Prague - The Czech Chamber of Architects chose three Czech candidates to participate in the EU competition for the best architectonical project.
Architects that designed the building of Society for Environmental Education Sluňákov, Prague's Metropol Hotel and also the new ČSOB bank headquarters in Prague-Radlice will be allowed to compete for the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture.
Environmental friendliness and harmony
The Society for Environmental Education Sluňákov designed by Projektil architekti studio earned the nomination not only for its architectonical solution, but above all for its environment-friendly approach.
The new ČSOB bank headquarters designed by AP atelier has acquired a "golden" status in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program for environmentally sustainable buildings.
The Metropol Hotel designed by Chalupa architekti / d u m architekti is a unique building in Národní třída street downtown Prague, praised for its harmonious balance between historicism and modernity.
Blobbing
The EU prize has been awarded every two years since 1988. In the past five Czech projects managed to compete in the finals, including the Selfridges building in Birmingham designed by Jan Kaplický and Amanda Levete.
The name of renowned architect Jan Kaplický is notorious in the Czech Republic, as his design of the National Library dubbed "blob" sparked numerous controversies and sharp criticism of some top political representatives.
Bitter fights over the blob among politicians lasted for about a year, ending with the rejection of the project in spite of its victory in an international competition.
Read more: Land issue behind the National Library blob project
