Where is contemporary Czech architecture heading? What should public spaces in cities look like? The Young Architect Award (YAA), a competitive showcase of works by young architects under 33 years old, can provide answers to these and other questions. The goal of this year's edition of the competition is to open a public discussion on the future of Czech construction and to give space to innovative ideas from the younger generation of architects. Aspiring participants, both from Czechia and abroad, can register for the third year of this competition until July 7, 2011.
The patron of the competition is Martin Rajniš | e-MRAK
The Public Space as a Challenge
This year's main theme is the functional solution of public spaces in settlements. Thanks to collaboration with the municipalities of Brno, Ostrava, and Liberec, the public will be able to get acquainted with the most interesting projects on regional themes directly in the exhibition spaces of these cities. The organizers of YAA anticipate that discussions will arise around these regional projects, engaging the wider public.
Successful architectural proposals in previous editions not only received awards in the competition but also often attracted the attention of state administration representatives. This is confirmed by Štěpán Valouch, who, along with Jiří Opočenský, is behind the design of the Hanging Park above the mouth of the Blanka tunnel: "Our proposal submitted to the Young Architect Award 2010 was developed as an ideational level for the Urban Interventions Exhibition 2010. Representatives of Prague 6 then approached us to elaborate the proposal in more detail. Recognition in the YAA competition gave our proposal another chance."
YAA is also open to talented foreign architects; in 2009, the young Portuguese architectural firm EMBAIXADA made a mark. "We learned about the competition online, and from the very first moment, we felt that we shared the same philosophy and, what’s more, that we identified with the way it is organized and with the jury's approach, which perceived architecture as a scientific discipline. The personal experience we had as participants in the competition was very positive, and since we returned from the Czech Republic, we have recommended this competition and cited it as an example," says Portuguese architect Albuquerque Goinhas.
Successful architectural proposals in previous editions not only received awards in the competition but also often attracted the attention of state administration representatives. This is confirmed by Štěpán Valouch, who, along with Jiří Opočenský, is behind the design of the Hanging Park above the mouth of the Blanka tunnel: "Our proposal submitted to the Young Architect Award 2010 was developed as an ideational level for the Urban Interventions Exhibition 2010. Representatives of Prague 6 then approached us to elaborate the proposal in more detail. Recognition in the YAA competition gave our proposal another chance."
YAA is also open to talented foreign architects; in 2009, the young Portuguese architectural firm EMBAIXADA made a mark. "We learned about the competition online, and from the very first moment, we felt that we shared the same philosophy and, what’s more, that we identified with the way it is organized and with the jury's approach, which perceived architecture as a scientific discipline. The personal experience we had as participants in the competition was very positive, and since we returned from the Czech Republic, we have recommended this competition and cited it as an example," says Portuguese architect Albuquerque Goinhas.
Experts Give Space to Newcomers
The submitted works of young architects will this time be judged by leading architects active in both the commercial and academic fields—Jakub Cigler (Cigler Marani Architects), Petr Hrůša (Ateliér Brno), Jan Jehlík (FA ČVUT in Prague), Pavel Jura (authorized architect), Radek Suchánek (FUA TU in Liberec), Tomáš Bezpalec (ČKA), and Josef Pechar (Nadace Nadání J., M. a Z. Hlávkových). "During the First Republic, Czech architecture was among the world elite. However, there has been a decline since then that continues to this day. If we want to do something about it and return to the elite, we must focus on the younger generation of architects," says Martin Rajniš from the e-MRAK studio about the significance of the project.
Architect Pavel Jura highlights another aspect of the competition: the benefits for the participants themselves: "When I read the competition conditions for YAA, I realized how important this exhibition is in that it is one of the few that allows the presentation of just starting architects. And this is without the necessity of professional formalities on one hand, but at the same time, with a professional level in the course of the competition and subsequent presentation of results and individual authors on the other."
Interested parties can submit their competition works by July 7, 2011. Subsequently, the expert jury will select the best designs in the competition categories "conceptual study and school work" and "projects and implementations." Winners in each category will receive a monetary reward, tangible prizes, and newly, in cooperation with ČSA, a "trip for architecture" to one of the European capitals (Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Helsinki), but most importantly, significant space for presenting their work to both professional and lay audiences. For the future careers of young architects, it can be crucial if their designs receive wider public awareness. Therefore, this year the organizers count on strong support from media partners. The nominated projects will once again be open for public comments through online voting.
The ceremonial announcement of the results will take place on September 22, 2011, on the occasion of the FOR ARCH 2011 construction fair.
Architect Pavel Jura highlights another aspect of the competition: the benefits for the participants themselves: "When I read the competition conditions for YAA, I realized how important this exhibition is in that it is one of the few that allows the presentation of just starting architects. And this is without the necessity of professional formalities on one hand, but at the same time, with a professional level in the course of the competition and subsequent presentation of results and individual authors on the other."
Interested parties can submit their competition works by July 7, 2011. Subsequently, the expert jury will select the best designs in the competition categories "conceptual study and school work" and "projects and implementations." Winners in each category will receive a monetary reward, tangible prizes, and newly, in cooperation with ČSA, a "trip for architecture" to one of the European capitals (Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Helsinki), but most importantly, significant space for presenting their work to both professional and lay audiences. For the future careers of young architects, it can be crucial if their designs receive wider public awareness. Therefore, this year the organizers count on strong support from media partners. The nominated projects will once again be open for public comments through online voting.
The ceremonial announcement of the results will take place on September 22, 2011, on the occasion of the FOR ARCH 2011 construction fair.
