Following in the footsteps of previous winners, Jamie Fobert Architects, FAT and dRMM, Plasma Studio impressed the jury by its international built work following its win of Building Design’s Young Architect of the Year Award in 2002. NGA marks the next stage in the innovative practice’s development that has seen experimental and challenging built designs characterized by their use of vicarious architectural form to create surfaces that shift and fold. The jury however also recognized the practice’s confidence and assurance, especially in their design for one of the floors of Madrid’s Hotel Puerta America, alongside Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster and Jean Nouvel, which made it clear they were able to take on the scale of projects the NGA can lead to.

The Plasma Studio designed 4th floor of the Hotel Puerta America Madrid, Spain

The jury stated “We already knew that Plasma were strong and adventurous architects. Recently completed projects, supported by enthusiastic client references, demonstrate that they can realise their ideas in substantial buildings, while working to demanding briefs.”

The award, which is in its fourth year, seeks to make connections between young practices, who have previous built experience, and those who make the decisions in the built environment, commercial developers.

Plasma Studio stated “We are delighted to have won NGA. Unlike most awards that focus solely on design excellence, the NGA is scrutinizing the whole range of architectural production. As such it stands out as an important benchmark for us at a time of leaping forward.”

Plasma Studio founders: Holger Kehne and Eva Castro

MIPIM also saw the launch of the Next Generation Architects Directory, profiling Plasma Studio, previous award winners and the short-listed practices. It is set to be an invaluable guide for developers seeking to commission strong, visionary architecture, something that has been successful in previous years.

Jamie Fobert of Jamie Fobert Architects states: “Winning Next Generation Architects was great for the practice. Since last year the practice has celebrated the opening of a new patisserie for Konditor & Cook in the ground floor of the Gherkin and a new flagship boutique in Paris for Givenchy, the first of the fashion house’s stores to benefit from a new design concept which will be implemented worldwide. The award has also helped open doors to several exciting residential projects as well as collaboration with developers Native Land to create a pavilion on the Southbank.”

Criteria for Selection
• A committed and coherent approach to design
• Talent, sensitivity, ability to inspire, conceptual acuity, architectural skill
• Potential to work on large commercial projects
• Evidence of ability to deliver projects on time and to budget.

Eligibility
The award is open to British-based architects whose practice was founded after 1 January 1998. All candidates must be professionally certified, and cannot have designed a commercial building (completed or under construction) larger than 100,000 sq ft.

2008 Jury
Rowan Moore, Director of The Architecture Foundation (chair)
Nick McKeogh, Director, Pipers
Amanda Baillieu, Editor, BD
Jon Emery, Hammerson
Ian Simpson, Ian Simpson Architects
Jeremy Gardner, JLL
2008 Next Generation Architects brochure

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