titled Contemporary Polish House, organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice and the Museum of Architecture in Wrocław. The Czech national competition was held under the patronage of the Minister for Regional Development Kamil Jankovský, the Mayor of Prague Bohuslav Svoboda, and the Mayor of Prague 6 Marie Kousalíková. Media partners of the Czech competition were Czech Radio and Archiweb.cz.

Jury of the Czech national competition:
Ing. arch. Markéta Cajthamlová
Ing. arch. Jakub Kynčl
Ing. arch. Alexandr Skalický

The jury unanimously decided to award the following prizes:
Tomáš Čech (FA CTU) – main prize, nomination for the workshop in Debrecen, Hungary
Tomáš Hanák (FA CTU) - award
Jakub Heidler, Michal Gabaš (FA CTU) - award
Juraj Biroš, Matúš Pajor (FA CTU) - award
Martina Mlčochová and Patrik Bílý (VŠB-TU, FAST Ostrava, Department of Architecture) - award

The jury appreciated the complexity of the design represented by the purity and variability of the layout, moderation of the spatial concept, the use of simple shapes and materials, and especially the ability to perceive the building and the plot as one whole in relation to the surrounding structure of the development. The design of the “Contemporary Czech House” seeks to provide a building form beyond the metropolis. It aims to be a complete contemporary dwelling without disrupting the character and atmosphere of the surroundings. It wants to have no negative impact on the curves of the landscape, it does not want to be a "thorn in the eye" of passersby and neighbors. The goal is a friendly and humble environment both inside and outside, which knows its purpose and measure. The house does not wish to close itself off from the surroundings. It clearly defines private space and the street, yet remains open. It says: "Come in, we are glad to see you." Inside, all living rooms are visually interconnected, allowing the family to fulfill its main purpose, shared life. However, individual spaces allow for the creation of a personal intimate space. The children's zone accounts for their development. In preschool age, they play on the floor and would appreciate a large playroom; during school years, they need their own refuge but will use the "play corridor." Just before leaving home, they need a complete private space; the "living corridor" also offers them the possibility of spending time together.


The results of the competition Contemporary Slovak House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects were announced on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture STU in Bratislava. Simultaneously, the opening of the eponymous exhibition took place, showcasing 25 competition entries from Slovak students, organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture STU in Bratislava. Sponsors of the Slovak part of the competition are Baumit and the publishing house Eurostav.

Jury of the Slovak national competition:
Doc. Ing. arch. Andrea Bacová, PhD.
Ing.arch. Pavol Pokorný
Prof. Ing. arch. Ľubomír Závodný

The jury unanimously decided to award the main prize for the project:
Contemporary Slovak House, author Ondrej Kurek from Považská Bystrica

As a significant feature of the Slovak family house, I don't consider formal specifications or minor regional differences, but rather its significance in forming and creating social relationships within the family and the immediate surroundings. I design the family house for a specific plot in Trenčín. An old garden with an orchard - an atypical plot measuring 130 meters long and only 14 meters wide. Its unusual proportions, proximity to family, friends, kindergarten, work, and the city center combine the comfort of urban living with the privacy of life in the house while avoiding the risk of isolation behind the fence of a suburban satellite.
For this long garden, I propose a long house, divided into two halves. Private spaces on one side, common areas on the other. Children's rooms will fully open into a "multipurpose space" serving as a playroom, workshop, or study. The furniture on wheels can be freely moved. The house will become a corridor, with the lives of its inhabitants communicated. A young family with small children, unburdened by prejudices about living, can jointly shape their own archetypes.



The announcement of the results of the competition Contemporary Hungarian House: Through the Eyes of Young Architects took place on April 25, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Debrecen. The jury selected awards from 28 works. The ceremonial event associated with the award presentation took place along with presentations of winning works created by young architects from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic as part of the international competition Contemporary House. The opening took place on May 14, 2012, at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Debrecen. The exhibition also showcased all Hungarian competition works. The Hungarian national competition is held in collaboration with the Association of Hungarian Architects.

Jury of the Hungarian national competition:
Prof. Antal Puhl DLA
András Szalai DLA
Csaba Masznyik
János Golda DLA

The jury unanimously decided to award the main prize for the project:
Contemporary Hungarian House, authors Eszter Tusán and Márton Nagy (Szent István University)

We placed our project in the 9th district of Budapest, in Outer Ferencváros. It is an industrial area, divided into three parts: Soroksári Street, Gubacsi Street, and the area around Outer Mester Street. The site we selected is at the corner of Mester and Koppány streets. Although this location is not in the city center, it has the necessary infrastructure and is easily accessible. We chose it for its cultural charm, as it is near the House of Art and the National Theatre is also not far away.
Our project includes a factory building, which was declared a protected monument under the zoning plan in 2002. According to this plan, modern offices are to be built on the site of the former, crumbling industrial buildings. We consider the revitalization of this neglected area important, but in our concept, contrary to the zoning plan, we plan to create a residential area here.
In our project, we use the factory building as a center for contemporary art, where any kind of art can find its place. We want to create studios, workshops, and music and dance studios here. The main central part of the building will serve as a public space where artists can showcase their work.
We created a prototype of such a building, according to which buildings in the residential area will be constructed. Our goal was to create a house that reflects our national values and traditions. The shape and layout of the house were based on a traditional Hungarian farmstead with its typical arrangements. Its modern character lies in the materials used (power glass, nanocon) and operational system (land collector).



The project of the Slovenian contemporary family house was created by Eva Prelovšek Niemelä (Slovenia) and Aarne Niemelä (Finland), young architects living in Ljubljana. Their work is titled "The House at the End" of the city: A Contemporary Slovenian House at the Transition Between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea.

Slovenia is a diverse country with large differences in climate conditions and architectural heritage: from the Alps to the Mediterranean and Pannonia, to name just a few distinctly different areas. We placed our typical Slovenian house in central Slovenia because it features the highest population density and significant cultural intersections. The house meets several important criteria: the plot of 400 m2 forms a compact urban unit that fills an urban gap with a four-meter distance of built-up area from the edge of the plot; it is a low-energy house (protected from sun and cold), meeting cultural and social sustainability criteria.

This project was implemented with financial support from the European Union. The author is solely responsible for the content of the message. The opinions expressed do not represent the views of the European Commission, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use of the information contained therein.