Prize Rules - Barcelona, May 2020

As the EU Mies Award is an EU-funded initiative, we are in the process of updating some of the content on this document in the light of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. If the site contains content that does not yet reflect the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, it is unintentional and will be addressed.

Architecture Prize Rules

The European space is composed of an emulsion of natural and cultural, vernacular and canonical, traditional and artificial elements. Contemporary architecture must assume this ambiguity, project it towards the future and offset the natural wear to which forms are subject by means of a symmetrical process of innovation; a process that has been presided over by works that introduced into an architectural tradition contribute a new inflection or added value that can only be qualified as ‘artistic’.

The purpose of the Prize is to detect and highlight such works – of which the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion of Barcelona is a genuine symbol – whose innovative character acts as an orientation or even a manifesto. This is why the Jury will represent the institutions involved, while also reflecting the cultural intentions that endow the Prize with both symbolic and pedagogic value.

The Prize highlights the achievements of European architects in the development of new concepts and technologies and provides citizens as well as public institutions with the opportunity to reach a better understanding of the importance of architecture in the construction of sustainable cities and communities where the essential relationship between the quality of life and the quality of the environment is a key priority.

By doing so, the Prize aspires to be a platform for investigation, development and implementation of sustainable architectural practices that will minimise the negative environmental impact of construction as well as promote the social, cultural and economic benefits of sustainable growth.

Europe is composed of an increasing number of common elements. However local traditions, histories, languages, landscapes and urban contexts continue to characterise its rich and composite identity. The Prize seeks to celebrate the diversity of European architectural expression, emphasising architecture’s role as both a basis for the interchange of ideas as well as a unifying element that defines a common European culture by fostering transnational commissions; supporting emerging architects as they start out on their careers and the cultivation of responsible clients – both public and private – who are committed to building both the European economy and its culture through their commissions.

In 1987 the European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe created the biennial Mies van der Rohe Award for European Architecture with these purposes in mind. The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award represents the evolution of the Mies van der Rohe Award for European Architecture.

The Prize benefits from the participation of the national architectural associations*, as well as the recommendations of an Advisory Committee** composed of some of the most prestigious European cultural entities in the field of architecture. The Advisory Committee works closely with the Fundació Mies van der Rohe in the award process.

Nominations for works to be considered for the Prize will be put forward by the national architectural associations and a substantial group of independent experts specialising in contemporary architecture, as well as by the Advisory Committee.

For each biennial edition, the Jury will select a single work from these nominations to be awarded the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award and a single work by an emerging architect or team of architects as the Emerging Architect Winner. The works granted the prizes will reflect the definitions and objectives established in the preceding paragraphs and be distinguished by a combination of qualities such as excellence and authenticity of design; a genuine and innovative character; and high-standard, well-executed and sustainable construction.

The Jury will also make a selection of exemplary works to be published and shown in a travelling exhibition. The works proposed for the Prize are not limited by scale or programme and the jury selection for each biennial edition represents an extensive overview of quality European architectural production with the common denominator being the contribution that these works make to the construction of the European city.

1. The Prizes will be granted to the European author(s) of architectural works constructed in Europe***.

2. The Prize is open to all the works completed in Europe*** within the two-year period before the Prize cycle and which will be defined to the nominators upon inviting them.

3. The Prizes will be awarded every two years by the Member of the European Commission responsible for Education and Culture based on the decisions of a Jury composed of acknowledged specialists representing diverse schools and trends in the field of architecture and architectural criticism.
After taking into account the recommendations of the Advisory Committee, in consultation with the European Commission, the Fundació Mies van der Rohe will appoint the Jury of seven (7) members. The Jury will hold two meetings, with the second being the decisive one.

4. The Director of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe will carry out the functions of Secretary of the Jury, without the right to vote.

5. For the purpose of the selection of candidates, the following procedure will be followed:
5.1. The national architectural associations will be invited to propose works by their members built in their own countries as well as transnational commissions that comply with either of the following conditions:
5.1.1. Works by European authors (architects who are legally established in one of the particiapting countries as nationals or residents) from other countries built in the country of the architectural association.
5.1.2. Works by their own members constructed in other European countries.
The national architectural associations may submit a maximum of five (5) proposals, except for France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, each of which may submit a maximum of seven (7) proposals.
5.2. The Fundació Mies van der Rohe, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, will establish a group of independent experts composed of a substantial number of prestigious specialists, each of whom should propose a maximum of five (5) works from any country within the framework of the Prize.
5.3. The Advisory Committee as a group will be invited to propose a list of approximately 20 (twenty) works from all countries within the framework of the Prize. The decision will be made by majority vote of the members of the Advisory Committee.
In their proposals, the architectural associations, independent experts and Advisory Committee should take into consideration works of a transnational nature, works by emerging architects and works that further research and implement ideas that contribute to the development of a sustainable architectural practice.
The nominators may not propose their own works or works by the Jury.
All proposals should be accompanied by comments about the work, and if possible, by documentation.
The definitive list of candidates submitted for consideration by the Jury will consist of the combined proposals of the national architectural associations, the group of independent experts and the Advisory Committee.

6. Authors of the proposed works will be asked to submit complete documentation consisting of:
6.1. Submission form and images completed on the online database
The submission information form includes the following information: basic information and credits for the work, a description of the work and the curricula vitae of all the authors. The submission form is to be completed online along with six (6) photographs and six (6) drawings in low resolution and free of copyright directly on the database of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe.
6.2. Submission form and documentation sent by registered post or courier
A print out of the submission form (previously completed online) must be signed by all the authors of the work and sent by registered post, courier or e-mail to the Fundació Mies van der Rohe. The following documentation must be submitted by registered post or courier:
6.2.1. Drawings: hard-copy images of a complete set of drawings of the work. This set of drawings should include site plan, floor plans, sections and details, as well as any other types of drawings that the authors deem necessary to explain the project.
6.2.2. Photographs: photographic prints of professional quality in black and white or colour of the completed work in A4 or 18x24cm. This set of photographic prints should include interior, exterior and detail views as well as any other views that the authors deem necessary to explain the project. The total number to be submitted is a minimum of 8 (eight) and a maximum of twelve (12).
The same set of drawings and the same set of photographs specified above must be submitted digitally on a single USB flash drive.
The exact specifications for the electronic images will be outlined in detail in the ‘Guidelines for Submission of Documentation’ which will be sent to all the authors along with the official letter from the Fundació Mies van der Rohe advising them of the proposal of their works.
6.3. A general description about the proposed work.
6.4. An analysis – both in conceptual and constructive terms – of the work in relation to sustainable architectural practice. It will include: the conceptual overall decisions; the formal aspects of the work; the construction systems and materials; the passive and active systems employed; the economic and financial management criteria and results; the contrasted innovation and technological achievements; and social impact.
6.5. Six images in low resolution free of copyrights for the database, publications and exhibitions organised to disseminate the results of the Prize.
6.6. One image in high resolution free of copyrights for EU Mies Award dissemination.
All these documents will become the property of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe and will form part of its permanent archives. The documents related to the works awarded the EU Mies Award and the EU Mies Award Emerging Architect Prize and the exemplary works selected by the Jury, will be included in the Prize publication, exhibition and database. The documents related to the proposed works will be included in the database.

7. At its first meeting, following the pertinent analysis of information submitted for each of the proposed works and the subsequent debate, the Jury will draw up a list of a maximum of five (5) finalist works, one of which will be awarded the Prize. The Jury will also choose the work to be granted the Emerging Architect Prize. At its second meeting, the Jury will make its decisions and recommendations regarding the works to be granted the EU Mies Award. Both will be selected by absolute majority vote of the Jury members.

8. The Prize may not be declared vacant. There will be a single, indivisible Prize and a single, indivisible Emerging Architect Prize for each edition. Acceptance by the authors of the Prizes entails prior acceptance of the Rules.

9. Citizens will be encouraged to participate via social media and the debates organised around the EU Mies Award.

10. The “Young Talent Architecture Award - YTAA” will develop alongside the Prize following its own YTAA Rules.

11. The EU Mies Award will be awarded by the Member of the European Commission responsible for Education and Culture in a dynamic Awards Ceremony at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona.
The Prize will consist of the sum of 60.000€ and a sculpture evoking the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion. The Emerging Architect Winner will receive 20.000€ and the sculpture.
The Clients of the winning and finalist works will be rewarded for their support and key role in the construction of an emblematic work with a special sculpture. It will recognise the client’s achievements in the architecture field and its promotion.

12. The authors of the works shortlisted by the Jury will be asked to donate a model and an original drawing of their work. The exact specifications will be outlined in detail in the ‘Guidelines for Submission of Collection Documentation’ which will be sent to the authors along with the official letter from the Fundació Mies van der Rohe advising them of the shortlisting of their works.

13. To ensure compliance with the general objectives of the Prize, the Jury, subject to consultation and agreement of the holding institutions, may amend these Rules if and when a situation, unforeseen in the aforementioned Articles, deems it necessary.


* National Architecture Associations:
Shoqata e Arkitekteve të Shqipërisë, Albania
The Union of Architects of the Republic of Armenia
Bundeskammer der Architekten und Ingenieurkonsulenten, Austria
Koninklijke Federatie van de Architectenverenigingen van Belgïe, Belgium
Conseil National de l’Ordre des Architectes, Belgium
Asocijacija Arhitekata u Bosni u Hercegovini, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Съюз на архитектите в България, Bulgaria
Камарата на архитектите в България, Bulgaria
Udruženje Hrvatskih Arhitekata, Croatia
Σύλλογος Αρχιτεκτόνων Κύπρου, Cyprus
Česká komora architektů, Czech Republic
Akademisk Arkitektforening, Denmark
Danske Arkitektvirksomheder, Denmark
Eesti Arhitektide Liit, Estonia
Suomen Arkkitehtiliitto, Finland
Union Nationale des Syndicats Français d’Architectes, France
Syndicat de l’Architecture, France
Conseil pour l’International des Architectes Français, France
Асоцијација на архитекти на Македонија, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
საქართველოს არქიტექტორთა კავშირის საქართველოს, Georgia
Vereinigung Freischaffender Architekten Deutschlands, Germany
Bund Deutscher Baumeister, Architekten und Ingenieure, Germany
Bund Deutscher Architekten, Germany
Bundesarchitektenkammer, Germany
Τεχνικό Επιμελητήριο Ελλάδας, Greece
Συλλογοσ Αρχιτεκτονων Διπλωματουχων Ανωτατων Σχολων – Πανελληνια Ενωση Αρχιτεκτονων, Greece
Magyar Építész Kamara, Hungary
Arkitektafélag Íslands, Iceland
Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Ireland
Consiglio Nazionale degli Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggistie e Conservatori, Italy
Asociacioni i Arkitekteve te Kosoves, Kosovo
Latvijas Arhitektu savienības, Latvia
Lietuvos architektų sąjunga, Lithuania
Ordre des Architectes et Ingénieurs-Conseils de Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Kamra tal-Periti, Malta
Uniunea Architecțlor din Republica Moldova, Moldova
Savez arhitekata Crne Gore, Montenegro
Arkitektbedriftene i Norge Norske arkitekters landsforbunds, Norway
Norske Arkitekters Landforbund, Norway
Stowarzyszenie Architektów Polskich, Poland
Ordem dos Arquitectos, Portugal
Ordinul Arhitecților din Romania, Romania
Udruženje Arhitekata Srbije, Serbia
Slovenská komora architektov, Slovakia
Zbornica za arhitekturo en prostor Slovenije, Slovenia
Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España, Spain
Sveriges Arkitekter, Sweden
Bond van Nederlandse Architecten The Netherlands
Bureau Architectenregister, The Netherlands
Ordre Des Architectes De Tunisie, Tunisia
Національна спілка архітекторів України, Ukraine
Architects’ Registration Board, United Kingdom
Royal Institute of British Architects, United Kingdom


** Advisory Committee Members:
Architekturzentrum Wien, Vienna
Danish Architecture Centre, Copenhagen
Dessa Gallery, Ljubljana
Deutsches Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt
Fundació Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona
Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre, Budapest
Institut français d'architecture, Paris
Museum of Estonian Architecture, Tallin
Museum of Finnish Architecture, Helsinki
Muzej za arhitekturo in oblikovanje, Ljubljana
Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, Oslo
RIBA, London
The Berlage, Delft
The Museum of Architecture, Wroclaw
Triennale di Milano, Milan

*** European architects are those architects who are legally established in one of the participating countries as nationals or residents. Countries included in the EU Mies Award are:
Member states of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom;
in addition the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia and Ukraine.
Overseas territories, concerns all OCT’s mentioned in Annex II of the TFEU: Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda,
British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Greenland, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten), New Caledonia and Dependencies, Pitcairn, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena and Dependencies, Turks and Caicos Islands, Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Non-EU countries are eligible according to: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe/library/eligibility-organisations-non-eu-countries_en