And the International 2018 Piranesi Award goes to…

But stop! Let’s start from the very beginning:

Following this years’ lectures at Tartini Theatre in Piran (Piran Days of Architecture), traditionally the Piranesi Award has been awarded for the thirtieth time in a row at Monfort Exhibition Hall in Portorož, Slovenia.

63 projects were exposed at 2018 Piranesi exhibition. 41 architectural projects were nominated by national selectors from 9 European countries: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia. 22 students’ projects were nominated by students’ selectors from 12 European Faculties of Architecture from Graz, Vienna, Spittal, Split, Zagreb, Pescara, Trieste, Budapest, Ljubljana, Maribor, Thessaloniki and AA London. The criteria of selection for the Piranesi exhibition were:

• Considered setting in an urban or natural space
• Spatial and design accordance with the context
• Contemporary innovative spatial plan and layout
• Respectful approach to the natural and cultural heritage
• Contemporary understanding of traditional and autochthonous architectural elements
• Innovative details
• Considered use of color, materials, texture and light

After considering all the projects the jury decided that this year’s award goes to

Galerie n09 – z33, Hasselt, Belgium, 2018 by Francesca Torzo!

“The new elements complete the existing in a way that enhances the spatial experience. The jury was positive about inventiveness on two levels: in terms of spatial organization as series of outdoor and indoor spaces and their specific transitions, and very experimental approach to redefine materiality. An outer skin reinterprets the facades of the existing buildings, the new and old melt together seamlessly. Dramatic, complex transitions between the outdoor and indoor provoke you to go inside. The building is part of the city and needs its surrounding to generate its quality.” … from the final jury report

Also awarded:

International 2018 Piranesi Student Honorable Mention

Terrain Anamorphosis, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2018, Students: Antonia Gerogianni, Zoi-Niki Eleftheriadi; Mentors: Aleka Alexopoulou, Anastasia-Sasa Lada

International 2018 Piranesi Honorable Mention

Workshop Garage, Suzzara, 2016

International 2018 Piranesi Honorable Mention

Basilica and spiritual house in Mariazell, 1992-2018, Architects: Feyferlik / Fritzer

Shortlisted projects from architects:

• Mali arsenal, Centar za posjetitelje HERA, Zadar, Architects: Iva Letilović, Igor Pedišić
• The Hug, Housing, Aghios Ioannis Detis, Naoussa, Paros, Cyclades, Greece, 2017, Architects: React Architects: Natasha Deliyianni, Yiorgos Spiridonos
• Hotel Pacherhof, Oberneustift-vahrn, 2018, Architects: BergmeisterWolf
• Water Paths: Renovation of Chryssafitissa Square in Monemvasia Castle, South Peloponnese, Greece, 2016, Architects: Elena Zabeli – MoY studio
• Cemetery in Dolní Břežany, Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic, 2016, Architects: Zdeněk Sendler and Radka Táborová / Ateliér zahradní a krajinářské architektury Sendler – Babka

Shortlisted projects from students:

• The conceptual design of the renovation of the Franciscan monastery in Ljubljana, master’s thesis, 2018, Student: Andraž Keršič; Mentor: prof. Maruša Zorec; Co-Mentor: doc. Rok Žnidaršič
• The public space as an opportunity for the regeneration of the urban resides of the cities through the theme of water
• The case study of the ancient Pignatelli water deposit in Zaragoza, Spain, 2018 Student: Sara D’Ottavi; Mentor: Prof. Arch. Alberto Ulisse
• House of Religions – Hohenems, Austria, 2018, Student: Anna Breuer; Mentor: Levente Szabó DLA
• Valkane Swimming Pool, Pula, Croatia, 2018, Student: Rudolf Martinović; Menthors: Tonči Žarnić, Marina Bertina
• Tanzquartier Ljubljana / Theater Academy Forum, Student: Saša Sever; Menthors: Hans Gangoly, Eva Sollgruber

Images: Gion Balthasar von Albertini, Paul Ott, Studiospazio, Zoi Niki Eleftheriadi, Antonia Gerogianni