5 FINALISTS announcement of the 2015 MIES AWARD

2015 Prize. 5 Finalist works.-

As we have been reporting, over this time the process to select the 5 finalists was reached after a first round of nominees  of 420 works on last December, and a second round of 40 selected projects on February 10th.

The Prize objectives aim at promoting and understanding the significance of quality and reflecting the complexity of architecture’s own significance in terms of technological, constructional, social, economic, cultural and aesthetic achievements. Architecture’s significance – linked with the construction market – has a social Impact and transmits a cultural message. Quality therefore refers to universal values of generic buildings, independent from their programmes: the essence of things rather than their formal values.

The Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in international architecture, will be presented on May 8 2015. Save the date on May 7 and 8 for the finalists’ lectures, the exhibition opening and the ceremony celebration, in Mies van der Rohe Foundation, in Barcelona.

Initiated in 1987 after an agreement between the European Commission and the Barcelona City Hall, the 60.000€ prize is the highest award in European architecture and is awarded biennially to works completed within the previous two years. The principal objectives are to recognise and commend excellence in the field of architecture and to draw attention to the important contribution of European professionals in the development of new ideas and technologies and of the clients who support them.

-  The Emerging Architect Award consists of 20.000€, which is granted to professionals starting out on their careers.

- The 2015 edition of the Prize presents a novelty, the Young Talent Architecture Prize (YTAP) which will recognise the best master degree projects from Europe. Their authors will have the opportunity to establish a network with the Winner, the Finalists and the Emerging Architect of the Prize while taking their first steps in the professional world.

Previous winners include.-

2013 - Harpa - Reykjavik Concert Hall & Conference Centre; Reikiavik, Island, by Peer Henning Larsen Architects / Teglgaard Jeppesen, Osbjørn Jacobsen; Studio Olafur Eliasson / Olafur Eliasson; Batteríid architects / Sigurður Einarsson.
2011 - Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany, by David Chipperfield Architects / David Chipperfield, junto a Julian Harrap.
2009 - Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Oslo, Norway by SNØHETTA / Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Tarald Lundevall, Craig Dykers.
2007 - MUSAC Contemporary Art Museum of Castilla y León, León, Spain Luis M.Mansilla, Emilio Tuñón / Mansilla+Tuñón Arquitectos.
2005 - Netherlands Embassy Berlin, Berlin, Germany by OMA / Rem Koolhaas, Ellen van Loon.
2003 - Car Park and Terminus Hoenheim North, Estrasburg, France, by Zaha Hadid Architects / Zaha Hadid.
2001 - Kursaal Centre, San Sebastián, Spain, by Rafael Moneo.
1998 - Kunsthaus Bregenz, Bregenz, Austria, by Peter Zumthor.
1996 - Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France by Dominique Perrault.
1994 - Waterloo International Terminal, London, United Kingdom. Nicholas Grimshaw / Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners.
1992 - Municipal Sports Stadium, Badalona, Spain. Esteve Bonell, Francesc Rius.
1990 - Stansted Airport, London, UK, by Norman Foster + Partners / Norman Foster.
1988 - Banco Borges e Irmão, Vila do Conde, Portugal by Álvaro Siza Vieira.

The members who have select the 2015 finalist works are.-

Practicing Architects
Cino Zucchi, Chair of the Jury. Principle, Cino Zucchi Architetti, Milan
Margarita Jover.  Principle, aldayjover architecture and landscape, Charlottesville and Barcelona
Lene Tranberg. Principle, Lundgaard & Tranberg, Copenhagen
Peter L. Wilson. Principle, Bolles + Wilson, Münster

Architecture Critic
Li Xiangning. Deputy Dean, College of Architecture & Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai

Architecture Critic and Representative of the Prize Steering Committee
Tony Chapman. Head of Awards at RIBA, London

Upholder of high quality architecture as a Client
Hansjörg Mölk. CEO MPreis, Völs, Tirol

Secretary of the Jury (without the right to vote)
Giovanna Carnevali. Director Fundació Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona.

Coordinator of the Prize (without the right to vote)
Ivan Blasi. Architect

Objectives of the Prize.-

Architecture brings a significant contribution to a sustainable European economy and also to European cultural and social life, since it influences to a great extent the way people live, work and spend their leisure time, as well as their quality of life, even if awareness of this is not always high among the public.

The aim of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture is to highlight recent, excellent examples of architectural creativity of works which are less than two years old and to underline that modern architecture is socially and culturally rooted in European cities and is important to people's everyday lives.