Mies van der Rohe’s architecture is known the world over for its simple, elegant forms. One of the earliest, and finest, examples of his Minimal compositions is the pavilion he designed for the 1929 International Exhibition in Barcelona. The revolutionary placement of its immense planes of glass and marble created a continuous flow of space throughout the single-story structure, punctuated only by eight free-standing cruciform columns that supported a hovering, flat roof. The pavilion had no real function, and was demolished soon after the Exhibition ended. But the simple structure became an architectural icon, lingering in the memories of architects throughout Europe for decades until it was rebuilt on its original site in 1986.

The pavilion’s reconstruction, spearheaded by the Barcelona-based Fundació Mies van der Rohe, also sparked the idea for an award to recognize excellence in the field of architecture, and to draw attention to the important contribution of European professionals in the development of new concepts and technologies.Mies van der Rohe Award to Álvaro Siza in 1988 for his Banco Borges e Irmão building. In 2001, the biennial award became the official architecture prize of the European Union, with the most recent honor going to Snøhetta's Norwegian National Opera & Ballet in Oslo in 2009.

But a large, institutional building isn’t necessarily a shoo-in. In fact, in keeping with the spirit of Mies’ simple pavilion which inspired the award, buildings of all sizes and types are considered, with special emphasis on emerging architectural talent. The recently revealed nominations for the 2011 prize, which include over 300 buildings completed throughout Europe within the last two years, range in scale from quirky structures of only several square meters to massive transportation hubs.

At the extreme small end of the spectrum is Manthey Kula’s design for a roadside toilet facility along one of 18 National Tourist Routes in Norway. According to architect Per Tamsen, the restroom, located north of the Arctic Circle in Lofoten, “was conceived to offer a pause from the impressions of the spectacular coastal landscape that surrounds it.” The small structure is similar to the structure of a ship, composed of welded, rusted steel plates locally reinforced with steel flanges—every part specially designed for its specific use.

Blaf Architects also made the cut with a small house in Belgium. By turning the private front yard into a semi-public playground, and by using the front facade as a drawing board, the house appeals to both its inhabitants and to the neighborhood, located in the Flemish town of Asse. The social aspect of the project includes a respect for the environment. Designed as a passive house with a textile skin, glass fiber textile sun screens over windows control heat gain and privacy, and were the starting point to invent the façade system. “The use of glass fiber textile for the solid planes also seemed like a good choice to reduce the thickness of the highly insulated walls, and to reduce the material costs,” says architect Lieven Nijs.The innovative use of materials can be seen in larger projects as well. In the Museum aan de Stroom, also in Belgium, Dutch architects Neutelings Riedijk employ one of the largest applications of corrugated glass to date on the building’s façade. A series of stacked concrete boxes seems to float above vaspans of ½”-thick curved, glass panels—a feat that would have been impossible to achieve with flat panels that thin.


For the Moderna Museet Malmö, Videgård Arkitekter added a bright orange, perforated metal façade to the existing brick shell of a former electricity plant.

Regardless of scale or program, the winner of the Mies Prize—the announcement of which is planned for early summer—will be distinguished by a combination of qualities such as excellence and authenticity of design; a genuine and innovative character; and well-executed and sustainable construction. Those same qualities will also determine the recipient of the Special Mention for Emerging Architect. Following the announcement, the Jury will make a selection of exemplary works to be published and shown in a traveling exhibition.

Photo Credits: 
1-Outhouse in Akkarvikodden, Lofoten in Northern Norway by Manthey Kula (Photo: Paul Warcol)
2-Museum aan de Stroom in Antwerp, Belgium by Neutelings Riedijk Architects (Photo: Sarah Blee / © Neutelings Riedijk Architects)