Platform of Arts and Creativity

Platform of Arts and Creativity in Guimarães, Portugal, by Pitágoras Arquitectos | Photo: João Morgado 

The winners of the European Copper in Architecture Awards were revealed at the opening of BATIMAT 2013 trade show in Paris. This international award recognises the best architectural designs incorporating copper and copper alloys. The Grand Jury Award was given to the Pitágoras Arquitectos architectural firm for the Platform of Arts and Creativity in Guimarães, Portugal.  “A clear trend in this year’s competition was the association of copper with raw materials such as glass and wood, and this was much appreciated by the jury”, says Nigel Cotton, Director European Copper Institute. “Malleable, attractive and long-lasting, copper once again proved its popularity with architects.” The works in competition were presented as part of an exhibition at Batimat 2013 and on the website www.copperconcept.org.

The biennial European Copper in Architecture Awards programme continues to grow in stature, not only celebrating exemplary and innovative uses of copper and its alloys in contemporary design but also exposing to a wide international audience projects of real quality - some of which might otherwise go unrecognised. 

Platform of Arts and Creativity in Guimarães, Portugal, by Pitágoras Arquitectos | Photos: João Morgado  

The 2013 judging panel, which met in London, consisted of four architects, all recipients of previous Copper in Architecture Awards. They assessed all the entries from photographs, drawings and descriptions submitted by architects.

This sixteenth iteration of the Awards generated a record 82 entries from around Europe, presenting the judges with a daunting task. They were impressed by the high standard demonstrated across the entries generally, with many examples of good buildings delivering their programmes well and contributing to their surroundings. 

Platform of Arts and Creativity in Guimarães, Portugal, by Pitágoras Arquitectos | Photos: João Morgado 

Firstly, they settled on ten shortlisted projects that stood out from the rest, revealing a real diversity of typologies and approaches, and excellent architectural qualities. Each of the ten shortlisted entries was then fully debated and compared with the others, initially revealing differing opinions, which ebbed and flowed amongst the four judges.

Eventually, a clear consensus was reached revealing three particularly strong – and very different - schemes meriting Commendation … and a clear winner of exceptional quality, and also superbly photographed by João Morgado - Fotografia de Arquitectura.

The buildings of the market square - and the space defined by them - characterise the urban landscape of Guimarães. The transformation of the marketplace into a multifunctional space dedicated to artistic, economic, cultural and social activities - within the scope of the European Capital of Culture 2012 - allowed for its reintegration into the urban fabric as a key area of the city space. 

Platform of Arts and Creativity in Guimarães, Portugal, by Pitágoras Arquitectos | Photos: João Morgado  

The first Commended project was the Covering of the runic stones in Jelling, Denmark, by NOBEL arkitekter. The project consists of two bronze structures which covers the unique runic stones and secure and preserve them for the future. The runic stones mark Denmark' transition to Christianity in year 965, and the monument is also known as Denmark's "birth certificate". The monument is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage. The project was inaugurated in December 2011 and it is based on the winning competition project made in March 2010. 

Covering of the runic stones in Jelling, Denmark, by NOBEL arkitekter | Photo: Jens Lindhe

The second Commended project was the Seinäjoki library, Finland, designed by architects JKMM. 

The Finnish town of Seinäjoki hosts the most extensive cluster of buildings designed by Alvar Aalto in the world.  The Centre displays Aalto’s masterful touch, ranging from the area’s town planning to the smallest door detail and is an invaluable cultural asset which gives the whole town its identity. Five Aalto buildings make up the Centre: the City Hall, State Office Building, Theatre, the Cross of the Plains Church and the Old Library.

Seinäjoki library, Finland, by JKMM | Photo: Mika Huisman

The Public Choice Winner and also Commended project was Dolomitenblick holiday apartment block in Sesto, Italy, by Plasma Studio architects. The building is located on a hillside in the Dolomites, at the edge of a residential area. The volume has been developed mainly from its pragmatic functional request to include 6 independent apartments around a common circulation: a ‘cut’ that marks the main access and the division of the volume into 2 halves. Besides its function, the ‘cut’ becomes the main defining element of the building: from either side of the ‘cut’ strips unfold that form the balustrade of a generous covered balcony which reaches out to the surrounding topography. The strips and the façade jump back at each floor, following the profile of the natural steep hillside.

Dolomitenblick holiday apartment block in Sesto, Italy, by Plasma Studio | Photo: Hertha Hurnaus

More at: www.copperconcept.org.