PRESENTATION
This Prize aims to recognise excellence in architecture. It distinguishes those works which strengthen the ability of adaptability of spaces to reach comfort and well-being to its residents. Architecture which turns into quality places for people’s every day lives: for working, learning, playing,… Architecture to be lived in.
PRIZE STRUCTURE
collective places and personal places constitute the two categories around which the Prize is structured and reflect our interest in architecture planned and explained from the user’s perspective. An interest that focuses on experiences that put spaces to the test rather than on degree 0 of architecture frozen in the instants prior to being handed over to society and the city.
PRIZE METHODOLOGY
The focus on the inhabitant is also reflected in the Prize methodology. The video, considered to be an instrument to bring architecture closer to the public in general and to convey the atmosphere of the place, is the main document to be submitted. The participation process includes users, inhabitants and citizens and allows them to propose those works they regard as worthy of consideration on the part of the jury.
ORGANIZERS
Living Places – Simon Architecture Prize is an initiative of Simon and it is developed by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe.
SIMON
“there is a firm commitment to design and innovation”
SIMON is at the head of an industrial group specialised in solutions for lighting, lighting control, connectivity and collections of mechanisms for the home, hotels, retailers, workspaces and urban areas. For all these spaces there is a firm commitment to design and innovation, which has resulted in Simon being awarded the Premio Nacional de Diseño from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness.
Simon sees spaces as the centre of user experience and offers people the chance to feel and create atmospheres that encourage new sensations, where they can touch, see, hear and feel. With Simon’s technology, it is possible to create endless experiences which adapt to the user’s rhythm of life, allowing them to live with the intensity and subtleties of life that they desire.
Unique sensations, within arm’s reach.
FUNDACIÓ MIES VAN DER ROHE
“It fosters the debate, diffusion and awareness of contemporary architecture”
The Fundació Mies van der Rohe was created in 1983 by the Barcelona City Council, with the purpose of reconstructing the German Pavilion, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. It fosters the debate, diffusion and awareness of subjects related to contemporary architecture and urban planning. It also promotes the study of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s work and the Modern Movement. Particularly pertinent is its organisation, together with the European Commission, of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award, one of the most prestigious architecture prizes in Europe.
Living Places – Simon Architecture Prize 2024
The 5th edition of the Living Places – Simon Architecture Prize received 425 nominations of built works from 25 countries, showcasing the global diversity of the prize. The jury convened on November 14, 2024, in Barcelona to review 235 proposals, ultimately selecting 8 finalists and 2 winners, one for each category. Participants included entries from Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, Poland, Germany, France, and more. The selection highlights a diverse and heterogeneous group of projects that address current global issues with socio-environmental impact.
Finalist
personal places
CHIKENK’S ATELIER
Cunha – São Paulo
messina | rivas
personal places
KONTIGO
Acapulco, Guerrero
Manuel cervantes estudio
personal places
VILLAIN HOUSE
Carrer Julià 8, Barcelona
Architecture Office Clàudia Raurell
personal places
10K HOUSE
Barcelona
Mireia Luzárraga + Alejandro Muiño // TAKK
personal places
VENTURA 7
Banyoles
Sarquella Torres
collective places
ALTAR 2024
Xochimilco, Ciudad de México
Taller Popular de Diseño + Taller Uno a Uno + Manuel Alejandro
collective places
CONSELL DE CENT GREEN HUB
Consell de Cent street, Barcelona
Cierto Estudio & B67 Arquitectes
collective places
THE COMMUNAL BARBECUE
Castell d’Aro
h3o architects SLP
collective places
RIELLS SQUARE
Riells square, Bigues i Riells
Comas Pont arquitectes
Winner
collective places
COCONUT HARVESTER CENTER
Sumaúma Village, Municipality of Vitória do Mearim. ZC: 65350-000. Maranhão state – Brazil.
Estudio Flume
“Coconut Harvester Center” by Estudio Flume (Brazil) and “Kontigo” by Manuel Cervantes Estudio (Mexico) are the winning works of the 5th edition of the Simon Architecture Prize 2024. It was also decided to grant the prize for Best Audiovisual Narrative to “Quinze decibels” by Matilda Vidal de Llobatera, for the project Consell de Cent Green Hub, a work by Cierto Estudio and B67 Arquitectes (Spain). This edition received 425 built works nominations from 23 European countries, Mexico, and Brazil. The Jury analyzed 235 proposals and selected 8 finalists and 2 winners, one per category. The jury meeting took place on the 14th of November 2022. The award ceremony will be held on 12 February 2025 in Barcelona.
2022 edition received 186 built works from 34 European countries and Mexican territories. A conversation between Marcin Szczelina and Amanda Sans Pantling was held at La casa de la Luz in Madrid on the 10th of November 2022. The winners were announced at the Granting Ceremony that took place on 15th of February 2023 at Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona.
Finalist
personal places
8 PROTECTED PUBLIC DWELLINGS IN PALMA
PALMA, SPAIN
INSTITUT BALEAR DE L’HABITATGE (IBAVI)
collective places
CHAPEL INGÁ MIRIM
ITUPEVA, BRASIL
MESSINA | RIVAS
collective places
HEALTH CENTER CAP COTET
PREMIÀ DE DALT, BARCELONA, SPAIN
BAAS ARQUITECTURA
personal places
HOUSE IN DUMBRAVA VLASIEI
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
ADNBA
collective places
MELOPEE SCHOOL
GHENT, BELGIUM
XDGA – XAVEER DE GEYTER ARCHITECTS
personal places
PETRALONA HOUSE
ATHENS, GREECE
POINT SUPREME
collective places
PILARES PRESIDENTES DE MÉXICO
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
ROZANA MONTIEL ESTUDIO DE ARQUITECTURA
personal places
RAIN HARVEST HOME
TEMASCALTEPEC, MEXICO, MEXICO
ROBERT HUTCHISON ARCHITECTURE & JSA ARQUITECTURA
Winner
collective places
KITHARA MUSIC PUBLIC KIOSK
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
TO
personal places
RAMBLA CLIMATE-HOUSE
MOLINA DE SEGURA, MURCIA, SPAIN
ANDRÉS JAQUE / OFFICE FOR POLITICAL INNOVATION + MIGUEL MESA DEL CASTILLO
2020 edition
2020 edition received 165 built works from 23 European countries and Mexican territories. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the edition kept its course and not just acomplished the initial goals for the edition but improved the results from the previous editions. The winners were announced in an online event in December and could finally receive their trophy in February 2021 in Barcelona.
Finalist
personal places
A PLACE TO PERCEIVE
IXTLAHUACAN DE LOS MEMBRILLOS, JALISCO, MEXICO
MO+G TALLER DE ARQUITECTURA
collective places
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
LÓMAS DE TECÁMAC, MEXICO
CENTRO DE COLABORACIÓN ARQUITECTÓNICA
personal places
CASA CRUCE
BARCELONA, SPAIN
CIERTO ESTUDIO
collective places
DEPARTMENT OF RADIO AND TELEVISION UNIVERSITY OF SILESIA
KATOWICE, POLAND
BAAS ARQUITECTURA, GRUPA 5 ARCHITEKCI, MAŁECCY BIURO PROJEKTOWE
personal places
HOUSE IN THE WOODS
NUEVO LEÓN, MEXICO
W.E.Y.E.S ESTUDIO
collective places
JOJUTLA CENTRAL GARDENS
JOJUTLA, MORELOS, MEXICO
ESTUDIO MMX
collective places
LA BORDA
BARCELONA, SPAIN
LACOL
personal places
LA NAVE
MADRID, SPAIN
NOMOS
Special Mention
collective places
INSTITUTE FOR MOLECULAR SCIENCES IN ORSAY
ORSAY, FRANCE
KAAN ARCHITECTEN + FRES ARCHITECTES
Winner
collective places
CAN SAU. EMERGENCY SCENERY
OLOT, SPAIN
UNPARELLD’ARQUITECTES
personal places
CASA TER
BAIX EMPORDÀ, SPAIN
MESURA
2018 edition
2018 edition received 144 built works from 12 European countries and Mexican territories. A conversation between Frida Escobedo (president of jury) and Martha Thorne was held at Espacio 100 de Simon in Barcelona on the 25th of October 2018. The winners were announced at the Granting Ceremony that took place on 28th November 2018 at Espacio 100 de Simon in Barcelona.
Finalist
personal places
097 · YOJIGEN POKETTO
MADRID, SPAIN
ELII
collective places
AGORA
OLOT, SPAIN
UNPARELLD’ARQUITECTES
personal places
ENTRE PINOS
VALLE DE BRAVO, MEXICO
TALLER HECTOR BARROSO
personal places
HOUSE / OFFICE IN CANET DE MAR
CANET DE MAR, SPAIN
JAUME VALOR, LAURA LLIMÓS
personal places
JOÃO’S HOUSE
PORTO, PORTUGAL
GUILHERME MACHADO VAZ
collective places
KUNSTMUSEUM
BASEL, SWITZERLAND
CHRIS GANTENBEIN ARCHITEKTEN
collective places
REHABILITATION OF A HOMELESS SHELTER IN A 19TH CENTURY BUILDING
PORTO, PORTUGAL
NUNO VALENTIM, ARQUITECTURA E REABILITAÇÃO
collective places
SQUARE STREET
BARCELONA, SPAIN
BOSCH CAPDEFERRO ARQUITECTURA
Special Mention
personal places
ALDO VAN EYCK. LE MUSÉE IMAGINAIRE
LOENEN AAN DE VECHT, THE NETHERLANDS
ALEJANDRO CAMPOS URIBE
Winner
personal places
REAL ESTATE BOOM HOUSE
CARDEDEU, SPAIN
LLUÍS ALEXANDRE CASANOVAS
collective places
TEOPANZOLCO CULTURAL CENTER
CUERNAVACA, MEXICO
ISAAC BROID + PRODUCTORA
2016 edition
This edition received 104 built works from 16 European countries. A conversation between the winners, Anne Lacaton, Jean-Philippe Vassal, Frédéric Druot, Eva Prats and Ricardo Flores, was held at Sala Beckett in Barcelona on the 22th of December 2016. The Granting Ceremony was celebrated at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in the evening of the same day.
The jury of the award has been formed by: Ilka Ruby (Ruby Press, architect, Berlin), Carlos Ferrater (OAB, doctor architect, Barcelona), Camilla van Deurs (Gehl – Making Cities for People, architect, Copenhagen), Albert Moya (cinema director, Barcelona – Nueva York) and Salvi Plaja (design director in Simon Holding and Fluvia, Barcelona).
Finalist
collective places
CEUTA PUBLIC LIBRARY
CEUTA, SPAIN
PAREDES PEDROSA ARQUITECTOS
collective places
CO-HOUSING – WOHNPROJEKT WIEN
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
EINSZUEINS ARCHITEKTUR
collective places
DRESSING UP THE SQUARE
OLOT, SPAIN
UNPARELLD’ARQUITECTES
collective places
MADRID RIO
MADRID, SPAIN
BURGOS & GARRIDO; PORRAS LA CASTA; RUBIO & A-SALA; WEST 8
personal places
CREMATORIUM HOFHEIDE
NIEUWROD, BELGIUM
RCR ARQUITECTES WITH COUSSÉE & GORIS ARCHITECTEN
personal places
FULL MOON
OLOT, SPAIN
UNPARELLD’ARQUITECTES
personal places
HOUSING RENOVATION IN MADRID
MAJADAHONDA, MADRID, SPAIN
JOSÉ MANUEL FIORI L HANIMAL CREATIVE
personal places
PROVINCIEHUIS OF NORTH-BRABANT
‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH, THE NETHERLANDS
KAAN ARCHITECTEN
Winner
collective places
SALA BECKETT. THEATRE AND INTERNATIONAL DRAMA CENTRE
BARCELONA, SPAIN
FLORES & PRATS
personal places
TRANSFORMATION OF 530 DWELLINGS, BLOCKS G, H, I
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
LACATON&VASSAL, FRÉDÉRIC DRUOT, CHRISTOPHE HUTIN