The European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation have announced the 40 shortlisted works that will compete for the 2022 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. The shortlist features three Belgian projects: Z33 - House for Contemorary Art (Francesca Torzo), Melopee (XDGA) and Gare Maritime (Neutelings Riedijk Architects, & Bureau Bouwtechniek).
The 7 members of the jury – Tatiana Bilbao, chairwoman, Francesca Ferguson, Mia Hägg, Triin Ojari, Georg Pendl, Spiros Pengas and Marcel Smets – have chosen 40 works which highlight the opportunities and the trends of today’s architecture in the European territory which focus on Social Inclusion, Sustainability and Circularity, and Aesthetic Research.
The shortlisted works are spread out in 18 different European countries. 5 of them are in Austria, France, and Spain. 3 works have been built in Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. Denmark, Finland, Poland and Portugal have 2 shortlisted works and the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, and Slovenia have 1 work each.
In the selection of 40, Collective Housing is the most represented program with 9 works (2 of the mixed-use works also include housing). There are 7 Cultural buildings (museums, galleries, art and cultural centres, and heritage recovery), 6 Mixed Use and 6 Educational environments (schools and universities); 4 Urban planning works (squares and public spaces); 2 Sport and Leisure constructions; and 1 Commerce, 1 Food & Accommodation, 1 Industrial, 1 Landscape, 1 Office, and 1 Social welfare works.
The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe are proud to announce the 40 shortlisted works that will compete in the 2022 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award.
The EU Mies Award is awarded biennially to works completed within the previous two years and exceptionally, this time, 2,5 years. The principal objectives are to achieve a thorough understanding of the transformation of the built environment; to recognize and commend excellence and innovation in the field of architecture; and to draw attention to the important contribution of architects in the development of new ideas with the undeniable support of clients and the involvement of those who will become the inhabitants and users of these places.
This is the edition with the most nominated works: 532 works were nominated for the 2022 award and the expert Jury drew up a shortlist of 40 for the next phase of the prize:
"The pandemic has further changed our view on architecture and how we live. I personally think it is extremely important to highlight something whereby collective life is central and, maybe, where there is also some sense of local in it. Not only the global but also the local, because people have recently rediscovered the importance of their close environment.”"‐ Marcel Smets Architect, urban designer and theorist, Brussels
The jury met over three days in Barcelona to discuss the most relevant challenges that European contemporary society and its architecture are facing. As Tatiana Bilbao, chairwoman of the jury, said, the current pressing paradigm shift is the achievement of equity and democracy through inclusion and acceptance of diversity. Many of the topics that came up correspond to the aims of the New European Bauhaus – building a sustainable future through creativity, innovation, and imagination – and focus on reuse and circularity as a key form of sustainability; inclusion through collective and participatory processes that chart new approaches to urban development and therefore contributing to improve local and global policies; and the use of materials, skills, and technology connected to aesthetic and general values.
The five finalists will be announced on 16 February 2022. The Architecture and Emerging Winners will be announced in mid-April in Brussels. The EU Mies Award Day that comprises the Awards Ceremony, will take place in May 2022 at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, in a day-long-event that will include lectures by the authors of the winning and finalist works, discussions with the architects, clients, policymakers and jury members; the exhibition with the 532 works participating in the EU Mies Award 2022; and the events of the Barcelona Architecture Week that include the International Architecture Film Festival among many others.
The shortlisted works will be open to the public so that everybody can learn more about them in presence of their authors and critics, who will highlight their qualities during May. Dates and organisation will soon be announced.
