Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner responsible for culture, said: "We are honoured that the EU Prize will be part of the Biennale, one of the most prestigious art events in the world. The European Commission supports the Prize and the work of our partner, the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, to highlight the importance of contemporary architecture for the European economy and to encourage private and public investment in it."
The exhibition, which covers the 2 500 projects nominated for the Prize since its launch in 1987, is arranged thematically (collective housing, education, cultural centres, etc) and a timeline of European history highlights links between architecture and developments in politics, science and culture. The exhibition was created by students from the Barcelona School of Architecture (Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona - Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya).
The exhibition opens at 18.00 on 6 June. It will be preceded by a press conference at 12:30 with Giovanna Carnevali, Director of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, Celia Marín, curator of the exhibition, Jaume Ciurana, Deputy Mayor responsible for culture, Barcelona City Council, and Michel Magnier, European Commission Director for Culture and Creativity. The seminar, bringing together curators from the Biennale's international pavilions, leading architects and previous winners of the prize, takes place at 15.30.
In mid-July, a second symposium at the Biennale will bring together past winners of the emerging architects category of the Prize and other young and talented architects will discuss the contemporary European architectural scene.
The EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture / Mies van der Rohe Award highlights excellence, creativity and innovation in European architecture. It also emphasises the contribution of European architects to technological, societal and cultural debates in contemporary urban development. Co-funded by the European Union's Creative Europe programme and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, the €60 000 prize is the most prestigious in European architecture. Following an open call for proposals, the Foundation will continue to organise the Prize for the next four years.
Background
The architecture sector is at the heart of Europe's vibrant cultural and creative industries. It directly employs more than half a million people and more than 12 million work in the construction sector. The cultural and creative industries contribute up to 4.5% of the EU's GDP.
The EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture / Mies van der Rohe Award highlights the contribution of European architects to the development of new ideas and technologies in contemporary urban development. The prize is awarded every other year to works completed within the previous two years.
Works nominated for the Prize are put forward by independent experts from all over Europe, as well as by the member associations of the Architects' Council of Europe, national architects' associations, and the Advisory Committee for the Prize.
The Prize is named after Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who is regarded as one of the pioneers of 20th century modern architecture. His most celebrated works include the German Pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona Exhibition, Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czech Republic, the Seagram Building in New York and the National Gallery in Berlin.
