Many changes are indicated by the new designation of ARCHITECTURE GRAND PRIX 2007 - National Awards for Architecture in the 14th consecutive competition, this year focusing on the best architectural works of the year 2006. One fundamental innovation is that the competition has been organised in cooperation with the Czech Chamber of Architects, a partnership that should offer sufficient confirmation for both the general and the professional public that the Grand Prix is the most prestigious action of its kind. Another main change is that competition entries can be nominated by any citizen of the Czech Republic. Subsequently, the architect of the entry must confirm the nomination by presenting the application form and submitting a display panel.
For these reasons, we consider this year as a turning point, and hope that in the next year, the entire concept of the competition will be according to the proposals of a joint committee composed of the Society of Czech Architects and the Czech Chamber of Architects. In particular, I mean the founding of an internet site for nominating entries, the creation of an Academy of Architecture, and increased cooperation with Czech Television, which would provide a public forum for viewers' opinions regarding the chosen works in various categories specified by the Academy of Architecture on the basis of internet polls, which will come before the final decision from the independent international jury. Our plan is an ambitious one, and will require much effort and expense, yet this is the reason why we have joined forces to realize this plan. Confirmation of the rightness of our course is the interest of "star architects" in sitting on the jury. Bjarke Ingels from Denmark and Axel Schultes from Germany are already prepared to sit in the jury in the upcoming year.
Oleg Haman
President of the Society of Czech Architects
GRAND PRIX ARCHITEKTŮ 2007 - Národní ceny za architekturu ARCHITECTURE GRAND PRIX - National Awards for Architecture - the introduction of a new name for this competition of architectural works indicates that something has changed from previous years. In the sub-title we are told that the competition is held both by the Society of Czech Architects and the Czech Chamber of Architects. In the actual situation, though, no great changes are intended to occur.
The statute of the competition remains much the same as before, and the organisation is still performed by the Society of Czech Architects. Moreover, the categories as well as the with the system of international jury nomination and jury rating remain the same. Consequently, the new agreement on joint cooperation establishes a unified organisation. All architects authorised by the Chamber now have the same rules for the competition access as do members of the Society of Czech Architects.
As the most important association of architects in the Czech Republic, and the one with the largest membership base, the Society of Czech Architects held 13 highly successful years of this competition for completed buildings, and they fully deserve our thanks. This competition gained a considerable reputation over the years, not only in the architectural profession, but also among the general public and the news media.
By contrast to the Society, the Czech Chamber of Architects is a professional body established by law that issues authorization certificates for practicing architecture, oversees the work of authorized architects, takes part in organizing architectural competitions and works to maintain the quality of the Czech architecture. Originally, the board of the Czech Chamber of Architects planned to hold its own competition based on principles differing from the statute of the Grand Prix for architecture held by the Society of Czech Architects, though no second competition was ever implemented. As a result, the question arose as to whether it is good for architects to have more competing awards, as for example Czech theatre does. Both the Thalie Award and the Alfred Radok Prize, together with other theatrical awards, have a different profile, which can be confusing for the public. And so the question emerged as to whether it is better to hold only one competition but one with far greater prestige.
Voices calling for a change to the Grand Prixwere heard from both architects and critics at earlier points. I am pleased to say that the representatives of both organizations were able to come together and agree upon the organising of a competition that should focus above all else on the best works of Czech architects. It should be a competition that presents Czech architecture not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad. I would not like myself to attempt predictions of how the future years will be held and presented, as this is the objective of the organising committee to be composed of representatives of both associations. What is, however, important is that the competitions in the years to come will form a fitting successor to the Grand Prix of the Society of Czech Architects. It is my wish that their level, in other words the quality of the shown works, will increase year by year.
Jiří Merger
Deputy chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects
