The architects of the year are Ehl and Koumar

Prague – The Architects of the Year 2026 are Lukáš Ehl and Tomáš Koumar, known for designs such as the Suchdol Bridge and Smetana's Bridge in Litomyšl. Representatives from the organizing Foundation for the Development of Architecture and Construction (Nadace ABF) presented the award today at the PVA Expo in Letňany.

The competition was organized by ABF for the eighteenth time this year. The Architect of the Year award is given by the company to an individual or individuals who have significantly contributed to architecture in the Czech Republic through their approach in the past five years. The jury agreed that the studio Ehl & Koumar Architekti creates enduring structures that enhance the significance of both landscapes and urban spaces, regardless of fashion trends. In addition to Ehl and Koumar, this year's finalists also included David Kraus, Pavel Nasadil, Jan Šépka, Miroslav Malý, and Miroslav and Zdeněk Chmel.

Ehl and Koumar gained public recognition through Smetana's Bridge in Litomyšl. Their recent design for the Suchdol Bridge was deemed by the Nadace ABF as a monumental and both technologically and aesthetically ambitious work. Prior to this, the architects also worked on the Education Centre of the 3rd Faculty of Medicine at Charles University.