Mies van der Rohe Awards Shortlist, Buildings, News, Winners, Architects, 2009

Mies van der Rohe Award Winners

Snøhetta win European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture

Mies van der Rohe Award Winner 2009

The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo, Norway by Snøhetta

picture : Jens Passoth
Norwegian Operahouse

The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe announced today that the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Oslo, Norway by Snøhetta is the winner of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2009.

This landmark building by Snøhetta, who also designed the new Library of Alexandria (2002), is the largest cultural centre built in Norway in 700 years. It sloping stone roof – made up of 36,000 fitted pieces – rises up from the fjord; allowing members of the public, residents and opera goers alike, to walk over the building, developing a relationship with the public structure. Integral to the 1,000-room interior, which is largely lined with crafted woodwork (using the traditions of Norwegian boat builders), are a number of art commissions interwoven into the structural fabric, including a cloakroom, a collaboration with their 2007 Serpentine Pavilion collaborator Olafur Eliasson.

There will be a special granting ceremony at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona on 28 May 2009. A travelling exhibition and catalogue featuring the works chosen by the Jury – the Prize Winner, Special Mention, the finalists and the shortlisted works – will be presented in September this year.

The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel’ said : “Architecture is a highly visible showcase of creativity and innovation, and today’s prize winners show the benefits of investing in European architectural talent, in our creativity and innovation. This is all the more relevant this year, as stimulating new ideas and highlighting entrepreneurial efforts are key parts of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009”.

The Mies van der Rohe Awards Jury, chaired by Francis Rambert includes: Ole Bouman, Irena Fialová, Fulvio Irace, Luis M. Mansilla, Carme Pinós and Vasa J. Perovic.

Francis Rambert, Chair of the Jury said: “The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo is more than just a building. It is first an urban space, a gift to the city. The building can be considered a catalyst of all the energies of the city and is emblematic of the regeneration of its urban tissue.”

Tarald Lundevall, partner and project architect for Snøhetta said: “Snøhetta consider The Mies van der Rohe Award among the worlds most prestigious architectural acknowledgements. We are greatly honoured to receive this prize for The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.”

The EU Culture Programme also funds the European Border Breakers Awards, the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards, which will be presented in Taormina (Sicily, Italy) on 5 June 2009, and the forthcoming European Union Prize for Literature to be awarded in September 2009.

In addition to the Prize Winners the Jury makes a selection of exemplary architectural works produced for each cycle. This shortlist of works are included in the catalogue as well as the travelling exhibition and for this edition, represent an important and unique anthology of the development of contemporary European architecture built during 2007-08.

FIVE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION PRIZE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE – MIES VAN DER ROHE AWARD 2009

The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe announced today the finalists for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2009, one of the most important and prestigious prizes for international architecture. By supporting the Prize, the European Commission underlines the role of architecture as a driver for creativity and innovation and draws attention to the important contribution of European professionals in the development of new ideas and technologies.

Mies van der Rohe Awards Shortlist 2009

” Jaclyn Residential and Office Building, Sofia, Bulgaria by aedes studio
” Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum, Cascais, Portugal by Aires Mateus & Associados
” Tupper Home, Madrid, Spain by Andrés Jaque Arquitectos
” Les Bains Des Docks, Le Havre, France by Ateliers Jean Nouvel
” Rabot Youth Centre, Ghent, Belgium by Beel & Achtergael Architecten
” Mountain Dwellings, Copenhagen, Denmark by BIG with JDS
” Parking Garage, Coesfeld-Lette, Germany by Birk und Heilmeyer Architekten
” Craftsman City, Valbonne, France by Comte Vollenweider Architects
” BMW Welt, Munich, Germany by COOP HIMMELB(L)AU / Wolf D. Prix – Wolfdieter Dreibholz & Partners
” Water Filtration Plant, Venice, Italy by C+S ASSOCIATI
” Gallery Building Am Kupfergraben 10, Berlin, Germany by David Chipperfield Architects
” Metal Recycling Plant, Pivka, Slovenia by dekleva gregori? arhitekti
” Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, Germany by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects – DMAA
” Major Extension of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, Luxembourg by Dominique Perrault Architects
” 11 March Memorial, Madrid, Spain by FAM Arquitectura y Urbanismo
” La Rioja Technology Transfer Centre, Logroño, Spain by Foreign Office Architects (FOA)
” Ar de Rio Esplanade Pavilion, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Guedes + DeCampos
” House in the Countryside, Artà, Mallorca, Spain by Herreros Arquitectos
” Herold Social Housing, Paris, France by Jakob+MacFarlane
” School of Music, Polytecnic Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal by JLCG arquitectos
” Práter Street Social Housing, Budapest, Hungary by Kis Péter Építészmuterme Kft
” Rotermanni Carpenter’s Workshop in Rotermann Quarter, Tallinn, Estonia by KOKO Arhitektid
” Family House in Cernošice, Prague, Czech Republic by kopecky and studeny architects,Ksa
” School of Architecture, Nantes, France by Lacaton & Vassal architectes
” Alvéole 14 – Transformation of a Submarine Base, Saint-Nazaire, France by LIN Finn Geipel + Giulia Andi
” Spanish Pavilion EXPO Zaragoza 2008, Zaragoza, Spain by Mangado y Asociados
” Public Municipal Library and Reading Park, Torre Pacheco, Murcia, Spain by Martín Lejarraga
” Bookstore Selexyz Dominicanen Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands by Merkx+Girod Architects
” Building Rehabilitation of 5 Subsidized Housing Units and one premises in El Pópulo, Cádiz, Spain by MGM, Morales de Giles Arquitectos
” Didden Village, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, MVRDV
” Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, Hilversum, the Netherlands by Neutelings Riedijk Architecten
” Auditorium and Convention Centre of Aragon EXPO Zaragoza 2008, Zaragoza, Spain by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos
” A Folded Mat – Kindergarten MB, Zagreb, Croatia by njiric+ arhitekti
” MediaPro Tower Barcelona, Spain by the Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB) and Patrick Genard Asociados
” Extension of the Stadium Ljudski Vrt, Maribor, Slovenia by OFIS Arhitekti and multiPlan arhitekti
” Kraanspoor, Amsterdam North, the Netherlands by OTH
” Villa 1, Ede, the Netherlands by Powerhouse Company
” Kitchen Monument, Berlin, Germany by raumlaborberlin and Plastique Fantastique
” Bell-Lloc Winery, Palamós, Spain by RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes
” Quarto Ponte sul Canal Grande, Venice, Italy by Santiago Calatrava
” Hof, (Höfoaströnd), Iceland by Studio Granda
” Sports Ground for Majori Primary School, Jurmala, Latvia by Substance
” Kalmar Museum of Art, Kalmar, Sweden by Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekter
” Nordpark Cable Railway, Innsbruck, Austria by Zaha Hadid Architects

Mies van der Rohe Awards News

The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Mr. Ján Figel’ said: “Each of the projects selected today show that investing in European architectural talent, in creativity and innovation pays off. Stimulating new ideas and highlighting entrepreneurial efforts are also a key part of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009. I am particularly pleased to see that the series of lectures about these finalist projects will be given by the architects themselves in Barcelona on April 22, in order to reach out to broader audiences. The winner of the Mies van der Rohe Award will be announced later on May.”

The finalists were selected from 340 projects proposed by the Architects’ Council of Europe member associations, other national architectural associations and the Advisory Committee.

The Jury, chaired by Francis Rambert includes: Ole Bouman, Irena Fialová, Fulvio Irace, Luis M. Mansilla, Carme Pinós and Vasa J. Perovi?.

Francis Rambert, Chair of the Jury said today: “We were impressed by the quality of the selected projects, many of which explore important urban issues of infrastructure and regeneration, developing new typologies. Ranging widely in scale, each responds imaginatively to its particular context and brief.”

Previous winners include, among others, Rem Koolhaas and Ellen van Loon, Zaha Hadid, Dominique Perrault, Peter Zumthor, Rafael Moneo, Álvaro Siza Vieira, Lord Foster and Luis M. Mansilla – Emilio Tuñón.

The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2009, funded through the EU Culture Programme, is awarded biennially to works completed within the previous two years. The Jury also awards a Special Mention Prize for emerging architect.

A traveling exhibition on the Prize winners, Emerging Architect Special Mention, Finalists and Shortlisted Works is planned for September this year.
The EU Culture Programme also funds the European Border Breakers Awards, the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage and the forthcoming European Union Prize for Literature.

Mies van der Rohe Award Winner, 2009:

The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo, Norway by Snøhetta
Norwegian Operahouse

Mies van der Rohe Award Nominations 2009

Mies van der Rohe Award 2009 Finalists

Multimodal Centre – Nice Tramway, Nice (France)
Marc Barani / Atelier Marc Barani

Hardphot Schejbal
Multimodal Center Nice Tramway

Zenith Music Hall, Strasbourg (France)
Massimiliano Fuksas, Doriana Fuksas / Massimiliano Fuksas Architecture

Moreno Maggi
Zenith Music Hall Strasbourg

University Luigi Bocconi, Milan (Italy)
Shelley McNamara, Yvonne Farrell / Grafton Architects

Federico Brunetti
University Luigi Bocconi

The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo (Norway)
Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Tarald Lundevall, Craig Dykers / Snøhetta

Jens Passoth
Norwegian Operahouse

Library, Senior Citizens’ Centre and City Block Core Zone, Sant Antoni’s District, Barcelona (Spain)
Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, Ramon Vilalta / RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes

Hisao Suzuki
Sant Antoni’s Buildings