Transilvania Architecture Biennale Awards- BATRA 2019

27.11.2019

BATRA 2019

Projects entered in the competition: more interest in the residential area, lower participation in initiatives involving public space

The best architectural works of the last two years in Transylvania were awarded this weekend at the Awards Gala of the fourth edition of the Transylvania Architecture Biennale (BATRA) 2019, which took place from November 7-24, 2019, in Cluj-Napoca and four partner cities: Oradea, Alba Iulia, Satu-Mare and Baia Mare.

The more than 250 attendees at the Awards Gala, which took place at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel, witnessed the joy of the winners and were able to learn from the jury members the motivation behind the selection of each nominated or awarded project.

"This year's edition tried to bring elements of the future of architecture into the present through the jury, as the main theme of the Biennale (Future/Acum). It promoted approaches and activities in areas that circumscribe integrated architecture, such as energy consumption, recycling of building materials, use of local building materials and techniques, and the participative involvement of local communities in the creation and ownership of the built or landscaped space. The need to promote architects' transversal competences and soft skills was highlighted.

The two days of judging were a good opportunity to debate some of the major issues facing contemporary architecture. The six jurors assessed the innovation in architecture, the contextualization and sustainability of the projects, the impact and stakes that the building can have for the restructuring of the whole area adjacent to the site, the potential for replication of the model and the positioning in relation to the environment. The quality of this year's projects was generally good, with more interest in the housing area and less participation in the area of initiatives involving public space", said Eugen Vaida, President of the MONUMENTUM Association and one of the members of the BATRA2019 Jury, at the end of the Awards Gala, at the end of the ceremony.

On the other hand, this low participation reflects problems that exist everywhere in Romania, believes the president of the Romanian Order of Architects - Transylvania branch (OART), arch. Daniela Maier. "The Biennale of Architecture Gala, now in its first edition, has complemented and highlighted problems occurring in all parts of the country. Public space is represented by very few projects all over the country. Collective housing, while representing a significant percentage of construction, is represented by very few works. The examples could go on. These issues were highlighted and discussed at the round table that brought together 19 presidents and branch representatives from across the country."

BATRA AWARDS 2019:

1.Architecture of individual housing

Jury Prize - Casa C Cluj-Napoca - main author arh. Smaranda Todoran - architectural office STUDIO AKS

The winner also received a prize from partner CEMACON, consisting of a personalized handmade leather laptop bag.

2.Collective housing architecture

Jury Award - Collective building S+P+P+5E+ER Cluj-Napoca - main author SQM Architecture (design team: arch. Cristian Urcan, arh. Ferencz Bakos, arh. Cosmin Morarescu, arh. Tamas Fodor)

The award was also supported by the partner company HEXAGON.

3.Architecture of community and production facilities

Jury Prize - Medical Clinic Cluj-Napoca - main author arh. Vlad Sebastian Rusu - architectural office Vlad Sebastian Rusu BIA (design team arch. Andrei Vlas, arch. Alina Maier, arch. Horea Răcășan)

4.Public space architecture

In this category, the jury decided not to award a prize, but only a nomination, for:

Habermann Square Sibiu - main author SQM Architecture (design team: arch. Cristian Urcan, arh. Ferencz Bakos, arh. Cosmin Morărescu)

5.Cultural Heritage Architecture

Jury Prize - Rehabilitation of RCS&RDS Headquarters, Arad - main author arch. Macalik Arnold - Mossfern Arhitectură (design team: Szilágyi-Bartha József, Ioana Bârsan)

The award was also supported by the partner company DAISLER PRINT HOUSE.

6.Rural - in this category two prizes were awarded to:

7.Interior architecture and scenography

Jury prize - RENOVATION ERTLER APARTMENT Oradea - main author ALEXANDRU SZŰZ - POP - ALEXANDRU SZŰZ - POP architectural office

The award was also supported by the partner company STADT.

8.Micro Architecture/ Temporary Architecture

Jury Award - IMPROVING TUDOR Târgu-Mureș - main author Manopera Architecture - Manopera Architecture architecture office (design team: Roxana Pop, Raluca Sabău, Romeo Cuc)

9.Object design

Jury award - MADE IN THE SHADE Oradea - main author Katalin Bagosi, Andrei Revnic - Study architecture office (design team: Katalin Bagosi, Andrei Revnic)

10.Cultural projects/ Initiatives/ Experiments

Jury Prize - Towers of the Cluj Citadel - map with mock-up plans Cluj-Napoca - main author arh. Klara Veer - architectural office Klara VEER- BIA (design team: Dan Burzo)

11.Articles with and about architecture/architects

In this category, the Jury decided not to award a prize, but only a nomination, to Miruna Moldovan, author of the article "About architects, neighbors, a canal and a click".

12.Architectural photography

Special Award - Lupan Ștefania-Ioana Lupan - for the series of images investigating the expressiveness of calligraphy and poetics of architectural details"

Special Prize - Mihai Moga - for the series of images in which the predominant architectural sign is projected on the blue of the sky, in an accompaniment that is intended and succeeds in being organic, thus promoting the happy encounter between architecture and the natural environment".

Special Award - Victor Băluțiu - for the suite of photographic images that explore and highlight the qualities of a building specific to contemporary architectural trends

Jury's prize - Farkas Endre - awarded for the combination of the specific qualities of architectural photography and the poetic, expressive visual expression in which the author has been able to exploit and promote both the drama of the genuine photographic tradition and his innovative point of view."

13.Ideal Client

Jury prize - arh. Mariana Michiu - Ideal Client (Memorial of Life)

14.Perfect Design Team Award - this category was NOT awarded due to the fact that no projects were entered in the competition.

15.Poetry with/about Architecture

16.BATRA Diplomas

In this category, all the 14 participants who defended their diploma works (entered in the Competition) on Sunday, November 17, at the Ethnographic Museum, in front of the specialized jury, were awarded by the Biennale's partner STADT, and received a three-day trip, all expenses included, to Salzburg, to the MAFI factory. All members of the Jury in the Diplomas category were in for the same surprise.

Names of the 14 trainee architects:

Andreea Melisa Mureșanu

Luisa Maria Azamfirei

Popescu Georgiana Roxana

Raluca Sabău

Cristina Talpoș

Diana Verdeș

Cristiana Dobie

Ștefan Victor Ioan

Hosu Dana Roxana

Cociubei Lavinia Rebeca

Rațiu Ionut Emanuel

Manic Doina

Silaghi Ioan Sorin

Temian Alexandra Alina

Winners Microarchitecture
Winner Cultural Projects

A marathon edition with a clear message for future generations: we must all get involved in (re)defining the built space!

It was the first edition of the Transylvania Biennial in which almost all the events included in BATRA reached five cities simultaneously: Cluj-Napoca, Alba Iulia, Oradea, Baia Mare and Satu-Mare. The works of the Competition Exhibition and those of the architect Nicolae Porumbescu - awarded post-mortem with the "Opera Omnia" - arrived, as well as the members of the Jury, their lectures, and the special guests with their extremely interesting workshops and presentations: Constructive Cultures, Circular Economy and Passive Houses, Via Transilvanica, Gaming Simulation, Ambulance for Monuments, Map of the craftsmen in construction, Mobile Phone Photography Workshop, as well as workshops for children - pottery making and even gingerbread making.

"At the end of this event, my first thoughts are those of thanks and gratitude. Fellow architects, partners, sponsors, administration, collaborators and volunteers have invested a lot of time and energy to support an idea that defines the responsibility we take on through our profession. The Transylvania Architecture Biennale 2019 was exhibited in five major cities, bringing to people the projects that colleagues from the five branches wanted to present. This amplified the exposure that previous editions have had. There was also a significant effort from the jury members to try to be present in Cluj as well as in Alba Iulia, Oradea, Satu-Mare and Baia Mare, to get to know the architects from the area. Beyond that, the events in the five cities attracted people of different ages and professions to the dialog about architecture and the built space.

We want even more for the coming editions, and one of our wishes is to have quality press at as many of our events as possible in order to be able to identify and disseminate more quickly problems, solutions and strategies that can have a major impact on quality of life.

A good sign is that this end of event is perceived by the whole team as a good start. It is the beginning of a series of events dedicated to all those who are willing and able to get involved in redefining the urban and rural space as we want to pass it on to future generations", concluded OART President and BATRA2019 curator, arch. Daniela Maier.

BATRA 2019 team

WINNING PROJECTS & PHOTOS FROM BATRA 2019:

AWARDS GALA PHOTOS & PHOTO GALLERIES OF EACH EVENT, WEB FORMAT:

OFFICIAL PARTNERS: Cemacon, STADT, Iulius Mall, Hexagon

SPONSOR: Daisler Print House

EVENT SPONSORS: Lasselberger-Knauf, Geberit.

SPONSORS: Wienerberger, Fundermax, Hafele, Giorgio Graesan, Nowy Styl, EMS Floor, Recaș, Banca Transilvania.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS: Cluj-Napoca City Hall, Casino - Center for Urban Culture, Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism Cluj-Napoca, Baia Mare City Hall, Satu Mare City Hall, North Theater Satu Mare and Cultural Center G.M. Zamfirescu Satu Mare.

MEDIA PARTNERS: Arhitectura, Spațiul Construit, Igloo, Arhispec, Case și grădini, Hotel Invest, IBC Focus, ibuild, Instal News, Revista Atelierul, Modernism, Proidea, Zile și Nopți, EBS Radio, Radio Cluj, I like Cluj, Transilvania Reporter, ViaTV Cluj, Cluj Today, Făclia, Clujul de Buzunar, Cluj4Ever, Oradea în Direct, Muzica Instanțelor, Cluj Insider, UpNews, Transylvania Today, JurnalMM, Add PR.

CONTACT:

Arh. Daniela Maier, BATRA 2019 curator, OART president, 0744695874

Anca Dinu, PR Manager, 0722870000, anca.dinu123@gmail.com