Post Release

The last week of May in Moscow was notable for a number of architectural events, including the exhibition of nominees of the Iakov Chernikhov international prize for young architects “CHALLENGE OF THE TIME”, as well as the lecture and awarding the 2010’s prize-winners – the Norwegian firm “FANTASTIC NORWAY”. The solemn ceremony at the Central House of Artists (Krymsky Val) and gala reception at the Norway embassy, held to honour the winners of one of the most prestigious architectural contests in the world, took place on May 27 and attracted high attention of professional architects and cultural community. The President of Iakov Chernikhov Foundation Andrey Chernikhov, ARCH Moscow curator Bart Goldhoorn, Deputy Minister of Culture of the RF Andrey Busygin, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Russia Knut Hauge delivered speeches to greet and congratulate the prize-winners. Such persons, as the President of the Russian Academy of Arts Zurab Tsereteli, Director of the Russian Institute for Cultural Research Kirill Razlogov, General Director of the Golden Mask festival Maria Revyakina, creative director of the Taganka Theatre Yuri Lyubimov, were among the honorable guests.

It is not a matter of chance that the Iakov Chernikhov prize for young architects was represented at the ARCH Moscow exhibition. This year, the curator Bart Goldhoorn included the projects of young architects from different parts of the world into the main program of the Next festival; Iakov Chernikhov Foundation presented the works of all the 133 nominees from 38 countries. The display area was arranged in compliance with the innovative concept of the Prize – the best works were demonstrated in the form of projections, changing each other on the walls of the exhibition hall, in the middle of which there was a red van house – a 1:1 scale model of a real working space and, at the same time, a symbol of FANTASTIC NORWAY bureau. With this van, the architects Erlend Blakstad Haffner and Hokon Matre Aasared travel about their country, organize seminars, discussions and debates among the citizens, gather ideas, offers, and local knowledge, in order to generate best architectural concepts for the local projects. Each visitor of the exhibition was given an opportunity to mark with a sticker his/her most fantastic place on the world map.

This year, the Iakov Chernikhov international prize for young architects “CHALLENGE OF THE TIME” was awarded for the third time, and Andrey Chernikhov, who opened the awards ceremony, noted, that the status of this event, the only international architectural contest established in Russia, has considerably grown during the few years of its existence. At the beginning, in 2006, there were 55 nominees from 20 countries; next time, 76 contestants pretended to the prize; and today, 133 nominees from 38 countries demonstrated their response to the curator’s manifesto.“These days, international architecture should consider the importance of the new form of localism. It doesn’t mean opposing the idea of globalization; I’m rather speaking about the need to merge and then restore such opposition using the filter of the local culture and its materials” – claims Stefano Boeri, curator of the Prize-2010. When the prize distribution is over, it is time for the answering speech of the winners, which has no words, but is traditionally represented in the form of impromptu drawing, being created within the spectators' sight, with the use of the graphics pad, and transmitted to the screens. It is remarkable that 2010’ winners were communicable and open to dialogue of any level, thus giving some special drive to the Prize itself and providing independence from any influence.

 
Dear media representatives!

In order to get the attached high resolution photographic materials, interviews with organizers and experts, as well as any other information you need, please, address the Iakov Chernikhov Prize press service:

Vika Abel
Tel.: +7 985 924-17-22
E-mail: vic7m@yandex.ru