The buildings of the Plzeň Region are a synagogue, a glass pavilion, and a bridge

photo: Ivan Němec

Plzeň - The Old Synagogue in Plzeň, Glass Pavilion in Klatovy, new communications and a bridge in Plzeň, and a corporate administrative building in Rokycany became the Buildings of the Year for the Plzeň Region in 2014. In the 12th year of the competition, 22 buildings competed in five categories, six fewer than the previous year; 39 buildings had registered. No award was given in the public spaces category. CTK was informed by the competition spokesperson Martina Kurfirstová.
    In the new construction category, the administrative building of the company Brusivo in Rokycany won, praised by the jury for its clean functional and shape design and experimentation with materials. The Old Synagogue was first in the category of building reconstructions. Among transport and engineering constructions, the regional road Plaská - Na Roudné - Chrástecká in Plzeň was recognized for the successful reconstruction of a bridge and the construction of a new one with a delicately designed bridge deck and landscaping. The Glass Pavilion won first place in sports and leisure facilities.
    In addition to the main awards, the expert jury granted four honorable mentions. These were awarded to the health center and Penny market in Dobřany, the Biomedical Center, and the university medical center of the Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Plzeň, the wellness facility in the castle area in Hrádek near Sušice, and the enhancement of the summer cinema area in Klatovy.
    For the third year, the public chose its favorite. Voting coupons and the competition website selected the Vysoká lookout tower in Tachov.
    Governor Václav Šlajs praised the RSF Elektronik facility in Stříbro, Plzeň Mayor Martin Zrzavecký recognized the new NTIS building, and the CTPVV of the University of West Bohemia. The Plzeň Chamber of Commerce Award goes to Techmania for the second phase of the hall reconstruction, while the Association of Building Entrepreneurs recognized a portion of the Domažlická - Křimická circuit in Plzeň.
    "A new feature was the sixth category - buildings for housing. This year, no projects were submitted for this category yet, but it holds great promise for the future. We have experience from past years that the number of high-quality and architecturally valuable residential buildings is continuously increasing,” said Miloslav Zeman, chairman of the Plzeň Chamber of Commerce.
    The title of Building of the Year 2013 was awarded last year to the new athletic stadium in Plzeň, the revitalized square in Stříbro, and the extension of the Sušice Museum. The public was interested in the restoration of Santos Island in Sušice.