The results of the award, which once every three years marks the best examples of brick architecture, were announced on January 18. The award, which bears the name of the Hamburg architect, representative of brick expressionism and author of the Chile House, Fritz Höger, has been presented for the fifth time. Objects with brick facades from all over the world, commissioned over the past five years, could participate. There are four main categories in total: private homes, multi-family housing, commercial / office buildings, public buildings / recreation / sports. In each of them the main prize is € 10,000. Three additional nominations - energy efficiency, renovation / sustainability and young talents / newcomers.
This season, 586 applications have been submitted for the award from around the world. The winners were selected from 90 projects that reached the final. A special feature of this season was the decision to award the Grand Prix to two projects at once - the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts in Lausanne and the Nakasone house in Mexico City: two winners for the first time.
We present 9 awarded projects: Grand Prix winners and seven “gold medalists” in the nominations.
The Grand Prix
Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts in Lausanne
Barozzi veiga
The light, laconic volume of the Museum of Fine Arts of the Canton of Vaud organically complements the industrial landscape not far from Lausanne Central Station. A special "charm" to the building is given by the proximity to the railway tracks. It is for this reason that the architects opted for the monolithic surface of the southern facade - this is a way to protect against train noise.
The Grand Prix
Nakasone House in Mexico City
Escobedo Soliz Studio
The project won the jury with its simplicity. Another advantage is the use of local materials and traditional Mexican construction technologies.
Single family home
Couldrey House in Australia
Peter Besley Pty Ltd
The thin brick facade of the building, like a second person, welcomes guests and gives the mansion a poetic look. The "surprise" of this project was the non-standard layout of the house - all the bedrooms are located downstairs, and the living room completely occupies the second floor and smoothly flows into the covered terrace.
Office and commercial buildings
Brickfields Business Center in London
Witherford Watson Mann Architects
The brick in this project "shapes the soul of the building." The facade, as if alive, changes depending on the lighting. Each side of the building adapts to the urban context, at the same time together they are a single whole.
Public buildings
Community Center 1015 in Barcelona
HARQUITECTES
The facility combines the functions of an adult education center, hotel, public and commercial space. According to the jury, the architects managed to perfectly convey the spirit of the place, allowing the building to "communicate" with the surroundings in its own language. From the outside, the building seems to be closed, but inside there are many interesting details.
Residential complexes
Residential tower at 33 Singerstrasse in Berlin
Giorgio Gullotta Architects
A site in the east of Berlin, which has long been undeveloped, is now occupied by a modern 10-storey residential tower that easily fits into the existing development without losing its self-sufficiency.
Energy efficiency
Administrative building with a greenhouse on the roof in Oberhausen
KUEHN MALVEZZI Architects
The project combines an administrative building, an employment center, and an urban farm. The greenhouse, where greens and strawberries are grown using modern ecological technologies, is owned by the municipality, but its doors are often open to everyone, and the products grown here can be purchased nearby, on the market square. Another green component of the project is the vertical garden.
Renovation
Apartment building on Schiffarterdam in Münster
Reinhard Martin Architect BDA
This project, according to the jury, is an example of the renewal of old housing stock in cities. The architects have managed to preserve the house's 90-year-old brick facades while at the same time adapting it to modern needs and standards.
Newbies
Building ceramics factory in Oberhavel
Franziska Käuferle + Sina Pauline Riedlinger
The concept of the ceramic factory building was convincing to the jury thanks to a thorough analysis of the typology and selection of materials. The architects managed to create an object that, with its appearance, reflects the principles of development and production of materials for construction.
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For a complete list of the awarded projects and learn more about the award, visit its website.
