European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2009 goes to The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo (Norway) by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Tarald Lundevall, Craig Dyker

The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe today announced the winner of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2009, one of the most important and prestigious prizes for international architecture.

By supporting the Prize, the European Commission underlines the role of architecture as a driver for creativity and innovation and draws attention to the important contribution of European professionals in the development of new ideas and technologies.

The 2009 winner of the prize is The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo (Norway) by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Tarald Lundevall, Craig Dykers / Snøhetta

The winner was selected by a jury from 340 projects proposed by the Architects’ Council of Europe member associations and the other national architectural associations and the Advisory Committee. The Jury was chaired by Francis Rambert and consisted of Ole Bouman, Irena Fialová, Fulvio Irace, Luis M. Mansilla, Vasa J. Perović and Carme Pinós.

Previous winners include, among others, Rem Koolhaas and Ellen van Loon, Zaha Hadid, Dominique Perrault, Peter Zumthor, Rafael Moneo, Álvaro Siza Vieira, Lord Foster and Luis M. Mansilla – Emilio Tuñón. The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2009, funded through the EU Culture Programme, is awarded biennially to works completed within the previous two years.

The Jury has selected Lea Pelivan and Toma Plejic, STUDIO UP for Gymnasium 46° 09' N / 16° 50' E, Koprivnica, Croatia for the 2009 Special Mention Prize for an emerging architect.

A traveling exhibition on the Prize Winner, Emerging Architect Special Mention, Finalists and Shortlisted Works is planned for September this year.

The EU Culture Programme also funds the European Border Breakers Awards, the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage and the forthcoming European Union Prize for Literature.

The press releases [61 KB]

Copyright Jens Passoth
	The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Oslo (Norway) by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Tarald Lundevall, Craig Dykers / Snøhetta
Copyright Gerald Zug