Dezeen promotion: Austrian brick manufacturer Wienerberger will reward the most innovative contemporary brick architecture at the fifth biennial Wienerberger Brick Award ceremony in Vienna next month.
A panel of experts will select winners in five categories from a total of 50 projects that have been submitted from around the world.
Top image: 2010 Special Award – Architecture Museum for the Island of Hombroich Foundation, Germany by Álvaro Siza, Rudolf Finsterwalder
Above: 2010 third-placed entry – Morjan-Poeten House, Germany by Nikolaus Bienefeld
Above: 2010 Grand winner – State Forum and Parliament of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein by Hansjörg Göritz Architecture Studio
The awards promote excellence in buildings constructed using clay products based on criteria including sustainability, energy efficiency, functionality and innovative exterior design.
Above: 2010 Special Award – Public Buildings, Republic of Mali by Emilio Caravatti
An accompanying book, titled “Brick’12” and published by Callwey Publishers, presents the nominated and winning designs alongside text by international architecture writers.
Above: 2010 second placed entry – South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, India by Anagram Architects
Find out more about this year's awards here, click here for a list of all 50 nominees and see images of the winning projects from 2010 here.
Here are some more details about the awards from Wienerberger:
Wienerberger Brick Award 2012: Global market leader presents award-winning brick architecture for the fifth time
Vienna, 29 February 2012 – On 3 May 2012, Wienerberger AG will present its internationally announced Wienerberger Brick Award in Vienna for the fifth consecutive time. With the award, the world’s largest brick producer and the largest roof tile manufacturer in Europe recognises internationally outstanding examples of modern brick architecture in five categories. Selection criteria include the innovative exterior design and skilful use of brick as a material, as well as the functionality, sustainability and energy efficiency of the buildings.
Above: 2012 jury panel. Photography by Christian Dusek.
This year’s winners will be selected by a jury of renowned experts consisting of the architects Plamen Bratkov (Bulgaria), Zhang Lei (China), Hrvoje Hrabak (Croatia), Rudolf Finsterwalder (Germany) and John Foldbjerg Lassen (Denmark) - (image from left to right).
The globally outstanding buildings constructed using clay products were submitted by international architecture critics and architecture journalists. The worldwide research conducted by these “architecture scouts” helps Wienerberger identify brick buildings that leave a lasting impression. Possible applications range from building solutions with classic wall and façade bricks to the creative use of roof tiles and clay pavers. Special attention is paid to how the building blends naturally into the surroundings as well as to the geometry, personality and quality of the building and its lighting conditions.
Above: 2010 second places entry – South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, India by Anagram Architects
Above photograph is by Christian Richters.
“With the Wienerberger Brick Award, we want to cast a spotlight on how innovative and versatile brick can be when used as a construction material in architecture today,” says Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger AG. “Especially in modern, future-oriented architecture, the choice of material plays an increasingly important role. Brick is not just timeless and innovative, it also is a durable and environmentally-friendly construction material that makes an important contribution to energy-efficient building.”
Above photograph is by Ian Ehm (APA).
For the fifth time, the Wienerberger Brick Award will have an accompanying book, titled “Brick’12” and published by Callwey Publishers, featuring the nominations and award-winning buildings presented by international architectural writers. The second part of the 240-page book includes the new magazine Brick+, in which readers can learn where top architect David Chipperfield goes on holiday, why Literature Nobel Laureate Elfriede Jelinek is crazy about ceramic artist Kurt Ohnsorg, and how a new generation of architects from all over Europe has developed a passion for building with brick. “Brick’12” will go on sale in May 2012 at bookshops in German-speaking countries and will also be available from the Callwey online shop at www.callwey-shop.de/brick-12.html and from other big-name online retailers.