Recently, the European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation announced a list of seven finalist projects competing for the title of best building in the European Union. All of them participate in the Mies van der Rohe Award – this is the main European award in the field of architecture.
The experts named five finalists in the category “Architecture”, and two more projects became leaders among the “Evolving Architecture” – the nomination includes the work of young architectural bureaus. Showcasing stunning buildings that should be role models for European cities.
85 Social Housing Units, Cornella de Llobregat
The architectural bureau peris+toral.arquitectes worked on the project. The new 10,000 m² building houses 85 social housing units on five levels.
Wood was used for construction, and the main feature of the building was the absence of corridors – the move made it possible to use the usable space as efficiently as possible.
Frizz23, Berlin
Architects Britta Jurgens and Matthew Griffin worked on the creation of a collective office for creative and cultural figures. Future residents became developers who participated in the development of the project.
Frizz23 and the processes behind it have outlined a new approach to urban development that can serve as a model for other sites and cities. The architects followed the principle of “first dialogue, then design”: when designing the building, they were in constant contact with users, the city and local residents.
The building looks interesting both outside and inside. By the way, the dark blue anodized aluminum cladding refers to the planet Neptune, which was first seen through a telescope in an observatory located on this site before 1912.
The Railway Farm, Paris
Architects Gran Yui and Melanie Drewe Landscapeist designed an urban farm on the site of a former railroad. The building combines several functions at once: not only plants are grown here, but also they are engaged in the disposal of organic waste from the entire area.
There is also a restaurant on site where you can taste products from the farm and products from partner farmers.
During the construction, attention was paid to ecology: the building mainly consists of wood, recyclable materials were used.
Town House, London
Architects from Grafton Architects have presented a new kind of democratic educational space open to all comers. Here reading, dancing, research, performances, lectures and exhibitions coexist under one roof.
The creators offer a creative approach to education as a process of engagement and discovery. The library is adjacent to dance studios, performance and event venues.
Every detail is thought out in such a way as to create a feeling of being in a single environment, and from the upper levels there is a stunning view of the city.
Z33 House for Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture, Hasselt
The author of this amazing project is the architect Francesca Torzo. The “House of Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture” is a new building of the museum, which is integrated into the surrounding urban space.
Z33 is in harmony with the existing buildings around, echoing the unusual character of their façades. Exhibition halls and secret gardens form a whole spatial labyrinth.
The building can be called a full-fledged city within a city.
Enrico Fermi School, Turin
The Italian architectural bureau BDR bureau was engaged in the reconstruction of the school, built in the 1960s. The building was rethought, based on new needs.
Previously, there was a poor connection with the external space, and the internal ones were used inefficiently. The redevelopment strategy included reorganizing the area so that the school would be open to the city.
It is now a large, green and accessible space, with events open to the public on the ground floor.
La Borda, Barcelona
Lacol cooperativa have developed collective housing with small apartments and common areas – kitchens, living rooms, laundry rooms and storage rooms. Inside there are 28 apartments of 40, 60 and 75 m².
The six-storey structure is made using transverse laminated timber, a lightweight and high-quality material.
Currently, La Borda is the tallest building in Spain built using timber structures.
