What is the Living Places - Simon Architecture Prize?
The Living Places - Simon Architecture Prize is a Simon initiative that has had the support and advice of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe since it began.
Its purpose is to recognise excellent architectural projects (including interiors, public spaces, and landscapes) that heighten the comfort of the people visiting them. Architecture that becomes a valued place for people in their day-to-day lives: to work, learn, wait, play... Architecture to live in!
The prize was launched in 2016 as part of Simon's centenary celebration, and is held every two years. The first two editions received more than 200 videos from candidates in more than 15 countries, including Mexico, Poland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, among others. This reaffirms the international aspect of the competition and its two organizers.
(Photo: Transformation of 530 dwellings block G-H-I, Bordeaux, France, Lacaton&Vassal, Bordeaux, France, Frédéric Druot, Christophe Hutin)
Participation
Works by authors who are qualified architects, city planners and/or landscapers are invited to participate in the contest. The authors can be residents of any country, and of any age and nationality, and can submit their entry individually or as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
The contest is aimed at works that were finished and launched during the two years before the prize, and constructed in Europe or Mexico.
(Photo: 097-Yojigen Poketto, Madrid, Spain, Elii)
2 categories. 10 finalists. 2 prize winners
The two prize categories are Collective Places and Personal Places, reflecting an interest in architecture designed and understood with the residents' point of view in mind, centring on the experiences that put the spaces, as well as their designs and choices, to the test.
The jury will select 5 finalists for each category, and 1 winner from each group of finalists. The creators of the winning projects will receive a monetary prize of €10,000.
Additionally, among all the audiovisual pieces submitted, the one that has best captured the audiovisual narrative will be selected, and the author of it will be commissioned to create a new piece about architecture.
(Photo: Full moon, Olot, Spain, Unparelld'arquitectes)
Andrés Jaque
Foto: © Miguel de Guzmán
Amanda Sans
Gabriela de Matos
Verena von Beckerath
Foto: © Andrew Alberts
Salvi Plaja
Calendar
Founders
Simon Electric
Simon is the head of an industrial group specialized in lighting solutions, lighting control, workplace solutions and switches and sockets for homes, hotels, retail, workspaces and urban spaces. In all of these spaces, they focus on the design and innovation that has led Simon to win awards like the National Design Award granted by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. Simon believes spaces are the centre of their users' experience, so they offer the ability to experience and create atmospheres that welcome sensations, where users can touch see, hear...feel. Their technology creates endless experiences that adapt to the user's lifestyle and enable them to live life at any shade or intensity they desire.
Fundació Mies van der Rohe
The Fundació Mies van der Rohe was created in 1983 by the Municipality of Barcelona, with the original objective of reconstructing the Barcelona Pavilion (Pabellón Alemán), designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. The Foundation inspires the discussion and awareness of contemporary architecture and city planning, and promotes the study of works by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and the Modernist Movement. Its programmes include the organisation, alongside the European Commission, of the European Union - Mies van der Rohe Prize for Contemporary Architecture, one of Europe's most prestigious architecture prizes.
