The Most Interesting Projects in the EU Mies Award 2024 Shortlist.

 

The recently announced shortlist of the top 40 projects according to the EU Mies Award 2024 showcases the direction in which global perception of architecture is changing. Increasingly prominent are aspects such as: coexisting in harmony with surrounding nature, recognizing the diversity of needs, and the community-building role of public space. We invite you to explore the subjective selection of the 16 most interesting nominations according to Marcin Szczelina – editor-in-chief of ‘Architecture Snob’.

 

Reggio School

Andrés Jaque / Office for Political Innovation

 

Project that is a showcase of holistically perceived ecology – the symbiosis of environment, living beings, materials, management, and pedagogy. The whole is united by thoughtful and empathetic architecture. The school was created through intergenerational consultations: with teachers, parents, and students. It thus considers various perspectives and needs. Reggio School is open to the surrounding nature and encourages outdoor activities. Nature here becomes a space for intergenerational interaction.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: José Hevia

 

Lonja Wetlands Wildlife Observatories and Visitor Centre

roth&čerina

 

The Lonja Wetlands are a unique protected landscape, and access to it has been provided through a thoughtful network of entry points, observatories, and a visitor center. The proposed infrastructure naturally adapts to the continuous radical changes associated with the seasons and integrates the world of humans with the world of nature. The Osekovo Centre is a space where one can gain knowledge about the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage of the entire area.

 

Photos/Zdjecia: Marko Mihaljević

 

Bivouac Fanton

DEMOGO

 

Bivouac Fanton represents the pursuit of functional solutions and the fostering of a deep relationship between humans and nature. The project is based on adapting to a sloping space and seeking a balance that ensures comfort in the challenging terrain of the mountain. The construction process has three key elements: anchoring, suspension, and settlement, with the architectural design focusing on the relationship between humans and the surrounding landscape. The project demonstrates how to minimally impact the mountainous heritage of the Dolomites while providing a safe haven for guests, protecting them from adverse external conditions.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Iwan Baan

 

Nursery. 1306 plants for Timișoara

MAIO, Nomadic Studio, Studio Peisaj

 

This installation, featuring a tree nursery and spaces for public discussions, is located at a contentious point in the town – where the 1989 revolution erupted. Once the plants reach a suitable height, they will be replanted (as per the residents’ wishes) throughout the city. The project highlights the role of greenery in regulating the urban climate in the face of ecological disaster and also promises to increase employment in public facilities. When the nursery is dismantled, new plants, chosen in dialogue with citizens and city institutions, will be planted.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Marius Vasile

 

Escadinhas Footpaths

Paulo Moreira Architectures, Verkron Art Collective

 

This network of footpaths connects the poorly accessible hilly neighborhood of Monte Xisto with the Leça River in Matosinhos, thus bridging architecture, art, and nature. This low-budget project demonstrates how small-scale interventions can positively transform the urban fabric – in this case, revitalizing the stairs leading to Rua das Escadinhas. Old ruins were also rebuilt and transformed into a recreational area surrounded by nature, becoming a place for community-building social gatherings. The final result adds artistic value to the whole.

 

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Ivo Tavares Studio

 

Targ Blonie_Food Market

Aleksandra Wasilkowska Architectural Studio

 

The open market, which has been restored, is located in the Błonie commune near Warsaw. For many years, the market has been a place where you can buy inexpensive and quality products from local producers. The commune decided to renovate it due to poor sanitary conditions and lack of appropriate infrastructure. The newly created park-bazaar hybrid has a positive impact on the microclimate, strengthening micro-entrepreneurship and the resilience of the city itself, which is becoming more and more important in times of crises – food or climate.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Nate Cook

 

Black Slavonian eco pig farm

SKROZ ARCHITECTURE

 

This ecological farm was established in response to the needs of traditional agriculture and the desire to increase the population of an indigenous Croatian pig breed, which was declared an endangered species in the 20th century. In choosing materials, the primary consideration was the durability of all elements that come into contact with animals, whose nature is to dig and chew on anything they encounter. The construction focused on rough and waterproof concrete, over which a wooden structure and galvanized steel partitions were erected. The exterior of the building is covered with oak cladding, and traditional flat tiles were used for the roofing. Its appearance fits into the locality of the rural region and the architectural heritage.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: BOSNIĆ+DOROTIĆ

 

Tbilisi Urban Forest (Narikala Ridge Forest)

Ruderal

 

The project of replanting the urban forest was initiated by the authorities of Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2020. It focuses on the biological diversity of endemic and climate-adapted species. This innovative approach to urban afforestation integrates ecology, technology, and aesthetics across 700 hectares. The urban forest aims to increase biological diversity, resilience to climate change, and provide new opportunities for recreation and relaxation for citizens and tourists. Plants are propagated in Georgian nurseries, and local seed resources are used – this approach supports local communities and reduces the carbon footprint. The afforestation also includes protective plants that increase the survivability of new seedlings.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Ruderal

 

Light Rail Tunnel

allmannwappner

 

This project connects 7 urban rail stations in the center of Karlsruhe, which have been moved underground. Each station is unique and determined by its external location. The concept highlights two categories of space – transitional zones and calming platform waiting areas. The latter are characterized by the use of the same material on ceilings, walls, and floors, focusing users’ attention on trains and symbols in the space. Also important in the project is the lighting designed by Ingo Maurera – 3 lines resembling delicate notes of a symphony.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Brigida Gonzalez

 

IKEA Vienna western station / IKEA – the good neighbour in the city

Querkraft

 

The building has been so well integrated with public transportation that not a single parking space was planned around it; instead, 160 trees were planted. The abundance of greenery on the facades, providing a shade-creating external layer (resembling a set of shelves), and a rooftop terrace help the environment effectively combat urban heat. The building contributes to the formation of a vibrant and ecological city as a larger whole. IKEA occupies the lower floors, and the Jo&Joe Hostel occupies the top two floors, making the facility lively around the clock.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Heausler, Hertha Hurnaus

 

Open air swimming pool FLOW

Decoratelier Jozef Wouters; POOL IS COOL

 

This temporary outdoor pool was created by the grassroots organization POOL IS COOL. It serves not only as a space for active recreation but primarily as a manifesto highlighting the lack of outdoor swimming facilities in Brussels. The project aims to persuade city authorities to invest in permanent projects of this kind – safe, integrative, and offering a way to cool off in summer. Beside the compact pool (17×7 m), there are changing rooms, showers, and multi-level sun terraces. The project implemented an ecological water purification system using plant filters.

 

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Annemie Augustijns

 

Plato Contemporary Art Gallery

Robert Konieczny KWK Promes

 

In this project, a historic slaughterhouse building in Ostrava, Czech Republic, has been transformed into an inclusive contemporary art gallery. The place can open its exhibition halls directly to the outside through 6 rotating walls, creating new exhibition opportunities. The previously contaminated space around it has become a biodiverse park with flower meadows and retention basins. Thus, the facility raises awareness not only of art but also of the natural environment.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Juliusz Sokołowski, Jan Antos, Jakub Certowicz

 

Floating University Berlin

Floating e.V. Association

 

This nature learning center is located in a retention basin for contaminated rainwater on the site of the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin. Its watershed is part of the city’s water infrastructure and a refuge for many species of plants and animals. The facility redefines urban water infrastructure, emphasizing the need for community engagement for its proper functioning. Its architecture lives its own life – it is cyclically built, deconstructed, and rebuilt.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Mor Arkadir, Daniel Seiffert, Lena Giovanazzi

Day centre for young people with autism spectrum disorder

AV62 Arquitectos

 

This day care center for young people with autism spectrum disorder is characterized by a large outdoor space that encourages activity in the garden. The architecture of the facility teaches ecological awareness, respect for the natural environment, and sustainable development. It integrates individuals with autism and prepares them for their future career paths.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Jose Hevia

 

LIVING IN LIME – 42 social housing in Son Servera

peris+toral.arquitectes

 

This social housing complex was inspired by folk architecture. It was built using local and ecological materials, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. The project motivates sustainable development – combining environmental strategies with social ones. Public patios and gardens provide space for integration with fellow residents and also have an additional benefit – they improve the thermodynamic properties of the buildings.

 

Photos/Zdjęcia: Jose Hevia