Five finalists announced for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture—Mies van der Rohe Award

Five finalists have been announced for one of the world’s most recognized architectural awards, the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (also known as the Mies van der Rohe Award). Celebrating contemporary architecture across the EU, the biannual award—jointly run by the European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe—honors the best works completed by a European architectural professional within the past two years.

After whittling down over 383 submissions to a shortlist of 40 nominees, the judges have selected five works that vary in style and purpose, but all demonstrate a fluidity in programming that allows people to find different ways of using spaces and transform them into different places.

As described by the jury, "PC CARITAS becomes a new kind of public space in an existing construction; the congress center in Plasencia is not only a place to organize conferences; the square in Tirana becomes a hall, a space to walk through, a place to sit and play and organize many other activities; the building in Berlin sets different volumes that can be occupied in different ways and the galleries in Bordeaux, increasing the volume, light and air conditions of the apartments, can be used in many different ways by the inhabitants."

In April, the jury will visit the five final projects in order to determine the Prize Winner and the Emerging Architect winner, which will be announced at an award ceremony in Brussels taking place at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in May. Take a look at the 2019 finalists below. 

PC CARITAS in Melle, Belgium 
Designed by architecten de vylder vinck taillieu

Plasencia Auditorium and Congress Center in Plasencia, Spain
Designed by SelgasCano

Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania
Designed by 51N4E, Anri Sala, Plant en Houtgoed, and iRI

Terracehouse Berlin in Berlin, Germany
Designed by Brandlhuber+ Emde, Burlon and Muck Petzet Architekten

Transformation of 530 dwelling (Grand Parc Bordeaux) in Bordeaux, France
Designed by Lacaton & Vassal architects, Frédéric Druot Architecture and Christophe Hutin Architecture